China Delphi RCD510 Review

[daedos]

Hi All - I thought I'd do a quick write up on my recent experience with a Chinese RCD510 made by Delphi.  There seems lots of suggestions for them but little feedback, in fact this was the only other decent review around.


My Requirements:
My mk5 had the RCD300 and I wanted to hook up my iPhone 5 for music (and sat nav).   Only other requirements were to look good in the car (i.e. like OEM) and not break the bank too much.  Originally I was going to EU RCD510 + MMI, but this looked cheaper + easier though risky so I took the plunge.  I rarely (if ever) use the radio so the lack of RDS was not any issue.

My Order
Al the Chinese bits were purchased from ebay seller gainbon:
RCD510 head unit (black buttons) - £89
USB Switch Panel + Cable (allows for a USB port near ashtray) - £11
USB Cable (for glove box - got this + the above to give me options) - £6
CAN Gateway - £24
Import Duty - £15 (£5 + £10 FedEx admin charge - grr)
Fakra Aerial adaptor (bought from UK later as I didn't realise I needed it) - £7
TOTAL - £152

Delivery
Amazing and OK.  The head unit arrived in 5 days (Sun->Fri) and the other bits took 2 weeks. Plus I have never seen so much bubble wrap for such a small item - 6m wrapped around the head unit!

Installation
No point detailing it here as there are countless other threads that cover it.  Only comments are changing the canbus (2005 manual!) is a pain and wish I knew later gateways only show 3 bytes in the VCDS long coding (thought my gateway was dodgy).  

The Unit
It has a colour screen, FM/AM radio (no RDS), in-built 6CD changer (with CD Text), SD card slot (for mp3s) and aux or USB with full iPod support.  Everything works great!  It looks new, had the screen protector on and only a few (one?) light mark/s on the front.  I don't have only experience with an EU RCD510, but as far as I'm concerned this all works the same.  Also not sure about MFSW integration as I don't have one.

Update#1 - my 2013+ 3AD035190 version does not support an external CD changer (or MMI).  
Update#2 - screen brightness isn't great on sunny days.  Absolutely readable, just doesn't stand out. - user error!

Pictures!



VCDS
Firstly.  Newer versions of the RCD510 from 2013+ have quite different parts numbers 3AD035190-A vs 56D035190-A.  These are only supported from VCDS 12.12.04 onwards.  Even then the coding isn't 100% accurate.  I tried coding in the CD changer only to get 'request out of range' - turns out many head units with USB don't support CD changers and MMI.

Secondly it has faults under the radio listed - Control Module in Instrument Cluster + something about the antenna channel.  Apparently the former will occur as the radio is >=2010 (http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?6974128-Can-Anyone-Explain-This-Fault-Code-after-Installing-RCD-510&p=85594064&viewfull=1#post85594064) and the latter is probably something to do with my aerial adaptor (will try switching it around).  Again not too fussed

Conclusion
I'm very happy with the unit and would recommended it.  To achieve the same with an EU RCD510 would have cost nearly £250 more (£200 RCD510, £80-100 MMI, £25 MMI iPhone, £70 canbus).   That's a lot just for RDS!

Pros - native USB support, great value
Cons - no RDS, doesn't suport MMI + external CD changer

Any questions feel free...

[Andy]

it does look very good-.how does it sound like..

[J400uk]

Yep looks good, for the money these seem to be spot on. Nice write up 

[patpong_pete]

always good when it works out

and save a few quid on the way

[daedos]

it does look very good-.how does it sound like..

Sound fine to me, same if not better than the RCD300.  Hard to do a side by side comparison

always good when it works out and save a few quid on the way

Yep, did feel a touch risky.  Read about a couple of people having issues loading the CD changer following transport but TBH that could occur getting a used head unit over here. With 6m of bubble wrap it felt well packaged. 

[daedos]

Updated following investigations + a long drive in the car yesterday:
#1 - unit doesn't support external CD changers
#2 - screen brightness could be better. Even on the brightest settings it looks a little dim on sunny days.  Don't know how that compares to EU head units

Still loving it.

[J400uk]

I guess you wouldn't need an external CD changer given its got one built in. You could probably sell your existing one and make the upgrade even cheaper than it is already!

On the brightness, do these still have the light sensor? My RNS adjusts itself depending on how light/ dark the cabin is. You can easily test it by covering the sensor with a finger and the screen should dim.

[daedos]

I guess you wouldn't need an external CD changer given its got one built in. You could probably sell your existing one and make the upgrade even cheaper than it is already!

On the brightness, do these still have the light sensor? My RNS adjusts itself depending on how light/ dark the cabin is. You can easily test it by covering the sensor with a finger and the screen should dim.

I agree re cd changer, though the same could be said for the original RCD300. Two 6cd changers feels overkill, guess things were a bit different in 2005. I'll just leave the changer in, can't be bothered to take it out and the future owner may want to revert :)

It looks like it has the light sensor in the top right. A google reveals quite a few threads re general RCD510 brightness so hopefully it's a 'feature'. Next time I'm out I'll have a play with the sensor.

[BcPitta]

hello, im looking into doing this but the only thing i cant figure out is homw you have installed the 2 usbs ? and on the back of the unit it seems to have only one plug ? cheers

[daedos]

Figured out the brightness. First time round I didn't know about the light sensor.  My phone in its mount blocked it so the unit thought it was night!

hello, im looking into doing this but the only thing i cant figure out is homw you have installed the 2 usbs ? and on the back of the unit it seems to have only one plug ? cheers

I don't, just one. I bought two cables because I wasn't sure what set up to have - lead hidden in the dash/glove box or the USB switch panel.

[BcPitta]

ahhh right, no worries bud thanks for getting back

[rajhossain]

i Got exact setup, however having problem vcds 11.11, when looking in radio and can bus gateway long code none has any option text name visible. only a tick or not ticked!

is it same for your? did you manage to fix it?

i also need to deactivate rear view camera but due to no text next to options not sure which to deactivate!

RCD510 (56D 035 190 A RCDD510USBRVC 002 0003) Radio long code 01 00 04 64 04 00 0B
Can bus long code 35003

my thoughts were because it is import from china it does not translate to english? see images below!! any advise?

http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/rajhossain/media/IMG_2594_zps6cc3db93.jpg.html
http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/rajhossain/media/IMG_2596_zpsfdccb103.jpg.html
http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/rajhossain/media/IMG_2681_zpsab8a4ce1.jpg.html
http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/rajhossain/media/IMG_2675_zpse57d690c.jpg.html
http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/rajhossain/media/IMG_2676_zpsb05a19e5.jpg.html
http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/rajhossain/media/IMG_2677_zpsc54c7199.jpg.html
http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/rajhossain/media/IMG_2678_zpsfd57064b.jpg.html
http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/rajhossain/media/IMG_2679_zps839c3fa3.jpg.html
http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/rajhossain/media/IMG_2680_zpsacb8fcaa.jpg.html

[rajhossain]

what is the make of that iphone holder? its cool any link would be appreciated.

[Viking]

Update your VCDS software first. 

[rajhossain]

what version do i need? i have 11.11