Upgrade from RCD300 to RNS310

[H18Golf]

I will be picking up my new GTi over the next couple of days and want to upgrade the headunit.

The car is an 06 and has a RCD300.  I want to put a RNS310 in it so i can play songs off an SD card.  Do i need to update the CAN for battery drain issues?  Or is it just a case of taking out the old unit and fitting the new?  Do i need any other parts?

Also, can anyone who has this already installed tell me what its like for displaying track information, i.e does it say the artist and song name or just track 1, 2 3 etc?

Thanks

[Shoduchi]

You'll most likely need to upgrade the CAN Gateway. The RNS-310 will display the track information of the mp3 and wma.

[H18Golf]

Thanks for the information.  Other than the CAN gateway is there anything else i will need to install the RNS310?  Any links would help.

Thanks

[Shoduchi]

You'll need to code your CAN so that your car knows you have Navigation installed. It can be done while coding the new CAN. Not sure about what coding the RNS-310 needs, as I never looked into it. I have a RNS-510 and it needs coding, which is easy to do.

[DamoP]

No coding required. It's a straight fit with a new gateway. You will been an aerial adaptor as well. Less than £10 off eBay

[H18Golf]

Thanks for the replies.  Can anyone let me know how much a gateway would be and where to get this and the aerial adapter? 

Also, just been looking into this a bit myself, would i not need to get a GPS antenna for the sat nav?

Thanks again.

[Shoduchi]

You can get the antenna adapter and the GPS antenna from ebay or from carsystems.

http://www.carsystems.pl/fakra-antenna-radio-adapter-2-in-1-mfd-rcd-rns-510-diversity-shipping-0-01,id526.html
http://www.carsystems.pl/gps-antenna-90-angle-blue-fakra-connector,id18.html

[H18Golf]

Thanks.

Just as a matter of interest.  Can you have maps and music saved on a SD card and have the sat nav turned on and listen to music from the SD card at the same time?

[Shoduchi]

I don't know the answer to that. I have an RNS-510.

Let's see if someone else knows and responds.

[J400uk]

No gateway needed for the RNS 310, it's the only 'new' head unit which doesn't cause battery drain

You'll just require the radio antenna adaptor and GPS antenna

Yes you can have maps and music on the same SD card and listen whilst navigating!

[Shoduchi]

Thank you for sharing that information. Wasn't aware of it.

Cheers

[JonnyM92]

No gateway needed for the RNS 310, it's the only 'new' head unit which doesn't cause battery drain

You'll just require the radio antenna adaptor and GPS antenna

Yes you can have maps and music on the same SD card and listen whilst navigating!

Is that definately correct RE: no battery draing with RNS310? Reason I've been holding off upgrading is the battery drain issue!

[Shoduchi]

AFAIK all 3rd generation caused the battery drain issue: http://www.my-gti.com/1101/upgrading-2nd-generation-radios-rcd-300-rcd-500-to-3rd-generation-rcd-210-rcd-310-rns-310-rcd-510-power-drain-issue.

Only RNS-510 with older firmwares or with modified firmware might not have that issue.

In another forum I've seen a case of a 2006 Passat not having this issue with the RNS-310, but having it after upgrading to RNS-510.

Maybe J400k can explain better why the RNS-310 won't cause this issue.

[Scottymon]

Instead of a new gateway can you add a fuse or modified Firmware?:

http://www.r32oc.com/topic/31099-rns-510-a-simple-solution-to-battery-drain/

Does it work?

[JonnyM92]

Instead of a new gateway can you add a fuse or modified Firmware?:

http://www.r32oc.com/topic/31099-rns-510-a-simple-solution-to-battery-drain/

Does it work?

I've seen that too. Can't try it as I don't have the different head unit. Not sure it's a permanent fix though.

How quickly does the battery drain kick? Is there any way to tell if it's draining the battery once the unit is installed?