FAQ: B5 A4 / S4 Center Console Thread

[BlkBullitt]

The Official B5 A4 Center Console Thread

Having just completed the Facelift Center Console Swap into my Prefacelift (98.5) A4 I know many owners constantly have questions regarding the different center consoles fitted in the B5 A4 and S4, what the differences between each version is, how/if they can convert from one style to the other, and what all is involved in a conversion. While most of this information is on this forum it is scattered about and there aren't many photos illustrating the differences and the process involved. Hopefully this thread will serve both of those purposes as it is developed.

If you would like to add to this please PM me or send me an email [email protected] and after reviewing the information I will add it to this post. Currently I'm looking for a good detailed write up (with photos) of the wiring for the Facelift Fog Light Buttons as well as some nice photos of a Partial Facelift Climate Control and in car photos of a Partial Facelift and Prefacelift Center Console.

Also, a special thanks to Chris at Force5 (www.force5auto.com) for all of the Facelift center console items!


I. Center Console Types
There are (to my knowledge) 3 unique center consoles that Audi offered in the B5 A4 throughout its production (in the US).

1. Prefacelift
Found in: A4s from 1996 to sometime in late 1998 / early 1999 (I'm not sure when this style ended)
Radio: Single DIN (either Concert I or Delta Headunits)
Climate Control: Non-integrated rectangle automatic climate control unit. Double LCD screens. Buttons - Auto, Recirculate, Temperature +/-, Fan Speed +/-, Front Defrost, A/C on/off, Upper Vents, Center Vents, and Lower Vents. This unit is non-integrated meaning it does not cover the entire width of the console space and is surrounded by a trim piece.
Trim: The radio, climate control, and other buttons are surrounded by a single piece of trim made of wood or plastic.
Other: Across the top of the console there is a long row of rectangular buttons across the top as well for heated seats, front fog lights, rear fog lights, hazard lights, and rear window defrost (and also others options outside the US). Depending on what options were equipped there could also be a small storage bin on the passenger side instead of buttons. The ashtray was integrated into the front console piece and shared it's location with the cigarette lighter. On the rear piece there is a set of dual pop-up cup holders and a small storage bin with the telephone connector if equipped (from what I understand extremely late 1998 cars may have the dual cup holder insert found in later consoles in place of the storage bin / telephone area). The emergency brake trim was plastic.

2. Partial Facelift
Found in: A4s from sometime in 1999 to sometime in 1999. I'm not certain on when this console started appearing (I have a 1998.5 and I didn't have this style) and hopefully, with input from owners, will be able to provide a better idea of when this console first appeared and disappeared.
Radio: Single DIN radio slot (Concert I Headunit)
Climate Control: Non-integrated facelift style rectangle automatic climate control unit. Single LCD screen. Buttons - Auto, Recirculate, Off, Temperature +/-, Fan Speed +/-, Front Defrost, Econ, Rear Defrost, Upper Vents, Center Vents, and Lower Vents. Heated seat dials were also included (if car was equipped with heated seats. This unit is non-integrated meaning it does not cover the entire width of the console space and is surrounded by a trim piece.
Trim: There are three trim pieces. One that covers the upper portion of the console (hazard switch, fog buttons, and dash pop-out cup holder), one that surrounds the radio and climate control, and one that surrounds the shifter.
Other: Across the top of the console there is a row of three buttons (front fog lights, rear fog lights, and either a blank button or ESP button), the hazard switch (triangle shaped - different than the prefacelift in both appearance and in the electrical connection used), and a pop-out dash cup holder. The ashtray is no longer integrated into the front console piece and is the full width of the center console. On the rear piece there is a pop-up cigarette lighter, a small storage bin, and a set of dual cup holders. The telephone connector (if equipped) should be located in the arm rest lid hinge. The emergency brake trim should be leather wrapped.

