Originally Posted by jakematic

Maybe you should keep a box of these in the A8 ?

Originally Posted by aTOMic*

Also, wasn't it you who showed the interior of your car complete with matching open-knuckle gloves on the seat?

Originally Posted by GnatGoSplat

Problem with buying a younger car with lower miles is it looks like $10-20k price difference, and I feel like that price difference could buy a whole lot of buttons and fix a lot of things that may need fixing.

Originally Posted by awdinut

I am a dealer that specializes in used Audis so I see many interiors in various condition. What I see as the chief culprits in ruining soft-touch control surfaces is A) physical wear from women using the tip of a long fingernail to press the button and B) chemical degrading from hand lotion that women use.

My car had funky MMI buttons when I purchased it @ 60K and, since I am the most **** retentive MF on the planet I had to eliminate the agrivation. So I simply bought a used but pristine MMI control panel for $250 and did the easy R&R. Almost 100K later and my MMI panel still looks like new.

So, in the relative money of buying an A8, I would not let the $250 cost of a used MMI dissuade you from an A8 that you otherwise like.

And if the two round cursor/push ***** on the MMI are peeling, just pull them off and pop the black disc off from the back side. Then spray the discs with Krylon SEMI-FLAT BLACK and they'll be OEM looking.

As to keeping the MMI buttons like new, I push on them at the inboard edge where the hard plastic,red indicator light is molded in to the button, instead of on the soft-touch icon area that will get shiny and show wear. And push the two push-***** with two fingers on the silver outer ring and that will keep their black centers looking new.(see what I mean about A/R!)

Originally Posted by MP4.2+6.0

You can do the roof overhead trim that has buttons like the home link, the keyless start/stop buttons, the driver's window and door switches, mirror switch and trunk and fuel switches with new OE for around $400 from a discounted dealer like AudiUSAParts if I remember correctly. Some of those like window switches may eventually wear out electrically anyway. The fuel and trunk switch is trickier to get at than the others because of the way the door pocket is done. The other sometimes one might be the headlight switch, but on mine it was pretty good.

MMI panel might be as much as all of these combined. It tends to get replaced due to spills that get into the electronics. I also did the sunroof deflector motor at around the same time, but that's not trim directly. It is under the upper panel trim when you pull it.

For $400 give or take, at 100K miles on a 2006 I thought it was a nice spiff up. Definitely eliminated a bunch of "wear signs." Less than about 2 weeks payment on a new one. Since my leather is holding up very nicely, it kept me busy from looking at newish ones.

BTW, if you are looking at used ones, watch out for broken soft close lids in the whole console area, or missing front upholder. Pricy stuff, especially the cupholder--over $200 for just the insert. ...I epoxied the bottom aluminum of mine when it dropped out for about 20 cents. Know it going in to either walk if the rest of the car is beaten too, or to haggle on price for expensive missing/screwed up trim type stuff if it is a recent vintage/non beater or fixer upper.

Originally Posted by fkaufman

I would find it rather difficult to press different keys at different locations, especially while driving.

Originally Posted by awdinut

...My car had funky MMI buttons when I purchased it @ 60K and, since I am the most **** retentive MF on the planet ... And push the two push-***** with two fingers on the silver outer ring and that will keep their black centers looking new.(see what I mean about A/R!)

Originally Posted by HawksFan12

the main control **** on my 2006 A6 was bubbling so I peeled off the vinyl, looks good as new now since its the same color underneath. hopefully this is the same case for the A8