DAB

[Euge]

Apologies in advance as I know there are various threads on this subject.
Having read through some of them I’m still left asking myself the question, should my 2017 beach have come with DAB.
Surely it’s standard these days.
Even if it isn’t, I spec’d my beach up a fair bit including app connect, comfort dash etc.
I can’t seem to see a setting for the DAB anywhere and have read that a few were made without it in error ? Or it might be that it’s there but needs activating ?

I can’t find the brochure I downloaded before I bought the van last September so will call the dealer tomorrow to see what he says.
Any advice in the meantime would be welcome.

 

[westfalia]

DAB isn´t a standard thing with german vehicles so it seems.
I went to buy a 4 month old macan the other day,..... it didn´t have
DAB.

 

[flying banana]

I have dab in my beach. don't worry I'm not bragging. but I notice in a none dab area the dab option disappears off the screen. lake district and Scotland it's good old fm.long shot but have you tried moving house?ha just kidding but honestly have you tried to get it in another area?

 

[Ocean Spirit]

Composition with a 5" screen (includes DAB) is standard.

 

[s2bear]

My 2017 Beach doesn’t have DAB either. Little bit annoying.


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[Ocean Spirit]

 

[Euge]

Thanks guys.
I live in Greater London and the Mrs car seems to pick it up ok.
I’ll give it a whirl when I’m out and about tomorrow though, just in case i’m in a blind spot.
The mobile phone reception is awful in my street but being the technophobe that I am, I wouldn’t have a clue if that would result in problems with DAB as well.

 

[Euge]

View attachment 29164

Cheers 2020
I have the larger screen which was a requirement with app connect but I can’t see why that would make DAB non standard.

 

[Euge]

My 2017 Beach doesn’t have DAB either. Little bit annoying.


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Is it supposed to though, that’s what I can’t work out.

 

[Ocean Spirit]

Cheers 2020
I have the larger screen which was a requirement with app connect but I can’t see why that would make DAB non standard.

Having the larger screen wont make DAB non standard....it should still be there, I hazard a guess it's a setting you haven't fathomed out or reception in your area. Are you selecting DAB as per audio suppliment manual?

 

[s2bear]

Is it supposed to though, that’s what I can’t work out.

Mine is a German model. I was sent a few spec sheets of cars in build and some had DAB, some didn’t. I may get it retrofitted.


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[Euge]

Having the larger screen wont make DAB non standard....it should still be there, I hazard a guess it's a setting you haven't fathomed out or reception in your area. Are you selecting DAB as per audio suppliment manual?

I think I am.
Isn’t it as straightforward as selecting the band at the bottom left of the screen where it says FM/ AM ?
Or have I been a monumental plank about all this.

 

[Ocean Spirit]

I think I am.
Isn’t it as straightforward as selecting the band at the bottom left of the screen where it says FM/ AM ?

Can't remember

I can check tomorrow if nobody 'who can remember' chips in.

 

[Euge]

Can't remember

I can check tomorrow if nobody 'who can remember' chips in.

I did cast my eye over the manual earlier this evening and it seemed fairly straightforward.
I’ll give it another read tomorrow just in case I’ve missed something.

 

[Euge]

After speaking to the dealer today, it turns out some beaches and caravelle’s were built without DAB, even though it’s standard in the uk.
I had read this in some of the other threads too so looks like I’m one of the select few who don’t have it.
The dealer was very apologetic and said it’s an easy fix, about an hour in the workshop.

Thanks for all the input guys, I’m sure I’ll be back on here soon after another head scratching episode.

 

[s2bear]

After speaking to the dealer today, it turns out some beaches and caravelle’s were built without DAB, even though it’s standard in the uk.
I had read this in some of the other threads too so looks like I’m one of the select few who don’t have it.
The dealer was very apologetic and said it’s an easy fix, about an hour in the workshop.

Thanks for all the input guys, I’m sure I’ll be back on here soon after another head scratching episode.

