MMI plug and play upgrade

[AUDuffer]

I bought a 2012 Q5 with quattro and s-line package. It has the Nav system and I was reading an old thread in the B8 A4 forum (back when I owned one) about upgrading to the new system with Google maps, SIM card, etc. It seemed like back then they were using European units, but it was basically a straight swap. Does anybody know if I could do the same with one of the new MMIs and just swap out the components? I want to see if anybody can answer before I pull it out to check the connections and see if there's anything different from that aspect.

[AUDuffer]

So in talking to someone they told me it would be a plug and play; the dealership would need to do some coding and enable the hardware.

[R y an]

cool. I wondered about this. hopefully something comes available with a diy

[AUDuffer]

I talked to an Audi parts guy yesterday who said this wouldn't work so went I back to the German guy I was talking to before. Hers what he had to say:

audi can only replace the same partnumber,the guys cant do any retrofit with other partnumber

we here in germany can do all possible retrofits with different partnumbers by using rosstech

so your only way is to find someone who can and want to help you in this case

From his next message to me:

dealer has to match the "component protection",this is a easy online function which can only do a audi dealer

the dealer also can read out the coding of your old unit (if the unit isnt broken),and he can also write it manually in the new unit. but i dont know if he know that his diagnostic computer has the function,its a little bit hidden in the menu

the easyist way ist to read out the coding from old unit and write it in the new.

another way is to read out the coding of the old unit,at audi dealer or rosstech,it doesnt matter and then you give me the coding and i write it to the new unit bevor shippin


So it sounds like it's very much a possibility. Now I need to find someone in Hawaii with a cable since I'm an apple guy and don't have my Macbook with boot camp any longer. And of course the other debate: interior mod or exterior mod (KW HAS) first!