TIPtronic steering wheel retrofit. TIP owners ETKA gurus please read...

[deephouse]

Hey guys, need your help.

Current vehicle: 2003 - Audi A4 Avant 1.8T Tiptronic, steering wheel without TIP controls
Goal: Retrofit 2005 USP (S-LINE) Perforated Steering wheel WITH TIP controls

Parts obtained:
2005 USP perf steering wheel w/ TIP no airbag
2004 A4 steering wheel w/ TIP & Airbag

Background: I obtained the 2005 Sline Perf steering wheel separately.

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/1286/2005usphm7.jpg


In my search for a 3-spoke airbag, I came across a deal I could not pass up, it is the 2004 A4 steering wheel with TIP complete w/ airbag. Assuming they would be direct swap, I thought I could simply use the 2004 air bag, on the 2005 wheel.

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/2661/2004wheel3ge1.jpg

After taking apart the 2004 wheel, I was stoked to see that it came with most of the internal components! I SCORED! see below:

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/9804/2004wheel2oo2.jpg

So, I start to take everything apart and soon discoverd that this would not be a direct swap. I removed all the internal components and found that the 2004 steering wheel has a different mounting mechanism (apparently) for the horn setup, and also has different harness connectors than the 2005 S-Line. See pics below:

2004 wheel, components removed:
http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/263/2004wheel1wz6.jpg

2005 USP wheel, components (not included with purchase)
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/117/2005uspwheel1ti4.jpg

2004 wheel, horn circuit board, TOP
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/5169/2004horn1jg5.jpg

2004 wheel, horn circuit board, BOTTOM
http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/4206/2004horn2nc3.jpg

2004 wheel, horn plate, TOP
http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/8834/2004plate1ni5.jpg

2004 wheel, horn plate, BOTTOM
http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/3958/2004plate2dr2.jpg

2005 USP wheel, Harness shot 1
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/6844/2005uspharness1fi8.jpg

2005 USP wheel, Harness Socket closeup
http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/9387/2005uspharness2hh2.jpg

2004 wheel, harness shot 1
http://img463.imageshack.us/img463/7528/2004harness1kd4.jpg

2004 wheel, harness socket closeup
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/5687/2004harness2iy8.jpg

2004 wheel, airbag plug
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/6759/2004harness3av5.jpg

Now, i haven't had a chance to take apart my stock A4 (non-TIP) wheel, so I dont quite know what harnesses/sockets I have to behind my current setup. I am doing that this weekend so I will post pics ASAP. So my question is this:

1. If anyone out there has a picture of their 2005 USP Sline wheel disassembled, can you please post? I want a look at the components involved.
2. If anyone has access to ETKA diagram, could you possibly bring up the 2004 and 2005 steering wheel assembly and let me know the difference in internals (p/n too if you can)?
3. I am assuming I can reuse the "plate" from the 2004 wheel, but i have to get right parts to get the horn portion working. It also seems that 2004 plate will ONLY work w/ the buttons from the 2004. As you can see from the pics above, the shift button harness socket on the 2005 is waaaay different from the 2004, while the 2004 shift button harness wires already apear integrated w/ the airbag socket.

If i left any info out, please ask. Thanks in advance for your help.

Brian

[deephouse]

Any help or insight would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Brian

[deephouse]

bumpity bump bump.

[Jeff]

Send me an email: jeff@audigeeks.com

I may be able to help.

[frankv]

Brian, I would be very interested in knowing how you made out with this. My perforated leather s-line with tip buttons steering wheel just arrived today, I have yet to try and install (on my 2005 B6). Curious as to whether you need any addtional parts to get those tip buttons to work (esp. since the orginal steering wheel does not have them).

Thanks

[teddybgame]

Brian,
based on these pictures, your 2005 USP wheel is not from a B6. At least the wiring fromt the tip buttons into that 4/5 pin black connector with the male pins. Those tip buttons are from either a C5 S6, D2 S8 or TT (original)....but clearly do not support a B6. I wonder if the seller pulled out the original tip buttons and installed these as a replacement????

Also, the tip commands between a C5 [etc] and B6 tip wheels are communicated differently into the TCU (Transmission Control Unit). In the C5, D2, sport wheels, the tip + and - commands are discrete. Whereas, in the B6 sport/tip wheels, they are routed as on signal into the SCSM as a series of multifunction controls (I think).

Here's some of what Proxus worked on in his B6 for more background:

http://www.navplus.us/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1970&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=45

Your 2004 B6 tip wheel/bag will certainly bolt right up to your 2003 B6..but I guess you are looking for air leather. right?

Bottom line:
It looks like you will need to retrofit the parts from that 2004 wheel (horn bracket, PCM and yellow 12 pin wiring harness) to that 2005 air leather wheel.

Hope this helps!

Good luck!

[deephouse]

Teddy, yah man, thanks for the info. I have been super swamped at work... and have surprisingly managed to stay away from All audi sites at the moment, in addition to putting most of my audi projects on hold.

I will re-visit this install perhaps in May, i'm moving to my bro's house and he has a garage, much easier to work on cars there.

On a lighter note, yah, i realize i might have the completely wrong steering wheel.

I dont think he swapped out those buttons, as if you look even closer and compare the 2, you'll see that the mounting points for the horn/airbag assembly are completely different in the USP wheel pictured above. None of the parts from my 04 wheel will fit in the 05 wheel, except for the tip buttons...but that doesn't help any if the horn and such wont mount.

I think i will just sell that USP wheel, then buy the correct one. From that point, I am positive it is a direct swap. Though, there is some VAGGING that needs to be done and i'm not sure i have the correct procedure on that.


Thanks for all your help everyone...

see you soon....

Brian