3. Facelift
Found in: A4s and S4s from 2000 to 2002 (some late 2001 S4s in the US were classified as 2002s).
Radio: Double DIN radio slot (Symphony I Headunit)
Climate Control: Integrated automatic climate control unit. Single LCD screen. Buttons - Auto, Recirculate, Off, Temperature +/-, Fan Speed +/-, Front Defrost, Econ, Rear Defrost, Upper Vents, Center Vents, and Lower Vents. Heated seat dials were also included (if car was equipped with heated seats. This unit is integrated meaning it covers the entire width of the console space and is not surrounded by a trim piece.
Trim: There are two trim pieces. One that covers the upper portion of the console (hazard switch, fog buttons, and dash pop-out cup holder) and one that surrounds the shifter.
Other: Across the top of the console there is a row of three buttons (front fog lights, rear fog lights, and either a blank button or ESP button), the hazard switch (triangle shaped - different than the prefacelift in both appearance and in the electrical connection used), and a pop-out dash cup holder. The ashtray is not integrated into the front console piece and is the full width of the center console. On the rear piece there is a pop-up cigarette lighter, a small storage bin, and a set of dual cup holders. The telephone connector (if equipped) is located in the arm rest lid hinge. The emergency brake trim is leather wrapped.


Visual Guides
Center Console Front Plastic Piece:
Facelift on left, Partial Facelift in middle, Prefacelift on right (notice the differences in mounting hole locations and the lower ash tray areas)...



Center Console Cage & Radio Cage:
Prefacelift Center Console / Radio Cage...


Partial Facelift Center Console / Radio Cage...


Facelift Center Console Cage...


Facelift Radio Cage...



Center Console Rear Plastic Piece:
Prefacelift...



Facelift...



Facelift on left, Prefacelift on right (notice the difference in how the rear pieces connect to the front pieces)...


Facelift in front, Prefacelift in rear (notice raised front section on the Facelift piece)...



Climate Control:
Prefacelift...



Facelift...




eBrake Handle Trim:
Prefacelift...


Facelift...



Part Numbers
Updated as often as possible.

Pre Facelift:
8D0 820 043 - Automatic Climate Control (m.y. 1996)
8L0 820 043 A to C - Automatic Climate Control (m.y. 1997) *if installed on newer vehicles LCD brightness cannot be changed
8L0 820 043 D - Automatic Climate Control (m.y. 1998) *if installed on older vehicles LCD brightness cannot be changed


Partial Facelift:


Facelift:
8D0 862 534 A - Facelift Dash Pop-Out Cup Holder

[BlkBullitt]

II. Center Console Swapping

1. 1996-1997 Pre Facelift to Facelift:
Currently my writeup does not support 1996-1997 cars. Audi made some major changes to the climate control system between 1996 and 1997 and some smaller changes between 1997 and 1998. There is a small chance that this write up will work 1997 cars, however, I'm not going to claim it will until I'm aware of someone who has done it on their 1997. For people with 1996 cars there is no way this will work as written below.

But wait all is not lost... I am currently working with a member of this board who has a 1996 and wants to do a full Facelift Center Console Swap. It is definitely much more complicated than the somewhat straight forward upgrade from my 1998, however, if we succeed step-by-step instructions will be posted.

If anyone has a 1997 and wants to do this upgrade PM me and I'll be more than happy to attempt to help you through it as well.


2. 1998 Pre Facelift to Facelift:
Parts Needed:

• Facelift Center Console Front Plastic Piece
• Facelift Center Console Rear Plastic Piece with Folding Armrest and Cup Holder insert
• Facelift Center Console Cage
• Facelift Double DIN Radio Cage
• Facelift Symphony Radio (with Radio Code)
• Facelift Climate Control
• Facelift Hazard Button
• Facelift Dash Pop-Out Cup Holder
• Facelift Dash Three Button Assembly (Front Fog Lights, Rear Fog Lights, Blank Button or ESP Button)**
• Facelift Fog Light Control Module (Relay)**
• Facelift Foglight Button Electrical Connectors**
• Facelift Hazard Button Trim
• Facelift Ash Tray
• Facelift Shifter Trim (with Shift Boot if Manual)

** Since I've upgraded my headlights to Facelift One Piece Headlights I no longer have Front Fog Lights and since I don't really use my Rear Fog Light I decided not to worry about the Fog Light Buttons and will be instead installing a second Dash Pop-Out Cup Holder in place. With this being said I won't be covering the wiring for Facelift Fog Lights.

