AudiWorld Forums - Expanded investigation of Audi includes A8

Yes. The simple steering wheel programming tweak is actually the key to how they did it in all the TDI's.

This one is apparently still mostly the 3.0 TDI, but year reference is to earlier ones that were always shipped in Europe but not here. It does overlap to gas (petrol), so far apparently with the V6. A definite watch area though since logically it is easily technically possible to do same on gas motors generally. The real delta though appears to be things unique to TDI's that gave them strong incentive to cheat there. Variously, they wanted the AdBlue to run the full 10,000 miles without a humongous tank, and the burn off cycle the diesels use if activated more is both off-putting to some and eats more fuel IIRC.

Post recall UK TDI owners are also reporting some decreased MPG's, though Audi/VW are trying to tamp those stories down. BTW, thank you Audi for all this fiasco which as a byproduct on D4 also consumed more trunk space--gas included--for ones where AdBlue tank gets added, plus that extra large filler area for the second AdBlue pipe.

Last, dig into these stories long enough and now you find the "emperor" (Audi) really has no chops/clothes in actual programming/implementation. From the press accounts, it seems like Bosch was neck deep, and apparently is the exclusive provider of all the actual ECU software going into these and BMW's and Merc's. Not just a few "rogue engineers" per Audi's first crap story line. Bosch of course still goes with the just following orders Schultz approach. Since you pretty much need written authorization and a three page manual to blow your nose in German car production, not so believable...