Google Earth/Satellite Maps

[L_G]

There are some suggestions on the net (such as on the A3 forum here) that there is a software update available to overcome the imminent demise of google earth images for MY18 and earlier cars.

My car is booked in for a service in a couple of weeks and would be interest to know if anybody has any experience of this before I make a potential idiot of myself by asking for an update that doesn't exist

 

[cuke2u]

Post #108 on https://www.audiworld.com/forums/a4...n-212/google-earth-going-away-2021-a-2924440/

 

[mjcourtney]

I asked my dealer about this, as my MY17 A4 has just lost the Google Maps/Earth feature (and associated traffic overlay). They double checked with the service team and sadly there is no alternative being developed for my car. Incredibly irritating as it's the feature I use most often and one of the key reasons I wanted the tech pack with virtual cockpit.

All of the other Audi Connect features have been extended for another year free of charge, but quite honestly I would have been happy to pay a fee if it meant keeping Google Maps. Whilst i'm sure the licence terms do give them the wriggle room to make changes to services, it's very disappointing to have such a major digital feature removed with no alternative on a car that is just over 4 years old.

Really puts me off buying any future Audi's to be honest.

 

[L_G]

Post #108 on https://www.audiworld.com/forums/a4...n-212/google-earth-going-away-2021-a-2924440/

Thank you, would be good to know if anybody has had experience of this in UK.

I asked my dealer about this, as my MY17 A4 has just lost the Google Maps/Earth feature (and associated traffic overlay). They double checked with the service team and sadly there is no alternative being developed for my car. Incredibly irritating as it's the feature I use most often and one of the key reasons I wanted the tech pack with virtual cockpit.

All of the other Audi Connect features have been extended for another year free of charge, but quite honestly I would have been happy to pay a fee if it meant keeping Google Maps. Whilst i'm sure the licence terms do give them the wriggle room to make changes to services, it's very disappointing to have such a major digital feature removed with no alternative on a car that is just over 4 years old.

Really puts me off buying any future Audi's to be honest.

Maybe it is MY18 only?

From memory even for more recent cars the 'disclaimer' about continued functionality isn't particularly re-assuring.

A while back I read about Vauxhall losing 'connect' functionality when it was no longer part of GM so this kind of thing is not just an Audi issue.

 

[cuke2u]

As far as what's been discussed, and by what Audi have stated, it is a hardware issue as Google changed the software making incompatible..

 

[Pork]

My MY17 is booked in on Friday for a service and to check for possible update - I’ll let you know
When booking the appointment I mentioned the map overlay update and that Audi UK cs had said my car may be eligible.

 

[Aaron gill]

I’ve recently just got my 2018 Rs3 saloon and when I try load the google maps overlay it just doesn’t load. The bar will load fully but then nothing happens. Does this mean my car has been updated?

 

[j00ls]

I still have Google Maps, MY17, Audi Connect until the end of the year. I downloaded the 13.8gb map update file from MyAudi but haven't got around to installing it yet. My local area maps are upto date, updated 1.2Ggb over the built in SIM just after purchase.
Anyone know if this map update disables the Google maps overlay?
The dealer included at purchase (AUC) an extra years Audi Connect (s4 comes with 3 years standard apparently) which I will need to ask for soon.

 

[L_G]

I still have Google Maps, MY17, Audi Connect until the end of the year. I downloaded the 13.8gb map update file from MyAudi but haven't got around to installing it yet. My local area maps are upto date, updated 1.2Ggb over the built in SIM just after purchase.
Anyone know if this map update disables the Google maps overlay?
The dealer included at purchase (AUC) an extra years Audi Connect (s4 comes with 3 years standard apparently) which I will need to ask for soon.

IME the 20/21 maps update did not affect the google earth images overlay

 

[cuke2u]

I couldn't so I think it doubtful..

 

[OCDaveS4]

A couple of things here - my google earth has just (yesterday) gone "out of focus" - Coincidentally (??) my Connect Licence expires soon and I E Mailed customer services a week or so ago and got confirmation it would be extended for a year FOC, but didn't mention Google Earth specifically.

