B8 AMI Aux Input in Center Console Storage Box

[DrGER]

We don't have iWhatevers, and the 32GB SD card in our Symphony head-unit handles all of my music library for my daily commute when I'm not listening to NPR, so I've been looking for a better way to get aux audio input in our B8. We have AMI in the glovebox, which is nice, but not ideal: audio cables tend to get crimped when they come out of a closed glovebox, so when I found the plug covering the aux input connector hole in the center console storage box (opposite the 12VDC power port) a while back, I set out to determine whether this would work with AMI.

I found an Aux In connector (8J0-035-475) with the cable for the old(er) RNE head units on eBay from a seller in China for a fair price. I also got a longer 3.5mm stereo extension cable, with the intention of using only the female end to connect to an AMI cable with a 3.5mm plug. After a dry-run with just the cables connected to my streaming audio source & the AMI worked, I fashioned a proper audio extension cable of total length 70 inches (175 cm) using the female end of the stereo extension cable.

Installation was fun: I haven't had the center console out in this car yet, so I got to figure out that puzzle (without breaking anything), as the cable was to run from the glovebox (out the left side of the AMI box) behind the head-unit & climate control, and out along the right rear air duct, continuing aft under the air duct.

Apart from getting the console out without breaking too much, the trickiest part was getting the cable up to glovebox: a stiff wire fished from the left side glovebox was used to pull the female cable end up from the console opening. I needed to pull the Symphony head-unit out a bit to help guide the wire out of the glovebox to its proper exit point. I didn't pull the glovebox, but I did have the AMI assembly out to drill a hole for the audio cable end and notch the left rear of the device drawer to allow clearance for the cable to exit the box (and to pull the cable up, of course).

If I get around to posting pictures anywhere, I'll add them to the thread.

[doowopaudi]

You mean, like this?
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...-your-arm-rest

[Smellie]

Why wouldn't you just get a Tune2Air?

[DrGER]

@doowopaudi: No, cable routed through the center console, terminated in the Aux In socket (8J0-035-475) fitted to the storage box under the front armrest.

@smellie: I thought about this method, but decided plain-old audio-in a more reliable solution (and less expensive).

[DrGER]

Some pictures of my Audio Aux In retrofit:

Cables (spliced) and aux-in connector:


Finished audio extension cable and aux-in connector:


AMI device box with 9.5mm hole for female cable end:


AMI device drawer notched for cable clearance:


Pulling audio cable female end up to glovebox (note that center console, upper air vent, and Symphony head-unit are removed at this point):


View of "fish" wire behind the Symphony head-unit:


Audio cable exiting dash under rear vent air duct:


Audio cable continuing aft:


Cable run view from rear seat:


Cable connected to Aux In socket (8J0-035-475) in center console storage box:


View of audio cable as it clears the front ashtray assembly (to the right):


Finished audio Aux connector in the center console storage box:


And no crimped audio cables exiting from under that front armrest:


For completeness, the finished AMI end in the glovebox: