RNS510 replacement with Pioneer head unit

[TomH]

Morning all,

Bit the bullet and decided to replace my failing RNS510 with an aftermarket unit. Decided on a Pioneer DMH-Z6350BT unit, as I wanted Wireless CarPlay. Thought I would document the install process - I've put in a few head units and amps in various cars previously but I'm not an expert at all...

Purchased the kit from Automotive Superstore. Came with:
- Aerpro FP9888k install kit. This is the fascia and various leads to connect to the VW harness canbus connection
- Patch lead - connects the Aerpro to the Pioneer unit
- Aerial connection lead
- Steering wheel control connection lead (plugs into the controller and then into the head unit I think)

I've got a camera coming from Aliexpress that I will need to run a new cable (replaces existing RGB camera), but that's not here yet.

Will post photos later today

Step 1: Remove existing head unit. Pretty simple. Took 5 mins max

Step 2: Mount new head unit. Simple. New fascia slots straight in. 4 bolts on to side of Pioneer unit, and 4 screws to connect to fascia. Slight adjustment to make sure new unit is evenly spaced but all good.

Step 3: Aerial connections. Two Faktra connections to connect to Aerial. Blue wire in the aerial connection lead which I have assumed connects to the spare blue wire in the provided main harness. Then main plug into the back of the Pioneer unit

Step 4: Spend ages trying to work out what to do with spare SWC wires (on the harness marked Key 1, Key 2). Lots of internet searching with no defined answer. Took a punt and assumed they might be not required as the module connects to the Pioneer through a 3.5mm jack (see problems below...)

Step 5: Turn on. And bingo we have radio

Step 6: Activate Bluetooth connection to phone. Sucess

Step 7: Activate CarPlay. Message on head unit "Connect GPS cable to access CarPlay"

Step 8: Install GPS. Opened fuse panel. Used yellow cable puller thingy to get GPS and mic cable from the fuse panel to the head unit location. Tucked GPS cable along trim joins and placed near window on drivers side.

Step 8: While I am there, I might as well install the new mic as I understand the existing mic won't work. Spent an hour or so stuffing around to get the wire up through side trim, and in front of headliner.

Step 9: Turn back on and we have CarPlay. Seems to work fine.

That took about 4 hours.

Current problems to be resolved:
- No reverse camera (until I get one delivered / installed)
- Steering wheel controls do not work. The instructions are not that great. There's a few things I need to do tonight - disconnect unit from power and then re-plug in 3.5mm jack then re-connect. There's reference in the manual that you need to get the right sequence for it to work. There's also reference about in some cars, you need to disconnect the Bluetooth module for the SWC to work. So I will try to find it under the seat (drivers I think, not sure) and disconnect
- No display for optical sensors. Reading through the manual looks like this functionality only exists in some Kenwood units. The beeps are all working however.
- Something is going wrong when using the phone. Siri works ok, but when I make a call it connects but can't hear any volume. Suspect it is due to the Bluetooth module taking priority, so disconnecting it should then make the head unit take over
- Some speaker distortion. I've got a amplified sub (connected through wire tap into front speakers), but don't recall getting distortion previously. Didn't appear to be particularly loud when happening, so will play around with setting and EQ and see.

Any comments on whether the BT module needs to go are appreciated. Will post pics later today.

Cheers,

Tom

[MIG]

First, pull out the old Bluetooth module under the driver's seat in the foam block.

The CANBUS adaptor you have should convert all the wheel control and parking sensor data.

Are you still using the VW amp? Do you have anything under the passenger seat?

[TomH]

Thanks - will pull it out this afternoon. Pretty sure I've not got a separate amp.

I got the Passat as a dealer demo when it was 6m only. MY14 TDI Highline. The only options it didn't have were the Sports Pack (wheels, sunroof, power memory seats) and Dynaudio. Wanted Dynaudio but a new Passat was 6 months wait, so the dealer recommended a sound guy to talk about a speaker upgrade, and he installed a Axis sub under the passenger seat and said the stock speakers with a sub would almost be as good as Dynaudio.

[TomH]

Here's a photo of underneath drivers seat - so to get to the module I have to pull the seat out and pull the carpet and it's all buried under there? Stuck my hand and feels like vents?


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[MIG]

Nope it's not there; your Passat had Bluetooth? Guess they moved the module in later models.

[kamold]

The BT module will likely be the combined MDI/BT module.
Check in the centre console or glovebox.

[TomH]

Success. Found it - integrated in the MDI unit in the glovebox. Pulled it out, disconnected cable from the back, pushed cable back up so I could out unit back in and we are in business.


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[TomH]

Still not working - steering wheel controls greyed out. However through some you tubing I found you could only configure swc with source turned off. So swipe left, turn source off, then turn swc on in Pioneer, select the auto config mode and now have SWC.

Next problem to resolve is distortion at mid volume level. Going to run rca cables to the sub from the pioneer and get rid of the wire taps so I can control sub level properly, then I'll be able to get better eq on STD speakers to see if that fixes the problem.

Otherwise maybe a 4x50w amp under the passengers seat


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[TomH]

Successful afternoon. Ran rca to sub and now able to control volume from head unit and gives much more ability to shape the tone and balance the sub. Only slight issue is that with the high level (speaker) input the sub is triggered by signal from speakers. With low level input only works with ignition on.

Speakers still distorting - definitely sounds like a signal / amp type distortion rather than a speaker distortion. However it's manageable now. Interested on thoughts about stock unit amp power vs aftermarket unit - the RNS510 is way heavier - me thinks might be much higher power.


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[TomH]

Distortion problem fixed. Was looking at getting an amp to run the fronts, so stopped in at Ryda in Petersham to have a chat about options.

Super helpful. Told me a standard head unit should be fine and suggested the problem lies elsewhere. Asked me about the Aerpro harness I was using, and turns out there's an extra bit supplied which should only be used if you've got the factory amp - contains resistors to reduce the speaker levels into the amp. Photo attached. Pulled this bit out and now CarPlay volume at 10 out of 40 is plenty loud enough.

So now only thing to do is install camera when it arrives. Also ordered some joiners and tube for the split rear washer harness - will do at the same time.


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