Two USB connections are available optionally in the rear of
the Audi A8. They are integrated in USB Connection 1 U41
and are installed with by ordering the “Audi music interface in rear” (UF8).
USB Connection 1 U41 is connected to the USB Distributor
R293 via a USB interface. Its signal is sent from R293 to
J794. All diagnosis functions for U41 are performed via
J794.

USB Connection 1 U41

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USB connection to R293

The connections support the USB 2.0 standard. Each connection can provide charging current of up to 2.1 A.

USB Connection 1 U41 (rear)

Note
The optional Audi smartphone interface (IU1) can only be used via the two front USB connections in R293.

11

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DVD Changer R161
The optional DVD changer R161 is also used on the Audi Q7.
This drive is a dedicated DVD video drive which only allows
playback of video DVDs and audio CDs.
R161 is connected to J794 via the MOST bus. It is located
between the rear seat backrests.
It is diagnosed via Address Word 000E Media player position 1.

DVD Changer R161

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DVD Changer R161 (rear)

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12

Radio
Introduction
The following new features are being introduced to the
entire radio system as part of MIB2+:
›› DAB tuner (3x).
›› One station list for FM, DAB and Internet radio stations.
All functions are implemented by Information Electronics
Control Module 1 J794. These can be diagnosed via Address
Word 005F using the VAS Scan Tool.
Menu for selecting radio source

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Radio station list

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DAB tuner
With MIB2+, a third tuner and a second DAB antenna have
been added to the DAB radio.
Tuners 1 and 2 receive the signal of the station currently
selected and decode it. The bits of both tuners are then
compared in the MRC module (maximal ratio combining). If
it is determined that bits are missing in a tuner, they can be
replaced with the bits from the other tuner. This creates
better reception.
In the background, tuner 3 searches for new stations to
keep the station list continually updated. In addition, it
provides the navigation unit with traffic information.

Tuner 1
DAB decoder

MRC module

Audio
amplifier

Tuner 2
DAB decoder

Tuner 3

DAB decoder
for station list
and navigation

MOST
interface

Navigation

Illustration of DAB tuner (example)

Sound
processor

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Reference
For further information on the radio tuner, please refer to eSelf-Study Program 970143, Modular Infotainment Platform (MIB).

13

Navigation
With MIB2+, Audi is making use of “connected navigation”.
›› Online routing (cloud-based route calculations)*.
›› 3D city models in some towns/cities with detailed and accurate depictions of streets and buildings.*
›› Connected POIs with additional information on the map.*
›› Traffic sign information.
›› Hazard alerts.*
›› Navigation display with Google Earth.*
*These items require Audi connect PRIME.

Route calculation
Route calculation takes place in Information Electronics
Control Module 1 J794. This is where the map data is
stored.
If there is an existing data connection, (that is. Audi
connect PRIME) a route is calculated on a central Audi
server at the same time. The calculation on the server is
quicker than the one in J794, particularly when the destination is far. In addition, the calculation takes the entire
traffic situation into account. The same map data as in J794
is used for the online route calculation.

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As a result, the driver is offered up to three alternative
routes. There is no longer an option to set route types such
as “short”, “fast”, or “economical”.

Connected Points of Interest (POIs)
In MIB2+, selected Audi connect services (for example, fuel
prices, parking information, etc.) have been integrated in
the navigation function.

Additional information on certain POIs is displayed directly
in the list or when a POI is selected on the map.

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14

New feature in route guidance
Maneuver preview
The maneuver preview has been reduced to the next two
actions. If desired, the user can extend the preview to 10
maneuvers.

Manual traffic avoidance
A corresponding display on the right side menu helps the
driver with manual traffic avoidance. It calculates the
actual time saved if the alternative route were used.
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Personal route assist

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J794 identifies routes which are driven repeatedly and
suggests possible destinations. If there are potential delays
on routes that the system suspects the driver may take, it
will automatically suggest alternative routes, even when
route guidance is not active. This “self-teaching” navigation
system is referred to as personal route assist in MIB2+.
If the personal route assist function is deactivated, a selection field appears on the right side showing a checkered
flag with a light bulb. To activate the function, the customer can simply tap the field.

