Poncherelly

I don't believe the units are the same hardware so can't be updated.

Kinda like having an older BlackBerry but wanting BlackBerry 10 (new OS) to be installed.

iconoclast

yes. it would cost around $300 for the dealer to do this however i was told by the dealer it wasn't available yet for installation. the image below is the most current you can purchase... wait until after january and contact the dealer.

snagitseven

Note that MMI system and Nav updates are two completely different things. Getting an MMI update can be difficult as dealers do not get reimbursed by Audi unless an update can be shown to correct a customer issue and many dealers simply refuse to do them upon request. If you do an AW search, you will find many long threads re MMI updates.

Nav updates (provided by NavTeq), usually released once per year, can be purchased and installed by the dealer only (for those models with MMI 3G Nav Plus) and as previously mentioned, are not inexpensive. Also keep in mind, when NavTeq finally issues a map and POI update, the data is typically already one to two years old.

iconoclast

firmware updates can be purchased through the parts department or you can pay for them. bmw allows you to download them from their main site and install yourself. not sure why audi still makes owners jump through hoops to have it installed.

when ordering new maps request a firmware update as well... if one is available most dealers will install with the maps as a courtesy or look for TSB information that relates to your MMI unit and claim you're having that issue. they will then update the firmware.

snagitseven

Re your first paragraph, System updates or nav map/POI updates for the cars with MMI 3G Nav Plus cannot be purchased from the parts dept for customer install. Only the dealer can install either. Starting with the new 2015 A3/S3, supposedly, updates will be available for customer download using those models' 4G internet connection. One could assume this next gen MMI and nav will be available on other models in the future.

The second paragraph is spot on.

iconoclast

i was not aware that firmware could not be purchased for mmi-3g+ models... up until now you could purchase the disc from the parts department. i guess everything is now network based and updates through geko.

snagitseven

True for MMI 3G Nav + system software as it's downloaded by the tech. The Nav 3G Nav + updates are on media but cannot be purchased directly by the consumer, they're only available to the tech for install. Audi apparently does not feel the consumer can be trusted to do the installs as on earlier versions of MMI systems.

iconoclast

gotcha... shame they didn't pass on the savings in production costs to the end user.
essentially one piece of software is shared with the dealer networks and serial keys are purchased. yet it's the same price as the "old" days.

snagitseven

Most of the high cost a dealer charges for a nav update is "labor" to perform the installation - it reportedly takes about 3+ hours for the data upload to the MMI. While much of the time spent doesn't require that a tech be present, it does tie up a dealer's service bay. Still, $300-400 is ludicrous.

iconoclast

but even with bmw. the map usbs sticks are $60 but the serial is $250. winds up being the same thing or more than back in the day when you paid $250 for a map disc.