3G Retrofit Recall BEWARE!

[E.Anderson]

Brought my car in for alignment and there were a couple recalls, one for the passenger seat and one for the 3g retrofit.

The 3g retrofit is just a GPS tracker sold by Mojio in partnership with audi. I had no idea they were going to do this to my car until I picked it up and noticed a device stuck in my OBD2 port.

Not only did audi to a half assed job and not put the panels back together properly, they totally butchered my storage compartment and jammed the LTE box in there. I'm so upset they would do this without even explaining what damage would be done by installing this.

[Smac770]

Yeah, I would never take this as a substitute of the original audi connect vehicle services functionality. I think MY17/MY18 owners need to just consider that functionality dead with the 3G demise.

Is the OBD plug at least a pass-through so you can plug in other things like VCDS without having to constantly unplug the solution? Don't forget to explain that when you go for emissions.

And wtf with that dash trim alignment.

[E.Anderson]

It is not a pass through. It's like a JB4 connection.

This isn't staying. I removed it myself after complaining to my dealer. I'm also asking that they replace my panel storage compartment that they completely butchered.

[K1196A]

It is not a pass through. It's like a JB4 connection.

This isn't staying. I removed it myself after complaining to my dealer. I'm also asking that they replace my panel storage compartment that they completely butchered.

I don't blame you! That is some horrifically shitty work. The solution is hardly acceptable, and the execution is even worse. It's absolutely infuriating that with some of these cars still under warranties that this is the best solution that they can come up with. I'd rather pay $1,000 out of pocket and have it done right if they would at least make that option available (a real 4g module).

[Smac770]

I really wonder how expensive it would be to retrofit the actual J949 from the MY19 and just get the on-going 4G solution that MY19+ now have. I know in the A5, it created the space issue that pushed the jack/toolkit into a bag that sits in the trunk. Don't know if A4 had the same problem. I guess it might require updating the J533 to the non-connected version too maybe. Still, rather pay for the real solution than a third-party hack which just wants to track me for their data collection purposes.

[oesman]

This is an incredibly stupid solution. I get we have supply chain issues going on, but this is just an infuriatingly inappropriate way for Audi to handle this. Hell I'd be pissed if Kia did this and only expect it as some half-brained Tesla solution like their Home Depot parts in the Y. The idea that any established car company, let alone Audi, would do this instead of just saying "sorry we don't have a solution yet, we fucked up" is crazy.

[E.Anderson]

Why they wouldn't install the module behind the panel instead of cutting into the storage box is beyond me. This isn't Audi engineering, this is Arkansas engineering

[volyer]

Wow that's bad. I didn't plan to do the retro anyway because I don't use that functionality, but geez.

[E.Anderson]

So after coming home and obviously uninstalling this device myself, audi is ordering me a new storage compartment and I told them I will reinstall myself. Service manager agreed this was laughable that audi would recommend this type of retrofit, so at least I don't feel like i'm the crazy one here.

[oesman]

Service manager agreed this was laughable that audi would recommend this type of retrofit, so at least I don't feel like i'm the crazy one here.

What's amazing is that his team is still installing them this way instead of telling customers they'll be unhappy. In the mean time he should be going back to Audi to ask why the hell this is the solution. It makes no sense to do something you know is dumb, it's not going to help keep happy customers for the dealership.

[E.Anderson]

What's amazing is that his team is still installing them this way instead of telling customers they'll be unhappy. In the mean time he should be going back to Audi to ask why the hell this is the solution. It makes no sense to do something you know is dumb, it's not going to help keep happy customers for the dealership.

He did say he will be going back to audi because this is unacceptable. I asked if I was the first one and his reply was basically there were a couple before me and some people just don't care about how things were done which is understandable. We are the enthusiast minority here so obviously we're going to care a lot more than the average audi owner.

[will13k7]

wow, that's awful. just give us an option to update the software so there are no errors when the 3g connection is gone and we'll be good.

[KBP]

So what functions do you lose by not getting this done?


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[Trentimus]

They can hide this somewhere behind the dash? This seems ridiculous.


