> What vehicles will the custom AMI cable work in?
> Can I just use the AMI cable that Audi supplied with my radio/car?
> How can I tell which specific radio my car has?
> What is this "AMI" that the custom cable plugs into, and how can I tell if I have one?
> What is the 4-digit PIN code to connect/pair to the 30-pin Bluetooth Receiver?
> How long will my order take to receive?
> How does the audio quality compare to a directly-connected device?
> Does the 30-pin Bluetooth receiver automatically reconnect when I get in/out out of the car?
> Will I still be able to use the Bluetooth telephone functionality in my Audi?
> What if my car blows up or travels through time as a result of the use of your accessories?
> Will I need my AMI iPhone cable that came with the car to make this work?
> Is there a warranty on your accessories?
> Do you accept returns?
> Can I control my media through MMI with this cable?
> Will you ship internationally?
> Will this work with my phone/iPod/tablet/mp3 player or existing Bluetooth receiver?
> My cable/adapter isn't working, or is having a problem. What should I do to determine the problem?
> My vehicle doesn't have a 3G MMI radio, but I get power when I use the stock Audi-supplied AMI cable. Do I still need a power kit? Why?
> What vehicles will the power kits work in?
> I *REALLY* want to add bluetooth streaming to my Audi/VW, and I have an AMI connector, but I DON'T have 3G MMI. What can I do?
> What about future iOS / Android / Windows Mobile / Blackberry updates? Is it possible this will stop working in the future when my phone updates?
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| Q: |
What vehicles will the custom AMI cable work in?
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| A: |
The custom AMI cable has been tested in an A4, A5, S4, S5, Q5 and Q7, but will work in ANY Audi with 3G MMI. Simply Plug and Play. The custom cable/receiver will also work with most earlier MMI 2G, Audi Concert, RNS, RNS-E, Audi navigation plus, Audi Symphony radios, or any other Audi radio with AMI (Audi Music Interface) with the addition of one of the lighter socket or hardwire power kits available on the main page.
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| Q: |
Can I just use the AMI cable that Audi supplied with my radio/car?
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| A: |
No, the cable Audi provides will only work with a device running iOS, like an iPhone or iPod. Your radio expects a control-mode connection with this cable in place. The custom modified AMI cable correctly enables your radio's AUX input mode, while providing a 30-pin connection for audio/power in 3G MMI vehicles for the receiver.
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| Q: |
How can I tell which specific radio my car has?
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| A: |
The Audi concert, symphony, and navigation plus radios all say what they are either above the controls or under the screen. The MMI radios are a bit harder to tell apart as they look very similar. Click here to see a comparison of the various recent and current generation Audi radios (including the concert, symphony, and navigation plus).
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| Q: |
What is this "AMI" that the custom cable plugs into, and how can I tell if I have one?
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| A: |
AMI is short for "Audi Music Interface", and is found in most Audi vehicles from ~2009 forward. It was available optionally in many older Audi's, with the A8 first getting the option ~2003. Some Audi's have a CD changer fitted instead of AMI, and some have both a CD changer and AMI. AMI is typically located in the glove compartment, but some vehicles, like the R8 place it in a different location. For more info, and photos of what AMI typically looks like, go here.
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| Q: |
What is the 4-digit PIN code to connect/pair to the 30-pin Bluetooth Receiver?
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The PIN code for Bluetooth pairing is '0000'. It's set at the factory and cannot be changed.
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| Q: |
How long will my order take to receive?
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Items shown as "IN STOCK" ship out in 1-3 business days. All domestic shipping is via USPS Priority Mail, which offers 1-3 day delivery depending on your location. Items are shipped from the "18080" zip code. You will receive a tracking number via email when your order is shipped directly from PayPal. International shipping time varies, but is typically 6-10 business days for most destinations. More info about international shipping here.
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| Q: |
How does the audio quality compare to a directly-connected device?
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| A: |
Audio quality is comparable to directly-connected devices. The Bluetooth 4.0 receiver I sell supports EDR (enhanced data rate), and aptX® for the absolute highest quality sound over Bluetooth possible. Almost all modern-day devices support A2DP Stereo high-bitrate Bluetooth profiles, which in-car, is indistinguishable from a direct connection. You may sometimes notice reduced audio quality when streaming music from "online" sources like Pandora and Spotify, but this is a bandwidth limitation of the cellular network, not Bluetooth or the specific hardware employed for this solution.
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| Q: |
Does the 30-pin Bluetooth receiver automatically reconnect when I get in/out out of the car?
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| A: |
As soon as the device receives power, it will automatically try to reconnect to the "last-paired-with" device. This takes only a few seconds, and once complete, all you need to do is select what you want to hear on your phone/media player and hit "play".
If no device is present to pair with when the receiver powers up, it'll go into a sleep mode to conserve power. To wake from sleep mode, disconnect and reconnect the receiver.
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| Q: |
Will I still be able to use the Bluetooth telephone functionality in my Audi?
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Yes, absolutely. This is completely independent of that. Your phone will still pair with the Audi MMI for phone calls, and will only pair with the 30-pin Bluetooth receiver for streaming audio. If you receive a call, MMI will automatically mute the AUX input during the call. If the phone is also your Bluetooth audio streaming device, it'll also pause your music selection during the call (in addition to MMI muting it anyway).
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| Q: |
What if my car blows up or travels through time as a result of the use of your accessories?
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| A: |
No harm has ever come to any Audi's as a result of the use of these accessories, however, like any accessory, you are solely esponsible for it's use and correct/safe installation in your vehicle. Any damage, loss of warranty, injury, or any other loss or failure caused directly or indirectly by the use of the accessories sold on this site will not be my responsibility. If your car turns into a Tardis, and travels through time as a result of the use of any accessory sold here, you agree to take me with you.
