They obviously can only provide an update if one is available. Audi does not seem to be aggressive on developing updates to phrase it nicely. But the dealers can do updates even if there are no issues. On one if my service visits, they did update the MMI software without my having to ask for it.

Updates are not always a blessing, though. For example, after the update, the 360 camera view does not always come on for me. It sometimes only shows the car and the lines but no camera views. It happens only very rarely and turning the parking assist off and back on always fixes it.

 

thanks, Thomas. Good to know.
joe

 

One would hope that they would do OTA eventually however, maybe they don’t have this down to a science and some of those updates could end up breaking stuff in the vehicle. For is owners, we would notice it sooner as the tech don’t drive the cars daily nor own one. The techs could act as a tester for the company, if they had a vehicle to use as a daily driver and report back issues found that need to be resolved before we get the updates.

On the other side, there have been issues with OTA as well, so giving owners the choice to choose when they want to update would also be a good thing. When they start selling more vehicles, it’s gonna be a pain to have to do the updates When folks just show up and want to get it done. They may have to get some folks trained to do this and get more units to do them en mass if the need is there.

 

thx Wayne, I guess the service dept. won't mind the demand if they charged for upgrades.
I guess I am not as hung up on OTA as the ability to get enhancement, the improvement, made to the newer E-trons. Updates at 1-year service appointments are okay with me.
I have heard Audi was able to squeak more mileage out of the battery in the later E-tron models with only a software change. I could use a few more miles. Plus I noticed the MMI has some better features in the newer model. Like a touch menu that pulls up all your favorites with one touch. Thank you for the reply and the ability to vent a little.

 

As I work in an Audi Service Department, I can tell you that we do not offer anything like what Tesla, Apple, Or Samsung offer in terms of software updates, as most people nowadays are accustomed to. I don't believe the hardware is designed for it. Your Service Advisor was right as the only updates we do are usually if there's a problem with a specific item, like the MMI as someone eluded to earlier. Sorry.

 

Thx Frios. Appreciate confirming what I was hearing from my service here in Arizona

 

They can't even get My Audi working properly as seen by numerous complaints from 2019 owners. Can you imagine what would happen if they started to push out OTA updates? Probably end up with a bricked car!

 

A sad state of affairs. I like the hardware quality and ride of the Audi, but in retrospect should have bought the Tesla Model X. Being a systems engineer, I can appreciate designing software from the ground up vs. clugging together a bunch of packages together, which cannot be updated. Seems like the Audi sort of blew it from the software design perspective. What a shame.

 

A sad state of affairs. I like the hardware quality and ride of the Audi, but in retrospect should have bought the Tesla Model X.

And swap minor software issues for major hardware defects?

 

They are just sticking to what they know, it has worked for them as an ICE manufacturer for years, they will need to make changes in the future to support that model. They have moved from CD/DVD for navigation updates, to memory cards to now OTA. Once they sort things out and have good security in place they can make that change.

 

They're going through a variety of rapid changes.

Audi switched from years and years of QNX to Automotive Grade Linux with MIB3 (new in the 2021 cars). They ported the same UI over for that. In two years they're switching to Android Automotive, which is just a completely new thing. Then a few years after that (with Artemis) they plan to go with full in-house developed software once again.

It's not gonna get better for a while, but at least the infotainment will get OTA updates with Android Automotive in a few years.

This is a very old very early glimpse of Audi's Android Automotive:

 

My 2021 e-tron produced in December 2020 can hardly be described as an early model and needed a new coolant valve after 2000 miles / about a month. They still have reliability issues with the drive train.

 

I appreciate that some owners have issues. When I was on the Tesla forums it was worse than what I read here, including drivetrain issues…lots of them. Yes, I understand there are many more Teslas on the road than E-Trons, but there were many more problematic posts too. There were similar issues on the I-Pace forum. So I’m seeing nothing out of the ordinary here.

The point I want to make is that without knowing the percentage of owners with a given problem, it’s impossible to say how widespread an issue is. This applies to all manufacturers. Reading this or any forum can magnify the issue beyond its true scope.

 

The e-tron is "a box of chocolates" you just never know what you'll get. Battery performance, MMI issues, brakes that sound like a model T (maybe not even that good), etc. I also had rose colored glasses on when we swapped our leased PHEV in for the etron. I drove from CA to WA, and it was actually quite pleasant but then the same "audi experience" we had had years back with two A6 leases took hold. I am kicking myself for not waiting it out, renting a car for a few months and getting in on the lease deals after the hype cleared.

Overall, the ride is better, but the "never seems to work after the system upgrade" app, and other issues that we haven't had with other luxury marques keep dragging this experience down.

To address the OP's question on OTA. OTA is a pretty delicate thing and the e-tron as it stands is made up of the usual old school modules from many manufacturers (where Tesla has integrated their system, Audi has not). There was a very interesting interview with a former Audi exec who basically said, "If you don't realize you've become a software company and bring all this in house you are going to die"...you can find that interview on google or probably this site somewhere...

That said, compared to some people we've know with Tesla's and a ton of complaints (poor fit and finish, one person had their Model X bought back because it was jinxed), maybe this a bit better and as they roll out dedicated EV platforms it will perhaps improve.