Installation:
Most of the install is straight forward, however, there are a few problems that will need resolved. Before proceeding remember to always disconnect the battery before doing any electrical work on a car.


I. Center Console Cage
The Facelift Center Console Cage has three prongs across the top that that Prefacelift version does not. To solve this I installed the Facelift Center Console Cage, but didn't tighten down the bolts completely allowing the prongs to indent the dash where they were making contact and then uninstalled the cage...


Next, I drilled three holes where the prongs had made indents...



II. Hazard Button
The Facelift and Prefacelift Hazard Button connectors are completely different (Top is Facelift, Bottom is Prefacelift)...


To solve this simply remove the front covers from both switches...




and than insert the front cover from the Facelift Button into your Prefacelift Button...



III. Climate Control (Illumination)
The Climate Control is fairly plug and play. Here is a quick shot of the connections on the back of the Facelift Climate Control...


Connections (from left to right)...
F - Rear Window Defrost (2pin)
D - Climate Control (16pin)
A - Climate Control (12pin)
B - Climate Control (20pin)
C - Climate Control (16pin)
**If the unit is equipped with heated seats the connections for the heated seat dials are located on each side of the unit as well.

In order for the Facelift Climate Control to illuminate with the headlight switch it needs an illumination power source added to the A connector shown here...


The cut the zip tie and pop the tabs to slide the outer cover of the connector off...


Notice that the 6th pin (in the above photo the pin on the far left) is blank. This is where we need to add an illumination source. So using a pick or very small screwdriver remove the pin from the connector...


Add the connector to a wire that runs from an illumination source (illumination sources are Grey/Blue wires running to any illuminated item... since you are going to cut the Rear Defrost wires shortly you could use the Grey/Blue wire running to the Rear Defrost Connector as the source). Once the pin is added reassemble the electrical connector. The Climate Control should now illuminate with the headlight stalk switch...

**Note in this photo the heated seat dials are not connected... they illuminate normally when connected.


IV. Climate Control (Rear Defrost)
To wire up the Rear Defrost you will need some 12 gauge wire and two spade connectors. You need to cut the two rear defrost wires off the old electrical connector (White and Yellow/White)...



The 12 gauge wires need to be soldered to the old wires to extend them and the spade connectors will be the means of connecting them to the Facelift Climate Control (F Connector). The White wire sends power from the switch to the Rear Defroster the Yellow/White wire sends power from to the switch. Here is how they should connect to the F Connector...

Pin 1 - Yellow/White
Pin 2 - White


V. Illumination for the Ashtray and Pop-Out Cup Holder
Simply add illumination and ground wires to both.

On the Ash Tray the connector pops apart revealing the pins...


Slide the pins out using a pick or small screwdriver and solder two wires to each pin or cut the pins off, strip the ends of the wires, and add quick release spade connectors like I did (in order to quickly remove the Ash Tray if needed in the future...





Blue Wire - Ground
Black Wire - Illumination Power

On the Pop-Out Cup Holder the connector that houses the LEDs slides out of the rear of the Pop-Out Cup Holder. The connector housing pops apart into two pieces revealing the two pins...


Solder two wires to each pin and reassemble everything...



Pin 1 - Illumination Power
Pin 2 - Ground


VI. Cigarette Lighter
The wires for the Cigarette Lighter connector need to be extended in order for it to reach. Make sure the wires coming to the Cigarette Lighter connector match the wires at the new Cigarette Lighter (when adding in wires to extend the connector you may need to change which pin the wires connect to)...

