B8.5 s4 cluster direct swap?

**Mr.Audi** · 04-12-2016 04:59 PM

I have an opportunity to get an s4 cluster very cheap out of a 2015.

Anyone have any past experiences with this swap?

Other then coding I'm sure to make it work, are there other questions or concerns I should have?

Manual /auto shouldn't matter right?

TIA

**shaunm82** · 04-12-2016 07:56 PM

You'd have to find a dealer that would take component protection off as well. My local one wouldn't do it.

**Mr.Audi** · 04-12-2016 08:25 PM

Huh? Wht is that an what's it mean?

And u said as well...
U knw it needs to be coded?

Sent from ....

**shaunm82** · 04-12-2016 08:41 PM

Don't think you'd need coding done. I went from a red dis cluster to color, and the only coding I needed to do was the 'mods' needle sweep, lap timer, show gear, etc.

But when I installed the used (new to me) cluster, it went into safe mode, or component protection. So when I turned the car on 'SAFE' was displayed in the dis, and the only thing that worked was the speedo and the mileage went up.

**Gunnark100** · 04-12-2016 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by shaunm82

Don't think you'd need coding done. I went from a red dis cluster to color, and the only coding I needed to do was the 'mods' needle sweep, lap timer, show gear, etc.

But when I installed the used (new to me) cluster, it went into safe mode, or component protection. So when I turned the car on 'SAFE' was displayed in the dis, and the only thing that worked was the speedo and the mileage went up.

So problem with dealer solved now or?

**shaunm82** · 04-12-2016 08:47 PM

Originally Posted by shaunm82

Don't think you'd need coding done. I went from a red dis cluster to color, and the only coding I needed to do was the 'mods' needle sweep, lap timer, show gear, etc.

But when I installed the used (new to me) cluster, it went into safe mode, or component protection. So when I turned the car on 'SAFE' was displayed in the dis, and the only thing that worked was the speedo and the mileage went up.

My local dealer wouldn't touch 'used' parts unfortunately. So thet couldn't help me.

Thankfully a place in town has the correct tools in place to do it.

Otherwise I was going to have to figure something else out.

**Gunnark100** · 04-12-2016 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by shaunm82

Thankfully a place in town has the correct tools in place to do it.

Dealer have no "legal right to refuse", but problem solved anyway

Only thing they not do is adjusting mileage of used cluster - against VAG procedures etc...

**lettuce** · 04-12-2016 09:04 PM

Isn't the speedo's max speed lower on the S4 than the A4? Seems like a downgrade to me.

**Shimmy** · 04-12-2016 09:56 PM

OP what are you trying to accomplish by doing this?

**The Infiltrator** · 04-13-2016 05:59 AM

Originally Posted by Shimmy

OP what are you trying to accomplish by doing this?

+1

**Party_Marty** · 04-13-2016 06:12 AM

Originally Posted by Shimmy

OP what are you trying to accomplish by doing this?

I'm wondering the same thing. The only thing I can think of is an upgrade in the LCD screen in-between the speedo and tach.

**The Infiltrator** · 04-13-2016 06:23 AM

Originally Posted by Party_Marty

I'm wondering the same thing. The only thing I can think of is an upgrade in the LCD screen in-between the speedo and tach.

I did just that, but not the S4... because I don't have an S4.

**shaunm82** · 04-13-2016 08:43 AM

I did the same, only way to do that is with a whole new cluster. Mine isn't from an S4 either though~

Originally Posted by lettuce

Isn't the speedo's max speed lower on the S4 than the A4? Seems like a downgrade to me.

In my search's on eBay, I *thought* the S4 was maxed at 200mph, and ours was 180?

**winreboot** · 04-13-2016 09:03 AM

I did a kessy swap on my vw and used R cluster. I learn that cluster had keys and immo data, you will need mileage correction and match the cluster. Its simple task for experienced audi/vw locksmith. Tool to reprogram cluster is like 10k, if I remember correctly so it's worth couple of hundreds to get it programmed by your locksmith. I would assume for Audi it would be the same..

