Make a donation

Author Topic: Android headunit for mk5  (Read 14504 times)

Offline Rossmk5gti

  • Taking part
  • ***
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 5
  • -Receive: 1
  • Posts: 34
Android headunit for mk5
« on: June 29, 2017, 04:22:29 pm »
Thinking of getting an android head unit! Just wondering which one is best and is it easy to fit? I like the rns 510 replica one however open to other suggestions!

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk


Offline PatchySan

  • Always Involved
  • ****
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 13
  • -Receive: 59
  • Posts: 268
  • Gracie!
Re: Android headunit for mk5
« Reply #1 on: June 29, 2017, 08:14:46 pm »
What features are you looking for specifically? If you don't use DAB then you could consider having the OEM RCD 330 Plus with Apple CarPlay and Mirrorlink function, more info can be found on this thread here.

Offline Golfmk5GTD

  • Taking part
  • ***
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 0
  • -Receive: 4
  • Posts: 32
Re: Android headunit for mk5
« Reply #2 on: June 29, 2017, 09:13:42 pm »
Hi Ross,

In all honestly I would strongly avoid going for an Android unit. I owned one for around 1.5 years. The best thing about it was the OEM look and many features although the buggy firmware and rubbish touch screen put me off for life. Luckily I managed to sell it to a friend but had to fit it for him. I also only got half the money back mostly down to the volume nob becoming loose!

Several people warned me the sound quality wouldn't be great on the Android unit however I didn't listen. I was duped by all the features in the description and was very excited at first. I thought it was the coolest thing ever downloading apps from google play store and using Wifi in car. I ended up blowing all my OEM speakers due to the hard hitting poor quality sound from the unit and excessive eq's.

In the end I replaced all the speakers and purchased a double din Pioneer deck. The best decision I made in a long time. The difference in sound quality was unbelievable.

Saying that I'm only referring to the Chinese made ones. If you find a branded Android stereo by all means go for it. Then again you get what you pay for. I made a video some time back of my unit, if you want I can upload it so you get a good idea of how the unit was.

« Last Edit: June 29, 2017, 09:15:29 pm by Golfmk5GTD »

Offline AJP

  • Global Moderator
  • Just look at my post count
  • *
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 392
  • -Receive: 316
  • Posts: 3212
Re: Android headunit for mk5
« Reply #3 on: June 29, 2017, 10:13:47 pm »
Hi Ross,

In all honestly I would strongly avoid going for an Android unit. I owned one for around 1.5 years. The best thing about it was the OEM look and many features although the buggy firmware and rubbish touch screen put me off for life. Luckily I managed to sell it to a friend but had to fit it for him. I also only got half the money back mostly down to the volume nob becoming loose!

Several people warned me the sound quality wouldn't be great on the Android unit however I didn't listen. I was duped by all the features in the description and was very excited at first. I thought it was the coolest thing ever downloading apps from google play store and using Wifi in car. I ended up blowing all my OEM speakers due to the hard hitting poor quality sound from the unit and excessive eq's.

In the end I replaced all the speakers and purchased a double din Pioneer deck. The best decision I made in a long time. The difference in sound quality was unbelievable.

Saying that I'm only referring to the Chinese made ones. If you find a branded Android stereo by all means go for it. Then again you get what you pay for. I made a video some time back of my unit, if you want I can upload it so you get a good idea of how the unit was.
Get used RCD510DAB. Fit used RCD510DAB.

Done.

Offline Adam0604

  • Won't Shut up.
  • *****
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 16
  • -Receive: 34
  • Posts: 588
  • My Ride: http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,97534.0.html
Re: Android headunit for mk5
« Reply #4 on: June 29, 2017, 10:59:23 pm »
Hi Ross,

In all honestly I would strongly avoid going for an Android unit. I owned one for around 1.5 years. The best thing about it was the OEM look and many features although the buggy firmware and rubbish touch screen put me off for life. Luckily I managed to sell it to a friend but had to fit it for him. I also only got half the money back mostly down to the volume nob becoming loose!

Several people warned me the sound quality wouldn't be great on the Android unit however I didn't listen. I was duped by all the features in the description and was very excited at first. I thought it was the coolest thing ever downloading apps from google play store and using Wifi in car. I ended up blowing all my OEM speakers due to the hard hitting poor quality sound from the unit and excessive eq's.

In the end I replaced all the speakers and purchased a double din Pioneer deck. The best decision I made in a long time. The difference in sound quality was unbelievable.