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Optimized position detection
With the introduction of Driver Assistance Systems Control
Module J1121, the vehicle can be localized to a specific
lane. J1121 makes the necessary calculation and sends the
information to J794 which can then provide a lane-specific
display. This is shown in the “exit views”¹), both on the Audi
virtual cockpit and the head-up display.
Despite the display being precise to a specific lane, spoken
cues may be given which appear unnecessary to the driver
because the car is in the correct lane. If the vehicle drives
past an exit, for example, the spoken cue will still tell the
driver to keep left.

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¹) Exit views refer to leaving highways and major roads.

15

Navigation information
Navigation data storage

Map update

At the launch of the Audi A8, J794 will have up to 25 GB of
navigation data stored. In addition, 15 GB are kept available for cached navigation information (Google, 3D city
data, online hazard alerts etc.).

MMI navigation plus customers will receive a free 6 month
trial of Audi connect PRIME. As long as the subscription is
active, the customer will receive free navigation updates.
For the latest information on the various Audi connect
offerings, refer to the Audi connect portal. https://www.
audiusa.com/technology/intelligence/audi-connect

The maximum space available for the navigation system on
the SSD ↗ is approximately 64 GB of the 128 GB available
in total.

The navigation data have been changed to a new format for
MIB2+. This “navigation data standard” (.nds) format
allows incremental updates. These are updates which only
affect the data which have changed, allowing updates to be
quicker. In addition, the geographic regions have been
made smaller. This helps to accelerate the update process.
The average size of the update data is now 10% of the
previous amount.

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16

Display and operating units
Introduction

Technical features

Audi is taking a new path with the 2019 Audi A8 and is
introducing touch displays for the first time. For marketing
purposes, these are referred to as “MMI touch response”.
They are multitouch displays; this means that they can be
operated with several fingers at once.

MMI display Front Information Display Control Head J685.

Two high-definition displays are installed in the Audi A8.
The upper display (“MMI display”) is used to display the
MMI. The lower display ("lower touch display”) is used,
among other things, to operate the climate control.

Lower touch display Front Information Display Control
Head 2 J1060

The high resolution and small pixel dimensions of these
displays are crucial for a very clear picture: the human eye
is not capable (at the typical distances in the vehicle interior) of detecting the individual pixels from which the
image is constructed.
The maximum brightness is 900 candela ↗. It can be
adjusted on the MMI.

›› 10.1 inch
›› 1540 x 720 pixels
›› Active area: 232 x 109 mm

›› 8.6 inch
›› 1280 x 660 pixels
›› Active area: 194 x 100 mm

Networking
Both displays are controlled by J794 and connected to it via
MIB-CAN. All fault memory entries and adjustments are
stored/made in J794.
J794 sends a common image (a “superframe”) to the MMI
display J685 via two LDVS wiring pairs. J685 then sends the
part of the image for the lower touch display J1060 to that
display via two LDVS wiring pairs.
To ensure that they are not mis-connected, the two LVDS
connectors on J685 are of different colors.

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Front Information Display Control Head J685

Front Information Display Control Head 2 J1060

17

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Function
There are pressure sensors behind the touch-sensitive
display surface. They enable the MMI to be used more
safely as they allow the user to move fingers over the
display without making undesired inputs. The system only
reacts to a specific amount of pressure or more on the
display; this is detected by the pressure sensors.
To provide the user with tactile and audible feedback simulating the touch of a button, an electromagnet and a
speaker are integrated into each display. If the pressure
sensors detect that the screen has been pressed intentionally, the electromagnet moves the surface of the display
very slightly sideways. The speaker plays a clicking sound.
This haptic and acoustic reaction is the feedback typical to
Audi.

It is possible to set the level of pressure which has to be
exerted on the display for feedback to be given. There are
three levels for this.
The feedback can be deactivated in steps as follows:
1. Haptic feedback
2. Acoustic feedback

Connection from
J794

Connection to
J1060

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Front Information Display Control Head J685 (rear)

Other features
Both displays have a special coating to make it easier to
remove finger marks. There is a freeze function which
allows the user to clean the surface of the display without
making unwanted changes to the system.
J685 has hardened, shatter-proof glass which is capable of
surviving an impact from a 15.4 lb (7.0 kg) metal ball
travelling at 12.4 mph (20 km/h) undamaged.
For design reasons, the upper display is horizontally curved.
This allows it to be integrated flush into the instrument
panel.
Connection from
J685
Front Information Display Control Head 2 J1060 (rear)

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18

Button combinations for service
In the past, button combinations of the MMI operating
units were used for certain functions, such as recording the
current display on the MMI (screenshot). Other activation
options have been introduced for the new touch display
(MMI touch response). Procedures for service are given
below.

