RS3 8Y Flat-Bottom Steering Wheel Guide...

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Now that more 8Y models are coming out there is a lineup of flat-bottom wheels that are available to upgrade from your round wheel or to change up the leather type if you already have a flat-bottom wheel. These are steering wheels which are prepared to be plug and play with the proper RS3 multi-function controls, guaranteed to fit the first time and work perfectly right out of the box!

Pricing on the website is for steering wheels without an airbag included. There are steering wheels available for the round and trapezoidal shaped airbag. For those with trapezoidal airbags who want to upgrade to a smaller/cleaner round airbag style this can be added in using the drop down menu on each product page.

Round Airbag Steering Wheels

Smooth Flat-Bottom Multi-Function Steering Wheel <-Click Link for More Information
(Smooth Leather, Single Stitching, with or without Black Paddles, Standard or RS Mode Controls, Badgeless)


S-Line Flat-Bottom Multi-Function Steering Wheel <-Click Link for More Information
(Partial Air Leather, Grey or Red Stitching, with or without Black Paddles, Standard or RS Mode Controls, Choice of Badging)


RS3 Air Leather Flat-Bottom Multi-Function Steering Wheel <-Click Link for More Information
(Full Air Leather, Black, Grey or Red Stitching, w/ RS Extended Paddles, Standard or RS Mode Controls, Choice of Badging)




RS3 Alcantara Sport Flat-Bottom Multi-Function Steering Wheel <-Click Link for More Information
(Full Alcantara Leather, Red, Green or Blue Stitching and 12 o'clock Stripe, w/ RS Extended Paddles, Standard or RS Mode Controls, Choice of Badging)

Trapezoidal Airbag Compatible Steering Wheels

Smooth Flat-Bottom Multi-Function Steering Wheel <-Click Link for More Information
(Smooth Leather, Single Stitching, with or without Black Paddles, Standard or RS Mode Controls, Badgeless)


S-Line Flat-Bottom Multi-Function Steering Wheel <-Click Link for More Information
(Partial Air Leather, Red or Grey Stitching, with or without Black Paddles, Standard or RS Mode Controls, Choice of Badging)


Air Leather Flat-Bottom Multi-Function Steering Wheel <-Click Link for More Information
(Full Leather, Single Stitching, with Extended Paddles, Standard or RS Mode Controls, Choice of Badging)


Alcantara Flat-Bottom Multi-Function Steering Wheel <-Click Link for More Information
(Full Alcantara, Red, Blue or Copper Stitching, with Extended Paddles, Standard or RS Mode Controls, Choice of Badging)

Fitment:

• All '21+ RS3 8Y models can fit these steering wheels
• RS3 8Y models with trapezoidal airbags REQUIRE an airbag when fitting a wheel designed for a round airbag
• Multi-function controls, badging and shift paddles can be changed per application
• RS Mode controls only work on RS3 models
• Standard controls only work on A and S level models
• All flat-bottom steering wheels are close in size and shape, variations are based on leather, stitching, paddles, etc.
• There are NO heated flat-bottom steering wheels available

Questions:
If you have any questions or needs other than those posted above please don't hesitate to PM or email: [email protected]

Thanks!

[GTItoS4]

Which of these retain all of the lane guidance and active cruise steering assist features?

Any way to add heat on the round wheels?

[mparr11]

how much for thetrapezoidal airbag for an 8y black alcantara with the audi emblems blacked instead of chrome?

[[email protected]]

Important Update:



Coding has been tested and sorted for keeping your full assistance systems while fitting a flat-bottom steering wheel to your A3, S3 or RS3 8Y model!

You can reuse your current airbag so long as it matches the same shape that fits the new steering wheel. You can sort the steering wheels on the site by the shape of the airbag to narrow down your selections.

If you have a trapezoidal airbag now with a round steering wheel and want to move to a steering wheel with the round style airbag you do need to add that in for total pricing on the website and proper fitment.

If you aren't sure what steering wheel(s) would work for your car please don't hesitate to email over your VIN: [email protected]

Cheers!

