A8 / S8 (D3 Platform) Discussion Discussion forum for the D3 Audi A8 produced from 2003-2010 and Audi S8 produced from 2006-2010

STARTER BUTTON

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 17, 2012 | 01:54 AM
  #1  
DTHREE's Avatar
Thread Starter
Audiworld Junior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Near Sydney Aus
Default STARTER BUTTON

Hey There - I think the starter/fingerprint button is ill-conceived and ergonomically awful to use. Just wondering if I could put this in from I think an S8, and lose the whole fingerprint thing altogther? Problems possibly with VAGCOM?
Anyone done anything similar? 04 D3 V8 btw. Thank you.
Attached Images  
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2012 | 05:36 AM
  #2  
jakematic's Avatar
AudiWorld Super User
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,883
Likes: 5
From: NC USA
Default

If the start button physically fits the opening and has the same connections I don't see why not.

You can code the fingerprint reader out with VCDS (VAG-COM)
Steering wheel electronics and parking aid both reference it.
Not sure how/if it ties into the IMMO though, or if there would be a problem since it no longer has two factor authorization.

Used to think the round button was silly until driving our C6 A6, and the D4.
On the D3 I had to hold the start button and on the newer models you just tap it once - not sure if my D3 was old and sticky or if there is different electronics.
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2012 | 06:12 AM
  #3  
K9COP's Avatar
AudiWorld Senior Member
 
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 714
Likes: 0
Default Fingerprint button?

What fingerprint button? My starter button is just tap and go BTW....

K9
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2012 | 06:20 AM
  #4  
ezveedub's Avatar
AudiWorld Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 809
Likes: 3
Default

Originally Posted by K9COP
What fingerprint button? My starter button is just tap and go BTW....

K9
ROW D3 A8s had fingerprint reader start buttons. North America didn't get them. I haven't used it enough to know its quirks in the past, but a lot of people complained about the reader/start button function and Audi stop using them AFAIK.
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2012 | 06:25 AM
  #5  
jakematic's Avatar
AudiWorld Super User
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,883
Likes: 5
From: NC USA
Default

Originally Posted by K9COP
What fingerprint button? My starter button is just tap and go BTW....
It was an option on certain years, standard on some W12 I think.
There is an aperture on the start button that reads your print.
So... apparently my button was pretty heavily worn since it required quite a bit of pressure and had to be held down.

Overview of the technology here.

You can get a brief view of it here:
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2012 | 08:11 AM
  #6  
snapdragon's Avatar
AudiWorld Member
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 404
Likes: 24
From: NEWARK, UK
Default

It's easy enough to swap out.
One screw under ashtray insert holds in ash tray assembly.
Two screws under ashtray assembly hold down console wood insert and MMI buttons.
Pull wood up via lower edge of ash tray aperture to pull it up over climate control unit (CC remains in situ)
Lift MMI and wood out of console and tilt and one screw and a brass sliding pin holds in the START/STOP buttons (which are mounted in a separate box to the other MMI buttons).

Withdraw box, unplug and hopefully new one is plug and play.

AFAIK, the fingerprint only stores a profile of user preferences such as radio channel and seat position and is not used for engine start authorisation, but I may be wrong.

Last edited by snapdragon; Jun 17, 2012 at 12:12 PM.
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2012 | 10:10 AM
  #7  
DTHREE's Avatar
Thread Starter
Audiworld Junior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Near Sydney Aus
Default

Originally Posted by snapdragon
AFAIK, the fingerprint only stores a profile of user preferences such as radio channel and seat position and is not used for engine start authorisation, but I may be wrong.
You're right: The fingerprint reader is not assocaited with security - only preferences. Is the button in my pic the same as most North American cars or is that an S8? (Trying to figure out a part #)
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2012 | 10:43 AM
  #8  
bmwm750's Avatar
AudiWorld Member
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 506
Likes: 0
From: Denver, Colorado
Default

Originally Posted by snapdragon
It's easy enough to swap out.
One screw under ashtray insert holds in ash tray assembly.
Two screws under ashtray assembly hold down console wood insert and MMI buttons.
Pull wood up via lower edge of ash tray aperture to pull it up over climate control unit (CC remains in situ)
Lift MMI and wood out of console and tilt and one screw and a brass sliding pin holds in the START/STOP buttons (which are mounted in a separate box to the other MMI buttons).

