iPhone dock for Audi B9 (A4/S4/A5/S5/RS5)

Overview

This is an easy-to-use wired CarPlay dock designed to fit a wide range of modern Audis with the armrest wireless charging kit. In my area, wireless CarPlay is unreliable due to radio interference, and I hated fussing with cables every time I got in the car. Enter calipers and over-engineering impulses, stage left.

This dock aligns your phone with the end of a USB-C cable so you can drop it in, slide it back, and you’re up and running. No fidgeting required.

Designed for support-free printing and easy assembly.

There are two versions, each with their pros and cons, listed below. v2 is recommended for reliability.

Version 1 vs Version 2

v1 is a simple two-part assembly - a base to hold the phone, and a top element to align the plug. It uses one screw to hold the plug into place, and has the benefit of being able to take any length of plug head so you can probably use any cable you have lying around. It also has no visible screws, giving it a clean appearance. The main downside is that it's hard to maintain. Since the plug alignment relies on the cover being tightly in place, it's best to glue it. But then if the screw works loose with usage or you manage to ram the plug back into the housing... no bueno.

v2 improves functionality and maintainability at the cost of optionality and appearance. It's made for a specific sized plug and integrates the alignment into the base, so it can't get out of whack through use. It also includes a backstop for the plug, so if you do apply too much pressure to it it won't go anywhere. Finally, it uses external screws so you can take it apart and replace the cable without removing the base from the car. The downsides are that you need to use a cable with a specific head size, and there are visible screws on top which may or may not bother you.

Assembly for v1

This is pretty self-evident: Insert the USB-C plug into the port hole of the housing, which should be snug. Push it through until the neck is flush with the base of the plug. Use an M3 screw to secure it in place. Thread the cable through the side of the housing, coil up the excess inside, and insert the housing into the dock. I recommend gluing these parts together so the plug alignment stays in place, though it is pretty sturdy without.

Parts:

• 1 x 1-foot USB-C to USB-C cable (Anker A8751 was used in my build)

• 1 x M3 4-5mm screw

• VHB tape

• Glue or plastic epoxy (optional)

Assembly for v2

Again, pretty obvious. Place the plug into the cradle in the base. Place the retainer on top, and screw it into place. Make sure the top of the screw heads are flush with the top of the retainer to ensure the cover seats nicely. Put the cover in place, and screw that down, as well.

Parts:

• 1 x 1-foot USB-C to USB-C cable (Anker A8751 strongly recommended, as the model uses its dimensions)

• 4 x M3 12mm screws

• VHB tape

Installation

Use VHB tape to attach the bottom and the outside wall to your car’s cradle. (Don’t forget to take out the existing rubber mat first.) Plug the cable into your car, drop your phone in the dock, push it back until it seats, and go.

CarPlay note

iOS doesn’t prioritize wired CarPlay over wireless, which is a problem in areas with a lot of RF interference. If you want to force use of wired CarPlay when the phone is in the dock, the only option I’ve found is to use Shortcuts and Automations to determine if the phone is in the dock (on power, in left landscape orientation) and, if so, turn off wifi and bluetooth. This forces CarPlay to switch over to the wired connection. There’s another automation to turn things back on when it gets removed from the dock. Shortcuts and automation triggers are referenced below.

Phone compatibility

Fits the following phones, without a case.

• iPhone 14

• iPhone 15 (tested)

• iPhone 16

Car compatibility

Fits the following models with the factory wireless charging armrest kit.

• 2018-2025 Audi A4

• 2018-2025 Audi A5

• 2018-2025 Audi S4

• 2018-2025 Audi S5

• 2019, 2021-2025 Audi RS5

Print settings:

• PETG (recommended) or PLA

• No supports or rafts needed

• Orientation

  • Dock: Bottom of model on the bed

  • Housing: Top of model on the bed

• Recommend ironing for fitment

  • Dock: Topmost surface only

  • Housing: All top surfaces

Wired / wireless automation setup (optional)

• When phone is connected to power, run this shortcut

• When phone is disconnected from power, run this shortcut