$100 Reward offered for a *PROVEN* S4 A2DP solution

[JohnMclean]

I'm royally pissed about the glaring A2DP shortcoming with the entire A4/S4 line. Because of that, i'm on a mission to find a straight forward solution. Put simply; my goal is to figure out how to stream music services like Spotify & Pandora from my iPhone4/Android4(ICS)/BlackBerry(OS7) through my 2012 Audi S4 speaker without modifying the car. I drive a Premium package 2012 S4 with 3G MMI and B&O sound system. I have both the USB and 3.5mm AMI cables for the glovebox. For the record, I tried the following device last week and it DID NOT work! Audi Music Interface Now, about the reward: I'll send a $100 dollar (Canadian) Visa Gift card to the first person who provides me with a working solution that does NOT require modifying the car in any way. Some conditions: 1. It has to work with my current (stock) 3G MMI system. 2. The solution needs to be proven before I waste money and time buying and testing the solution myself. 3. It can use either the USB or 3.5mm AMI cable. 4. I must be able to get the required accessories(s) shipped to Canada. 5. The solution must cost less than $400 dollars Canadian in total. 6. The money will only be sent once I have a working solution in hand. 7. The offer is only good until May 1st, 2012. Here's hoping that someone provides a solid solution! -j

[sellis624]

This solution doesn't meet your requirement because I haven't tested it, so I am not aiming for the reward. Unfortunately, you may have to decide to risk it before it can be proven.

I stumbled upon this thread a couple of weeks ago when I was considering buying a new S4 off the lot. (I have since decided to wait for the 2013). It seems like the right solution, and at least one person claims that it works with AMI in a 2012 Q5.

The problem is that it was made by a one man shop, and apparently he died on March 8, according to this announcement on mbworld.org.

If you're willing to take the risk, there is a current ebay listing, where they have sold 18 of 20 available as of now. There seems to be a reasonable chance that it will work, but my guess is they'll all be gone before you can know for sure.

Good luck.

-Steven

[JohnMclean]

Hi Steven,

Thank you very much for that awesome (and quick) reply.

Like you, I found that other thread a week or so ago but couldn't find anyone that actually tried the device on a 2012 S4 with 3G MMI so I'm worried that it'll result in the failure (i.e. "unrecognized device") that the Audi branded device I referred to above did.

Coincidentally, I think the person that responded in the Q5 forum about the owner/inventor dying did so in response to my post over there.

Anyway, thanks again. If i end up buying one of those devices, I'll let you know how it works.

-j

[urojohn]

Originally Posted by JohnMclean

Hi Steven,

Thank you very much for that awesome (and quick) reply.

Like you, I found that other thread a week or so ago but couldn't find anyone that actually tried the device on a 2012 S4 with 3G MMI so I'm worried that it'll result in the failure (i.e. "unrecognized device") that the Audi branded device I referred to above did.

Coincidentally, I think the person that responded in the Q5 forum about the owner/inventor dying did so in response to my post over there.

Anyway, thanks again. If i end up buying one of those devices, I'll let you know how it works.

-j

Bought one, will let you know how it works, I too am looking for a better solution

[JohnMclean]

Awesome urojohn! any idea when you're expecting to get it (and test it)?
-j

[amit1986]

Hello fellow Torontorian:

Slightly off topic to your question, but what is 3G MMI? Is it similar to the system of the new A6? Does it use google maps? Are you paying extra for the 3G service or can you use your iPhone's 3G network on your navigation?

Regards,

Curious Torontorian

P.S. I also was annoyed with the lack of bluetooth streaming audio in the 2012 S4 so decided to wait and order a 2013 model instead as I've heard it will have this feature.

Originally Posted by JohnMclean

I'm royally pissed about the glaring A2DP shortcoming with the entire A4/S4 line. Because of that, i'm on a mission to find a straight forward solution.

Put simply; my goal is to figure out how to stream music services like Spotify & Pandora from my iPhone4/Android4(ICS)/BlackBerry(OS7) through my 2012 Audi S4 speaker without modifying the car. I drive a Premium package 2012 S4 with 3G MMI and B&O sound system. I have both the USB and 3.5mm AMI cables for the glovebox.

