Audi S4 Electrical Glitch: Nav Dead & MMI Issues

Having dealt with similar automotive electronics issues on my 2013 Audi S5, I can share some relevant experience. The symptoms you describe match exactly what I encountered, dead navigation and inaccessible vehicle settings. This indeed sounds like transport mode, which is a power-saving state used when vehicles are shipped from factory. In my case, it cost nothing to fix since the car was still under warranty. The issue was resolved by having the dealer perform a complete system reset and deactivate transport mode through their diagnostic tools. The whole process took about an hour. Before you head to a workshop, could you share: Does your key fob work normally? Can you still start the engine without issues? Have you recently had the battery disconnected or replaced? Are there any warning lights on the dashboard? These details would help confirm if your situation matches what I experienced with my S5. Transport mode issues are usually straightforward to fix but require dealer-level diagnostic equipment. Also worth noting that sometimes a simple battery voltage drop can cause similar symptoms, so checking battery health might be worthwhile.

Last serviced at 88082KM, and you make some great points. The key fob actually works intermittently, engine starts fine, and no battery work was done recently. Warning lights appear unusual and inconsistent. After your reply, I checked the immobilizer status through a basic OBD scanner, showing no faults. The transport mode suggestion makes sense given the symptoms, especially the MMI behavior. A software update might indeed be necessary, as the dealer diagnostic computer would have access to reactivate normal operation mode. Will schedule a workshop visit to get this sorted properly.

The symptoms you describe with the intermittent key fob function and unusual warning lights actually align perfectly with what I experienced on my S5. After getting the initial transport mode reset, we discovered the root cause was more complex than initially thought. A diagnostic check revealed the MMI control module needed a firmware update to resolve communication issues with other vehicle systems. The unusual warning lights were triggered by temporary communication drops between different control modules. Since the immobilizer shows no faults, that rules out several potential issues. The similarities between our cases suggest focusing on the electronic control units communication. When the workshop performed the software update on my vehicle, they also recalibrated several vehicle settings which had defaulted during the system instability. Consider requesting a full system diagnostic rather than just addressing the transport mode. This comprehensive check helped identify and resolve all related issues in my case, preventing future electronic glitches. The solution should include: Full system diagnostic scan, Software updates for relevant control modules, Verification of all communication protocols, Reset and recalibration of affected systems This approach typically costs between 200 Euro to 400 Euro but provides a complete fix rather than just treating symptoms.

Thanks for all the detailed responses. You've actually helped me narrow down the issue considerably. The similarities with your S5 case are striking, especially regarding the MMI behavior and unusual warning lights. I just called the workshop and booked an appointment for next week. They confirmed they will perform a full diagnostic check and suggested exactly what you mentioned, checking all control modules and running necessary software updates. They quoted 350 Euro for the complete service including potential firmware updates. The key fob acted up again this morning, but at least knowing this is likely tied to the control module communication issues makes it less concerning. Interesting that your immobilizer system also showed no faults despite the electronic glitches. Will update once the workshop completes the vehicle settings reset and software updates. Really appreciate the thorough explanation of what to expect during the diagnostic process. Having this information makes me much more confident about the upcoming repair.