VCDS Mods for Front Seats D4 A8 S8: heating stepdown timer & massage time + intensity
 

Here are a set of seat related VCDS mods for the D4 A8 and S8 I am documenting, both for the heating as well as the massage feature. The latter of course is for those who have the massage seats. All tested and successfully implemented without any drama on my 2015 D4 S8. Screen shots below for the visual flyby.

Ideas were courtesy of a long string of mods for C7 A6/S6/A7/S7/RS7 from Audizine board I play with from time to time, sorted for D4 applicability and interest. I checked Jack’s D4 VCDS thread and didn’t see mods for the seats. Also not a subject in general I have seen posts about (beyond 'I wish it were more ___') across a variety of boards, including this one. But, I definitely know the sentiment about wanting more default massage time, and occasionally someone notes the seat heater step down time. "More is better" is the common refrain. Read on for the step by step “how to’s.”
There are actually a good number of possible tweaks to the massage function. See fourth picture for all the things listed in the pull down menu.
In pull down menu, I also noticed the choice for Speed level of the massage function. I elected not to play with that since the basic rhythm seems fine. But, since there are 5 choices here as well as for the intensity, a lot more customization could be done in theory, including slower and faster but using the 5 choices all just focused on ones at a few choices of higher general intensities.

Well documented, I'm sure more than a few will appreciate your efforts. :)

Yes please and Thank You... :)

Further heated seat bonus: I realized in driving it with the heated seat timer mod that on restart it returns to the original setting without regard to the step down. A plus for me. Makes it more worthwhile to me to have then implemented the 2--> 1 medium --> low step down after 15 minutes. Then less need to play with buttons while driving as car comes up to temp, but also ready for the next jaunt with any cool down time.

Thus for real cold, if I pick 3 as my default button position, it cycles 3-2-1 over ensuing 30 minutes, and if I pick 2 for milder coastal type weather it does 2-1 in 15 minutes. The 2-1 auto cycling wouldn't be there absent enabling the lower tier timer step down via the mod.

god bless you!!!! now i need to order !

Can not get the time change to work, I get an error message about the value, i can not adjust up nor down


all other coding works

any help would be lovely

Please post up a shot of the screen where you are trying to select value, and then error message.

Besides possible errors in implementing, also look (from your screen) at:
1. Your hardware revision level for the module vs. mine. Often there is a software version (like a part #) to these modules too, but here it just says long coding. Can get to that later if needed. If module part # changed, no idea on what it involved.
2. Your VCDS software revision/version level. And of course confirming you are using an authentic cable... I realized actually when I was doing some of my work my own version was out of date. I eventually rev'ed mine to what is now 17.1.3. You can see I ran mine for this mod on 15.7.4 shortly before I updated (far upper left corner of screen). Ross Tech did implement a bunch of things to deal with some electronics accessories changes IIRC in the past couple of years. Not clear those bled down to D4 platform, but for ones either brand new like a Q7 or with another revise beyond the D4 like the C7 got recently, you might need to be on a recent version--presumably at least the 15.7.4 version I used to eliminate that potential for problems with mod.

It worked fine for me with no hiccups. As mentioned the mods were in turn following some C7 platform tips so validated there as well.

verbatim copied what you guys all had, i have a 16 sport and this was the only parameter which did not take, the error was something about a value being outside the parameters


as mentioned, all the other tweaks took and this IMO, was the easiest thing, no clicks just change from 600 to 800 and you cant even dim the 's' (seconds) so there is really nothing to it.... which is more confusing

Sorry, re read my reply again. I was editing as you responded--about version numbers for VCDS and such. Please confirm there.

Also from my end, I need to press again to ask you to be specific. Post up pics and such. I cannot guess what your screens look like in various subtle details, and too many other variables--hardware and software revs, VCDS legit or not, VCDS software/version level, etc. Some of that can be seen in screen shots, others have to be confirmed supplementally.

will get info when i am able to.

i just ordered this VCDS last week from Ross-tec.