For the record, I tried the following device last week and it DID NOT work!

Audi Music Interface

Now, about the reward:

I'll send a $100 dollar (Canadian) Visa Gift card to the first person who provides me with a working solution that does NOT require modifying the car in any way.

Some conditions:
1. It has to work with my current (stock) 3G MMI system.
2. The solution needs to be proven before I waste money and time buying and testing the solution myself.
3. It can use either the USB or 3.5mm AMI cable.
4. I must be able to get the required accessories(s) shipped to Canada.
5. The solution must cost less than $400 dollars Canadian in total.
6. The money will only be sent once I have a working solution in hand.
7. The offer is only good until May 1st, 2012.

Here's hoping that someone provides a solid solution!

-j

[Steven Lin]

I'm assuming that you are looking for a Bluetooth streaming solution. I saved this link from another thread, included below, that describes a solution using a modified iPod AMI cable and any off-the-shelf Bluetooth streaming gizmo. I have not tried this, myself.

http://www.a5oc.com/forums/a5-s5-top...o-via-mmi.html

Original thread by coupesta:
http://forums.audiworld.com/showthread.php?t=2814550

If you don't mind a wired solution, then there are threads of people who have rerouted the AMI cable to the center armrest. This can be an alternative to Bluetooth.

Note, Pandora does "work" if you plug the phone into the MMI via the standard iPod AMI cable, but only in the sense that you can hear the audio. MMI controls don't work and song titles don't display reliably on the MMI screen. It's good enough for me.

[JohnMclean]

Amit1986, the 3G that we're referring to has nothing to do with cellular signal. In this case, 3G refers to "Third Generation" MMI (MultiMedia Interface).
hope that helps?
-j

[JohnMclean]

Originally Posted by Steven Lin

I'm assuming that you are looking for a Bluetooth streaming solution. I saved this link from another thread, included below, that describes a solution using a modified iPod AMI cable and any off-the-shelf Bluetooth streaming gizmo. I have not tried this, myself.

http://www.a5oc.com/forums/a5-s5-top...o-via-mmi.html

Original thread by coupesta:
http://forums.audiworld.com/showthread.php?t=2814550

If you don't mind a wired solution, then there are threads of people who have rerouted the AMI cable to the center armrest. This can be an alternative to Bluetooth.

Note, Pandora does "work" if you plug the phone into the MMI via the standard iPod AMI cable, but only in the sense that you can hear the audio. MMI controls don't work and song titles don't display reliably on the MMI screen. It's good enough for me.

Thanks for the reply Steven Lin.

I have the AMI iPod/iPhone cable and the 3.5mm cable.

I've tried Pandora and Spotify using the techniques described throughout these forums but no matter what i do, nothing seams to work in an S4 with 3G MMI. By the way, I know lots about tech so i'm sure the issue has nothing to do with my technical capabilities (i own a large tech company! I'm not bragging - just eliminating that from the equation).

When using the six inch long 3.5mm AMI cable, I can get Pandora/Spotify to work but that option doesn't allow me to hold the Music device while driving - it's tucked away in the glove box. I want a streaming solution so i can control it from the driver seat.

Unfortunately, every device i've seen is either untested in an S4 or has been tested with negative results. hence the reward for a working solution that doesn't require modifying the car (i lease my cars and need to return them the way I got them).

sorry for the long-winded reply.

-j

[mpatel1080]

I have bluetooth streaming working in my s4 through aftermarket solutions. I bought a cable from w ashcroft on the a5oc forum that connects to the MMI interface in the globe box, there are instructions on there on how to wire up your own MMI cable if you are so inclined. That cable has a headphone jack for audio and a mini usb port for power. I then bought the blackberry music gateway from amazon to stream the bluetooth audio and hooked to up to the cable (I tried a couple bluetooth gateways but the blackberry was the only one that auto paired with my iPhone when i returned to the vehicle. It also works seamlessly with the bluetooth hands free feature in the car). \. The total cost was around $120.

http://www.a5oc.com/forums/a5-s5-top...ia-mmi-10.html http://www.amazon.com/BlackBerry-Rem...vglnk-c1005-20