MKV GTI - VW iPod Prep

[griff439]

Guys!
I've popped into VW this morning to ask about iPod prep for my car... I have been told that it will cost about £200 and it will stop my 6CD changer from working (which is'nt a massive problem because I dont really use it anyway!)
The guy at VW said he was unsure if you could control the iPod from the standard GTI head-unit... <<--- this is the question i have for you!

Does anybody have this as standard, or has anybody had it fitted? Can you control the iPod from the head-unit? Also if anybody has any recommendations that will save money or do a better job, please let me know!?

Cheers
Griff 

[Shorty]

I've got it in mine, basically have a plug in your arm rest to plug your iPhone/iPod into. Mine has a standard radio and you can only select different play lists you have set up I think!

[mb]

Had it in mine and it replaces the external cd player so sort of tricks the radio into thinking its still connected. You can only select playlists you've got and it will only display 'track 1', track 2', etc.

I removed mine and installed the MDI kit.

[GrayMK5GTI]

Buy a "connects2" one. It's the same as the VW one (probably made by same people) and only costs about £60  

Do a search on google or eBay  

It's easy to fit yourself too, there's a good how too guide on here I think (on MKV forum)

And you CAN control your iPod from your head unit with is - and it even charges the iPhone 4s. 

[griff439]

Had it in mine and it replaces the external cd player so sort of tricks the radio into thinking its still connected. You can only select playlists you've got and it will only display 'track 1', track 2', etc.

I removed mine and installed the MDI kit.

mb whats the MDI kit?

[mb]

It's similar to the iPod kit but gives you full control of the iPod & displays track names on the headunit. Not sure if it works with the RCD300/500 headunits though. I've got the retrofit kit that goes in the glovebox

[Nickyboy]

I had the standard cd radio unit and ipod kit, it is sh*te. The kit doesnt charge the ipod, the display on the head unit is confusing, and IIRC you have to create a playlist if you want a shuffle option. W@nk.

Installed an Alpine ida x305, so mich better. Freed up some space in the dash too.

[griff439]

I had the standard cd radio unit and ipod kit, it is sh*te. The kit doesnt charge the ipod, the display on the head unit is confusing, and IIRC you have to create a playlist if you want a shuffle option. W@nk.

Installed an Alpine ida x305, so mich better. Freed up some space in the dash too.

Don't want to change the headunit at all... im not too fussed about charging, ideally a connector in the glovebox to plug a new nano into is what i am after! (Battery is really good on it!) and i'd take it in most nights to update :) so charging it isn't an issue.

My main need is to be able to see the tracks, artists, playlists etc on the standard headunit - if anyone knows of a way to do this a beer is on me!! 

[chrisenright]

The RCD300 doesn't support artist, track or genre details.

Best it can do is let you select from any of 5 playlists set up on your iPod (or playlist 6 which is all of the music).

Each playlist is displayed as a CD (remember the head unit is fooled to think that the CD changer is still attached). So Playlist 1 displays as CD1 and so on.

Navigation is easy but a bit of a mystery tour - I tend to use the MIX button to allow a random skip to another track (either within the current playlist or in playlist 6).

This is an RCD300, by the way:

[griff439]

Chris,

Is that using the official VW ipod unit?
I have got the RCD300! :)

Thanks

[griff439]

Anybody got any recommendations?    desperate to get the best solution working for the summer!!