B7 center console swap -- the entire parts list, in black

[RLB6]

CrazyCal, no offense taken. My post is not a proper DIY but it gave you enough info on what's needed to make the swap....the RIGHT way. Which by now you guy are starting to figure out that there is no real way around not having to purchase a b7 ebrake assembly. Besides, it's just under $180. Come on.

You drive an entry level luxury sedan you tight wads! Just pony up the dough

[RLB6]

^^^Has anyone solved this mystery of the universe yet?!

Comes with it if you purchase the center console new from the dealer.

[CrazyCal]

I ordered the B7 ebrake boot and boot bracket. We'll see if it can be fitted to the B6 ebrake...

[alexza4]

CrazyCal, no offense taken. My post is not a proper DIY but it gave you enough info on what's needed to make the swap....the RIGHT way. Which by now you guy are starting to figure out that there is no real way around not having to purchase a b7 ebrake assembly. Besides, it's just under $180. Come on.

You drive an entry level luxury sedan you tight wads! Just pony up the dough

Dude, why do it if you don't have to. I can actually get the b7 ebrake for free, yes for free but I still would use my original ebrake just because it can be done. Now if we can prove that just the b7 boot will work which I'm almost certain it will it would save everyone else time and money, as I said I'll be grabbing one as well on Friday and will post up the results. Other then that, thanks for the thread man, lots of useful info here.


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[swededA4]

I used the B7 boot. You guys are going to make me rip this thing out tomorrow to prove it. damnit

[CrazyCal]

I used the B7 boot. You guys are going to make me rip this thing out tomorrow to prove it. damnit

Oh, come on now, it's not that bad. It's one of those things where you figure out how to do it once and any time after that its out in 5 minutes. Lol :)

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[alexza4]

I used the B7 boot. You guys are going to make me rip this thing out tomorrow to prove it. damnit

Ah. I guess i missed your post. That settles it then.

[CrazyCal]

Not settled til I see pictures.

[jcg05c]

under 180? I could have swore when i looked up all the part numbers listed in original post. Was more around 250. Fck that I paid less for the whole center console including a perfect arm rest.

CrazyCal, no offense taken. My post is not a proper DIY but it gave you enough info on what's needed to make the swap....the RIGHT way. Which by now you guy are starting to figure out that there is no real way around not having to purchase a b7 ebrake assembly. Besides, it's just under $180. Come on.

You drive an entry level luxury sedan you tight wads! Just pony up the dough

[swededA4]

I will post more pictures tomorrow. I got called into to work early and I'm going to a baseball game tonight. I used the B6 ebrake everything else is B7.

[CrazyCal]

^
Can't see a whole heck of a lot in those pics.

[alexza4]

ok, i just installed the b7 ebrake cover over my b6 ebrake and just like Sweded said it works just fine. The only thing i did different is i re-used my already modified b6 plastic bracket rather then using the one from the b7 ebrake. the reason is that the mounting holes on the b7 braket will not line up to the holes on the b6 ebrake and IMO its helluva lot easier to just cut up the b6 braket then to re-drill holes in the ebrake.
here are the pics.

b6-b7 cover compare. you can see how much further in the appendage that sticks out on b7 ebrake is. you can also see the difference in brakets. like i said, i just cut off the bottom portion of the b6 braket.



Final pics







This should settle this. lol.

[CrazyCal]

Hah yes it does. That looks SO much better.

Can't wait for my b7 parts to get here so I can finish mine up. Right now I'm driving around with my console all ripped apart. No shift knob. No bueno. :(

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[jcg05c]

Alexa4, so the only part you purchased was the B7 hand brake cover?

[SunDevilDrake]

If you don't mind me asking. What did all these parts cost?

[alexza4]

Guys I don't know the costs as I did not purchase any of them, however if you take the time to read the entire thread you will find all the answers.

And yes the only thing you really need as far as the ebrake is a b7 cover.

[swededA4]

ok lets try these

[CrazyCal]

OMG I can't get the plastic cover to come off the e-brake. How the hell does this thing come off? I've googled with no luck. I know how to get the handle off...

EDIT: OK, I figured out how to remove the plastic e-brake cover. After screwing with it forever, I finally just took the whole e-brake assembly out (since I had to mod it anyway) and figured it out from there. I couldn't find any info anywhere about how, specifically, to remove the plastic cover. Tons of info on how to remove the handle, but nothing on the cover (AKA boot).

So, the cover is removed by pushing this little tab up with a screwdriver and pulling the cover straight out (the only way it can go).

Pic from the front:



Pic from the bottom:












So, anyway, on with modding (hacking up ) the e-brake mounting bracket to allow the B6 e-brake to fit the B7 console by moving it closer to the driver.

The B7 e-brake is exactly a half (0.5) inch closer to the driver than the B6 e-brake (I measured). At first I thought I would just legthen the holes with a tungsten carbide bit, but after measuring, the rear bolt hole has to be cut so it's open-ended, so I just did em both that way. I used a hack saw and a vice to cut. Finished off and rounded the edges with the tungsten carbide bit. Wear those safety glasses kids! Metal flakes in the eye hurt like hell.

Here I am lining up (poorly, I might add, as you will see i the rest of the pictures) the cut with the hack saw. My wife was hanging out with me while I was working and decided to take this pic.



The front bolt hole. I was pretty far off from the edge of the hole.



The rear bolt hole and the tungsten carbide bit.



Modded e-brake installed.