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[Steve1223]

Well, I'm going in for service on Tuesday. I'll be damned if they plan on hacking my sh1t like that. I will lose it. I'll be courteous about it and warn them before hand and let the chips fall where they may. Even if I don't end up using it, I want them to do the work, so they pay for it as punishment for being a bunch of tools.

[Chris106]

Report back on how it goes, still not sure if I will have it done.

[DaveG]

Timely thread. I need to take my car in to to get the PODS recall done, but will tell them specifically NOT to do the 3G to 4G service action for all the reasons stated above. Question: Does the dealer have a choice on this even if I request them NOT to do it, or is this mandated by the mother ship?

Related story: I also have a 2018 Porsche 911 which is facing the same 3G to 4G service action. In the case of Porsche, the entire dashboard assembly is required to be removed from the car, presumably so they can get at the 3G module and replace it with 4G. No way in hell I'm allowing a dealer to remove and reinstall my dash just so the next owner can enjoy 4G compatibility.

DaveG

[Yabi]

wow, that's awful. just give us an option to update the software so there are no errors when the 3g connection is gone and we'll be good.

I had my dealer do this; suppress the warning but do not install the hardware. I do not use the Audi Connect service and didn’t see a need to deal with the hardware install. Recall notice says I have until 2027 to change my mind.

[K1196A]

I wonder if anybody with VCDS has figured out how to simply take care of the 3G warning at home?

[oesman]

I wonder if anybody with VCDS has figured out how to simply take care of the 3G warning at home?

Hmm so where do you see this warning? I'm in north america with a 2018 MY B9 S4. I've never actually seen the warning nor do I have this recall notice. If this thread is the only example of how Audi is handling the retrofit recall I can tell you my car doesn't have anything in the glovebox or in my OBD2 port. Does this only affect a specific batch of '18s?

[K1196A]

I just got it in the mail last week (US 2018 S4). You won't start seeing the error message until 3G service is actually turned down.

[oesman]

I just got it in the mail last week (US 2018 S4). You won't start seeing the error message until 3G service is actually turned down.

Ah interesting, because Yabi above mentioned he had the dealer suppress the error. Hopefully we'll learn how to code it out. I'm definitely not doing this version of the recall. I can only assume it's something buried in the dashboard; May not be worth any kind of recall to remotely unlock/check status/sos.

[angrycatmeow]

I had this done and posted in the thread at Audiworld. This thing is a joke. It doesn't do anything but track you, critique your driving and tell you your battery voltage. It can't tell you the status of your windows and doors or lock and unlock the car. I immediately unplugged it and I'm gonna rip out the 4G module in the cubby when I have time. Google keeps deleting my negative review in the play store too lol.

Oh and don't forget the main reason this is installed (aside from harvesting your data) is for the emergency services to function, but if you use Android Auto or Carplay, that wont happen. When you plug your phone in for AA or Carplay, it disables Bluetooth. In order for emergency calling to work with the Mojio unit, it has to be paired over Bluetooth to the secondary phone slot in your MMI. No Bluetooth, no emergency call.

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[K1196A]

I had this done and posted in the thread at Audiworld. This thing is a joke. It doesn't do anything but track you, critique your driving and tell you your battery voltage. It can't tell you the status of your windows and doors or lock and unlock the car. I immediately unplugged it and I'm gonna rip out the 4G module in the cubby when I have time. Google keeps deleting my negative review in the play store too lol.

Oh and don't forget the main reason this is installed (aside from harvesting your data) is for the emergency services to function, but if you use Android Auto or Carplay, that wont happen. When you plug your phone in for AA or Carplay, it disables Bluetooth. In order for emergency calling to work with the Mojio unit, it has to be paired over Bluetooth to the secondary phone slot in your MMI. No Bluetooth, no emergency call.

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What a worthless piece of shit.

The only thing more pathetic than technical obsolescence in a car that's new enough to still be under warranty is this half-assed half-hearted response to address the issue. Frankly, I wouldn't have bought this car just last year if I had known that this issue was on the horizon. Audi should have disclosed it when listing cars for sale with CPO coverage because by then they surely already knew it was going to be a problem. I'd have just held out for a '19.

[angrycatmeow]

What a worthless piece of shit.