Spoke to the dealer (to complain about having an "inspection service" with no oil change - what a mug I am) and he said that Audi were about to introduce a new map overlay but it wouldn't be Google Earth. He hadn't heard of the display going out of focus before.

Earth is a "nice to have" for me and I would miss it, but an equally good Navigation Display would be ok I suppose but with less of the "wow" factor. I've did the latest map update a few weeks ago without difficulty (67 Plate S4)

 

[j00ls]

I have now had the nag that my license is about to expire, so will email the dealer. It's no big deal to loose the Google feature, but loosing traffic info, ie road closures in my area, would be.

 

[pagenotfound]

Wasn't fussed about losing the Google Earth overlay, mildly miffed about the traffic overlay but now rather annoyed that it appears the online destination search has been affected as well as that was a really useful feature.

 

[Pork]

So, the service manger said there is a connect update which gives Audi’s satellite view, at least for tech pack cars anyway - this will be available from the end of December and he said it will update itself.....
Keep your eyes on the update page I guess

 

[L_G]

So, the service manger said there is a connect update which gives Audi’s satellite view, at least for tech pack cars anyway - this will be available from the end of December and he said it will update itself.....
Keep your eyes on the update page I guess

Thanks for the update, will ask next Monday and see if I get the same answer!

 

[hellodave]

So, the service manger said there is a connect update which gives Audi’s satellite view, at least for tech pack cars anyway - this will be available from the end of December and he said it will update itself.....
Keep your eyes on the update page I guess

I asked the same question and was told there was an update available but my 67 plate car was too old for it.

 

[L_G]

Do you know which model year your car is?

It would seem odd if MY2018 cars are too old given that MY2019s are not currently affected

 

[hellodave]

Do you know which model year your car is?

It would seem odd if MY2018 cars are too old given that MY2019s are not currently affected

Can't remember when MY's changeover but my S4 was first registered in Dec 2017.

 

[L_G]

Can't remember when MY's changeover but my S4 was first registered in Dec 2017.

Change over is, IIRC, in July so unless it had been sitting in a field somewhere it should be MY18 which if that model year is too old - which cars do benefit?

 

[gregpot2000]

Interested to hear people's updates on this......My 2016 (MY2017) Google maps overlay has also become out of focus recently, yet strangely for some areas still ok....
I presume this is part of the fact that it's going completely? I still have a licence to 2022 I think (due to a c.o.c. k up with them extending for 3 years instead of 1!!) and it's still how it is.

I read somewhere that Audi will charge for the software update to get it working again, and it needs to be at a dealers. This is a bit of a joke really, promote a car and sell it based on a feature that they remove due to failure to future proof. then charge the user to restore it back how it's meant to be!!

 

[Bells]

Saw this thread the other day so thought I’d post what I said in the A3 side of the forum.

Booked mine at my local Audi Dealer for next week. Contacted Audi UK who confirmed my S5 (17 reg) was eligible to receive the update, for the new replacement service being referred to as ‘Satellite Card’. Apart from that they were very vague, didn’t know when it was being rolled out by dealers and just basically said speak to them for more info.

As my car is still under the 4 year manufactures warranty until April and my licenses are valid until Oct 2021, I’ve told them I don’t expect to pay for this as they did say they couldn’t rule out any charges.

Bookings team at the dealer weren’t the most knowledgable and basically said they will just assess my car when it goes in but they’ve put all my notes onto the job card, so I’ll probably find out they can’t do it next week but worth a try. Guy on the phone said he’d never heard of this new service or Google Maps expiring, which doesn’t inspire much confidence!

 

[Keef]

I’m a tad miffed that the google overlay has now stopped working on my early 2017 S4 as I had got use to that view. I called Audi UK CS the other day only to be told there is no fix and it’s not Audi’s fault, it’s Google’s (surprise, surprise). I have logged a complaint based on loss of functionality but don’t expect a call back.

 

[j00ls]

Unfortunately Google maps is now inactive on my Dec '17 reg S4. It happened over the weekend. I have a request in via my dealer to extend the Audi Connect, will see what happens with that...

 

[QuattroPhilG]

I am adding to the list my 66 plate S4 which has also unannounced just starting giving very poor resolution on my virtual cockpit. The centre display appears OK at the minute but to be honest I think that the images are cached so are not being downloaded from a server. I imagine that if I go somewhere that I have not been to before the image would be blurred. NOT HAPPY.