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| Q: |
Will I need my AMI iPhone cable that came with the car to make this work?
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| A: |
No, if ordering the combo deal or just the cable, you will receive an entirely new AMI cable that plugs into the AMI port in the glove box.
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| Q: |
Is there a warranty on your accessories?
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There is a 90-day warranty on all items. The modified AMI cables and power kits are hand-made, and great care goes into each one. If you have a problem with your received items, please contact me.
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| Q: |
Do you accept returns?
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Yes, if requested within 30 days of the date your order was shipped, with a $15 restocking fee to cover the initial shipping and processing for domestic orders. When your return is received, you will receive a refund via paypal, less the restocking fee.
No returns will be accepted without an RMA. If you need an RMA for return, or for other questions, please contact me. The restocking fee is $42 for International orders due to the high cost of initial shipping. If you are returning an order with 5 or more items, a higher restocking fee may apply.
For liability reasons, returns are not accepted on hardwire power kits once they have been opened.
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| Q: |
Can I control my media through MMI with this cable?
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| A: |
You can control the volume and change the audio source through MMI with this cable connected, but you will not be able to skip tracks or see media information in MMI. This is limitation of Audi's MMI for AUX devices.
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| Q: |
Will you ship internationally?
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Yes, international shipping is available for most regions/countries. The shipping rate to Canada is $25.50. All other international shipping is $35. International orders are sent via USPS Priority Mail International, with finally delivery by your local post (for ex. "Royal Mail" in the UK). If your local post does not provide delivery in your area, your order will be returned to us, and you will receive a refund for your order, less any incurred shipping fees.
All items have a declared value of $5 - $10 (combo deal is 2 item). International orders may be subject to import taxes, custom duties, or other fees. Any such charges will be your responsibility to pay.
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| Q: |
Will this work with my phone/iPod/tablet/mp3 player or existing Bluetooth receiver?
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| A: |
The modified AMI cable will work with any Bluetooth receiver with a 30-pin interface. The Bluetooth receiver sold here has been tested with the below devices, but will work with -ANY- device that supports standard A2DP Bluetooth audio streaming.
Tested devices: iPhone XS, iPhone X, 8, 8 Plus, 7, 7 Plus, 6S Plus, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 5, iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPad, iPad Mini, iPad 2, iPad 3, HTC One, HTC evo, Samsung Galaxy S III, Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy S5, Samsung Galaxy S6, Samsung Galaxy S7, Samsung Galaxy S8, Samsung Galaxy S9, Samsung Galaxy S10, Motorola Moto, ZTE Grand X.
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| Q: |
My cable/adapter isn't working, or is having a problem. What should I do to determine the problem?
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This first thing to do is narrow down the problem. If you have an iOS device with a 30-pin dock connector (iPad, iPod, iPhone, etc.), try connecting that DIRECTLY to the modified cable and see if you get normal audio as an AUX input. If you do, the problem is likely with the bluetooth configuration on your device, or the bluetooth adapter itself. Please contact me for further assistance.
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| Q: |
My vehicle doesn't have a 3G MMI radio, but I get power when I use the stock Audi-supplied AMI cable. Do I still need a power kit? Why?
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Most of the Audi radios *will* supply power in iOS-control mode, the mode initiated by the stock dealer-supplied AMI cable. This is the mode where the radio talks directly (via the 30-pin interface) to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod. Unfortunately, it's not possible to connect a Bluetooth receiver in this control-mode. The radio must be placed into auxiliary, or "External audio input" mode to accept the audio signal from the Bluetooth receiver. For whatever reason, likely known only to Audi's own engineering team, only the 3G MMI radios supply power to the AMI interface in this mode.
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| Q: |
What vehicles will the power kits work in?
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The lighter socket power kit should work in any Audi. The hardwire power kit was designed and tested on an A4, but should work in any Audi with a passenger-side fuse block (see the instructions for more information). Most Audi's produced in the last 8 years have a fuseblock on both the driver and passenger side. If your vehicle doesn't have a passenger-side fuse block, or you don't wish to use the passenger-side fuse block, you can extend the wires in the kit to reach another location in your vehicle for power.
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| Q: |
I *REALLY* want to add bluetooth streaming to my Audi/VW, and I have an AMI connector, but I DON'T have 3G MMI. What can I do?
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| A: |
The reason the custom cable doesn't work with most non 3G MMI radios is due to the lack of power being provided to the AMI connector in AUX mode (even though power is supplied in iOS-control mode). There's a way around this, and the trick is providing power to the bluetooth receiver from another source while still connected to the custom AMI cable.
Two different power kits are available:
The Hardwire Power Kit provides the cleanest install and is 100% hidden. The Lighter Socket Power Kit is more portable and a little cheaper, but does leave a visible cord coming from the bottom corner of the glove compartment.
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| Q: |
What about future iOS / Android / Windows Mobile / Blackberry updates? Is it possible this will stop working in the future when my phone updates?
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| A: |
The technology used in the products I sell is 100% compatible with the published Bluetooth spec for music streaming. Other Bluetooth music streaming products on the market often suffer from reliability and lockup issues after phone updates (or cease to work at all), because they leverage a reverse-engineered version of Apple's control protocol, and trick the car into thinking an iPhone or iPod is connected.
In theory, this can provide track and media control (which is the aim of the emulation in these devices), but in reality, the control protocol changes on a regular basis, and isn't published by Apple. The result to the end-user is an unstable device that may or may not still work after updates to your phone, and limits the apps you can stream from to those that support docked auto-play.
I believe in simple solutions whenever possible, and the products I sell are all based solely on the published Bluetooth spec, utilize no control-mode emulation, and leave you with a standard Bluetooth streaming endpoint for connection from any device that supports Bluetooth, now and in the future.
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