Dropped a screw (!)

[Stonemage]

I just installed my RNS-510, got the v4 maps on there and enabled ViM, and it's all super-pimp!

...BUT...

I dropped a screw when putting the Climatronic controls back in, and it went down into the centre console somewhere
I heard the little bastard bounce all the way down, like it was taunting me.

Has this happened to anyone else, and if so how in the hell did you get it out without pulling the whole car apart?

[99_FGT]

Did exactly the same thing yesterday (installing BT) into the dash top vent.
Amazingly, I did get it back after a few minutes jingling an old HDD (or similarly strong) magnet on a piece of string down the vent.
Where exactly did you drop yours? Into the trans tunnel part? Might be too much metal to try that trick. Guess you can always see if it is wedged somewhere (in which case forget about it, get another one) or rattling (in which case, um, pull the car apart)
Oh, and note that it is a good idea to close the dash top vents before removing screws.
Al..

[Stonemage]

Yeah... it dropped down into the trans-tunnel part

There are a few ideas I've read about, like removing the shifter-cover and removing the little pop-up box and getting in through there. Your magnet-on-a-string idea will definitely be worth a try though!

[99_FGT]

It works where there is not a lot of metal - you don't want to end up with a magnet stuck down there too...

[Ryan_R]

I dropped one the last time I had my RNS out (was probably installing the MDI or something). Just left it as is and haven't heard anything or noticed anything different visually. Don't sweat about it too much

[Stonemage]

So... I got it out! It was all the way down, nearly directly below the gear-shift.

Took me about 40 minutes to delicately pull the centre console apart and find it, then another 30 to get it all back together... but I am glad to have it out of there.

It's actually a good bit of practice and knowledge getting the whole thing apart and back together, for potential future upgrades... especially ones that require a switch in the centre (near the TCS button).

[Ryan_R]

Kudos to you for pulling that all apart just to retrieve a screw. I couldn't be bothered removing that to change to the GTI-style DSG shifter