The only thing more pathetic than technical obsolescence in a car that's new enough to still be under warranty is this half-assed half-hearted response to address the issue. Frankly, I wouldn't have bought this car just last year if I had known that this issue was on the horizon. Audi should have disclosed it when listing cars for sale with CPO coverage because by then they surely already knew it was going to be a problem. I'd have just held out for a '19.

Last year I paid my dealer $200 for port tags and labor to set up the myAudi app and they never bothered to tell me I'd only get two months out of it.

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[K1196A]

Last year I paid my dealer $200 for port tags and labor to set up the myAudi app and they never bothered to tell me I'd only get two months out of it.

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WOWWWWWW! Outrageous!

[slws4]

I got the same recall, but i bought my car used from a diff dealer since audi dealers near me wont take me lol. But what do i lose once this service is turned down? Will i still get gps etc?

[SHCKR]

Got this today

[Jadar]

Wow that’s horrible I can’t believe this is approved for a fix.

Mine is non Audi related but I had an F30 335i some years back and they convinced me to replace my 2G combox I should have taken the $300 gif card for their shop instead. Long story short they couldn’t get the new combox to program correctly and when they did no phone woild ever connect again. It was the biggest clusterf$&k I ever experienced in my life. They had my car in their shop for 6 weeks, I refused to take it back.
It wiped out all my custom coding, custom big turbo tune everything. It left such a sour taste in my mouth. Long story short I’d live with the old com box and call it a day. It seems to be the instance with Audi here with this butcher job.


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[SJorge3442]

I had my dealer do this; suppress the warning but do not install the hardware. I do not use the Audi Connect service and didn’t see a need to deal with the hardware install. Recall notice says I have until 2027 to change my mind.

So your dealer essentially pushed the software update to fix the warning errors that are coming in the future once the shut down happens and DIDNT hack the hell out of your interior and install those parts? I am NOT here for this solution and will refuse this "warranty" repair (if you can call it that), but the error message would get mighty annoying very fast.

[vdubtx]

I got this recall notice in the mail yesterday. On my MY18 Prestige, I always see an LTE connection listed on display. Did some MY18's have LTE installed instead of 3g modules?

[angrycatmeow]

I got this recall notice in the mail yesterday. On my MY18 Prestige, I always see an LTE connection listed on display. Did some MY18's have LTE installed instead of 3g modules?

According to the big ass thread on audiworld, they have both. myAudi and emergency services use 3G though.

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[JBAeroEngineer]

This can’t be real life.

[AudiSportDre]

Thank god I came across this thread. Now I can avoid the hack job I almost fell for. Unbelievable that this is the solution they’ve come up with.


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[Audimattymo]

Thanks for warning about this. I was going to schedule the PODS replacement, then that letter for the 3G came in the mail a few days ago. I’ll be skipping that “upgrade”


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[CELison]

I was just in for some warranty work and they did this 3G update. There is nothing in my ODB port or in the cubby.

[JBAeroEngineer]

Wonder what the price/part number for the actual 4g module is.

[scotty023]

I was at my local Audi Service Department for a 40K service, Safety Recall 74E3 (Pass. seat airbag something?), and the 3G retrofit. My dealer knows that my car has been tuned and they have been fine with it. (Pro Tip, be honest with them and they will work with you.) After seeing some of the hack jobs on here I decided to speak to the Service Manager first. Here is what I learned.

You have the option of deactivating the 3G system and NOT having the magic black box installed.

The location and method of installing the magic black box is different with each model. The cut and zip tie is the Audi approved install, at least for the B9 S4. Others have room elsewhere.

If the dealer does the 3G deactivation, it will trigger a TD1 on a tuned vehicle.

After talking with the Service Manager, I am going to wait on the deactivation until my factory warranty expires in June. I will then have 3G deactivated and they will "install" the magic box without any cutting, let it hang until I drive off the lot and unplug it.

I hope this helps.

[spindlewood]

If the dealer does the 3G deactivation, it will trigger a TD1 on a tuned vehicle.

What will be different in waiting until after warranty? Is it just that you'll get a few more months of warranty?

Also, what benefits does the box get us that a cell phone 4g can't (aside from alert in case of crash)?

[Bobby Kinstle]

I'm sure glad I noticed this thread before signing up for the upgrade.