RNS510 into Polo install - with pics

[GraveDilute]

All,

I installed the RNS510 into my GTI on Saturday. It took about 25 minutes to physically install the unit and about another 15 minutes to set it up.

I gathered the basics from searching around on the net but couldn't see a specific 6R Polo thread, so I thought I'd throw this up quickly.

I'm planning to retrofit the MDI interface, install Bluetooth and add an amp in the near future, so this thread will be a work in progress.

I'm going to assume that you can remove the fascia on your own, so didn't take pics of that.

After removing the fascia, you need to remove 4 screws that hold the radio in

[IMG][/IMG]


Removing the radio is easy, I did find removing the antenna connector a little tricky.

Hint for noobs:
Make sure you remove any CD BEFORE you unplug the unit.

Step 2:

To install the GPS antenna, you'll need to access the air con vents.
This is a little tricky to work out.

The air con vents are held in by clips and the audio "cage".

To remove the vents, you need to remove the fascia around the air con controls at the bottom. This is simply clipped in, so take care and slowly remove the fascia with a trim remover tool.

There are 2 screws holding the air con controls. Undo these and the 4 screws inside where the audio sits.




After you have done this you can pull the audio cage forward, which will give you enough wriggle room to pull the air vents out.


Once you have the vents out, you can thread the GPS antenna cabling down through the centre section of the vent into the audio cavity and place the antenna itself on top of one of the vents.




Then the key is to make sure that the wiring doesn't get jammed as you first put the air con vents back in, then reinstall the 6 screws for the audio cage, the air con control fascia and then the 4 screws for the audio and then finally snap the audio fascia back in.


Re: Functionality

Out of the box, there are two things which don't work

1. Directions on the MFD
2. Selection of sources through the MFD.

I can manually change the source through the head unit and then change tracks/radio station on the MFD but there is no integration.

I'm looking forward to programming it all properly with VAG COM in the near future.

[GraveDilute]

So, the 2nd part of the install was the Bluetooth.
I purchased the kit from the Spanish seller on Ebay, Bluewagen. Kit

The first thing I did was look at where to situate the actual bluetooth unit.
I wasted a fair bit of time looking at installing the unit behind the air con controls.

What I worked out was:
1. If you have manual air con controls then you can only install the unit under the seat (I chose passenger)
2. If you have the semi auto controls then you can install behind the climate control unit

Anyway, I chose to put the unit under the passenger's seat.
I have a GTI, so it comes with the seat drawers, so I needed to pull the unit out of the protective polystyrene case. I bought some velcro tape from a $2 shop and attached 3 strips to make sure the unit doesn't slide around.

To route the wiring, you'll need to pull the panel on the centre console off.
This comes off with a little bit of pressure.
You can see that it is held in place with a kind of pressure fit velcro.


And another view



Once you have the panel removed, pull most of the cable which connects to the Bluetooth unit through that gap and then you'll need to remove the passenger side kick panel.

To do this, remove the little area reserved for the emergency pncho and then pull with reasonable force on the panel. It is attached with two plugs and will pop out easily.



Then finally, you'll need to pull up the scuff panel to give you the most amount of room to play with.



Once you do this, you'll need to get your hand in under the carpet and pull the cable through, under the passenger seat. You'll notice by felling around that there is a join in the carpet between the front and the back area directly under the passenger seat. Pull the cable through to here and then ensure that the cable going back to the head unit goes directly to the centre transmission tunnel and back to the head unit.

No pics here but it's simple to do.

The remaining thing to do is plug the cable into the Bluetooth control unit, stick down with velcro and then reinstall the scuff plate, passenger kick panel and centre transmission tunnel panel.

[Jules]

NIce upgrade! Thanks for the write-up.

I'm in the process of trying to find an RCD510 to install in our Polo GTI as well, purely so we can use the SD card for music (MDI unit would be good but they're hard to come by!) RNS510 would be ideal but I can't justify the extra price at this stage.

Edit: deleted question about steering wheel controls. Looks like you need VAGCOM to get it fully functional

[michaelh]

Hey Jules,
I just purchased my Polo TSI with the RCD510 fitted and am due to pick it up this week. I'm in the process of buying an RNS510 to fit in so if you are interested in the RCD pm me.

cheers

[saabby]

Thinking of installing the 9W7 with my RCD310 in my GTi and use the MFD as the display. I have read on some blogs where it appears to work. Anybody have insights into this set up? Otherwise, RNS510, 9W7 and new climate control might have to be the way.

Thanks.

[Vvillie]

Nice writeup. Helped immensely whilst installing my RNS510. Was curious if you got around reprogramming for the steering wheel controls? Is it difficult? And where is the CAN BUS gateway located on the Polo's?

[bkr]

Thinking of installing the 9W7 with my RCD310 in my GTi and use the MFD as the display. I have read on some blogs where it appears to work. Anybody have insights into this set up? Otherwise, RNS510, 9W7 and new climate control might have to be the way.

Thanks.

Did exactly this, and worked fine. You need some VAGCOM programming to get the MFD to work, but the middle steering wheel button with the phone on it works to answer, hangup and redial (long press) without.

My MFD started working after my first service, so I guess they were being nice, or they somehow did it by accident!

All the RCD310 displays is the word PHONE when the phone is in use. When you have the VAGCOM stuff done, the MFD displays the name of the caller from your phones contact list, as well as letting you dial from your contacts, and call register etc. It also shows battery level and signal strength.

[saabby]

Thanks BKR. eBay here I come.

[saabby]

Did exactly this, and worked fine. You need some VAGCOM programming to get the MFD to work, but the middle steering wheel button with the phone on it works to answer, hangup and redial (long press) without.

My MFD started working after my first service, so I guess they were being nice, or they somehow did it by accident!

All the RCD310 displays is the word PHONE when the phone is in use. When you have the VAGCOM stuff done, the MFD displays the name of the caller from your phones contact list, as well as letting you dial from your contacts, and call register etc. It also shows battery level and signal strength.

Just some clarification around the use and set up before the VAGCOM. Was it through the MFD? Thanks.

[bkr]

Just some clarification around the use and set up before the VAGCOM. Was it through the MFD? Thanks.

Without the programming:

1. There is nothing on the MFD about the BT module or phone. Except when you stream audio, then the page that normally has the radio audio source/radio station has "bluetooth".

2. To pair the phone, turn the car on (I think the BT module is only discoverable for a little while), pair to "VW PHONE", and use code '0000'. The phone button on the steering wheel will answer, hangup and redial, but you have to make new calls from the phone itself.

3. Nothing comes up on the MFD or the radio about incoming calls, except the word "PHONE" appears on the radio.

4. BT streaming works well with an iPhone 4. I have seen other people complain about the quality, but it seems OK to me. One tip: you need to have something actually playing on you device before the BT AUDIO option comes up under the media menu on the radio.


Once it was programmed, it does all of that, plus the MFD page appears with the phone book, recent calls list, and the callers name is displayed for incoming calls.