I bought a used '96 (first sold 10/95)2.8 QM from a local Audi dealer. It came with 2 remotes but the keyless entry did not work. No problem, they said they'd fix it. After 3 new ECUs with no luck, I was told that my car wasn't equipped w/keyles entry and I got the remotes by mistake. When I told him that there was a sunroof/keyless entry option (as posted in Model Guide on this site, I have the sunroof), they said that wasn't available until mid '96 model. Can anyone confirm this info? I have my doubts... I have a message out to AoA for confirmation but thought all you helpful people might give a faster response.

Thanks,

dt
'96 2.8 QM remotes w/out keyless entry :o)

I bought my A4 late in the model year (Sep 96) and the "Remote Locking System" was shown as an option on the sticker ($190.) The sunroof was a separate option, they were not bundled together.

John G
96 A4 fwdm Pearl
99 A6 Avant Brilliant Black

<center><img src="http://home.sprintmail.com/~kirstein/REMOTE/remotetop.JPG"></center><p>There is one way to tell for sure. On 96 models, the keyless entry electronics is under the rear seat bottom cushion. the cushion just lifts up. If you see the box pictured above, you have the system. If not, no big deal. It doesn't work very well any way. (See my info on moving the antenna at the URL listed. It didn't make things much better either)<ul><li><a href="http://home.sprintmail.com/~kirstein/REMOTE/">My faq on moving the antenna on 96 A4s</a></li></ul>

I ordered my '96 2.8 qm in September '95 and took delivery in November. There was a keyless entry option, but like a dummy I didn't order it.

Six months later I went to my dealer and asked if he could retrofit a keyless entry system, and he said it was not yet available. So, I wrote Audi of America to find out if this could be done (Volkswagen has retrofit kits). But AOA wrote back and said they have no plans to have a retrofit kit available for my A4.

To make a long story short, I heard of a place in my area (Western Mass.) called Sound in Motion, and they had an aftermarket keyless entry system for my car. It's called Your Valet, and is made by Directed Electronics Inc. Sound in Motion took about a half hour to install it, and the total cost was about $199. If I'm not mistaken, you can get the same kit installed at Circuit City.

It was a relatively simple installation (if you know what you're doing). The receiver goes under the dashboard, and splices into just a couple of wires. NOTE: It is not necessary for the installer to touch anything under the rear seat. One place I went to said he would have to install it under the rear seat because that's where the factory alarm system was. Well, they had my car the whole day and could not figure out what to do, so I never went back to them. Luckily I found Sound in Motion.

I must point out, however, that keyless locking systems don't work all that well on '96 A4s. Although the range is great, there is a significant delay in locking and unlocking the doors. It has to do with the vacuum/electrical system Audi uses on its doors and trunk. I don't know if this has been improved with later models.

StevenN '96 2.8 qm Emerald Green

ny