2016 S3 Prestige HomeLink question

[Cairo94507]

So I have ordered my '16 S3 Prestige Package with 19" PP, red calipers and rear seat airbags. I did not elect to order the sport seat package (more on this later). I asked about HomeLink when I ordered the car and the selling dealership told me HomeLink is not available at all on the car I spec'd as it interferes with the technology in the car. I was kind of amazed (shocked really) that Audi does not make HomeLink a standard item on this car. So I asked the dealership to confirm this fact as I have seen reference to it being a standalone option available for the S3. It is even listed in the sales brochure for the S3 as an Audi accessory.

I then contacted Audi Customer Relations and they told me over the phone that the dealership is my best source of information.....yeah, right. I have bought a few new cars, some of which were orders from the factory. I never found the dealership to be the ultimate authority of what was available on an order. I then emailed Audi Customer Experience (I have a hard time accepting "No" for anything) and posed the question to them. I received a reply indicating HomeLink was available so long as I did not order the Sport Seat package (see how I tied that in to my thread?). Here is their (redacted) reply:

Dear Michael,

Thank you for contacting Audi of America. We congratulate you on your upcoming purchase!

According to my resources, the 2016 Audi S3 does have the option to have Home Link, unless the vehicle is also equipped with the S Sport Seat Package. If you have ordered the S Sport Seat package, then the dealer is correct in that you cannot have the Home Link installed. As for the reasoning, I cannot give a direction explanation other than it has to do with the vehicle’s design and functionality. Please refer back to your selling Audi dealer for further information regarding this matter.

I hope you have found this information useful, Michael. If you have any further questions, please feel free to reply to this e-mail or contact me through the Audi Customer Experience Center at +1 800 822 2834 extension XXXXX. We’re here to assist you 24 hours a day, seven days a week

You may receive a survey about this interaction with Audi. If you have a moment, please take the time to share your valued feedback with us.

Warm Regards,
Kristine XXXXX
Audi Digital and Social Media Advocate, Audi CXC
Audi of America, Inc.
Audi Customer Experience

I received that and thought, "OK, that should do it." Wrong again. I forwarded that email to me selling dealership and received a call advising they too received a reply to their own inquiry advising HomeLink will not work in the S3 Prestige car. I said, "Well, we have two different replies from Audi. One says yes and one says no." I asked them to try to research this further. We will see what happens.

This is sort of comical at this point. I know regardless of what Audi says, they sell the standalone Audi HomeLink for this car. Heck it is in their printed sales brochure as an Audi accessory. The fact the dealership and apparently Audi can't definitively resolve this issue is amusing. Surely I am not the only person trying to get HomeLink on a new S3??????

[ECP]

I have a 2016 s3 with sport seats and retro fitted the optional homelink. No issues

[JubilantBear]

I'm going through the same problem right now. When I bought the car the dealership promised me they would install the homelink. Now that they have my money they say that they cannot install it because the prestige package and that some bracket is in the way, and if they did install (or if I did install) it might void "the warranty"

The best information I've found so far is here: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...1#post11156992

six.machete was able to install the homelink himself in a prestige car. I'm going to go over that with the dealership and see if they change their mind, maybe open up the overhead console myself. Worst case I'll end up installing the damn thing myself.

[Cairo94507]

Thanks guys. Yeah, I found that thread and that was when I knew it could be done with no problems. Now we have ECP (above) confirming it too. It really does not appear to be a big project. Still, it is kind of disappointing that Audi has yet to sort this out.

I would think they might have a technician or two familiar with these cars and a couple of S3's they could install the HomeLink in to resolve the issue once and for all. Then perhaps a bulletin to the dealerships to set them all straight. A customer should not have to chase this down.

[JubilantBear]

I talked to the service guys today, the reasons seem to be:

The a3/s3 might need to connect to a transmitter/received in the grill like previous models and cars with the tech package might not have it. (I don't think this is true, can someone confirm the audi homelink just takes in 12v and ground?)

Or there is a bracket in the way, which seems to have been proven 100% not to be true.

There was also talk about it connecting to the mmi which kind of falls under point 1. This would be the biggest concern to me.

The guys at my service department wouldn't be doing the install, it would be a field tech instead. So unfortunately the services guys here are just messengers for the field tech.

[Cairo94507]

That's funny. I just got a call from the GM of the dealership where I ordered my S3 Prestige package car. They are telling me the exact same thing. There is a metal bracket/plate that prevents the HomeLink from being installed. He assured me it is impossible and they have checked with the factory and if you have a Prestige it will not work. I am going to continue to try to run this to ground and see what's up.

[ECP]

The homelink is its own self contained unit, there's a jumper harness that takes power, ground and illumination from the over head display.

Previously my dealer did mention about something being plugged into the grill area etc. I refused to listen and ordered it up anyway.

To confirm, remove the over head light fixture and check for the empty void in the head liner to the left and also snap some pics of the wiring harness. This will help confirm to what I've seen during my install.

[Cairo94507]

At this point I will wait until my car arrives. Once it arrives I will purchase the HomeLink and do the install. I am just amazed that Audi insists this impossible despite several members here having done this modification.

[JubilantBear]

I don't have the homelink yet, but I took my overhead unit apart today and I don't see any brackets that would possibly block installation. As far as I can tell everything looks like the pictures others have posted. I think I'm going to get the dealer to just send me the homelink thing.


http://imgur.com/a/r0yml

[Cairo94507]

Please thoroughly document your install. Is your car a '16 S3 Prestige without sport seats by chance? Once installed please test it several times and let us know if it works and/or interferes with any other electronics.
Thanks and good luck,
Michael

[JOaks24]

I just picked up my 2015 S3 Prestige with sport seats and I have the home link. It's mounted just left of over head console. I thought it seemed like and odd place because I have always seen them in the center. But the Audi dealership gave me the manual for the system so I think it was factory installed. Is there maybe something different with the 2016?

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[ECP]

I don't have the homelink yet, but I took my overhead unit apart today and I don't see any brackets that would possibly block installation. As far as I can tell everything looks like the pictures others have posted. I think I'm going to get the dealer to just send me the homelink thing.


http://imgur.com/a/r0yml

Looks no different than mine

[Cairo94507]

JOaks24 - Does your car have the Technology package? (speed sensing cruise control, front and rear parking assist, etc.) What Audi and the dealership seems to be relying upon is the HomeLink does not work with the technology package and some bracket which they insists interferes with HomeLink. That bracket could be either where the HomeLink control unit (roof) installs or up front of the HomeLink has a secondary unit to transmit the signal. I know my 997.2 Porsche has a sensor installed in the front bumper to facilitate the HomeLink, in addition to the buttons in the interior of the car. Is this the rub with the HomeLink in our cars?

[JOaks24]

JOaks24 - Does your car have the Technology package? (speed sensing cruise control, front and rear parking assist, etc.) What Audi and the dealership seems to be relying upon is the HomeLink does not work with the technology package and some bracket which they insists interferes with HomeLink. That bracket could be either where the HomeLink control unit (roof) installs or up front of the HomeLink has a secondary unit to transmit the signal. I know my 997.2 Porsche has a sensor installed in the front bumper to facilitate the HomeLink, in addition to the buttons in the interior of the car. Is this the rub with the HomeLink in our cars?

Yea, mine has that package as well.

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