Replacing a RCD300 radio with RCD510 with DAB into Mk5 GT with upto date CANbus

[CHdriver]

I have just retrofited a DAB RCD510 into a Mk5 GT Sport and although there is a lot of help in various forums, there isn't anything in one place, so I thought I would give back to the VW Golf community

1.  Removing the dash of Mk5 Golf – RCD300 - use this great link:

http://www.jonathansblog.net/volkswagen_vw_xcarlink_ipod_adaptor_rcd_300_radio_remove

2. If you have an AUX or an external CD changer you need to alter the pins according to the linked instructions.  Note that the diagrams in the instructions are from the back, i.e. in the real world you cannot see as clearly because the wires are going into the plugs in front of you. Plug B is Blue, and can be unclipped from the mount. Within the blue plug is a black honeycomb insert which slides out of the blue holder. Use a small precision screw driver to push down the pins through the opening on the top of the honeycomb while pulling on the relevant wire.  No special tools are needed.

http://www.motor-talk.de/forum/aktion/Attachment.html?attachmentId=602167 It downloads a PDF file, save the file locally to view the instructions.

3. Changing the aerial for a DAB/FM combined aerial.  First remove headlining, use these instructions:

http://www.golfmkv.net/blog/archives/29#  

You don't need to remove the grab handles, there is enough room to change the aerial with just the C pillar trim loosened and the trim across the middle removed.

I installed a combined DAB/FM bee sting aerial to replace the bee sting my late 2008 Golf GT Sport came with.  I installed a JVC HAL2, however there are other options.  The JVC aerial is slightly more upright than the original VW aerial, in hindsight I should have check the angle of the aerial as it now catches on the garage door.

Below is a link to the various aerial options

http://www.dabonwheels.co.uk/DAB_car_aerials.html

All the external mounted aerials seem to have the same connectors.
The DAB cable has a SMB Female connector, which does fit the RCD510 DAB input, although it doesn't look like it.  Just line it up and inset the plug, it's a tight fit but fits perfectly.

The FM cable is the problem, the aerials are supplied with a Hirschmann (aka M 10 x 0.75 male connector). [I have subsequently found that the Blaupunkt Shark Line A-RD T 01-M may have the correct Fakra connection to the FM cable.]

There doesn't seem to be a converter to change the Hirschmann connection to a male fakra (white) connection, i.e. you need a connector with female Hirschmann to a male Fakra.  You can convert the Hirschmann to a male DIN , but then all the female DIN to Fakra connectors terminate in a female Fakra.

Car coaxial cable is very similar in construction to a coaxial cable in your home, but smaller diameter.  I cut off the Hirschmann connector from the JVC aerial and cut off the original Frakra connection from the VW aerial as close to the aerial as possible so I had as much coaxial cable to work with as possible and spliced them together, making sure I secured the splice with black insulating tape.  

The aerial requires 12Vpower, but I think the RCD10 provides the power via the coaxial, so I didn't connect the 12v power lead from the JVC aerial to anything.  I have great FM and DAB reception, but no longer have any AM reception, I don't know if that is because the aerial is not getting enough power, or the splice.  If you are installing an RCD510 without DAB you shouldn't have this problem because you don't need to change the aerial and therefore your AM reception should be unchanged.  As I now have DAB it doesn't matter that AM doesn't work.

I routed the DAB cable down the C pillar and under the plastic trim between the doors and the carpet to the glovebox, and then behind the glovebox into the space where the radio is stored.  The trim is easy to remove and replace.  I used a wire coat hanger to drop the cable down the C pillar and then to go behind the glove box.  Just push the  straightened coat hanger through were you want the cable to go, attach the DAB cable to the coat hanger wire with masking tape and pull the coat hanger back though.  Apart from putting the screws back in the C pillar (which is a nightmare if you drop them) the cable routing takes about 10 mins.

The RCD510 has 2 FM inputs the same as the RCD300, but in a slightly different configuration, so you need an adapter

http://www.my-gti.com/1088/upgrading-2nd-generation-radios-rcd-300-rcd-500-to-3rd-generation-rcd-210-rcd-310-rns-310-rns-510-rcd-510-antenna-adapter

The connectors are about £30 from VW direct or £20 from ebay.

Once the aerials are connected, check the radio works before pushing it back into place and replacing the trim.  The radio will require a 4 digit code if it is going into a new car.
I don't have steering controls or a more sophisticated dashboard display than the standard spec, so the radio now works fine.

[pipston]

will this update work if you have an RNS510 and replace the aerial? or do you need a new head unit too?

i had a mk6 courtessy car from the stealers this week which had DAB radio in the head unit....i need this in my life! 

[GazB]

Im lloking at fitting an RNS510, so this post should be proper helpful ;)

[daveangel]

Re DAB fitment

the dab aerial base is 1K0 035 501H £72 (has fm,dab,gsm,navi)
the aerial mast to fit base 1K0 035 849 £15
diversity fm aerial adaptor 7L6 051 551 £24
dab aerial adaptor 000 098 710A £13
4m aerial cable 000 098 654 A £17

VW prices

[DamoP]

thanks for this , been looking for a dab aerial , got one in the end 

[daveangel]

the aerial base is very similar to the blaupunkt product

http://www.bluespot.co.uk/car-audio.aspx/am-fm-dab-roof-aerial

however the vag model does not have an independant 12v supply, where as the blaupunkt one does.

the standard colour for dab fakra plugs is black

[Ronsil]

Hi,

Thanks for all the info on this, i have a 2008 GTI i have just fitted an RCD 510 with DAB..... but i dont have an aerial.

