Audi Map Update 2018

Audi MMI 2G maps update is performed with a DVD stored navigation database. Maps update procedure is simple, does not require any diagnostic tools what so ever.

Tools

  • Update DVD for your region, examples:
    • Europe DVD 2015: 4E0 060 884 DT
    • Russia DVD 2015: 4E0 060 884 EF
    • North America DVD 2015: 4E0 060 884 DS
    • Australia and New Zealand DVD 2014: 4E0 060 884 DQ

Warning!

. Audi A5 Cabriolet, Q5 and Q7 available at select locations. 2018 A4 MSRP: Starting MSRP of $36,000 for a 2018 Premium A4 2.0 TFSI® ultra® with automatic transmission. 2018 A4 Sedan features will vary. Prices exclude $975 destination, taxes, title, other options and dealer charges.

Performing this procedure may cause permanent damage to your car.
Do this at your own risk!
We are not responsible for any loss or damage.

Preparation

  • Make sure that you have in you car Audi Multi Media Interface 2G (MMI 2G). Check details in article Audi navigation systems – MMI RNS BNS RMC differences.

Audi MMI 2G maps update

  1. Open your cars trunk and locate navigation DVD drive. It can be under the trunk floor or on the side, hidden behind trunk trim.
  2. Press “eject” and take out old navigation DVD.
  3. Insert new disk.
  4. Turn the ignition on and wait for the new disk to be recognized by Audi MMI 2G system.
  5. When asked (“New navigation software is available. Install?”), confirm that you want to update navigation database.
  6. Wait couple minutes for the software to be installed.
  7. When update is complete, press RETURN to reboot Audi MMI 2G system. Now your navigation maps are up to date.
  1. Manage your Audi. Personalize each ride with the help of the myAudi app and access a growing suite of smart services to amplify your driving experience. 1 Not available on vehicles with a removable SIM card and Audi A3 models. Message and data rates apply.
  2. Your Audi Team This website uses cookies. (2015-2018) A1 (2011-2014). If the map material must be updated, the update is carried out similar to the navigation.

Wanted to update the maps in my car’s navigation system. To Audi’s credit they provide twice-yearly upgrades via a variety of methods, some free. (Sadly they don’t seem to have any way to update the MMI firmware though). The map updates are badly documented, so here’s the details.

Audi a3 8v map update 2018

First, the easy options that cost money. You can pay the dealer to do it. Or you can pay for the Audi Connect service (the cellular data for your car) and updates come over the air.

Now the free manual option. Discussed here, also see this video. It’s not hard or scary, the only real nuisance is their Java download program. Detailed walkthrough:

Downloading update

2018 Audi A8

  1. Log in to myAudi.
  2. Click the “Audi connect services” button. I had a lot of trouble with their SSO redirects, maybe related to my ad blockers and privacy stuff.
  3. On the Audi Connect website go to Services / Map Update and select “Complete Package”, then click the “Prepare Package” button.
  4. Download the map update! Ha ha just kidding. Download a tiny JNLP file for Java Web Start to run a download program that Audi requires you use.
  5. Run the JNLP program. I managed finally by enabling it in the Java control panel (Security / Enable Java content for browser and Web Start applications) and then running “javaws foo.jnlp” from a command line. Perhaps there’s an easier way.
  6. Wait for the download. The full US maps were about 11GB.
  7. The download program creates four files. Two small files: one named metainfo2.txt and one named randomhexstring.md5. And two directories with the data: Mib1 and Mib2. Apparently all 4 are necessary for an update.
  8. Copy the 4 to the root directory of a FAT32 system on an SD card. (A USB drive will work as well.)

Audi A3 8v Map Update 2018

Installing update

  1. Go to the car and put the SD card in one of the slots for the MMI. (I used SD2).
  2. Turn the MMI on. (I do this by turning the radio on, not the ignition).
  3. Go to Settings / System Maintenance / Version info to check the versions of things on your system already. This shows the MMI software version (0694 for me) and some basic navigation database info; you have to navigate to the Navigation database submenu to see all the databases you have. My car had about 20 2016/2017 databases for North America, plus a single 2017/2018 for USA, Region 4 (California, where I live). That was an OTA update I got right after buying the car.
  4. Go to Audi Connect and select “Software update”. Select the source you plugged in (SD2 for me) and it begins. It takes awhile, about 30 minutes for me.
  5. Leave the car and close the door. Lights will turn off but the MMI will continue to be running with the screen lit and updating. Eventually the screen will close and it seems to keep updating. Hopefully none of this drains the battery too much. The update is automatic and requires no extra input
  6. Once it finishes you may have to enter a single click to acknowledge the update.
  7. Go back to Version info to check the version numbers. Now all my car’s maps are labelled “2018”. Success!

Audi Map Update 2020

Of course I’m curious about the contents of the update files but couldn’t find a lot of info. Mib1 has a directory named “Eggnog” and Mib2 has “Truffles”; internal product names? Mib1’s datafiles seem to be named “.psf” and Linux guesses some (but not all) are FoxPro FPT files, which seems plausible. Mib2 is mostly compressed data I couldn’t figure out, which some small SQLite tables without much interesting it. Probably all proprietary data, of course, and if they’re smart it’s encrypted too to prevent casual snoops like me from lifting all the data out.

Audi Cars 2018

Shame Audi doesn’t also let you upgrade MMI firmware. Mine has a bug where it’s limited to indexing 10,000 music files. Admittedly that’s a lot of music, but it’s a nuisance if you just want to copy all the music you own into the car. Static array sizes: not even once!