It wasn't that long ago that VW and Audi iPod connections were the most frustrating interfaces on the planet. But our 2009 Audi S5 has the new Audi Music Interface (AMI), which improves things dramatically, especially if your MP3 player of choice is an actual iPod or iPhone.
There's a short cord in the glove compartment, into which you plug your iPod. At this point you can shut the lid and forget it, as all further music menu selections are done from either the MMI control wheel and nav screen, or the steering wheel thumbwheels and instrument panel information screen.
The system recognizes podcasts and audiobooks as their own "thing" and every menu level has a back button. The system never throws you all the way back to the top-level menu indiscriminately, as our Honda Fit does, and the MMI wheel is a much better way to scroll through 500 artists than a touch screen that can disply only 5 per page. As an iPod interface, this is now one of the best.
But what if you don't have an iPod?
Never fear. There are 4 cords, here. In addition to the iPod cord, you can get cords for a 3.5mm mini jack, USB and mini USB. But there is a catch.
Each cord costs over $50 from you Audi dealer. Our car came with the option that provides the iPod cable, so the actual cost for that one was $0, not $65.10.
But the others are extra, including the basic one needed for a generic MP3 player. Other cars provide multiple inputs that are hard-wired in the car. Not here. There's one universal socket, and you have to buy the right adapter cord for your needs.
That's a bit of a pain in the butt, if you ask me.
Changing cords is easy once you know that this little flap in the glovebox opens like this. From here you squeeze the tab on the connector body and gently pull it free. Some other Audi models put this junction box beneath the center armrest.
Here I've switched to the standard AUX/MP3 mini jack.
Here's the AUX cord in use, plugged in to my iPod's headphone jack, as you would any other old-school MP3 player. Trouble is, song selection has to be done at the device when using this cord, and it's too short to allow the device to come out of the glove box. You can't use you own cord as an extension either, because the Audi cord has a male end, not a female end.
Audi should have done one of two things: They should have made this cord 4-feet long or they should have put a female end on it so we could all use the cords we already own as an extension. As it stands, I need to go to Radio Shack to buy a male-to-male adapter to use my 4-foot cord.
Here's the USB cord in action. I especially like this, because a basic USB memory stick is the best in-car MP3 player going when connected to a system such as AMI. Why? A memory stick has no batteries, no on/off switch to forget and no moving parts. They're tiny and cheap, too. You can carry a dozen of them, if you like, and it's no big deal if you drop or lose one.
And here, the AMI system allows easy menu control using the MMI interface or the steering controls, just like an iPod. Close the glove box door and forget it. Too easy.
The problem with this is you have to buy the adpater cord to do it. Hondas, Fords, and a growing number of other products are hard-wired this way.
And this USB socket won't let you talk to your iPod through its standard white USB cord, either. I tried. iPods only work with the Audi iPod cord (which thankfully is a standard part of AMI.)
In addition to 2009 versions of the A5/S5 and A4/S4, AMI was optional on some 2007 and later Audi A6 and A8 models, and it made a mid-year appearance on the 2007 Q7. In can be retrofitted to these models if the option wasn't bought initially (AMI is usually bundled with the Premium package), but only if the car has the MMI single-point control interface.
Our 2009 A4 Avant long term test car also has AMI and it has the same glovebox interface, but no one has yet tried-out the S5's library of swappable cords in that car. It should work exactly the same.
Audi's AMI interface has a lot of flexibility and control. It's awesome as-is for iPods, and it does work with other devices, even if this isn't obvious while you're sitting in the car at the showroom. But the need to swap-out cords (and buy each one at over $50 each) is a pain, especially if you have more than one person in your family using more than one type of device. I know I fall into that category.
Dan Edmunds, Director of Vehicle Testing @ 3,873 miles
chavis10 says:
08:25 AM, 06/15/09
Ridiculous when USB jacks are available in sub $25k cars.
