ran across this thread on reddit today. Someone in the US got these lights enabled remotely for a different audi model. it’s not cheap. Looks like it would run about $700 if we could even do it on our GTs. And you have to give someone remote access to your computer. has all sorts of red flags but the poster says it's legit. anyone brave enough to give it a shot 😄
Matrix headlight upgrade for US GTs
Snorlax
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How much did they charge? I’m more comfortable taking a road trip to SoCal to have it done at a shop than remotely. Did they also tell you they would do the work again if it’s wiped out by a software update?
2022 Audi e-tron GT Prestige/Performance/Leather [Daytona/Arras Red]
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Just an update. I spoke with the aforementioned "Sam" on WhatsApp for a while. He answered all of my questions and was super helpful.
Basically, the GT's headlights can be upgraded by this mod (some cannot though, as some had some hardware left out due to chip shortage -- he will need your VIN to see if your car has the necessary hardware). On the GT you don't get graphics/animations or light carpet but you do get the dynamic lighting up of various parts of the road as conditions change. He sends you several videos to look over. It seems like it would be a lot safer driving at night with this upgrading lighting, so i'm going to give it a shot. It will take a bit to do the mod because i need to get the cable first. I'll let everyone know how it goes
Basically, the GT's headlights can be upgraded by this mod (some cannot though, as some had some hardware left out due to chip shortage -- he will need your VIN to see if your car has the necessary hardware). On the GT you don't get graphics/animations or light carpet but you do get the dynamic lighting up of various parts of the road as conditions change. He sends you several videos to look over. It seems like it would be a lot safer driving at night with this upgrading lighting, so i'm going to give it a shot. It will take a bit to do the mod because i need to get the cable first. I'll let everyone know how it goes
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It was $900, I know way too much but I made it my birthday present to myself. Besides what they enabled in my previous post they can enable Video in Motion to play videos on the dash if you use a Sim Card and some adapter but I skipped that. If you call Pacific German ask for Tyler, he is extremely knowledgeable and knows more about Audis than anyone I have ever spoken to. I also had them program my car lower last year so lots of things they can do to the car through software. He said they have never had this wiped out by software updates on other models but just bring it back if this happened for some reason
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Not a great video but you can see the diming feature works once enabled. Will work best in really dark areas
Matrix Lights 1
Matrix Lights 2
Matrix Lights 1
Matrix Lights 2
2022 Audi e-tron GT Prestige/Performance/Leather [Daytona/Arras Red]
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630 Posts
Just went through the process with Sam via WhatsApp on my GT and my wife's new '24 Q8 e-tron. took about 35 minutes total for the two cars. really isn't much to it from the customer's end. Just have to plug in the cable and some software to let him control the USB device remotely. He threw in some freebies like acceleration measurement, TPMS in the virtual cockpit, intersection/crossing light with route data. It's day time now so i can't try it out yet. I'll report back.
What kind of software did you need to install? I don't have a laptop that isn't for work and would be wary of installing something weird.
2022 Audi e-tron GT Prestige/Performance/Leather [Daytona/Arras Red]
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630 Posts
It's just this one: FlexiHub: Centralized Access for Remote USB & COM devices
I have a mac, so i had to use Parallels to install windows. I made it so Windows was entirely cut off from my Mac and also on a VLAN without access to my home network. But honestly, Sam seems very trustworthy.
I have a mac, so i had to use Parallels to install windows. I made it so Windows was entirely cut off from my Mac and also on a VLAN without access to my home network. But honestly, Sam seems very trustworthy.
Thank you! That's good to know that Parallels is needed since I don't think I would be able to install that on my work Mac. It looks like thay have a Mac version of the software, that didn't work?
FWIW, a Windows laptop can be had for like $200... it doesn't need to be fancy at all. And if you're already paying a thousand bucks for the mod, that might be a reasonable cost. (Or not; just putting it out there!)
I'm not beyond dragging my PC gaming tower down to the garage and remoting into it via my mac laptop to save $200
I'm sure I can buy a friend or neighbor a six pack to borrow theirs too.
2022 Audi e-tron GT Prestige/Performance/Leather [Daytona/Arras Red]
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630 Posts
Used the lights for the first time last night on my way home from work.
It's really nice. Essentially your brights can be on a lot more, giving you a wider range of visibility, and you can see parts of the beam 'adapting' to the road curves, oncoming cars, and cars you are approaching from behind. I did not get flashed for 'having my brights on' by anyone. The effect is much more pronounced on dark, single lane roads than on multi-lane highways.
Overall, i am happy with the upgrade. the process was super easy. The value is relative and subjective. I think it's a bit on the expensive side for what it provides. Feels like it should have been a $300-$400 upgrade. But in my eyes it makes the car safer. I drive a lot at night and early in the morning for my job. Anything that makes the car safer is worthwhile for me.
It's really nice. Essentially your brights can be on a lot more, giving you a wider range of visibility, and you can see parts of the beam 'adapting' to the road curves, oncoming cars, and cars you are approaching from behind. I did not get flashed for 'having my brights on' by anyone. The effect is much more pronounced on dark, single lane roads than on multi-lane highways.
Overall, i am happy with the upgrade. the process was super easy. The value is relative and subjective. I think it's a bit on the expensive side for what it provides. Feels like it should have been a $300-$400 upgrade. But in my eyes it makes the car safer. I drive a lot at night and early in the morning for my job. Anything that makes the car safer is worthwhile for me.
I also want to add my voice and I just did the upgrade with Sam. He is great, the process was painless and I can not say enough how great it is. I am still baffled how far behind we are here in the US as this is not only super cool but incredibly useful and much safer in dark roads.
I highly recommend doing this with Sam and enabling your headlights, you will not regret it. The amount of technology and how useful it is is just so cool!
I highly recommend doing this with Sam and enabling your headlights, you will not regret it. The amount of technology and how useful it is is just so cool!
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The issue has even made it to the main stream media here in the US:
www.cnn.com
Headlights are blinding in America but not other countries and this tech is why | CNN Business
Imagine if you could drive at night with your high beams on all the time, bathing the road ahead in bright light but without ever blinding other drivers.
www.cnn.com
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FYI:
amp.cnn.com
In America, Headlights are blinding but not in other countries, this tech is why | CNN Business
Imagine if you could drive at night with your high beams on all the time, bathing the road ahead in bright light but without ever blinding other drivers.
amp.cnn.com
Sam can tell you. Their number is in the Reddit post.
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