Wires to the Cigarette Lighter Connector...
Blue/Grey - Illumination Power
Red/Blue - 12v Power for Cigarette Lighter
Brown - Ground

Wires at the Facelift Cigarette Lighter (running from the connector to the actual Cigarette Lighter)...
Grey - Illumination Power
Red - 12v Power for Cigarette Lighter
Brown - Ground


VII. Front and Rear Fog Light Switches (special thanks to walky_talky20)
Here is a wiring diagram to install the Facelift Front and Rear Fog Light Buttons by walky_talky20...



Here is a link to the thread discussing this further - http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...elift-switches


3. Partial Facelift to Facelift:
Parts Needed:

• Facelift Center Console Front Plastic Piece
• Facelift Center Console Cage
• Facelift Double DIN Radio Cage
• Facelift Symphony Radio (with Radio Code)
• Facelift Climate Control
• Facelift Ash Tray

This should be completely plug and play. No additional wiring needed.


III. Center Console Mix and Match

This will hopefully answer any questions regarding if mixing and matching various center console parts will work. More will be added to this whenever possible.

Will the Facelift Lower Cupholders fit in the Prefacelift Rear Center Console Piece in place of the Storage Bin and the Telephone Jack?
Yes...


Will the Facelift Cigarette Lighter fit in the Prefacelift Rear Center Console Piece in place of the Pop-Up Cup Holders?
No...


Can I swap the Facelift Three Button Panel and the Facelift Pop-Out Cup Holder
Yes, right hand drive B5s have this layout

Can I swap replace the Facelift Three Button Panel with a Facelift Pop-Out Cup Holder
Yes, assuming you don't need to use any of those buttons.

Can I swap replace the Facelift Three Button Panel with anything else?
Yes, the C5 A6 Dash Pop-Out Card Holder will fit, however, do note the faceplate on the C5 A6 Dash Pop-Out Card Holder is at an angle which differs from the flat faceplate on the B5 A4/S4 Facelift Pop-Out Cup Holder. You could fix this issue by using a C5 A6 Dash Pop-Out Cup Holder in place of the B5 A4/S4 Facelift Pop-Out Cup Holder. I currently have the C5 A6 Dash Pop-Out Card Holder in my car along with a B5 A4/S4 Facelift Pop-Out Cup Holder and the angle difference doesn't bother me enough to make the switch.


Can I use a C5 A6 Dash Pop-Out Cup Holder instead of a B5 A4/S4 Facelift Pop-Out Cup Holder?
Yes, it will fit and will work just fine, however, do note the faceplate on the C5 A6 Dash Pop-Out Cup Holder is at an angle while the faceplate on the B5 A4/S4 Facelift Pop-Out Cup Holder is flat.

[gli_ryan]

yeah buddy!

[cmorse]

This is awsome. Perfect timing too.

[biketsai]

Very nice writeup, should go into the FAQ section for sure!

[Kyle H]

Thanks! This is great.

[BlkBullitt]

Thanks for all of the positive comments so far! Hopefully this answers most of the questions people have regarding this swap. Again comments, suggestions, and questions are always welcome.

[NickBroderick]

This is great, thanks for emailing it to me. I'll do this when I swap my whole dash!

[x2nervisx]

And if you want to wire the front and rear fog lights you'll need the fog light module from a partial facelift or a facelift model. Here's the link to the directions on how to wire the front fog lights. http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...elift-switches

[99blueb5]

excellent write up, this guy helped me so much when i did my swap and everything worked great no problems, kudos goes to you!

[T0mat3]

Dude, this is awesome, must of taken Alot of time!

[thedudesA4]

Great writeup looking to do this swap in the future. Thanks

[danphines]

I did mine a few weeks ago. left for the junkyard at 8am and had the whole swap done by 6pm

[Inval1d]

Finally! My prayers are answered. Thank you sir.

[belinko]

Some good info here!!