Withdraw box, unplu and hopefully new one is plu and play.

AFAIK, the fingerprint only stores a profile of user preferences such as radio channel and seat position and is not used for engine start authorisation, but I may be wrong.
If I wasn't the only one to drive my car, I'd be REAL interested in this.
Reply
AudiWorld Stories

Bringing Audi to Life for Audi Fans

story-0

Audi Unveils Absurdly Cool New Supercar: 10 Things You Need to Know!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

The Highs & Lows of Every Audi C-Class Generation

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

Top 10 Most Expensive Audis Ever Sold on Bring-A-Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-3

10 Audi Features & Options We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Audi Recreates Crazy-Looking Speed Record Breaker From 1935

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Coachbuilder Recreates the 1995 Audi TTS Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Every Audi V10 Car Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

9 Audi Designs That Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

2026 Audi Q5 Buyer's Guide (Every Model Explained)

 Brett Foote
story-9

Ranking Every Current Audi 'S' Model From Worst to First!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jun 17, 2012 | 05:47 PM
  #9  
MP4.2+6.0's Avatar
AudiWorld Super User
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Tech Guru

 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 15,311
Likes: 696
From: SF Bay Area, CA
Default Fingerprint system not used in U.S., including W12

Used in other countries (if so equipped), but not here. Presumably can be swapped out and recoded.
Reply
Old Jun 17, 2012 | 06:12 PM
  #10  
Brozee's Avatar
AudiWorld Super User
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,218
Likes: 23
From: Michigan
Default

Needs to be coded as well as additional wiring is also required. More of a hassle of getting it working than its worth IMO. I like the look of the new pushbutton over the old ones though. But yes someone else here on the forums replaced the older black flush button with a new silver circle one and it worked just the same, no recoding needed.
Reply



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 12:52 AM.

story-0
Audi Unveils Absurdly Cool New Supercar: 10 Things You Need to Know!

Slideshow: Limited to just 499 units, the 987-horsepower halo car signals a new chapter for Audi performance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-04 17:37:15


VIEW MORE
story-1
The Highs & Lows of Every Audi C-Class Generation

Slideshow: The highs and lows of every Audi C-Class generation.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:05:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Most Expensive Audis Ever Sold on Bring-A-Trailer

People were more than happy to shell out big bucks for these cars.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 15:32:23


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Audi Features & Options We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: 10 Audi features and options we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 19:33:47


VIEW MORE
story-4
Audi Recreates Crazy-Looking Speed Record Breaker From 1935

Slideshow: Audi has recreated one of the wildest machines of the pre-war speed-record era, reviving a streamlined V16 racer that originally exceeded 200 mph in 1935.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:49:34


VIEW MORE
story-5
Coachbuilder Recreates the 1995 Audi TTS Concept

Slideshow: A Dutch coachbuilder has reimagined the original Audi TT by finishing what the 1995 concept only hinted at.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-05 15:17:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
Every Audi V10 Car Ranked!

Slideshow: Ranking every Audi V10 road car

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:11:56


VIEW MORE
story-7
9 Audi Designs That Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: A look back at the Audis that didn't just survive changing tastes, they quietly outgrew them.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-28 19:38:27


VIEW MORE
story-8
2026 Audi Q5 Buyer's Guide (Every Model Explained)

One year off a full redesign, the best-selling Q5 is getting a few more updates.

By Brett Foote | 2026-04-17 09:56:19


VIEW MORE
story-9
Ranking Every Current Audi 'S' Model From Worst to First!

Slideshow: Ranking every current Audi 'S' model on sale today from worst to best.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-16 10:28:28


VIEW MORE