System reset
To restart (reset) the MMI, press and hold the Driver
Volume Control E67 for at least 10 seconds.

Driver Volume Control E67

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Touch location for engineering menu

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Touch location for screenshot

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Engineering menu
To access the engineering menu, touch the MMI display
J685 at the top right with two fingers for at least three
seconds.

Screenshot
To make screenshots of both touch displays, touch the MMI
display J685 with two fingers at the bottom in the center
for at least three seconds.
Five images are stored in J794 at the same time. Two
images are stored for each touch display; one screenshot of
the screen display and one of the control areas. The fifth
screenshot shows the image sent from J794 to the Audi
virtual cockpit.
The display view flashes briefly to confirm that the screenshot has been saved.
The saved screenshots can be downloaded from J794 and
copied to an SD card using the VAS Scan Tool through
Guided Functions. This can be done via the selection “005F
- Information electronics 1, functions”, “005F - Basic
setting” and, in the program sequence, via the option
“Write analysis data on SD card”.

19

Sound
Introduction
The following sound systems are available to Audi A8
customers:

On the Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System, the two
treble speakers in the instrument panel are retractable.

›› Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound System with 3D
sound (9VS) (16-channel)

The subwoofer is under the rear shelf and installed in a
special bracket.

›› Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System with 3D
sound (8RF) (24-channel)
The Audi sound system (9VD) has 6 channels and 10 speakers with a total power output of 180 W.

In addition to the Vehicle Noise Cancellation function
(VNC), some vehicles also have the Active Noise Cancellation function (ANC) (PR number EP1). Four microphones in
the headliner record noises caused by the engine and initiate appropriate compensation noises.

The Advanced Sound System (8RF), has 24 channels and a
total power output of 1920 W, shared between 23 speakers.
Both Bang & Olufsen systems can generate the third
dimension of 3D sound using a special algorithm. To do
this, the Premium Sound System has two speakers in the
A-pillars; the Advanced Sound System uses four. The two
additional speakers are in the headliner, behind the grab
handles.

Note
Active noise cancellation (PR number EP1) on V8 models only. Not available at launch.

Reference
For more information on the “Active Noise Cancellation” function, please refer to eSelf-Study Program
920223,The Audi 4.0L V8 TFSI Engine.
20

Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound System with 3D sound (9VS)
Right Front Midrange Speaker 2
R277

Right Front Midrange Speaker
R104

Right Front Treble Speaker
R22

Right Front Bass Speaker
R23
Center Speaker
R208

Center Speaker 2
R219

Left Front Treble Speaker
R20

Left Front Midrange Speaker 2
R276

Left Front Midrange Speaker
R103

Left Front Bass Speaker
R21

Left Rear Treble Speaker
R14

Left Rear Bass Speaker
R15

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Right Rear Treble Speaker
R16
Right Rear Bass Speaker
R17
Left Effects Speaker
R209

Right Effects Speaker
R210

Subwoofer
R211

Digital Sound System Control Module
J525

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Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System with 3D sound (8RF)
Right Front Midrange Speaker 2
R277

Right Front Midrange Speaker
R104

Right Front Treble Speaker
R22

Right Front Bass Speaker
R23
Center Speaker
R208

Center Speakerr 2
R219

Left Front Treble Speaker
R20

Left Front Midrange Speaker 2
R276

Left Front Midrange Speaker
R103

Left Front Bass Speaker
R21
Left Rear Treble Speaker
R14
Left Rear Bass Speaker
R15
Left Rear Midrange Speaker
R105

23

Right Rear Treble Speaker
R16
Right Rear Midrange Speaker
R106
Right Rear Bass Speaker
R17
Right Rear Midrange Speaker 2
R340
Right Effects Speaker
R210

Right Rear Treble Speaker 2
R218

Subwoofer
R211

Left Effects Speaker
R209

Digital Sound System Control Module
J525

Left Rear Midrange Speaker 2
R341

Left Rear Treble Speaker 2
R217
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24

Antennas
Rear window
The antennas for radio reception are integrated in the rear