[somebody5788]

half facelift started in 99.5 and ended in 2000 when they went full double din. Cosmetically that is the only difference on a facelift and half facelift. But 2000-2001 were DBW and 1999.5 was still DBC. So the half facelift has a wide radio with facelift hazard and facelift like ash tray and center console. The climate control and ash tray sit up a little higher. They look the same but obviously the radio is different.

[JEmm]

Wow! Nice write up man!

[lowandslow4now]

Excellent write up! I always wanted to do this but too much scattered information around. I am glad to see this. I think this shoudl definetely be a sticky!

[coolgraymemo]

I guess I have the partial facelift.

[toxinr]

i'm gonna print this out and hang by my bed...excellent work dude!!!
too bad (well good thing actually) my intern is extended and i probably won't be doing this this summer...we'll see....
again..excellent work...

[SR-71]

This is awesome, I'm itching to do this.

I assume the radio is all plug-and-play as well? Would be nice to have an in-dash changer :)

[BlkBullitt]

Symphony I is plug and play (single CD). I haven't tried a Symphony II, however, I think there would be issues due to a lack of CAN BUS (at least in my 98).

Thanks again to everyone for the positive comments. I still need to add to this. Walky has provided me with all of the information for hooking up the facelift fog lights and I've been meaning to add it (I've been really busy lately). I did add a photo and part number today of the front of the prefacelift climate control (from a prefacelift car I'm parting out). I also plan on adding all of the part numbers eventually and possibly making a web based guide that organizes the information a little better.

[Walkerman]

I hope that since you have already done your console swap you can help me with one small issue. I have a '96 A4 B5 (the prefacelift) and bought a half-facelift climate control from a car from England. The problem is, that when I plug all the 4 connectors, there is still no real air conditioning (I mean the real cooling). I plugged back my old climate control and everything worked good (the cooling especially).. So I can't understand where the difference is? The climate control number is 8DO 820 043M

[SR-71]

Thanks again for the awesome walkthru. I have a 97 so I'm stuck with Delta radio or whatever it is.

Time to start pillaging the local yards.

-Nik

[BlkBullitt]

I hope that since you have already done your console swap you can help me with one small issue. I have a '96 A4 B5 (the prefacelift) and bought a half-facelift climate control from a car from England. The problem is, that when I plug all the 4 connectors, there is still no real air conditioning (I mean the real cooling). I plugged back my old climate control and everything worked good (the cooling especially).. So I can't understand where the difference is? The climate control number is 8DO 820 043M

I have a good idea what the problem is. What is your stock Climate Control Part #?

[Walkerman]

8D0 820 043 H is my stock one (there's another code above this one as well : 5HB 006 500-11). I will be extremely happy if you can help me.

[BlkBullitt]

8D0 820 043 H is my stock one (there's another code above this one as well : 5HB 006 500-11). I will be extremely happy if you can help me.

After looking at wiring diagrams for the automatic climate control for 96, 97, and 98 I've figured out your issue... sadly I don't think there is an easy solution since you have a 96.

Audi made changes in the wiring and sensor setup between both 96-97 and 97-98, but the biggest set of changes were between 96-97. The 97 wiring setup best resembles the 98 and later wiring and sensor setup (although it still has some of the older 96 items as well) while the 96 has most of the same wiring and sensor setup as the 97 and onward there are some key items that are missing that I think makes this impossible without adding other components.

I can get into more detail via PMs if you'd like and we can try a few things if you're interested, but I can't guarantee anything. Let me know.

[walky_talky20]

Wow, great writeup BlkBullit. Hadn't seen this yet. I made a diagram for connecting the new facelift fog switches to a pre-facelift car using the facelift fog module:



Requisition and more discussion of this diagram is in this thread (mentioned earlier): http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...elift-switches

You have my permission to incorporate this into your Official console thread, if you wish. Again, Great job.

