What are these brackets for on the A/C Condenser?

[danmm7]

I was replacing my supercharger belt this weekend and when i removed the radiator cover, i notices that on the A/C Condenser, there are 2 plastic brackets with nothing attached to them.
It looks like something is missing there. I am the second owner of the car, so now i wonder if the previous owner made some modifications.


See pictures below for more details.










Thanks!

[whiped]

If it's a B8 they hold on the drive select cooler.

[danmm7]

If it's a B8 they hold on the drive select cooler.

It is a B8, I have drive select.... but clearly, there is no cooler. How is that possible?

[whiped]

I don't have a B8 so I am not sure. It is possible that it fell.

I was looking for a picture but I was unable to find one other than step 33 here: http://www.awe-tuning.com/media/pdf/..._reservoir.pdf

The only reason I know it was there was from the Coldfront install mentioning it.

[LYKUNO]

It's actually a power steering cooler, per this thread on the DIY Intercooler Protection Screen. My 2011 B8 with ADS has this same arrangement as pictured in post 49 of that thread (as shown below).



Here's the part (#20) on an Audi Parts site:

[danmm7]

Very strange. I certainly have the dynamic steering.
Yet, as you can see on the pictures - i do not have a cooler or any lines installed there.

Did they skip that on some cars?

[LYKUNO]

Very strange. I certainly have the dynamic steering.
Yet, as you can see on the pictures - i do not have a cooler or any lines installed there.

Did they skip that on some cars?

Not that I'm aware. Was your car ever involved in a front end accident? Perhaps the previous owner, or someone who worked on the car at that time, bypassed the cooler for some reason (e.g., it was leaking). The part is in the $250 range so someone may have chosen to eliminate it, without bothering to remove the brackets.

[jsh139]

Very strange. I certainly have the dynamic steering.
Yet, as you can see on the pictures - i do not have a cooler or any lines installed there.

Did they skip that on some cars?

Are you sure you have dynamic steering? Dynamic steering changes the actual steering ratio of the car, depending on mode. Many cars (mine included) have the drive select button, but not dynamic steering. The steering just gets a little stiffer (less power assist), but the steering ratio stays the same.

Check your drive select settings. Do you have this screen that says "Dyn Steering":



Or, do you have this screen that just says "Steering":

[SwankP3RF3ct10n]

OP, has your car ever been involved in a front impact accident? If so, it's possible the A/C condenser core was replaced and when they ordered the new part, they could have ordered the one that had the brackets or something along those lines.

[danmm7]

Bingo! Looks like i do not have "Dyn Steering".
I did not know that there is a difference between "steering" and "dyn steering".

Here is what i see on my drive select menu:

[LYKUNO]

Bingo! Looks like i do not have "Dyn Steering".
I did not know that there is a difference between "steering" and "dyn steering".

Here is what i see on my drive select menu:

Are there any choices you can select under the Engine/Gearbox setting other than "Auto", and any choices under the Steering setting other than "Comfort"?

Here's a video tutorial on Audi Drive Select that may be helpful:



Lastly, here's a post that describes "full ADS" vs "ADS light" that may be informative in determining what option your car has.

And perhaps a more definitive post that defines the ADS and Sport Diff option, that can vary to some degree on whether the car has navigation option.

[jsh139]

Bingo! Looks like i do not have "Dyn Steering".
I did not know that there is a difference between "steering" and "dyn steering".

Here is what i see on my drive select menu:

Yup, looks to me like you just have the sports diff. So, I think you're good to go!