Uses for that compartment in the roof console?

[San Gimignano R]

Useless buttons??? I have programmed the "i" button to call my wife's mobile and the "spanner" button to call VW Roadside Assist. Haven't found a way to program the "star" button yet.

The * button is to answer incoming calls? No idea why they have 2 of them. I have one near the eject button of the RNS and one on the roof WTF. Good idea though for the 'i' button though.

[Scratchyratface]

Are the buttons near the sunglasses holder only present if you have premium bluetooth or something? I don't have the buttons at all on my MY11.5 GTI

[San Gimignano R]

Are the buttons near the sunglasses holder only present if you have premium bluetooth or something? I don't have the buttons at all on my MY11.5 GTI

Probably, as they are all "call" type buttons. VW Assist, VW Care and the * button. The only one that works I am told is the * button, but someone says he has programmed another button which is handy, probably through the MFD setup menus.

If you don't have Bluetooth, you can't call anyone.

[Scratchyratface]

Thanks. I've got Bluetooth but the crappy dealer fit one that pretty much does nothing except answer the phone, no phone book etc

[San Gimignano R]

Your missing out. The factory Bluetooth is sensational. Does and has everything. Can control through the steering wheel buttons on the MFD as well, no need to use the touch screen RNS. Get it for your next car. I think that Bluetooth function in this day and age is a must. Was for me.

[johnsonsabroad]

How did you reprogram those buttons?

You need to program the numbers using VCDS and a VAG-COM cable The numbers are pre-programmed to dial Europe numbers!

Anyway if you have access to VCDS and cable you can prorgam as follows:

Under the Telephone module (77 from memory) goto "Adaption" this displays a long list of options. At the bottom of the drop down list the are four phone number fields. There are two for each button, the "i" button and the spanner button.

Jimmy from the VWWatercooled forum provided the information below that worked for me:

The Service/Breakdown coding requires 7 bytes which are entered as their raw numeric values. So for VW roadside I entered 18 00 63 71 81 00 00 (note padding with 0's for the last two bytes). The Information number requires 8 bytes, again pad with 0's for the extra bytes.
==================
Program the buttons for any number you like. I found that all four numbers need to be entered for it to work.

Once programmed, you press and hold the button for 2 seconds and the it dials the number. The MFD displays the hold for 2 second message, then it displays either INFO CALL or SERVICE CALL (or something to that effect)

Good luck. BTW using the VCDS is up to you, there is always risk associated with programming your car via VCDS. If you choose to use the information above, you do so at your own risk.

Cheers Brett.

[Scratchyratface]

Your missing out. The factory Bluetooth is sensational. Does and has everything. Can control through the steering wheel buttons on the MFD as well, no need to use the touch screen RNS. Get it for your next car. I think that Bluetooth function in this day and age is a must. Was for me.

Yeah unfortunately I thought Bluetooth was Bluetooth, had no idea that there were so many 'versions' of it and the dealer failed to mention it (haven't forgotten that!). Have thought about upgrading it along with lots of other ideas, just short on cash!