Audi Forum - Audi Forums for the A4, S4, TT, A3, A6 and more! - Audi AMI Bluetooth Adapter for Q5? No dice.

The Audi AMI Bluetooth Adapter shown here from the Audi USA accessory website was of interest to me as a solution to constantly forgetting my iPhone or iPod in the glove box of my Q5.

http://www.audi-collection.com/prod_...4F0051510J.jpg

This link to the AMI Bluetooth Adapter accessory lists it for the Q5 model, but the description states "2G systems only." Why list it as a Q5 accessory if the Q5 includes the 3G MMI system? Perhaps I have been watching a little too much of Mythbusters lately, but I had to find out for myself whether it would work or not.

I didn't put on a beret, but I did go to my local Audi dealer to try the AMI Bluetooth adapter in my Q5. I used my iPhone 3GS as a media source.

When you plug it in and navigate through the MMI to "Media" then "Source" it simply reads "not recognized" beside AMI on the MMI screen. The iPhone recognized the Bluetooth adapter and paired with it, but the adapter was not compatible with the 3G system.

It worked quite nicely with the 2G MMI system in a 2009 Q7 that we tried afterward. There was just a slight delay of a second or two for the information to transfer via Bluetooth, but sound quality was good. You could also listen to other audio sources from the iPhone such as video or YouTube. I've read reports from other users that even Bluetooth compatible portable GPS units will transfer audio to the AMI Bluetooth adapter.

Having tried it now (if it had worked in the Q5) I would have decided against it since I would have been using it primarily with an iPhone. Directly plugging an iPod (or iPhone) into the AMI gives you all of your song and playlist information, as well as control of the iPod via the MMI controls in the centre console and via the steering wheel. The Bluetooth adapter didn't offer any of these features. It had very limited controls via the MMI. It seemed to be more of a generic interface, designed for the control to be at the Bluetooth compatible device you are using.

Audi, if you are planning a 3G MMI version of this unit, please try to integrate more information from and greater control over the Bluetooth compatible unit via the MMI system. (Or at least for just the iPhone/Pod! ;) )