Use phone’s data plan for Audi A3 MMI

[Brantome]

As of last week, I have a new Audi A3 sportback with the tech pack which replaced my trusty old 2008 Audi A4. In the A4, I used an Echo Auto device to use Alexa and related music services (as well as maps) which used my Android phone’s ample data plan for music playback thru the car audio. Indeed, inbuilt Alexa support on the A3 was one of the factors that drew me to the A3.

I’m currently using the complimentary 25GB cubic telecom plan for Alexa and Android Auto in the A3 but would much prefer using the data plan on my Motorola Edge 30 Fusion which more than sufficed on the A4 for Alexa use.

I’d rather not have to use a cabled connection, nor have a WiFi hotspot on my phone that I might need to enable/disable to each time I use the car.

I have found a reference to an Audi TSB (ref. 91 21 80 2062466/1 March 10, 2021) where it refers to a means of attaching an iPhone for Carplay and using its data plan, although of course there’s no mention of Alexa use in that context.

So, is there a way I can connect my Android phone and use its data plan to provide support for Alexa and related services, as well as Android Auto or indeed any other in-car service that requires internet access?

Thanks

[GMcD79]

Hi Pete.

Like you, I was keen to use my phones data plan as a connection for online services.

I believe there is an option in the MyAudi App, under the services section, called vehicle connection that should allow for this.  On android it's under the user icon (bottom right).

Unfortunately, like many others have already reported, it doesn't work.  At least not on Android. 

Enabling the option "MMI Wifi Connection" just shows as "not linked" and there doesn't seem to be any option to link the app with the car.  

I do however believe that there is a 'fix' that allows this to work on iOS devices.

https://www.e-tronforum.com/threads/mmi-wifi-connection-not-linked.7646/

Until Audi sort out their buggy software, the only option is 'Hotspot' which isn't ideal.

[Brantome]

Thanks for that. Yeah it’s a bind not being able to easily select it in settings - a “use car/phone Wi-fi” toggle would be handy.

What I’ve done on my Android phone is to install the Macrodroid app and use a macro that automatically turns on my phone’s WiFi hotspot (and turns off its Wi-fi) when it detects it’s connected to the car’s Bluetooth, and when I get out of the car, it automatically kills the phone’s hotspot and turns Wi-fi back on.

That works reasonably well although I do need to be a little patient when I get into the car to ensure that process has worked - sometimes it’ll not detect the phone’s hotspot quickly enough and use the Audi cubic data plan instead. It’ll be interesting to see how it reacts when it doesn’t have that car data plan to fall back on.

Cheers