Now I'm just waiting on my B7 cover and cover bracket. Should arrive tomorrow. Will definitely be nice to have this console finally installed...

[Farmerjohn]

some one should combine the first and last post to make a real DIY out of this! Teamwork Yay!!!

[CrazyCal]

Put together a DIY:

DIY: B6 Center Console Removal and B7 Center Console Install

[alexza4]

lol... that cover was a pita to remote the first time! i've went through the same pain you did, getting frustrated as fuck, until accidentaly getting it off. once you know where to press it takes all of 10 seconds.

btw, you really did not need to extend the holes. just moved it as much as possible towards the driver's seat. mine fits perfectly.

[CrazyCal]

btw, you really did not need to extend the holes. just moved it as much as possible towards the driver's seat. mine fits perfectly.

I tried that. It did't fit at all. The holes HAD to be extended. Could be a difference in the years.... You have an '03, I have an '04.

[luisrivera]

lol i know i came late, but im confused... my girlfriend have a A4 B6 2002 with the cupholders bellow the armrest (the one you you're naming "B7 Console") like the one your swapping in... but the real weird thing is that i have a A4 B7 2006 with the console your swapping out (the one without the cupholders bellow the armrest, the one you're naming "B6 Console").

So... or am I understanding upside down (and you're all really swapping from a B7 console to a B6 console) or something is not clear, because i'm sure she has not changed that like me either.

[underground6t9]

lol i know i came late, but im confused... my girlfriend have a A4 B6 2002 with the cupholders bellow the armrest (the one you you're naming "B7 Console") like the one your swapping in... but the real weird thing is that i have a A4 B7 2006 with the console your swapping out (the one without the cupholders bellow the armrest, the one you're naming "B6 Console").

So... or am I understanding upside down (and you're all really swapping from a B7 console to a B6 console) or something is not clear, because i'm sure she has not changed that like me either.

B7 console has two cupholders in the console next to e-brake handle. B6 has the cupholder under arm rest which suck. Im doing the B7 conversion myself, I just finished reading this thread, looks simple enough just need parts.

[luisrivera]

lol my B7 have NO cupholder near the arm rest or e-brake. i just have the dash cupholder (the one over the radio) =s

[daverdfw]

so i just did this, using a B7 ebrake, and i have a lot more slack in the ebrake now, like its loose until you pull the brake about 2". any ideas how to fix this?

[customa4]

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ake-adjustment

[daverdfw]

yeah i read that, this is like before you even pull the lever, its like there is "play" i tried pulling it like 20 times to see if it would tighten it.

[ricostuart]

I have just bought a 2005.5 B7 S4 but I dont have this center console :(

Would I just purchase the console itself - do i need anyother parts to get this all to work for my car?

Thanks very much! :D

(PS. I've been lurking this forum for ages! As I am in the UK, it makes me want to buy so much stuff from the states - you get all the best stuff!)

[jcg05c]

^ huh>? I feel like US gets nothing.

[coowhip]

How long did the swap take everyone? I have the B7 e-brake assembly as well so no modification needed for that. But, I do have to replace an e-brake cable and figured this was the best time. Could I do this in an evening or a full saturday be better? Is it easier with the seats out as well? I have a pair of S4 seats I'm picking up this saturday morning.

[Audiguy1234]

I did the whole swap with modifying my e brake in an hour. Depends how quick and how familiar you are. Hard part might be removing the radio since it can be tricky.

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[coowhip]

I have quite a bit of experience with the radio and mine is aftermarket. I just need a frickin warm day to do it...stupid groundhog being full of crap!

[CrazyCal]

How long did the swap take everyone? I have the B7 e-brake assembly as well so no modification needed for that. But, I do have to replace an e-brake cable and figured this was the best time. Could I do this in an evening or a full saturday be better? Is it easier with the seats out as well? I have a pair of S4 seats I'm picking up this saturday morning.

Leave the seats in. Makes no difference.

[G.AUDI]

I bumped up CrazyCal's thread and figured I might as well ask in here too.... Did anyone also upgrade the front ashtray assembly to that of the B7 when they upgraded their center console? The front ashtray assembly also had a power outlet/ cigarette lighter as well. I am wondering if you can tap those wires to the same wires that is on the center console power assembly under the armrest of the B7 console... Any advice?

[jubei4769]

I bumped up CrazyCal's thread and figured I might as well ask in here too.... Did anyone also upgrade the front ashtray assembly to that of the B7 when they upgraded their center console? The front ashtray assembly also had a power outlet/ cigarette lighter as well. I am wondering if you can tap those wires to the same wires that is on the center console power assembly under the armrest of the B7 console... Any advice?

not sure my console is on the way though

[G.AUDI]

not sure my console is on the way though

Did you get the B7 front ashtray assembly as well? The console itself is not that bad of an install.

[jubei4769]

Did you get the B7 front ashtray assembly as well? The console itself is not that bad of an install.

From my understanding there sending everything but the ebrake. Why upgrade ashtray? There the same arent they? I've never looked at a B7 ashtray


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[G.AUDI]

Upgrading the ashtray is not necessary at all but I came up on a B7 aluminum ashtray for cheap. B7 ashtray also has electrical wiring for another power outlet.
So in other words, us B6 guys have only one power outlet while the B7 guys have two...

[MWAKU]

Ive got a B7 and am looking for this console. Will the B7 Swap just require the centre console, or will i need all those parts. (my centre console doesn't have the cup holders). Do you also know if the part # is the same part # as the non-cup holder console? as searching for it brings me up to the non cup holder console