A5 to A4 B8 instrument cluster swap issues

[cuda2000]

I bought a brand new A5 instrument cluster, 2012 version and installed into my 2010 A4 B8. I also got the correct plastic surrounds to match. Old cluster had red display, new has color display.
Plugged it in, zero miles (was brand new). Safe mode, nothing worked except speedometer. Speedometer goes to 160 vs 180 in old cluster, but is accurate matching to phone Gps.
Drove directly to Audi dealer, they took info from old cluster and took off safe mode. They told me they could NOT set the mileage! They will add my old mileage to new whenever I bring it in for service.
I'm ok with that, BUT here are my problems now:
1. Date and time are off, year is 2012 and I can't get to date/time setting from MMI, it is greyed out.
2. Display controls on windshield wiper stalk do not work anymore. Center display is showing Distance to Empty. I can't switch it to MPG or MPH.

Does anyone have a solution to these problems?

Thanks

[The Infiltrator]

I bought a brand new A5 instrument cluster, 2012 version and installed into my 2010 A4 B8. I also got the correct plastic surrounds to match. Old cluster had red display, new has color display.
Plugged it in, zero miles (was brand new). Safe mode, nothing worked except speedometer. Speedometer goes to 160 vs 180 in old cluster, but is accurate matching to phone Gps.
Drove directly to Audi dealer, they took info from old cluster and took off safe mode. They told me they could NOT set the mileage! They will add my old mileage to new whenever I bring it in for service.
I'm ok with that, BUT here are my problems now:
1. Date and time are off, year is 2012 and I can't get to date/time setting from MMI, it is greyed out.
2. Display controls on windshield wiper stalk do not work anymore. Center display is showing Distance to Empty. I can't switch it to MPG or MPH.

Does anyone have a solution to these problems?

Thanks

This is one reason I stuck with parts that were meant for my model. Sucks it's not working but maybe it's in VCDS... Or not.

Ask this guy, he might be able to help on this already existing thread on this subject.
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...etrofit-for-A4

[X Y Z]

Do you have navigation?

[The Infiltrator]

Do you have navigation?

Ha, I didn't even think about that. I bet he doesn't and if that's so, time for a 3G or 3G+ retrofit.

[The Infiltrator]

Let me get you started for this retrofit. One of the best mods I've done!

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...1#post10711667
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ful-conversion!
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...G-MMI-retrofit
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...-2010-Retrofit
http://www.audiworld.com/forums/a4-b...oject-2830698/

[The Infiltrator]

Also, when I did mine the seller said they could change the mileage for me, it's in the link below. Either way you'll have to find someone to change the mileage for you or take it out and ship it to these guys to change it. They were great to deal with and professional so you should be in good hands if that's what you choose to do.
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...1#post11283115

[avantagg]

This is one reason I stuck with parts that were meant for my model. Sucks it's not working but maybe it's in VCDS... Or not.

Ask this guy, he might be able to help on this already existing thread on this subject.
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...etrofit-for-A4

Yea, I had read a couple of earlier threads where people were having some issues either unlocking the cluster or getting the stiff arm from the dealer on mileage matching. I bypassed the A5 electronics for this reason. The DIY that I put together is purely aesthetic and uses components from same model years.

I wish I could help out more but I'm not sure what the issue is. My date and time got screwy when I unplugged my cluster to swap the faces, but I was able to reset them all through the MMI with no problem. My only guess is that it may have something to do with the cluster coming from a newer car? There was another guy on here that did the full swap and got his mileage matched. I think he went red to color display. Here is the thread: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...6#post11661466

[The Infiltrator]

Yea, I had read a couple of earlier threads where people were having some issues either unlocking the cluster or getting the stiff arm from the dealer on mileage matching. I bypassed the A5 electronics for this reason. The DIY that I put together is purely aesthetic and uses components from same model years.

I wish I could help out more but I'm not sure what the issue is. My date and time got screwy when I unplugged my cluster to swap the faces, but I was able to reset them all through the MMI with no problem. My only guess is that it may have something to do with the cluster coming from a newer car? There was another guy on here that did the full swap and got his mileage matched. I think he went red to color display. Here is the thread: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...6#post11661466

Yeah he's the one that did the 3G retrofit when I did, but he went beyond and did the B8.5 stuf lolf. I think the OP is still on a non NAV system as stated above. If that's so, it won't work right until he does the retrofit.

[cuda2000]

I do not have navigation. Thank you all for the links! I will read through them tonight. Audi reported the cluster swap, will probably show up on car fax now so I'm screwed for mileage/resale value but the car had been in an accident that was fixed so I'm not worried about resale value anyway. I bought it brand new in 2010.
Right now I'd really like to just get the date/time working. Navigation would be awesome too at some point.
Thanks again!

[cuda2000]

Ugh... I read through the links. Upgrading to navigation sounds hard and I have no idea if that would fix my date/time issue.
Not all cars have navigation that have color display cluster, so I would have thought using a non nav a5 cluster would have worked. Also I bought it from a guy in Hungary, so could be it's looking for date/time signal that we don't have in the USA?
Speedo is in mph... Main reason i started this escapade is the original cluster speaker failed, so no chimes or turn signal clicks, and for a time the turn signals didn't work. This is my wife's car and I didn't tell her I was going to do this. I need to figure this out by Sunday when she gets back from out of town. Thinking I might hack in a new speaker in the old cluster and reinstall it. Probably another trip to the dealer if I do that though. Dang it!

[The Infiltrator]

Ugh... I read through the links. Upgrading to navigation sounds hard and I have no idea if that would fix my date/time issue.
Not all cars have navigation that have color display cluster, so I would have thought using a non nav a5 cluster would have worked. Also I bought it from a guy in Hungary, so could be it's looking for date/time signal that we don't have in the USA?
Speedo is in mph... Main reason i started this escapade is the original cluster speaker failed, so no chimes or turn signal clicks, and for a time the turn signals didn't work. This is my wife's car and I didn't tell her I was going to do this. I need to figure this out by Sunday when she gets back from out of town. Thinking I might hack in a new speaker in the old cluster and reinstall it. Probably another trip to the dealer if I do that though. Dang it!

Shouldn't lock out if you install the original part.

[cuda2000]

If I put the original back I will have to disconnect the emergency flasher switch/airbag light to put the a4 dash surround on too. Doesn't that flip a warning light?

[avantagg]

If I put the original back I will have to disconnect the emergency flasher switch/airbag light to put the a4 dash surround on too. Doesn't that flip a warning light?

Only if you turn the ignition on while the switch is unplugged.

[cuda2000]

OK I figured out why the speaker was not working on the original cluster!!! And I re-installed it in place of the A5 cluster. I could not figure out how to set the date/time and that would have made the wife make me sleep on the couch, guaranteed.
Now this original cluster is in SAFE Mode. F*$@%!!!!
But now the speaker works. So back to the dealer again TOMORROW to pay ANOTHER $167 to get safe mode taken off!
Here is why the speaker did not work.... The speaker is NOT SOLDERED TO THE BOARD! WHAT THE HELL? It is held on with plastic legs, and the 2 connectors are just bendy-metal tabs!
So I took the speaker off (by pulling it gently, didn't take any pressure) and bent the tabs more so they would make a tighter connection, pushed it back in, put the screws back in, and put it in the car.
So I paid about $600 and two trips to the dealer for something I could have fixed FOR FREE in a parking lot! Ooooh I'm so mad! Still better than $1500 the dealer would have charged, but son of a monkey goat freak show!
Here are some pics of the wonderful German engineering....