[Pink Flamingo]

Important Update:



Coding has been tested and sorted for keeping your full assistance systems while fitting a flat-bottom steering wheel to your A3, S3 or RS3 8Y model!

You can reuse your current airbag so long as it matches the same shape that fits the new steering wheel. You can sort the steering wheels on the site by the shape of the airbag to narrow down your selections.

If you have a trapezoidal airbag now with a round steering wheel and want to move to a steering wheel with the round style airbag you do need to add that in for total pricing on the website and proper fitment.

If you aren't sure what steering wheel(s) would work for your car please don't hesitate to email over your VIN: [email protected]

Cheers!

Amazing news Alex! Do we need coding when switching from round to flat? If so, what is recommended? Thanks!

-Frank

[nerdpox]

Thank god. Day 1 upgrade for me when I get my RS3.

[Jetdriver]

There's gonna be a lot of round Alcantara steering wheels for sale here... hehe

Sent from my SM-F721U using Audizine Forum mobile app

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Amazing news Alex! Do we need coding when switching from round to flat? If so, what is recommended? Thanks!

-Frank

Yes, if you want the assistance systems to function like they do from the factory you will need to perform the coding. Simplest to use IMHO is VCDS for the regular home user, but VCP is also available here and is fairly powerful, just a little less user friendly:

Interface | Vag Can Professional <-Click Link for More Information

Thank god. Day 1 upgrade for me when I get my RS3.

There's gonna be a lot of round Alcantara steering wheels for sale here... hehe

Yeah I suspect those barely used round alcantara wheels will be a great upgrade for A3 and S3 guys who don't want a flat-bottom but want to upgrade to an alcantara wheel and reuse their stock airbag.

Cheers,

[GTItoS4]

So lane centering during cruise control works exactly the same? Or we're just avoiding the fault?

Has a heated wheel from an RS5 or similar been explored yet? Would kill for heat.

[[email protected]]

So lane centering during cruise control works exactly the same? Or we're just avoiding the fault?

Has a heated wheel from an RS5 or similar been explored yet? Would kill for heat.

The assistance systems continue to work as they do from the factory. You won't have any errors on your instrument cluster either.

Around two years ago tried out an RS6/7 C8 flat-bottom steering wheel which had heating and the hands on detection with an RS3 8Y. Sadly nothing worked, no controls, no hands on detection and not even heating. So unfortunately you do lose heating when going to a flat-bottom wheel for these 8Y models.

Cheers,

[rawpoly]

While I would LOVE a flat bottomed steering wheel in the 8Y I would be extremely nervous having an aftermarket wheel in cars with these many sensors etc. Also airbags scare me. So sadly will have to live with my regular perforated wheel for now.

[Jetdriver]

While I would LOVE a flat bottomed steering wheel in the 8Y I would be extremely nervous having an aftermarket wheel in cars with these many sensors etc. Also airbags scare me. So sadly will have to live with my regular perforated wheel for now.

Are these "aftermarket" wheels?

Sent from my SM-F721U using Audizine Forum mobile app

[993140]

Are these "aftermarket" wheels?

No, they are Audi OEM.

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While I would LOVE a flat bottomed steering wheel in the 8Y I would be extremely nervous having an aftermarket wheel in cars with these many sensors etc. Also airbags scare me. So sadly will have to live with my regular perforated wheel for now.

Are these "aftermarket" wheels?

No, they are Audi OEM.

These are not aftermarket steering wheels as 993140 notes correctly. All of these wheels are genuine Audi items. There is no change in the assistance systems in the car either and Audi has plenty of cars that do not use hands on detection that also have these same lane keeping systems and other driver's assistance items. You won't be sacrificing anything, well except for steering wheel heating if you do have and use that feature.

Cheers,

[Jetdriver]

What's weird is that I noticed the RSQ3 comes with a flat-bottom, Alcantara steering will with the US-style airbag. The flat-bottomed RS3 steering wheels in the EU have the smaller, round airbag. Why couldn't we have gotten the flat-bottom in the US?