[ObnoxiousDrunk]

After looking at wiring diagrams for the automatic climate control for 96, 97, and 98 I've figured out your issue... sadly I don't think there is an easy solution since you have a 96.

Audi made changes in the wiring and sensor setup between both 96-97 and 97-98, but the biggest set of changes were between 96-97. The 97 wiring setup best resembles the 98 and later wiring and sensor setup (although it still has some of the older 96 items as well) while the 96 has most of the same wiring and sensor setup as the 97 and onward there are some key items that are missing that I think makes this impossible without adding other components.

I can get into more detail via PMs if you'd like and we can try a few things if you're interested, but I can't guarantee anything. Let me know.

I have a '96 and have gathered a majority of the parts to do this swap. I grabbed the HVAC from a 2001, am I going to run into the same A/C issue as Walkerman?

Just wanted to know if I'm biting off more than I can chew with this........

[onemoremile]

Moved to projects subforum.

[BlkBullitt]

Updates:

Starting to add part #s for various parts. Also, working with a member to come up with a solution for early (1996-1997) Pre Facelift owners wanting to swap to a Facelift Center Console.

Eventually I may reorganize all of this data into something easier to sort through. I also plan on posting better wiring diagrams and pin outs for everything along with the details of running changes in the climate control system between 1997-2001.

[A4Rob]

Updates:

Starting to add part #s for various parts. Also, working with a member to come up with a solution for early (1996-1997) Pre Facelift owners wanting to swap to a Facelift Center Console.

Eventually I may reorganize all of this data into something easier to sort through. I also plan on posting better wiring diagrams and pin outs for everything along with the details of running changes in the climate control system between 1997-2001.

Let me know if you need me to dig up any more part numbers or info. I am doing the swap now.

[b5a4gt28]

I'm in the process of doing this now. I have everything wired up so far so good. This maybe a dumb question but where is the fog light control module? This is the only thing I have left to do.

[black99.5a4]

fog light control module is above the glove box.. open the door, squeeze it and drop it all the way down, reach up in and to the right, its just pushed in but has a white plastic piece that wraps around it to keep it plugged in.. you have to push that down and pull it out. if you're pulling it out.

[b5a4gt28]

So if I want it to be just like factory with the fogs off with the high beams on do I connect pin 12 to the 75x power? It says 12 volts to enable this feature. Can I get away with not doing anything with it?

[BlkBullitt]

Let me know if you need me to dig up any more part numbers or info. I am doing the swap now.

Rob (or anyone else) if you have any part #s I haven't posted yet feel free to PM them to me and I'll add them to the original post.

[Coopa]

I'm a 99.5 mid facelift owner.

I'm looking thru this and from what I can tell the climate control and ashtray don't need to be swapped. Don't midfacelift and facelift have the same as climate control and ashtray? Someone correct me if I'm wrong but this is what you need to go from midfacelift to facelift. ??

-Facelift center console front trim piece
-Facelift center console cage
-Facelift double DIN cage
-Facelift symphony

[A4Rob]

I'm a 99.5 mid facelift owner.

I'm looking thru this and from what I can tell the climate control and ashtray don't need to be swapped. Don't midfacelift and facelift have the same as climate control and ashtray? Someone correct me if I'm wrong but this is what you need to go from midfacelift to facelift. ??

-Facelift center console front trim piece
-Facelift center console cage
-Facelift double DIN cage
-Facelift symphony

Yes your HVAC and Ashtray will work with the swap (99.5) only

[Coopa]

Yes your HVAC and Ashtray will work with the swap (99.5) only

Well, I was very very wrong. The hvac's and ashtrays from midfacelift--facelift are different. The hvac on the facelift has the surround built in. Midfacelift has a surround that goes around the stereo and hvac. The midfacelift's ashtray mounting points are different than the facelift as well..I'm sure I'll find more.

[AudiTurbo]

Can I use the rear armrest that contains the cup holders (b6 I think), in my 98 b5?
Thanks
Yes I know it's an old thread