Sat Nav for Passat

[tricka]

Afternoon all
I've never owned a Sat Nav before but can see the value. Can someone sugg a decent Sat Nav for my Passat 125 TDi ?
I didn't option one - 3k seemed a little steep for my needs.

Many thanks
tricka

[passatpout]

Well, there's always Tom-Tom, Garmin, Navman etc...
But the RNS-510 is a bloody good bit of gear, and can be had on eBay for about $800-1500 depending on whether new or used, plus freight. I'm tossing up whether to invest in one so I can get the Kufatec Bluetooth and optical parking system (would help the Mrs)...

[tricka]

Thank you - the RNS 510 is VW's sat nav system? Is it a plug and play or slightly more problematic?
Apologies - Of the other names I have heard of Tom Tom only. Thank you for your reply. I will google them.

[passatpout]

Yeah no worries, a trip to JB or **** Smith should give you a fair bit of info on portable types. I have a (now outdated) Tom-Tom OneXL which does the trick. Portables have an advantage in that if you travel and won't be using your own car, you can take them with you and/or get the maps for the part of the world you'll be in. The disadvantage Is that they are easy to lose/steal etc, although I've never had a problem with mine over the 2 years I've had it.

The RNS-510 is the VW in built model. Whilst I haven't swapped it, I had it in a Golf in London about 3 years ago, and it's bloody good. Touch screen, integrates with the MFD between the instruments, dead reckoning when no satellites and is spot on, has both a HDD and SD card slots for music, plays DVDs, etc. it's a shame that digital radio here isn't as advanced to be able to use all its functions...

There are some other threads around detailing how to swap it over. Apparently it's plug and play, or there are people around who'll supply and install, or just install if you supply your own. As I said, I'm tossing up whether to get one for my car, I reckon with fitting and buying the bits I want I won't get much change from $3K, but that gives me a few more things than just the sat-nav.

Anyhow, good luck and let us know how you go.

[tricka]

Thank you for the reply.

I've been googling and it seems you can get the RNS 510 for $1200 or so shipped off ebay (the Lithuanian bloke) and an afternoon swapping them over - or $400 in labour to get someone else to do it: which may be the way to go if you have two left thumbs (I do ).

It would appear to be a good option. Any comments?

Thanks again.

Kind Regards
tricka

[entice]

I installed the RNS510 into my GTI.
Easy to do.. dead easy...

Just for full functrionality and MFD integration, become chummy with someone with a VAG-COM cable. OR, you can buy the unit and teh cable for around $1000 all up, and then end up selling your OEM unit.

The RNS is by far better than the portables, and the only downside is that there is no speed and red light camera triggers, BUT, the benefits far outweigh this downside. Full integration, dead spot reckoning, and inbuilt.

Also is a better system than that in otehr cars I have used, such as Subaru and Captiva...

[tricka]

Can anyone suggest someone reputable in Sydney that can supply and fit an RNS 510?

Excuse my ignorance: what is a VAG-COM cable and why is it important?

Many thanks
Tricka

[kleung]

I'm tossing up whether to invest in one so I can get the Kufatec Bluetooth and optical parking system (would help the Mrs)...

Don't need the RNS for the Kufatec or the OPS. If that's all you want the screen for, the RCD-510 is much cheaper, and will do the job as well.

Excuse my ignorance: what is a VAG-COM cable and why is it important?

VAG-COM - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It's a cable and software package that allows you to tap into your VW's onboard computers and inspect/change various hidden settings. In this case, you would need the VCDS in order to enable the satnav integration with the MFD in the instrument cluster, so it can display navigation instructions and the compass.

[tricka]

Thank you. That is very helpful.

[passatpout]

Don't need the RNS for the Kufatec or the OPS. If that's all you want the screen for, the RCD-510 is much cheaper, and will do the job as well.

It isn't all I want it for. If I'm going to go to the effort of swapping it over, then I may as well go for the system that does everything. Otherwise, it's a bit like aiming for the best girl in school, but then settling for a magazine behind the stands...