Screenshot 2024-02-25 200355.jpg

[JustinP142]

What's weird is that I noticed the RSQ3 comes with a flat-bottom, Alcantara steering will with the US-style airbag. The flat-bottomed RS3 steering wheels in the EU have the smaller, round airbag. Why couldn't we have gotten the flat-bottom in the US?

Screenshot 2024-02-25 200355.jpg

To my understanding, none of the EU cars have the touch sensors in the steering wheels which are in the round wheel. So any RS in EU will have the flatbottom. The trapezoid airbag is usually in the Suvs so that's the combo here.

[Jetdriver]

To my understanding, none of the EU cars have the touch sensors in the steering wheels which are in the round wheel. So any RS in EU will have the flatbottom. The trapezoid airbag is usually in the Suvs so that's the combo here.

Ah ok. Makes sense.

[GTItoS4]

So if we are coding out the lack of capacitive touch sensors, do we gain true hands free cruise control? Presently, I don't have to steer, but simply touch the wheel with a hand or knee.

If this means occasional steering inputs are now required, that would be a bit of a side grade.

[[email protected]]

So if we are coding out the lack of capacitive touch sensors, do we gain true hands free cruise control? Presently, I don't have to steer, but simply touch the wheel with a hand or knee.

If this means occasional steering inputs are now required, that would be a bit of a side grade.

When fitting a flat-bottom the capacitive hands on detection is being turned off and the original style torque sensing detection is being enabled. In essence the same applies since you have to have a hand on the wheel (or a knee) so long as there is a minimal amount of torque being applied. All of the flat-bottom cars minus the RS6/7 C8 use this same torque sensing hands on detection worldwide.

Cheers,

[GTItoS4]

Ok. Good to know that going in.

I have the torque-sensing system on my other Audi and I strongly prefer the capacitive system on the RS3. But, man, that air leather flat bottom RS would look so much better!

[smoke doctor]

So how do we get these flat bottom wheels working correctly? I’m assuming tons of people going to start ordering them.

[FSTSNAL]

You could also add this module which sends a constant signal to the computer that you have your hands on the wheel. Allows unlimited hands free length or to use a wheel without the sensors without needing to switch to the steering input method. https://acmtechnik.com/products/jlsp...module-8y-audi

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So how do we get these flat bottom wheels working correctly? I’m assuming tons of people going to start ordering them.

A fair number of customers have ordered, received, installed and are enjoying these flat-bottom wheels with fully functioning assistance systems already!

You could also add this module which sends a constant signal to the computer that you have your hands on the wheel. Allows unlimited hands free length or to use a wheel without the sensors without needing to switch to the steering input method. https://acmtechnik.com/products/jlsp...module-8y-audi

Not sure this is the route I would recommend considering it completely removes all safeguards for using semi-autonomous systems and could lead to possible liabilities if an accident were to occur while that device was installed.

Car's worldwide are still being delivered by Audi are using these flat-bottom wheels and others with the torque style hands on sensing system for use with assistance systems. Probably best to stick with factory systems IMHO.

Cheers,

[smoke doctor]

Ya. Just ordered mine. Stoked for flat bottom and that red stitching

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RS3 post-facelift parts are starting to show up and despite this maybe not being the most well liked design for a steering wheel they are in fact available.

The controls do actually click like standard multi-function controls despite looking capacitive.

The big bonus with this RS3 post-facelift flat top/bottom steering wheel is that it is touch sensitive out of the box. This should mean no coding and this hopefully being fully plug and play.

Looking for an RS3 8Y owner who is interested in testing this in stock steering wheel. Please do email for further information: [email protected]

Cheers,

[Rs334]

what do these run? ^

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what do these run? ^

Have yet to set pricing since these will want to be tested first. Mostly educated guess is that these steering wheels should be plug and play for the RS3 8Y and hopefully the race flag button natively works to control the ESP, but again want to confirm 100% first.

If you are interested in testing please do shoot over an email: [email protected]

Cheers,

[Rguy]

Super interested in this being fully plug and play! Would love to test but dont wanna be the first guinea pig lol