**Mr.Audi** · 04-13-2016 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by Shimmy

OP what are you trying to accomplish by doing this?

Man question of the Hour,

I want the grey back ground
The white needles
And I just want an s4 cluster

**lettuce** · 04-13-2016 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by shaunm82

In my search's on eBay, I *thought* the S4 was maxed at 200mph, and ours was 180?

I don't know about ebay, but every time I see an S4 speedo posted here it's had a max of 160. Like this one for instance. And also this one (you can't see the max, but it looks to be scaled the exact same as the previous one).

**Gunnark100** · 04-13-2016 09:14 PM

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...sible-retrofit

**The Infiltrator** · 04-14-2016 07:28 AM

Originally Posted by Gunnark100

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...sible-retrofit

Looking at the link makes me want to swap out the needles for white ones.

**Mr.Audi** · 04-20-2016 01:01 PM

Got it. Now to figure out how it goes in and what works and dosent ...

**belzebutt** · 04-20-2016 02:42 PM

I just took apart my cluster last night for cleaning, see:
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...luster-removal

I'm curious about how the mileage adjustment works, can you post when you get it done? Do you have to write down what it is and tell the guy with VAG-Com to do it, or does he pull that from the ECU and codes it into the cluster? I read somewhere that if you just do a straight swap, you'll display the mileage of that S4 it came off of. And what is this "component protection" thing.

**shaunm82** · 04-20-2016 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by belzebutt

I just took apart my cluster last night for cleaning, see:
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...luster-removal

I'm curious about how the mileage adjustment works, can you post when you get it done? Do you have to write down what it is and tell the guy with VAG-Com to do it, or does he pull that from the ECU and codes it into the cluster? I read somewhere that if you just do a straight swap, you'll display the mileage of that S4 it came off of. And what is this "component protection" thing.

Miles are stored in the cluster, so it'll display whatever the miles were before it was pulled out of the donor car.

That is component protection, or safe mode. It'll display SAFE in the DIS until you get it cleared at the dealer. The only functions that worked were the speedometer and the mileage went up on both total, and trip. Everything else was locked up..

**shaunm82** · 04-20-2016 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by The Infiltrator

Looking at the link makes me want to swap out the needles for white ones.

David did a combo cluster. Looked pretty good:

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...hat-they-are-)

**The Infiltrator** · 04-20-2016 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by shaunm82

David did a combo cluster. Looked pretty good:

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...hat-they-are-)

I was going to change my needles put but my Podi gauge has the same needle as I do now. So I'm leaving it.

- - - Updated - - -

Originally Posted by shaunm82

Miles are stored in the cluster, so it'll display whatever the miles were before it was pulled out of the donor car.

That is component protection, or safe mode. It'll display SAFE in the DIS until you get it cleared at the dealer. The only functions that worked were the speedometer and the mileage went up on both total, and trip. Everything else was locked up..

Still haven't seen the dealer yet huh.

**shaunm82** · 04-20-2016 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by The Infiltrator

I was going to change my needles put but my Podi gauge has the same needle as I do now. So I'm leaving it.

- - - Updated - - -

Still haven't seen the dealer yet huh.

lol, that was taken when I first swapped~

...but no

, supposed to visit tomorrow!

**The Infiltrator** · 04-20-2016 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by shaunm82

lol, that was taken when I first swapped~

...but no

, supposed to visit tomorrow!

Awesome, let me know how it goes.

**Mr.Audi** · 04-20-2016 03:53 PM

Thanks for the help

Sent from ....

**Mr.Audi** · 07-31-2016 06:16 AM

Originally Posted by The Infiltrator

Awesome, let me know how it goes.

@shaunm82. How did it go?

So did you get the coding done, simple, cheap labor cost from dealer?

I installed mine, same situation with safe mode.. Took it out cause the dealer appointments were 2 wks out lol
Wtf

Sent from ....

**Mr.Audi** · 09-06-2017 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by Mr.Audi

@shaunm82. How did it go?