Saying that I'm only referring to the Chinese made ones. If you find a branded Android stereo by all means go for it. Then again you get what you pay for. I made a video some time back of my unit, if you want I can upload it so you get a good idea of how the unit was.
Get used RCD510DAB. Fit used RCD510DAB.

Done.

Will this fit a MK5 Golf GTi? As it says a MK6 Golf in the description

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-RCD510-DAB-MP3-STEREO-RADIO-CD-CHANGER-GOLF-CADDY-JETTA-PASSAT-CC-Excellent-/232360741289?hash=item3619c789a9:g:8VMAAOSw2gxYnDoh

Offline Rossmk5gti

  • Taking part
  • ***
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 5
  • -Receive: 1
  • Posts: 34
Re: Android headunit for mk5
« Reply #5 on: June 29, 2017, 11:51:11 pm »
Hi Ross,

In all honestly I would strongly avoid going for an Android unit. I owned one for around 1.5 years. The best thing about it was the OEM look and many features although the buggy firmware and rubbish touch screen put me off for life. Luckily I managed to sell it to a friend but had to fit it for him. I also only got half the money back mostly down to the volume nob becoming loose!

Several people warned me the sound quality wouldn't be great on the Android unit however I didn't listen. I was duped by all the features in the description and was very excited at first. I thought it was the coolest thing ever downloading apps from google play store and using Wifi in car. I ended up blowing all my OEM speakers due to the hard hitting poor quality sound from the unit and excessive eq's.

In the end I replaced all the speakers and purchased a double din Pioneer deck. The best decision I made in a long time. The difference in sound quality was unbelievable.

Saying that I'm only referring to the Chinese made ones. If you find a branded Android stereo by all means go for it. Then again you get what you pay for. I made a video some time back of my unit, if you want I can upload it so you get a good idea of how the unit was.
I used to have a pioneer in my Leon i think ill go aftermarket!

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk


Offline neilw

  • Always Involved
  • ****
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 16
  • -Receive: 26
  • Posts: 385
Re: Android headunit for mk5
« Reply #6 on: June 30, 2017, 09:06:52 am »
I have a Pumpkin unit in my car. Its ok, but I probably wouldn't recommend it. It's a bit on the slow side, and can be buggy. I do like being able to run things like my Podcast app, Torque and Google Maps/Waze on it, and it does intergrate well with the cars Can-Bus.
Edition30 #0002 R-Tech Stage2

Offline Golfmk5GTD

  • Taking part
  • ***
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 0
  • -Receive: 4
  • Posts: 32
Re: Android headunit for mk5
« Reply #7 on: June 30, 2017, 06:08:42 pm »

I used to have a pioneer in my Leon i think ill go aftermarket!


Sounds good, one word of warning though! When I installed my Pioneer deck I wasn't aware of the battery drain issues. I ended up changing the car battery wasting £60.

In the end I had to wire the ignition lead to my cigarette lighter which worked a treat. However I've not looked into the battery drain issue too much, unsure if your car has had the necessary work already carried out.

Let me know if you need any help/advice if you're fitting it yourself.

Offline r5gtt

  • Just look at my post count
  • ******
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 342
  • -Receive: 334
  • Posts: 5586
Re: Android headunit for mk5
« Reply #8 on: July 03, 2017, 12:24:16 am »
Hi as the topic is out there, just got this HU FOC and wondered if this would also cause battery drain issues?.
Pioneer AVH8400 BT
https://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/product_m-pioneer-avh-8400bt_p-27491.htm

Thanks

Offline nigw

  • Always Involved
  • ****
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 2
  • -Receive: 3
  • Posts: 96
Re: Android headunit for mk5
« Reply #9 on: July 03, 2017, 07:40:04 am »
I've just listed my Pioneer double din AppleCar Play in the classifieds - I didnt have any battery drain issues either.

Offline r5gtt

  • Just look at my post count
  • ******
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 342
  • -Receive: 334
  • Posts: 5586
Re: Android headunit for mk5
« Reply #10 on: July 03, 2017, 12:03:49 pm »
I'll see what happens when I fit it in.  :happy2:

Offline david85williams

  • Taking part
  • ***
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 4
  • -Receive: 5
  • Posts: 33
    • Email
Re: Android headunit for mk5
« Reply #11 on: July 03, 2017, 02:06:33 pm »
I would avoid Android units. I had one for a few months. Really like the idea of customising and all the apps etc but in the real world it just didn't work. Too slow, too many bugs, reset itself several times, downloads from spotify disappearing. I'm now using a RCD330G Plus, really happy with it. Less functionality but it just works!

