euroboost

As you can see on that link, Symphony is supported by dension gateway 500 but will only give you the ability to integrate their SD card slots and iPod interface, video playback is not allowed because the screen is not prepared for video or images, it's completely different as the NAV screen.

I'm looking an alternative to integrate an aftermarket screen with hi-res but without loosing the OEM pseudo MMI integration.

awhk

Sorry for asking again. I don't really see the info stating the 500 can be fitted with B8 A4/A5 Symphony. Only 2008 A5 MMI is shown. Cna you provide the exact linkage for the info? Thanks again.

local3

Maybe check this out?

http://shop.conexx-video.de/artikel_...-Symphony.html

euroboost

ok guys, after a long research I found an device to integrate the OEM screen to be able to play images, video, rearview cam and GPS navi.

I used the Xcarlink video interface for MMI, even though I had no MMI just the regular non MMI AKA MMI low.

This interface lets you switch between the OEM infotainment system and any video source as a DVD player, rearview camera or wwhatever you want to plug in, just by pressing the mode button on the steering wheel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcYkkGP5zpo

BMWBig6

Nice, how much is that (parts + installation)?

euroboost

Xcarlink interface was about £145 plus 10 for shipping, install was free as it is pretty much straight forward

BMWBig6

Can you provide any additional details (model number, other accessories required, etc.)? The Xcarlink website is pretty awful, and show 4 different products.

Or did you buy it elsewhere (from a retailer or eBayer)?

euroboost

I bought it directly from xcarink site, the one you need is this one:

http://www.xcarlink.co.uk/product.ph...3&cat=0&page=1

No other accesory is required.

You can see the full install procedure with pics here:

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4232451

local3

This topic is very different for MMI 2G and MMI 3G. (And completely different if the car as radio Concert/Symphony.)

If you have MMI 3G, then you can watch DVD movies (and probably DVD-Rs authored as DVD movies?) on the main screen straight from factory. For additional video aux-in, apparenly MMI 3G also requires the TV module and a special cable, but I'm not sure - watch kufatec.de, they usually get retrofit stuff for this.

I don't think you can watch video files from memory sticks/cards on MMI 3G or with AMI. And you can not definitely watch them on the MMI 2G.

If you have MMI 2G, you need the TV module to be able to watch video input on the MMI, you can connect composite video aux-in to the TV module with a special cable. To retrofit all this, see:

Hybrid TV module installation Audi A6/A4 B8/A5 (relevant for Q7/A8 too)
http://a6retrofit.tripod.com/article...5hybridtv.html

Notes on retrofitting TV module Audi A6/Q7/A8 (same for A5 MMI 2G)
http://a6retrofit.tripod.com/articles/a6tvmodule.html

Especially the latter article has a link to a Car PC project where MMI 2G was hooked up with a Car PC via the TV module video aux-in. The article is for A6, but it is the same for A5 MMI 2G (with obvious differences in trim etc.).

You CAN NOT watch DVDs using the MMI 2G navigation DVD drive. This only possible on MMI 3G.

If your car does not have full MMI (e.g. A4/A5 with radio Concert or Symphony) or you do not wish to retrofit the video-capable head unit mentioned below, check out Conexx for after-market solutions:

http://shop.conexx-video.de/modules.php

Read this for overall differences amongst MMI 2G and MMI 3G (and difference of MMI and radio Concert/Symphony/Chorus) and how to tell which one your car has (easiest way to tell is MMI 3G has a small thumb joystick on top of the main/big MMI roller/clicker button, MMI 2G does not):

Summary of current Audi multimedia systems and history
http://a6retrofit.tripod.com/article...iasystems.html

Will the real MMI please stand up? Difference between standard radio Concert/Symphony and the optional DVD navigation's MMI controls in B8 platform Audi A4 and A5
http://a6retrofit.tripod.com/articles/a4a5realmmi.html

BMWBig6

Thanks to both of you for the info and reference links!