How to remote start audi a7

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Many drivers inquire about the availability of Audi remote start. In fact, it is one of the most requested automotive features among Audi drivers.

Unfortunately, Audi vehicles do not have full remote start capabilities, although they can be added later through a dealership or aftermarket installation company. Instead, Audi cars have the Audi Advanced Key, which offers many similar benefits.

If you’re wondering whether Audi remote start or the Audi Advanced Key is a better fit for you, take note of the information below in this short review.

What is Remote Start?

Remote start is a technologically advanced capability first widely offered by GM in 2003. These systems allow a driver to start their vehicle from anywhere within a certain range by using a special key FOB or mobile app. Once activated, the car will automatically run for a pre-determined amount of time, usually 10 or 15 minutes.

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Audi Remote Start Availability

The Audi remote start is only available for many years as an aftermarket addition and has been a popular modification among owners. However, while remote start has taken off in the United States, many foreign automotive manufacturers have been slow to add this feature due to regulations in other parts of the world.

Audi vehicles have historically not been available with remote start. In Germany, where Audi is based, it is illegal to have a remote start. For this reason, remote start will likely never come standard on any Audi vehicle, although their key fobs can support the technology.

In addition to offering the installation of Audi remote start on new vehicles, older Audi models can also be retrofitted with the same technology. In response to consumer demand, some Audi dealerships are now including the option of programming your OEM key with remote start capabilities. The myAudi app can also be integrated to control your remote start system from your phone as a bonus.

Aftermarket installation is available from other automotive accessory companies as well.

Audi Advanced Key Capabilities

Audi offers the Audi Advanced Key instead of remote start, a variation of remote start that offers keyless entry and push-button start/stop capabilities. This system works by using proximity sensors located in the vehicle doors and trunk that activate once you and your crucial approach are within approximately 5 feet of the car.

With Audi Advanced Key, you can unlock your car doors or start your vehicle without needing to dig in your purse or pockets for the keys.

While not a complete remote start, Audi Advanced Key drivers can start the vehicle using a push start mechanism that does not require a key insertion. This can be a convenient alternative to remote start for many drivers.

The Audi Advanced Key also allows saved driver profiles that return the vehicle’s mirrors and seat positions to customized memory settings.

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It is worth noting that remote vehicle access can also be controlled from any distance with the myAudi app. This allows drivers to unlock the vehicle directly from the app.

Although the Audi Advanced Key is not a fully functional remote start, it offers many of the same benefits and advantages of remote start, such as not needing to fumble around with a key.

Pros & Cons of Remote Start

Whether or not to use remote start is a matter of personal preference. There are many arguments both for and against the use of remote start. Some of the pros and cons include:

Pros

• Weather Acclimation – With a remote start, you can warm up (or cool down) your car before you get in, which can be a huge advantage and even a necessity depending on your local climate. It also allows your engine time to warm up to optimal driving conditions before you even step foot out your door.
• Convenience – If your hands are full of shopping bags or a squirming toddler, the last thing you want to do is have to mess around with your key. Remote start offers a way to access your vehicle before entering it, saving you time and keeping your hands free. Many people prefer remote start to any other technology due to the ability to control the climate inside the vehicle. Today’s advanced remote start capabilities include specialized climate control settings and mobile app access.

Saves Time – Particularly during the winter months, being able to start your car before you’ve even left your house can save you time. A warm vehicle automatically melts any ice and snow from your windshield, giving you a better option than pulling out an ice scraper and saving you valuable time in the morning.

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Cons

• Pollution – Leaving your car running while you aren’t in it inevitably uses more fuel, contributing to unnecessary pollution. (To help combat this, many remote start systems have a built-in shut-off feature after 10 or 15 minutes.)
• Cost – In addition to the cost of adding remote start as an option or an aftermarket addition to your vehicle, if you are using the feature frequently, it can also cost you at the gas pump with all that extra fuel.
• Legal Stipulations – In some parts of the world, leaving a car engine idling without a driver is illegal. Pollution and environmental concerns are the main reason for these regulations, but privacy concerns about enabling auto theft are also concerned.

Audi Remote Start: FAQs

Does Audi Have an Official Remote Start feature?

Audi doesn’t have a Remote Start feature in an official capacity. Since most Audis are made in Germany, where it’s illegal to have your car running without a driver behind the wheel, the automaker can’t add Remote Start to its vehicles legally.

Alternatively, you may use the Audi advanced key, which functions similarly to a remote start key fob.

Is it illegal to idle your car?

We’ve mentioned above how idling your car can have legal stipulations and environmental impact. Depending on the state where you live, it may be illegal to leave your car idling for extended periods, including states such as Arizona, California, New York, Oregon, Texas, Washington, and many others.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a compilation of states with car idling laws for your reference.

Will an aftermarket Remote Start void my warranty?

No. Many dealerships will tell you that anything they didn’t install themselves will void your warranty which isn’t true. Under the Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act, automakers can’t cancel your new car warranty just by using an aftermarket product, provided that it was correctly installed and caused no damage to the vehicle. 

Final Thoughts

Although remote start doesn’t come standard on any Audi vehicle, the feature can be added via an aftermarket upgrade if the benefits are that appealing to you. However, since the Audi Advanced Key offers many of the same advantages without the extra concerns that come with a remote start, you may find it a better option to leave your vehicle as-is.

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