Failed for me as well. I am having issues attaching the photo, but I have the latest version of the software, 17.1.3 and the newest version of of the cable, just ordered this week and received yesterday (the one good for 3 VINs). No issue doing cool things like the needle sweep, delay on the seat heater, but when trying to put in a higher value than 600s in the seat massage time I get the error (request out of range). This is to a 2013 A8L 4.0T.

EXACT same message on a 16', with a recently purchased cable directly from Ross tech.
I get the error (out of range) if i try to do something below 600 s as well.

+1

I'm also getting that "out of range" error when trying to change the massage duration. I'm also using version 17.1.3 Everything else works

Worth a call to RossTech. I also cannot adjust.

I got Audi to update my MMI software (...and my ECU software) at this most recent service to apparently latest rev, so I will go back in at some point and see if that somehow affects ability to do this--mine was an early 2015 with mid 2014 era MMI software when I did the mod.

For posterity, MMI version they just installed this past week was HN+R-US-AU-K0942_3. They had to order the flash copies from Audi. On our 2013 Q5 they did about a year+ ago, it was HN__US-AUG_K0814 as updated. Various update posts and TSB discussions I found around are still mostly back at the 0814 rev, and 0942_3 has a yet later hard to find updated TSB.

Guessing it's the MMI or ECU version. I had no issue increasing the massage time to 45 minutes
my typical drive to work. Used OBDeleven but I'm guessing it has nothing to do with VCDS.

I would guess MMI update not ECU revision as it seems to be an issue for those who have pre and post refresh.

just checked and Im running the 0814 version and had no problem extending the run time. Weird

It is weird and annoying. Really want to adjust this 600 second limit. I asked my service rep to do it for me and they were like "sorry sir, it is not possible to adjust this time." Funny though, they did turn my seatbelt warning back on at the last service. Had to go back and fix that. Not that I drive without my seat belts I find the warning very annoying if I in a parking lot or whatever.

I called Ross-Tech to see if they had any suggestions. They seem to believe it is a module revision thing. As if some cars have a certain module type that allow this type of change and others do not insinuating it is not MMI but the actual hardware coding on the control module.

I wonder if it makes a difference if the engine is running or if just the ignition is on?

For last two replies:

I will locate my module version and post in due course.

I always do VCDS coding with key in on position (warning lights in inst. panel) but car not started.

agree, just wondering if some of the guys have the car running. Electronics are finicky that way

I only tried it with the key in accessory position. I started a thread over at ross-tech to see about getting a definitive answer.

A8 D4 Can't Change Massage Duration

A8 d3 massage intensity
 

I'd like to increase the massage function intensity on my 2005 A8 D3 but can't seem to locate module 88 or 89. I believe my module number is 36?

Post was for D4. I had massage in my D3 but don't think there was any way to change intensity; never came across anything in VCDS. D4 controls differ in that there is both type of massage and intensity choice.

makes no sense as guys with earlier d4s have been able to do this, I have a 16' and can not change the massage intensity nor time.

Any Progress?
 

I am interested in whether Ross-Tech or anyone else has solved the issue of changing the seat massage duration for the A8 (D4). I receive the same error message as Lennon31987 and others. I have a newly purchased cable from Ross-Tech along with the latest version of the VCDS software. I truly hope a solution is somewhere I haven't yet found as a 10 minute massage just won't do. LOL...who gets a massage while driving to work? Audi A8 owners do!!!

At the risk of taking abuse for using OBD11, I used that to change the time setting on my massage seats with no problem. Granted it was done some time ago. Perhaps someone else can weigh in on whether or not they've been successful using that device.

Would you please identify the vehicle? Was it a D4 or earlier version? When did you make the change?
Anyone else successfully change the seat massage duration for an A8 (D4)?

Have you read the thread to answer your question...or even its title?

2015 A8L 3.0. Changed the duration about 18 months ago. Same steps outlined on this board

Really?? I absolutely read the thread to the point where I saw others have identified having the same problems--seat massage duration not changing. What I haven't seen in the thread was anyone having a solution other than yourself and a few others. If you have read the thread from others, you will see that most with the problem have A8 (D4) versions, not the D3 you were successful with.

