RNS510 worth it?

[maraach]

Hey guys,

Just a quick question here. I currently have the CD based MFD2 in my car as my nav system. Now all in all, i love the integration with the car but the ancient maps full of "proposed road / development etc. here" is beginning to annoy me a little.

I have noticed some of the newer RNS510's going on ebay for around the $1250 mark and am wondering if its worth the upgrade? I currently have a parrot blue tooth phone kit installed in my car and also a usb / ipod MDI interface (ice link gateway) in my glove box to my head unit which all work well.

I am kind of hoping it would be a plug and play affair if moving to a newer OEM one.

Does anyone have any advice on the RNS510? Does anyone have a picture of what the maps look like? Is it better than the pacman version i have now?

[Russ59]

The RNS510 is a great unit and unlike the MFD2, because it is still the current Sat Nav option from VW you are still able to access map upgrades as road developments progress. It will depend on what model your car is as well as to whether or not you would need to change the CANBUS (Controller area network - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) or you will more than likely suffer the battery power drain issue that many others have encountered. As a rough guide pretty much any model pre and including 2007 build date as I understand. For further info try visiting "Mavericks" website - RNS 510 | my-gti.com

[fergus]

It's worth the money you'll pay on Ebay but not worth it if you are paying retail from VW.
I was very lucky - I got the best of both worlds - I bought a full kit sold through an Aust VW Dealer with the Aerial and genuine V3 Map DVD for the same price everyone is paying for the overseas units.

[maraach]

thanks for the info.

Still umming and ahhing about it. Definitely need the CANBUS upgraded as mine is one of the early (05) GTI's.

Just wanted to make sure it wouldnt be identical to the one i have now (which i couldnt justify the $2000 and messing about for).

[Ryan_R]

That ebay store used to sell it for $1150. I was about to get it yesterday when I noticed the price increase (reflected by the aussie dollar weakening I guess). I'm hoping it'll come back down in the next few days so that I can get the RNS and Bluetooth installed together.