 

[cuke2u]

Renewing the connect licence will do nothing, and Audi, like any other company, never promised it would remain. Unfortunately as Google moved the goalposts there is little Audi can, if they have much motivation....

 

[Bells]

Renewing the connect licence will do nothing, and Audi, like any other company, never promised it would remain. Unfortunately as Google moved the goalposts there is little Audi can, if they have much motivation....

Yeah Audi renewed my Audi connect and it extended everything for a year but didn’t fix the lack of Google maps. That’s why it has to go into the dealers for the sat nav update to get this alternative service installed.

 

[QuattroPhilG]

It will be interesting to see if my S4 (B9) is able to get the new maps update when it becomes available. Or is it already?

 

[Bells]

It will be interesting to see if my S4 (B9) is able to get the new maps update when it becomes available. Or is it already?

Audi UK Connect customer services can check if your car is eligible based on your vin number but my 17 reg S5 is, so it’s obviously ‘live’ for the B9 platform.

I’ll update once my cars been into the dealers on Thursday for the update.

 

[QuattroPhilG]

Lets hope it is successful.

 

[GenerationGav]

I've got a MY19 and still seem to have the Google maps satellite overlay, seem a bit confusing if I'm expecting to lose it or not now

 

[L_G]

Audi UK Connect customer services can check if your car is eligible based on your vin number but my 17 reg S5 is, so it’s obviously ‘live’ for the B9 platform.

I’ll update once my cars been into the dealers on Thursday for the update.

Is that the digital support rather than customer services?

 

[Bells]

Is that the digital support rather than customer services?

Yeah it’s an option when you call Audi UK Customer Services on the switchboard menu

 

[L_G]

Yeah it’s an option when you call Audi UK Customer Services on the switchboard menu

Just spoken to them, it appears my car is eligible so will see what tomorrow's visit to the dealers brings.

 

[Bells]

Just spoken to them, it appears my car is eligible so will see what tomorrow's visit to the dealers brings.

Let us know how you get on mines up on Thursday

 

[L_G]

Let us know how you get on mines up on Thursday

Having had to explain I wasn't after a free map update he has gone to check with the master tech.

For some reason you drive the car inside when arriving at the dealership

 

[L_G]

Update applied.

The new imaging looks broadly the same as the before. On other threads people have commented that some of the screen is lost as it now shows a 'horizon' but hopefully it is just something that ones gets used to.

Certainly better than having to revert to the 'base' maps.

Edit - This is a testament to just how useful these forums are as I very much doubt the update would have happened without asking.

 

[k77]

Update applied.

The new imaging looks broadly the same as the before. On other threads people have commented that some of the screen is lost as it now shows a 'horizon' but hopefully it is just something that ones gets used to.

Certainly better than having to revert to the 'base' maps.

Edit - This is a testament to just how useful these forums are as I very much doubt the update would have happened without asking.

Very good news, have you got any pictures of how the new maps look?

What was the cost of the update if you don't mind me asking.

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

 

[L_G]

Very good news, have you got any pictures of how the new maps look?

What was the cost of the update if you don't mind me asking.

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

The car is - just - in warranty so there wasn't a charge but from my conversation with them I would expect to be charged for an hour of their time.

Will try and remember to take some pictures when I'm next out.

 

[L_G]

Can't remember when MY's changeover but my S4 was first registered in Dec 2017.

Given that I have had the update for a car first registered in the same month as yours I would suggest speaking to Audi CS as post #28 and then have another 'chat' with your dealership if they confirm that it is suitable.

 

[Bells]

Update applied.

The new imaging looks broadly the same as the before. On other threads people have commented that some of the screen is lost as it now shows a 'horizon' but hopefully it is just something that ones gets used to.

Certainly better than having to revert to the 'base' maps.

Edit - This is a testament to just how useful these forums are as I very much doubt the update would have happened without asking.

Good to know yours got done successfully! Mines still under used approved and manufacturer warranty so I’m hoping it’s free on Thursday.

They didn’t have a clue about it when I booked it in some I’m expecting to have to explain what you did today