Evening all,
This thread has been neglected for a while so I will get some more updates and pictures to you over the course of next week.
The things that have been worked on are are follows:
1. After purchasing the Audi Media Interface (AMI) for further iPhone integration it was apparent that I have run out of room behind the RNS-E with the additional Plug and Play (PnP) harness. Therefore reducing the mass of an ISO to Quadlock connector with 2 PnP harnesses was a must as I just couldn't safely push the RNSE fully home without worry of trapping/squashing anything. The AMI and BT Module leads have now been soldered into one PnP harness and all fits nice and safe whilst being fully sealed with heat shrink and Tesa Loom Tape, my new best friend to hide the safe mess of the loom joining):
View attachment 72168
This was a job that Tom
@timmus had accepted to do for me but I was just too impatient so took the task on myself. Tom thank you very much though, as although Ive done it to a very safe standard, Im sure it would look much tidier if I had sent it all to you.
2. Here is the AMI that I purchased after being tempted by
@devans about this retrofit over PM, thank you David for your advice and assistance:
View attachment 72171
Installation was very simple as it was just a plug and play affair once the RNS-E was correctly coded (just changed 1 digit). Im yet to have it fully connected to my iPhone XR as I don't yet have the correct AMI iPhone lead, I think I have every possible genuine cable apart from the correct one! It has been tested with an AMI 3.5mm jack with an older iPad though. The sound processing comes out very good and might well be an improvement over the Xcarlink, hard to tell as I've worked in a rather noisy industry for many years thus my hearing isn't what it was some 3+ decades ago. The Xcarlink will be fitted into Project 250 which will have its own thread soon enough.
3. The Arduino unit lead has also been lengthened and joined to the harness. The Unit itself has been fitted underneath the plastic trim part below the ashtray forward of the gear knob, I cut out a rectangular shape from the foam and placed the unit in the cut out for protection. It will probably be moved in time but works there for now. I can report that the Arduino Unit performs perfectly. The result is I now have my RNS-E PU 193 G Revision displaying the Speed Pulse count and speed in MPH/KPH in the engineering pages as does the more expensive 193B Revision. For me the price totals RNS-E 193G =£240 delivered and Arduino Unit =£25 delivered, this is by far a much cheaper option than the prices Ive seen 193B Revisions sell for. Is the later 193G Revision now a serious contender, in my opinion YES, if you don't mind having the £25 Arduino Unit placed somewhere. You could actually have it completely out of the way in the passenger footwell compartment, where I may eventually place it, I made the lead extension long enough.
*Pictures of engineering page, Nav Info*
As the speed impulses are being received I also get the over speed warning. A little disappointing that it’s just a small grey warning triangle but at the same time really happy that I now have this functionality. I couldn’t have achieved this without the assistance from Stuart (RNSE PCBBC website), who will look at introducing a beep/chime/annoying sound when you do go over the speed limit. This will hopefully be included in a future release of his firmware.
*Picture of over speed warning triangle*
4. Some will remember that I reported great news with the PCBBC FW260 but recently upgraded to FW270. This was due to chatting to Stuart about the REV ON in the engineering pages (the RNS-E thinking that reverse was constantly selected), which would be an issue should I choose to add a rear view camera later. A day or so later he sent me the updated firmware (which is now available on the website). Initially it looked to cure the REV ON as it displayed REV OFF, but I couldn't get it to change to REV ON when reverse was selected. The reason I couldn't get the REV to pick up the fact that reverse was selected was due to it needed to be told via voltage, I therefore armed myself with my portable soldering iron and added a wire from a reverse feed to the ISO harness which now works perfectly.
*Picture of REV ON/OFF*
5. This item arrived during the week which may look like an OSS motor, because it is:
View attachment 72170
I've been after this specific OSS motor for some time now but didn't know what to look for. When Ian
@Bargepower stopped by to deliver a Votex kit many months ago he informed me that the OSS Motor part number that ends in an ‘A’ is the one I was after to have the pause in between tilt and slide. The search started and I was rather chuffed to purchase this not many months later with a 48 hour delivery service all for £15. It was fitted within 10-15 minutes and can report it works exactly as it should, I like the built in pause as it annoys me when I see the wife wearing out the mechanism trying to perfectly get the OSS at just tilt only. Not sure if they actually sell but I've seen these for sale on eBay for nearly treble figures, extortionate!
Im struggling to think of what else to do with this glorious A2, of course the Votex kit and headlamp washer bumper need to be painted and fitted along with CDIS when Tom has the parts available but once that's complete, it will probably be at the end of the upgrades, as anything further will be taking too far away from its name. Although it really is my pride and joy you might find it available in a few months if I find another A2 with potential. Im thinking another TDI 75 but Ebony Black with OSS which Id like it to have the exact same interior as this one. It'll be a difficult decision as its hard to price a modestly kitted A2 with such high mileage, this is not an advert in any way what so ever, just my thoughts.
I am seriously thinking of fitting the A8 D2 forged wheels though as I think they will look amazing on an Azure Blue A2 with Votex!
View attachment 72172
*phone has just died so will add the missing pictures in the morning*
Kind regards,
Tom