Offline Chris_R

  • Always Involved
  • ****
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 14
  • -Receive: 23
  • Posts: 128
Re: Android headunit for mk5
« Reply #12 on: July 04, 2017, 08:49:33 pm »
Conversely I have had no issues with my Android headunit bar it being a tiny bit slow at times when you have multiple applications open (especially Waze which seems to lag the worst while other sat nav apps run perfectly well). Can't fault the sound quality either - sure it's not on a par with my high end Alpine I have sat on the garage shelf but then I am running standard speakers all round anyway so who cares? I can download my music whenever I like or just listen to playlists from Spotify or Amazon without having to remember to have loaded new tracks to a USB key or some such messing around. DAB reception is decent and the bluetooth handsfree is also good.
Touch screen is good, on a par with any tablet I have used and is made from glass too - possibly a little reflective in bright sunshine sometimes.
Then again I am a techy so did a couple of modifications to it following guides on the XDA site on the software side of things.
If I was doing it again, I would go for one of the brand new ones which started to become available about a month after I bought mine which have increased memory which I am sure would sove the lagging Waze app.

Offline neilw

  • Always Involved
  • ****
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 16
  • -Receive: 26
  • Posts: 385
Re: Android headunit for mk5
« Reply #13 on: July 04, 2017, 09:07:50 pm »
Conversely I have had no issues with my Android headunit bar it being a tiny bit slow at times when you have multiple applications open (especially Waze which seems to lag the worst while other sat nav apps run perfectly well). Can't fault the sound quality either - sure it's not on a par with my high end Alpine I have sat on the garage shelf but then I am running standard speakers all round anyway so who cares? I can download my music whenever I like or just listen to playlists from Spotify or Amazon without having to remember to have loaded new tracks to a USB key or some such messing around. DAB reception is decent and the bluetooth handsfree is also good.
Touch screen is good, on a par with any tablet I have used and is made from glass too - possibly a little reflective in bright sunshine sometimes.
Then again I am a techy so did a couple of modifications to it following guides on the XDA site on the software side of things.
If I was doing it again, I would go for one of the brand new ones which started to become available about a month after I bought mine which have increased memory which I am sure would sove the lagging Waze app.

Hi Chris, I'm intrested in what mod's you've done to yours? I recon a Firmware update and maybe a better launcher might sort mine out.
Edition30 #0002 R-Tech Stage2

Offline Chris_R

  • Always Involved
  • ****
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 14
  • -Receive: 23
  • Posts: 128
Re: Android headunit for mk5
« Reply #14 on: July 05, 2017, 09:47:50 pm »
Conversely I have had no issues with my Android headunit bar it being a tiny bit slow at times when you have multiple applications open (especially Waze which seems to lag the worst while other sat nav apps run perfectly well). Can't fault the sound quality either - sure it's not on a par with my high end Alpine I have sat on the garage shelf but then I am running standard speakers all round anyway so who cares? I can download my music whenever I like or just listen to playlists from Spotify or Amazon without having to remember to have loaded new tracks to a USB key or some such messing around. DAB reception is decent and the bluetooth handsfree is also good.
Touch screen is good, on a par with any tablet I have used and is made from glass too - possibly a little reflective in bright sunshine sometimes.
Then again I am a techy so did a couple of modifications to it following guides on the XDA site on the software side of things.
If I was doing it again, I would go for one of the brand new ones which started to become available about a month after I bought mine which have increased memory which I am sure would sove the lagging Waze app.

Hi Chris, I'm intrested in what mod's you've done to yours? I recon a Firmware update and maybe a better launcher might sort mine out.

So first up was the microphone mod - when you use the external mic connector, the internal mic on the front of the unit continues to operate giving you horrible echo as they are wired in parallel. Its a bit of a chore to get to (dependant on unit - mine is the Joying 8" VW style one), but basically you disconnect the inbuilt mic
Second firmware - https://forum.xda-developers.com/android-auto/mtcd-discussion-questions-development - check your head unit model to determine if it is an MTCD or MTCB should be in the about tablet screen. That should help with the firmware choice - I am running the Malaysk version here, though it looks like I have an update to install when I get a minute as the one listed is quite a bit newer than mine - https://forum.xda-developers.com/android-auto/mtcd-discussion-questions-development/rom-malaysk-roms-mtcd-device-t3598908
Viper4Android - well worth while to tweak the audio to your hearts content beyond the inbuilt (awful) EQs
There is a whole lot more on the XDA Developers forum for tricks and tips - I have done some of them but can't remember everything exactly.

It does look like you can now update the mainboard to the 2GB 8 core version which would be worthwhile and I may do just that as would be happy if it was a bit snappier in apps like Waze.