1487 says:
08:35 AM, 06/15/09
Seems like Sync is better. This is just another way to milk few extra dollars out of you even though you already paid top dollar for the car. I also want to know why the jack is in the glove box, not convenient.
compliance says:
09:03 AM, 06/15/09
The Jack is in the glove box so someone doesn't see your ipod (or even just the cord) in your car and break in to jack it. I'd rather have the iPod stowed permanently than have to hide it and get it out again every time I want to park my car. MMI provides a control interface already, so the location is really only a problem for people using the 3.5mm plug.
actualsize says:
09:17 AM, 06/15/09
Agreed. having the iPod hidden in the glove box is a very good thing. It's invisible to thieves, it doesn't move about in corners (stressing the cord and the jack) and it won't become a missile in the event of an accident. But this only works because the AMI's dedicated iPod cord allows the MMI controller to take over; you don't need to touch your iPod to use it.
adavis2493 says:
09:19 AM, 06/15/09
I have this in my A5, and I completely stopped using the radio. Not just because I never remember to take the iPod out of the car, but the Bang & Olufson Sound System kicks @$$ with iPod's, and CD's.
dougtheeng says:
09:49 AM, 06/15/09
Audio related cords have always been a scam. I'm well aware of how much a head phone extender costs to manufacture, and the difficulty of doing so. Radio Shack, however, charged $10-15???? What a scam. Its a shame to see Audi is further cashing in on this. Seriously, $50+?? Thats a brutal, brutal rip off.
_carrera says:
10:01 AM, 06/15/09
Something important to consider is whether the dealer is getting a cut our of the accessory cable sales. That would explain the rather steep price.
Can't imagine why Audi doesn't just through in all four of them though.
chavis10 says:
10:33 AM, 06/15/09
The bottom line is that it's a compromised interface, period. I believe systems in other cars have USB and an AUX jack in the same location in the center console. That way, you can conceal whatever type of storage device you my own (ie Cadillac CTS)while not being inconvenienced with a poor location and proprietary jacks. Once a again, a simple solution has been overcomplicated for no obvious reason. But hey, these things don't matter because cars are only about two things: steering feel and interior plastic quality.
1487 says:
10:48 AM, 06/15/09
First of all, not everyone is going to leave their ipod in the car every time they park. The center console is much more convenient in terms of accessibility once you park. In addition, the center console provide an out of sight location for ipod storage once you park. I don't know about others, but I actually have stuff in my glove box and considering how small they are on modern cars I'd rather stick my MP3 player elsewhere.
The USB port should be compatible with any MP3 player. Thats the simple and correct way to do things.
audisport says:
11:05 AM, 06/15/09
I don't understand how the placement in the glove compartment is horrible compared to the center console. It's a foot away. It's a car, not a mack truck. All one needs to do is listen to the sound quality of the ipod hooked up through the B&O system and no one would complain. Yes, $50.oo cables are a ripoff but that's life. Ever buy long HDMI cables?
clarkma5 says:
01:24 PM, 06/15/09
I'd be interested to know exactly what the "Valet" thing is in the glovebox. Is that a button you press to enter a valet mode before you lock the glove box with the main key or what? Never seen anything like that before.
brian_k says:
02:09 PM, 06/15/09
Have a 2007 A8. It has the CD changer in the glove box- it was that or iPod hook up. Does anyone know about how to get it retrofitted? The author mentioned it but does it involve having to wire the connection behind the dash? Thanks!
actualsize says:
02:27 PM, 06/15/09
Here's what I know, brian_k: It came from an FAQ card that came with the cords.
Q: If my Audi model has MMI but is not equipped with AMI, is there a retrofit package available for my vehicle?
A: Audi Accessories is currently finalizing a retrofit solution for MMI-equipped Audi vehicles (A6/S6, A8/S8, and Audi Q7)
The information card is about a year old, so the retrofit kit may well be available now at your Audi dealer. I'll check my sources on this end, too to confirm.
esoterica says:
03:27 PM, 06/15/09
Again the CTS does it the best -- USB port and AUX input in the center console, and any music player (or portable hard disk or USB stick for that matter) can just plug right in, and it includes an iPod adapter cable.