Car Audio - Newbie Help please.....

[janus909GTI]

Hey all,

So ive just got a GTI, i have currently fitted what looks like the standard headunit but im wanting to upgrade to either the MFD2 or the RCD 510, are there any other VW OEM units i should be looking at? What are the major differences?

In addition i currently have a pretty good Parrot Blue tooth unit setup so would ideally like to keep that, would the new unit support this?  And secondly ive got an ipod cable all wired up, again would the new unit support these?

The golf is on a 55 plate, would the wiring inplace be able to support either of the above units?

Lastly is there anything major i should think about or need to factor in?

Ill worry about fitting once ive got the kit?!

[roamer1711]

RNS 510 For the win, Navigation plus Hard Drive for all your MP3's. CAN Gateway issues can happen with battery drain, all on the Forum.

[alexperkins]

The parrot kit will work with your new unit. You may have to change the wiring around to get it to work properly though as is often the case

Youll most likely end up with battery drain problems as your car is a 55 plate - before the newer can gateways that readily support the newer headunits (RCD510, RNS510) existed

MFD2 will go in no problems though, but if you can, stretch to an RNS510 as its significantly better

[janus909GTI]

Great thanks to the both of you? SO what are these CAN gateways? doesn't mean much to me, what does CAN stand for? Battery drain doesnt sound ideal? How can i get round this? Does this mean i cant go for the better head unit.....or if i do how can i resolve this issue?

[alexperkins]

CAN Gateway is the central hub for all the cars systems - it controls the flow of data etc from A to B - quite important

CAN Gateways earlier than a K (though often L) will not work with Generation 3 head units (RCD510, RNS310, RNS510) as these use a different kind of communication and dont shut down properly on old gateways.

If you get a new Can Gateway (ebay, dealer, scrapyard etc) thats newer than an L such as an S, AD, AF etc then this problem wont happen and its happy days. Expect to pay around £70-£85 for a new updated one.

If you dont upgrade, youll get battery drain whereby the car is flat in about 2 days if you dont use it - simples  

[janus909GTI]

woah...that all sounds complicated! is it not possible to by pass this problem with a firmware upgrade? i read that this may solve the problem?

i've spyed one on ebay but they dont have the security code? avoid at all costs it possible to obtain the code?

[alexperkins]

It can resolve the problem, but only on the RNS510 and its not always guaranteed to work

Its quite simple actually - just replace it lol

Dont buy one if it hasnt got the security code - its probably stolen