We are 50/50 on sticking with Audi after this (like many traditional manufacturers, the poor service people have little idea what's hitting them or how to really deal with it - The App is a prime example - dealer here said - "you should call Audi directly, you have more pull than I do"...not quite up to speed with what people are coming to expect from service in this day and age and auto mfg is going to need to figure this out because (I hope) other companies ramping up from scratch will hopefully take a more Apple like approach...

Good luck

 

Coming from Tesla we are spoiled. It was nice to get new features but it was also always a surprise what did not work anymore after every update.
However, going from software update every week to (hopefully) one software update every year is a big difference.
A lot of annoying things at Audi that could be easily fixed...

 

I’ve only had my etron a few days and several issues already ranging from small to very big. Perhaps they’re all part of one issue and can get sorted out by the dealership. The worst one is the passenger door locking and unlocking with a mind of its own. One time the door opened itself while I was parked. Never seen anything like that before. The window has been stuck part way down for two day but just now I was able to inch it up in tiny increments. First was a tire pressure issue that was in error.. tire pressure was to spec. Then was a blinker malfunction warning. Then came all the problems around the central locking malfunctions which I suspect are affecting the window as well. I could not open the passenger door from the inside for several attempts.. not ideal. I’ve owned 6 new Mercedes in a row but wasn’t feeling their new ev.. so here I am. I love the car (in concept) but I can’t even drive it right now. Glad I didn’t sell my perfectly reliable S-Coupe yet. My MMI says I’m in software version 3606.. does that sound right? What does everyone else have?

 

My 2022 etron is about six weeks old. It has software version 3696 and MMI software version 35.12-2126. The problems I have experienced are relatively minor: Radio & Navi shortcuts and favorites self-delete and I have to re-add them. The key-user (me) can sometimes take 20+ seconds to load when getting in the vehicle. If I start driving before it is done, I have no saved settings in the MMI.

 

Audi Q4 – Poor product, nice car

Finally somewhere to let off steam!
Q4 manufactured in July 2022. Only had the opportunity to drive a few hundred Km.

Unsurprisingly, car show rooms and reviewers get fully loaded versions. Being a Graduate Engineer, I am more interested in functionality than toys; my Q4 is fairly unloaded, therefore.

I know that buying a car in Europe is different from the UK market - it comes with very little. Everything is a chargeable option, plus there are groups of options designed to confuse, called packages. It’s all made very unclear, even with them over lapping in some cases, but designed to upsell the purchase.

After the now standard long wait, I was looking forward to my new Audi Q4. My disappointment only grew as I uncovered 10 failings and discovered that neither the Dealer, Importer nor Audi (who are uncontactable) were unconcerned to do anything about it.

Hence my title: Audi Q4 – Poor product, nice car

I split my list into 3 sections: Should be improved, not fitted and not working. Briefly it is like this.

1. I chose the option to change the dash decor panel from silver to wood. Not only has it nothing to do with wood but it is a stuck on film of plastic, whose edge is coming off because it has not been wrapped around the corners.
2. The stylish rear light bar doesn’t light up; allegedly it only does so if you buy the £1,300 ‘disco lighting’ package.
3. There is no solution to a flat tyre provided, except call the brake down service.
4. I asked to buy an English manual – cost £90 delivery 3 months. No online link, pdf or print version available; only after you have got home and registered, can you see one.

1. You get rear parking sensors but not front ones. This option costs £1,600.
2. There was no domestic outlet charging cable. There is one for purchase for £770 but it is actually not available, as its not certified.
3. Unless you order the 3 zone ventilation control option (£1,000) there is no central, floor, adjustable air vent to the rear cabin.

We are talking Audi here, aren’t we, I hear you asking? Yes, I forgot to notice if rear ventilation was standard! But then again, I didn’t ask if there were 4 windows and if they all opened! And it didn’t say.

And then there are the items which cannot be brushed under any carpet

1. The automatic clock is 2 hours out. Apparently, Audi knows and has it in hand but that is all they promise.
2. When you leave the car, all your chosen settings are supposed to be saved for your next return. I don’t think that is the case, either that or some other software set items are not functioning. Since you cannot establish what is supposed to happen it is very difficult to say it isn’t working. When you ask the question, you are told that is not available on your version, even if it is there.
3. The killer:The on-board charging timer is not working. Now that I have an acknowledgement of the issue, Audi state that no solution is expected before the end of the year. Either I use expensive daytime power or I get up in the night to charge my brand new Audi Q4.

 

Software - 3692

Have had this version for 3-4 weeks. I know someone with 3696 also a few weeks back.

 

Interesting; mine says it is version 3669. Is yours a typo?
Anything more I can look forward to in the future that I have yet to notice?

 

Mine is definitely 3696. I have had the car (2022) for six weeks. No major issues other than some Favorites (both FM/Sirius) sporadically deleting themselves and the (sometimes) slow loading of my user profile when I start the car.

 

Lucky you! Maybe there are so many software versions that they all do somethingelse and Audi cannot get around to fixing them all. But its not my problem, I am only the paying customer.

The only thing my dealer did was offer to negotiate the return of my vehicle. With no terms, delivery of any alternative many, many months away and no other car currently on the market that I fancied, I decided to take my chances. However, now that I found this forum, I hope I don't regret that.

 

Thought you would like to see the 'wood'decor finish problem (refered to as 1 in the first part of my list above).