MMI 2G high not working

I’ve got the MMI blues. For the last 2 months, I’ve been cruelly taunted by the MMI startup/welcome screen when I start the car–only to see it completely shutdown after a few seconds. Nothing connected to the MMI system works. Even worse, I can’t even use the MMI controller to change the time on the dash clock. Furthermore, if I sit in the car for a few minutes with the car on/engine off, I am again taunted by a short burst of radio music–probably caused by a MOST heartbeat that can’t find a satisfactory answer. Then silence. It’s maddening to know many individual components are working, but the whole system is dead.

All because I somehow got 1/2 inch of rainwater into the front passenger/right footwell (for a brief history, see: http://audirevolution.net/forum/index.php?topic=4681.0). It may have come from the sunroof because i notice the leather shift boot is dry and cracked as if it suffered from water damage.

As it stands, I get a flash of a welcome screen on engine start, and an occasional burst of radio music with the car on/engine off. But no MMI buttons or controller knob.

I read online that this behavior seems to suggest a break in the MOST component ring.

From SSP286 p36, http://www.volkspage.net/technik/ssp/ssp/SSP_286_d1.pdf
"System start (wake-up)
If the MOST bus is in sleep mode, the wakeup process initially switches the system to
standby mode. If one of the control units, with the exception of the system manager, wakes the MOST bus,
it transmits specially modulated light – slave light – to the next control unit. By way of the photodiode which is active in sleep mode, the next control unit in the ring receives the slave light and passes it on.

This process continues right through to the system manager. In the incoming slave light the manager recognises the prompt for system starting. The system manager then transmits another specially modulated light – master light – to the next control unit. This master light is relayed by all control units. Reception of the master light in its FOT informs the system manager that the ring is complete and frame transmission commences."

https://imgur.com/YzHD1R9.jpg

4F S6 MOST component sequence for 2007 S6

  • J523/control unit
  • J525/DSP amp w/BOSE
  • J533/OBD2 diagnosis interface
  • R41/CD Changer
  • R36/BT module, Telephone transmitter
  • (not installed???) J526 Telephone/Handset
  • R/Radio + J507 Voice input
  • J401/Nav w CD drive

I also read that you can do a diagnostic scan of the MOST components to identify a component failure. Has anyone ever done this?

Also, my driver “memory seat” isn’t working like it used to–front/back adjustments ok, but not up/down. Same with steering wheel adjustment. However, the diagrams don’t suggest this has anything to do with the MOST ring. But water damage?

https://imgur.com/bLwsYbB.jpg

Driver Seat controller diagram

  • E97/memory switch for driver seat
  • J386/door control unit for driver side
  • J136/control unit for seat + steering column adjustment

Best case scenario, I find someone to do a MOST diagnostic scan and discover a failed component. I already checked the BT module under the driver seat, but replacing that with a loopback connector did not solve my problem. My next guess is the MMI Interface Controller (J523/PN 4E0 035 729A).

https://www.ebay.com/p/2007-2008-AUDI-S6-MMI-Interface-Control-Module-4e0-035-729a/2272613008

But before I start blindly buying an replacing components, I thought I’d ask here.

Any suggestions?

UPDATE: I went to a shop to get a VCDS scan, Diagnosis Manager = Gateway/group 19 > Output Test, but I got an “unable to connect” error. The mechanic thinks this points to an error in the diagnostic controller, J533, PN 4L0907468B or 4L0907468BC. Thoughts?

It’s your gateway replace the gateway underneath the control module car-parts.com to find the part from a wrecked model for the low

What about using one of these to trouble shoot that bad component, unless it’s the controller itself.
http://a6retrofit.tripod.com/articles/audimmimostbridge.html

I took the control head/J533 out and sent it in for diagnostics. If that comes back ok, then I’ll send in the Gateway.

Interesting things like this can really be a pain. Keep us posted.

The Control Head came back fine, then I sent in the MMI button controller, and that came back dead. So I’ll look into replacing the PC board and cross my fingers this solves the problem.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=audi+e380+mmi&selcontext=productType%3ACAR_AND_TRUCK&selvel=Year%3A2007%2CMake%3AAudi%2CModel%3AA6%2BQuattro

I replaced the MMI button board and everything is fine. I should have tried it a few months ago…

Glad this ended up working out !!