Swapping RCD510 for RNS510 and vice versa

[Dubya]

Would it be feasible for a dealer to take the RNS510 from one Golf and swap it with the RCD510 in another Golf (eg to change the options to suit a buyer)?

Could it be done quickly enough so as not to be prohibitively costly for the dealer to do it FOC?

Could it be done equally easily irrespective of any other factory installed options on either car such as Bluetooth or RVC?

I am not convinced of the value of SatNav for $2,500 . . . or is SatNav a must-have option? If so, why?

SatNav was a $2,500 option in the Mark V GTI. By rights it should be a less expensive upgrade from the RCD510, but it is the same cost as before (and I presume on Golfs without the RCD510 as standard).

Thanks
Dubya.

[Maverick]

Would it be feasible for a dealer to take the RNS510 from one Golf and swap it with the RCD510 in another Golf (eg to change the options to suit a buyer)?

Wouldn't this be up to the dealer? What I consider feasible the dealer may not and vise versa.

Could it be done quickly enough so as not to be prohibitively costly for the dealer to do it FOC?

Why would they do it for free? Again it comes back to the dealer and if they want a car without satnav but with a gps antenna on the roof to sell.

Could it be done equally easily irrespective of any other factory installed options on either car such as Bluetooth or RVC?

No, what if the car they are taking the RNS 510 from has a RVC? The RCD 510 they have won't work so they have to buy one from Volkswagen.

I am not convinced of the value of SatNav for $2,500 . . . or is SatNav a must-have option? If so, why?

We can't tell you something that is a personal choice, you either want it or you don't. There are a million reviews and videos of the RNS 510 in action covering it's main features so read/watch some of these and make up your own mind.

SatNav was a $2,500 option in the Mark V GTI. By rights it should be a less expensive upgrade from the RCD510, but it is the same cost as before (and I presume on Golfs without the RCD510 as standard).

Why should it be cheaper? The RCD 510 head units (third generation) are replacing the RCD 510 head units (second generation) and are cheaper than the old second generation units to manufacture. The RNS 510 (third gen) arrived late in the Mark V run to replace the old second gen sat nav that had none of the features of the RNS 510 at the _SAME_ price.

[Corey_R]

Would it be feasible for a dealer to take the RNS510 from one Golf and swap it with the RCD510 in another Golf (eg to change the options to suit a buyer)?

Yes, but it's up to them for the reasons Maverick said (the antenna on the roof is only in a factory RNS510 equiped car).

Could it be done quickly enough so as not to be prohibitively costly for the dealer to do it FOC?

The RNS-510 has an accessory cost of $3294.50 - yet most dealers will charge ~$4000 for it to cover labour. So there is around $700 labour involved. If you're asking them to do a swap with another car, you could come to the conclusion that there is at least over $1000 labour involved....

Could it be done equally easily irrespective of any other factory installed options on either car such as Bluetooth or RVC?

Maverick has noted that there are RCD510 models without the video input on them to allow the RVC. However, other dealer members have mentioned that they've not come across this so far. So whilst there could be some caveats with some Bluetooth units, the swap should be able to occur even with these, though it will probably add to the labour due to additional coding required etc.

I am not convinced of the value of SatNav for $2,500 . . . or is SatNav a must-have option? If so, why?

SatNav was a $2,500 option in the Mark V GTI. By rights it should be a less expensive upgrade from the RCD510, but it is the same cost as before (and I presume on Golfs without the RCD510 as standard).

Well, if all you're concerned about is "Sat Nav", then obviously $2500 is a lot of money. Thank god "Sat Nav" is just one of the RNS-510's features.

[dave_r]

FWIW, while waiting for the first batch of R's to arrive, my dealer had one with a satnav and offered to remove it if I wanted that car. Obviously they made the choice to wear the cost of doing so to try and fulfil my order however I declined due to it missing other items I wanted.

So yeah, they can do it, but whether they will is another story.

[Dubya]

"Sat Nav" is just one of the RNS-510's features.

Thanks, Coreying, this is what I was hoping to find out as the only car in the VW pipeline configured as I want has an RNS510 so I am keen to find out what makes it worhwhile as I do not see a lot of call for SatNav.

However, I do like idea of being warned of:

- school zones; and
- safety, speed and red light cameras;

So if anyone can tell me what else makes the RNS510 worthwhile in itself, or over a $400 portable, I am all ears.

Cheers.

[rs73]

I heard the std maps don't come with speed/redlight cameras POI, and from the sound of it, it's quite an effort to get those data in the maps as it requires to re-burn the DVD to get it in... for $2500-4000 it suddenly looks like it's a lot better to stick with portable ones, especially if the RCD510 can be wired to work with RVC...

[simonm]

You can store music on the hard disk, and play DVDs whilst stationary.

[Dubya]

You can store music on the hard disk, and play DVDs whilst stationary.

Yes, that's right; up to ~30Gb I believe . . . though an SD card in the RCD510 is a fairly economical alternative!

BTW, well done ordering the RVC on your R . . . I wish more dealer stock managers or whatever they are called thought the same and specified it in all of their GTIs etc so it would be easier for me to find a suitable car! But alas, it seems it is a rarity in dealer-specified inventory.

[Dubya]

Helpful as ever, Maverick, thank you. However by way of clarification:

Wouldn't this be up to the dealer? What I consider feasible the dealer may not and vise versa.

Clearly, however what is and is not "feasible" is largely a question of fact.

Why would they do it for free? Again it comes back to the dealer and if they want a car without satnav but with a gps antenna on the roof to sell.

No one does anything free. Perhaps it would be in return for the order...

We can't tell you something that is a personal choice, you either want it or you don't. There are a million reviews and videos of the RNS 510 in action covering it's main features so read/watch some of these and make up your own mind.

Thank you for pointing that out. I was merely hoping that some on this forum might enlighten me about any less obvious benefits or situations in which it is invaluable to help me decide whether to accept a car with RNS510 fitted (and pay the extra $$$), something I am not that inclined to do, and less so given the RCD510 supports an RVC which I find far more appealing.

Why should it be cheaper? The RCD 510 head units (third generation) are replacing the RCD 510 head units (second generation) and are cheaper than the old second generation units to manufacture. The RNS 510 (third gen) arrived late in the Mark V run to replace the old second gen sat nav that had none of the features of the RNS 510 at the _SAME_ price.

I was referring to the difference in likely cost between the very basic head unit in the Mark V and the RNS510 vs the likely difference in cost between the RCD510 (which is now fitted as standard) and the RNS510.

I do not know what differences there are between the various versions of RNS510. However I doubt very much that they would have added much if anything to the manufactured cost. More likely the manufactured cost of such technology would have decreased since the RNS510 was introduced, going by the ever-decreasing cost of its major components such as hard disc, DVD drive, LCD display and GPS receiver.

[FJ Steve]

Dubya,

there is more than enough information on this forum to assist you with choosing between the RCD510 and the RNS510.

If you are not inclined to spend the $$$s to have the RNS, then it is very unfair that you persist in asking forum members to make up your mind for you. If you don't think the additional $$$s for the RNS is really worthwhile....then don't get it. No-one is holding a gun to your head....or are they?