PS. Here's a thread from Fourtitude describing the mirror replacement and the part numbers needed.

http://forums.fourtitude.com/zeropos...amp;id=2888516

 

Thanks for the link to the write up, I'm definitely gonna do this soon.

That RealOEM site is exactly what I was thinking of. I've never seen anything like this for Audi, at least nothing as comprehensive and up-to-date. If we some how got our hands on the diagrams and part numbers, would we be running afould of intellectual property laws by creating our own enthusiast-maintained site?

 

Update: AoA and the stealership say they can't retrofit; long story short - it would have to be wired and they aren't willing to pull out the headliner and pillar or alter any of the electrical harnesses. I'm sure it's just a warranty or liability issue.

The audidiy.com site has instructions on how to attach an A4 compass mirror, butthey required rigging it to share the headlight harness. I guess I'll just have to get that ugly Bell compass apparatus or an aftermarket GPS soon, eh?

 

If you have a sunroof you should be able to easily tap into +12v there. There are a few write ups on audidiy about tapping the sunroof power for a radar detector, should be the same procedure. Alas, I have no sunroof, but I am hoping to be able to tap the power from the light that sits right there. Probably gonna take a look after new years, if it looks do-able I'm gonna try and order the compass mirror. I'll keep you guys updated.

 

AoA is mistaken. I have a 2007 A3 2.0 and the window sticker indicated that it had a compass. When I complained to my dealer and AoA about the "missing" compass, they both just said that the sticker was in error. I didn't accept their b.s. and pushed until the dealer ordered a new mirror. It installed very easily while I waitedand just required a quick call to Audi tech support to figure out how to get the electronics to work. No add'l wiring or the like was required. If you have a 2007 and the window sticker says you're suppose to have a compass, don't let Audi push you around.

 

Can you elaborate on this at all? Did it require any programming in Vag-Com or any other kind of trickery?

Thanks for the info, this is good to know. I need to go dig out my window sticker now!

 

Sorry, but I'm not sure what the tech did. The service manager came out to tell me that he didn't think it was going to work, but, about 15 minutes later, he came back and said everything was working perfectly. Don't give up. Pretty disingenuous for Audi to say, "sorry" it was just a mistake on the car's sticker.

 

bump - any new news on this???

I don't see why you would need additional 12V... doesn't the auto dimming require 12V already or no??? Also I think the mirror is made by Gentex and the compass is self-contained in the mirror.

https://www.audiforums.com/m_339927/tm.htm

http://www.gentex.com/automotive.html