In a community where we should be working at helping each other, your reply doesn't seem helpful. if you believe the answer resides within the post, please identify the specific thread number(s) and I'll read again.

Here are my specs:
2015 A8L using VCDS s/w version 18.2
I will post screen shots of the failed attempt (if there is a solution within the post).

Wow. Read it yet again I guess. Slow down? Maybe get off what ever the device is you may be using to a proper screen? Meantime take your response (with three cumulative posts...) and turn it on its head about attitude and too quick on the draw.

Specifics: where are you seeing the issue with my car not being a D4? D4, 2015 S8. For the chapter and verse you want, opening words of my post #1 that starts the whole thread, besides that it is also plain as day in the thread title it is a D4: "Here are a set of seat related VCDS mods for the D4 A8 and S8 I am documenting, both for the heating as well as the massage feature. The latter of course is for those who have the massage seats. All tested and successfully implemented without any drama on my 2015 D4 S8. ..." See paragraph 1...

I take the time to figure it out, gather up the info and screen shots and post the info in the first place. But then even when questioned with almost no context or details in your first replies, you miss things again. Good luck with that approach getting help from folks in the future. Peeing in the proverbial punch bowl here, given I was the thread author. Yes to be very clear, I expect others to do their homework too; boards don't function long term with quality info if it is all takers and no givers. For folks in general, I am also not tech support for possible VCDS or year to year or configurations differences among D4's. It worked on mine, and I documented it--frankly about as good as the posts and titles get by year, body, etc. The VCDS version (now superceded) I used is also in the screen shots (rare among VCDS mod posts BTW), and my cable is fully licensed. Relative to mine, various of the issues noted in the thread are sometimes other years. In many cases I have no idea in the responses if folks are using a Ross-Tech licensed cable or trying the e Bay knockoffs with the "free" version. In some I wonder at times if folks are trying to take "better" and make it "great" by setting the revised parameters too high. It could be there are controller changes too, but in the first post the screen shots also actually allow members to cross check their controller revision levels (letter suffix at end of part #'s) against mine, at least on the hardware side.

+1.

Have found this forum to be amazingly helpful

A couple points of clarification.
1. I truly apologize for intimating you don't have an understanding of my issue. I attributed you having a D3 version based on the 'footnote'-- Current #1: '06 D3 A8L W12. When I replied, I didn't realize your actual vehicle was within the post title. (shame on me for that) btw: It's the title that drew me to reading the details initially.
2. I read from thread 1 as that's where I was able to follow your well-crafted instructions.
3. One of my errors was missing the comments about MMI version. I will check that later today and hope it's one having problems and have Audi correct that.

While I don't think you were suggesting I'm using a knock-off cable from eBay or elsewhere, I just want to be clear that I have a licensed cable purchased directly from Ross-Tech.

Got it. Thanks. See end of prior response I edited post- your reply in last paragraph about also reviewing specific time parameters chosen and the hardware revision levels as other possible review areas.

Also, when I did mod my 2015, it was on the original as shipped MMI version IIRC. I got the dealer to update MMI late last summer based on the Audi TSB dealing with Nav getting lost or otherwise choking. It has other mostly minor tweaks too, but those symptoms qualify for the update. I have not tried to "do the mod again" as it were with the revised MMI version level, but from at least the more obvious timer function mod that is objectively trackable has stuck. From D 4 (and Q5) board experience, I think very few have had their MMI software updated post delivery. It has basically gotten to be dealer only since the updates went to downloaded flash instead of parts counter CD's like D3 era was. Roughly the 2016's and up should have the newer version. Not sure how it broke in 2015; my build is fairly early.

Mine is '13 S8 (purchased used recently), and I couldn't update the duration, it's the same error as outside of permitted range or something. I am not too concerned about it as it kind of acts as a 10min reminder of how long I have been driving/stuck in traffic :)
I could check again for MMI version tonight.

I still never got mine to work on my 2011 D4, and my thread over at RossTech is going on a year unanswered.