I have found this aerial  http://www.dabonwheels.co.uk/Hirschmann_AUTA_16_V_DAB_DAB_car_aerial.html would this be ok for the job??? also i realise that the RCD 510 has 2 inputs for FM/AM. all the dab aerials i have looked at only have 1 connection for FM/AM.... how do you get round this??

any help you can give would be great.

Hope this makes sensor. 

[james]

just get
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RNS510-MFD3-RADIO-ANTENNA-ADAPTER-FM-VW-Fakra-RCD510-310-/250900319680?pt=UK_CE_GPS_Accessories_Software_ET&hash=item3a6ad30dc0

and that aerial is fine.

[AndyS]

There are other problems which you should know about:-

The RNS-510 when installed by VW is programed with a code to say which car it is going in. This code then changes the rom data so that it can be controlled by MFSW. Hence if the RNS came from another type of car it will new the code changing for the MFSW to work.

I know this because I got one from Ebay and the only controlls on the MFSW that work are volume up/down

I need to find a garage that has RNS Manager so that they can change the code. There is another method where you change two files in the ROM update which I have not tried yet as I dont want to brick my unit.

[Eddie-NL]

what is you location

[AndyS]

what is you location

Eddie , will becontacting you regards a new gateway and fitting.

Its a long distance, but I want this problem sorted

[Eddie-NL]

what is you location

Eddie , will becontacting you regards a new gateway and fitting.

Its a long distance, but I want this problem sorted

Hi

send me a PM when you are ready

[john a]

thanks for this , been looking for a dab aerial , got one in the end 

Mr Demon, with the aerial that you fitted, do both your ANT1 and ANT2 show as on for am/fm and your ANT1 for DAB with a Q status as well? I'm in the process of test fitting mine and with the standard antenna connected to DAB only, I get ANT1 on but Q: Mute - I don't know if I have to switch on phantom power in the HU or if it should already be on.

Cheers

[john a]

I guess the Q I have is how do you get an aftermarket aerial to function with Diversity.
Ta

[keva319]

I have just replaced an RCD 300 with a DAB 510 in my 2008 MK5 GT Sport 170.

Firstly, the links and info in the initial post are spot on. - Thank very much.

Additional thoughts and findings:

Tools:

In addition, or to emphasise the importance of, those mentioned in the article and links:

Trim removal tools are essential.
You need a screw driver with changeable bits to remove the C pillar Torx T25 top screw- a socket set is too large to fit the 'airbag hole'
Inspection mirror - for the connections to the aerial at the rear of the car.
Torch - to look at the mirror!
Finally a real nice to have - An ipad, laptop (or similar) with all the web pages stored so that you can view as you go. - very very useful.

The job:

The RCD 300 is a snug fit coming out and the RCD 510 is equally hard to refit.

Note - I did not have any aux or bluetooth equipment. If you have these you MUST carry out the pin swaps as detailed here:

http://www.my-gti.com/1328

and here:

http://www.my-gti.com/1336

Somewhere on the internet there is a copy of VW's own instructions for fitting 3rd generation radios in place of 2nd generation. This also details the pin changes required.

I purchased an adapter harness from ebay for the AM & FM aerial cables:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180804978211?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649#ht_1074wt_215

The twin socket would only fit to the radio body in one sense but the tails would fit to either cable. I ensured that the cables were in the same order as on the RCD 300 and everything appears to work.


I chose to fit the Blaupunkt A-RD T 01-M available here:

http://www.bluespot.co.uk/car-audio.aspx/am-fm-dab-roof-aerial

Note: This is a full installation kit including all the wires and fittings you will need (VHF, DAB, and 12V are included - I only used the DAB aerial lead as the rest are not required or are already in the car) As such it is very good value for money.

I was not sure whether I would have to run a separate 12V supply to the aerial but I connected it up to the radio with the dash in bits and this proved it not be required. I understand that VW run 12V down the coax sheathing and this obviously powers the amps in the Blaupunkt aerial base.

The aerial cable that comes with the Blaupunkt has a Fakra connection on one end and a straight mini coax metal connector on the other. I pushed the metal connector into the RCD 510 DAB socket - a perfect, tight, fit and used the Fakra at the aerial end.

As I say, I connected up the new aerial at various stages to check for functionality (don't forget to screw the mast on for these tests)

I routed the aerial wire as described (working from front to back so that I could test with the aerial as necessary). - It was plenty long enough.

Take your time with the work to fit the aerial under the headlining and clean your hands first!

When removing the plastic trim across the back of the headlining make sure you have all the metal clips as the end ones tend to stay in the roof  - they are easy to retrieve from the body and refit.

It is hard to remove the white  socket that connects the original aerial lead to the cars internal wiring. The two sockets are held to the car by a clip - this is where the inspection mirror and torch come in really handy.

I found it necessary to slightly reroute the car's aerial lead so that it would meet the VHF lead from the aerial - it does it but only just. (VW/Audi do sell extension leads in varying lengths)

The radio came with its code and this was input on initial start up.

The radio is now fully functioning - FM, AM, DAB and CD. The sound quality is so much better than the RCD 300. I live in a very poor area for DAB (My DAB radios in my house struggle) and the DAB sound quality driving around is excellent. (The 12V feed to the aerial would appear to not be required.)

So how much did all this cost?

RCD 510 DAB £260 + £20 p&p from ebay

Aerial adapter £12.99 + £1.50 p&p from ebay

Blaupunkt DAB aerial (as listed above) £89.99 incl p&p

Total £384.48

and.....

An afternoon of head scratching.