So did you get the coding done, simple, cheap labor cost from dealer?

I installed mine, same situation with safe mode.. Took it out cause the dealer appointments were 2 wks out lol
Wtf

Sent from ....

Were you able to get the programming done?

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**elscotto80** · 09-06-2017 11:25 AM

I did the swap from the red DIS to color. I bought a cluster and sent it to speedometer solutions and had him program the milage to xxxxx. This number was more than my current milage, so I drive until my car eqched that number. Swapped in the new cluster. Due to the swap, it goes into safe mode. The miles go up, so that matches and the speedo worked. Took it to a dealer to remove competent protection and everything worked. Fairly simple process. Component protection removal was 120 I think. Mileage adjustment was 100 I believe.

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**Zach L** · 09-06-2017 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by elscotto80

I did the swap from the red DIS to color. I bought a cluster and sent it to speedometer solutions and had him program the milage to xxxxx. This number was more than my current milage, so I drive until my car eqched that number. Swapped in the new cluster. Due to the swap, it goes into safe mode. The miles go up, so that matches and the speedo worked. Took it to a dealer to remove competent protection and everything worked. Fairly simple process. Component protection removal was 120 I think. Mileage adjustment was 100 I believe.

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Or you can just buy a cluster with the mileage slightly above your current mileage, and skip the mileage programming. Then removing component protection is the only needed thing; no coding is necessary. I got one for about $60 on eBay and dealer charged me $140 to remove component protection.

**elscotto80** · 09-06-2017 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by Zach L

Or you can just buy a cluster with the mileage slightly above your current mileage, and skip the mileage programming. Then removing component protection is the only needed thing; no coding is necessary. I got one for about $60 on eBay and dealer charged me $140 to remove component protection.

Yup, I just couldn't find one with more miles than what I had.

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**Zach L** · 09-06-2017 02:53 PM

FYI:

B8 S4 gauges go to 200mph
B8 A4 guages go to 180mph
B8.5 S4/A4 both go to only 160mph

They can all be swapped without issue.

**Mr.Audi** · 09-06-2017 07:01 PM

So what would be the issue with my cluster not illuminating the numbers and no working tach?
Any ideas?

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**elscotto80** · 09-07-2017 06:13 AM

Originally Posted by Mr.Audi

So what would be the issue with my cluster not illuminating the numbers and no working tach?
Any ideas?

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Did you just drop it in from another car? Sounds like CP is active, thus rendering most of the cluster "off". Only the speedo works when CP is active.

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**Zach L** · 09-07-2017 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by Mr.Audi

So what would be the issue with my cluster not illuminating the numbers and no working tach?
Any ideas?

Originally Posted by elscotto80

Did you just drop it in from another car? Sounds like CP is active, thus rendering most of the cluster "off". Only the speedo works when CP is active.

x2, only speedometer and odometer work in 'SAFE' mode, until component protection has been removed by the dealership.

Have you read any of this thread lol?

**elscotto80** · 09-07-2017 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by Zach L

x2, only speedometer and odometer work in 'SAFE' mode, until component protection has been removed by the dealership.

Have you read any of this thread lol?

I wonder the same....it's been repeated 50 times in this thread, not to mention others...

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**Mr.Audi** · 09-07-2017 07:43 PM

Have been keeping up.. but just barely.

So cp, no way I can vag-com on my own eh?

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**elscotto80** · 09-07-2017 09:22 PM

Originally Posted by Mr.Audi

Have been keeping up.. but just barely.

So cp, no way I can vag-com on my own eh?

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Nope. Dealer has to do it. VAG COM would work if you installed a brand new cluster with zero miles (you get one try to program miles on a new cluster that's never been programmed). Ross-techs website has some great info on this.

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**Mr.Audi** · 09-08-2017 06:36 PM

Originally Posted by elscotto80

Nope. Dealer has to do it. VAG COM would work if you installed a brand new cluster with zero miles (you get one try to program miles on a new cluster that's never been programmed). Ross-techs website has some great info on this.

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