I’d love to know if this was possible to add on mine as I really miss DAB - an aftermarket tuner seems a little clumsy if there’s an OEM type solution available.


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[Euge]

I’d love to know if this was possible to add on mine as I really miss DAB - an aftermarket tuner seems a little clumsy if there’s an OEM type solution available.


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The dealer seemed confident it was an easy fix, remove dash facia, fit “black box” as he called it and refit facia.
That’s for a 18 beach so I couldn’t say whether that’s applicable to other years.
I had said in my original post that my beach is a 17 plate, which it is.
However, when I ordered it just before the price rise last summer, the dealer said they’d stopped taking orders for 17 spec beaches so I’d be getting an 18 spec with a 17 plate, which does seem to be the case.
So basically, this issue affects beaches and caravelles built for and during this year.

Try getting your head round that after a few single malts !

 

[TrevorH]

I'm in similar position with a 67 plate Beach with missing DAB. Dealer not sure about fix since 'he hasn't done one yet' , so that I am a little nervous.Would be good to hear from any others who have been through the process.

 

[OGII]

Good Morning Euge,

I'm in same position with a 67 non DAB radio. I bought mine prereg from a dealer in the north who isn't being helpful with suggesting a solution. I'm not far north of Twickenham, could I ask which dealer is suggesting a fix is available?

Many thanks.

M

 

[Euge]

Good Morning Euge,

I'm in same position with a 67 non DAB radio. I bought mine prereg from a dealer in the north who isn't being helpful with suggesting a solution. I'm not far north of Twickenham, could I ask which dealer is suggesting a fix is available?

Many thanks.

M

Hi M

I bought my beach from Matt at SMG Tonbridge.
He’s been as good as gold through the whole order and purchase and I can’t praise him highly enough.

We didn’t go through the handover in any great detail at my request as I basically crawled into the showroom with some sort of bug one of my kids passed onto me.
While Matt was trying to show me how the roof, radio etc worked I was doing all I could not to throw up all over my gleaming new van so I cut him short and got the hell out of there.

While I was on the phone to him yesterday he read out the notification he’d been sent a few months ago regarding this issue.
It seemed very straightforward to fix based on that.
The proof will be in the pudding though so I’ll update on here once they’ve had a chance to work on it.

Given DAB is standard in the uk market, it’s shocking your dealer is dragging his heals over this.
Good luck getting it sorted.

 

[Fast Freddie]

Our "16 plate" Beach has DAB, it had the Discover Media Navigation option.and the price list I have from then DAB showed up as standard (Nov 2015).

 

[Runningsoy]

I picked my Beach up last October. After a ten month wait, I was told on the forecourt that due to an issue with the build the car did not have DAB. I was given the option of reordering or a minor mod that would be applied in a few weeks. Given I had waited so long and was otherwise pleased with the vehicle I chose the latter option.

Three trips to the dealership later in February this year they took my car whilst I was working away and fitted an autoDAB system. This included a pretty clunky interface and an arial on the front window. To say I was not best pleased is an understatement.

I contacted the dealer and was told that this was the fix and if I had further complaint, I would need to contact central after sales. That I did and following a few weeks investigation I have been offered (1) moving the aerial to the rear window and (2) compensation. I'm still a little unsure whether to just settle for this, but don't know what my options are now. Anyone else experienced this?

 

[T6 CFO]

I picked my Beach up last October. After a ten month wait, I was told on the forecourt that due to an issue with the build the car did not have DAB. I was given the option of reordering or a minor mod that would be applied in a few weeks. Given I had waited so long and was otherwise pleased with the vehicle I chose the latter option.

Three trips to the dealership later in February this year they took my car whilst I was working away and fitted an autoDAB system. This included a pretty clunky interface and an arial on the front window. To say I was not best pleased is an understatement.

I contacted the dealer and was told that this was the fix and if I had further complaint, I would need to contact central after sales. That I did and following a few weeks investigation I have been offered (1) moving the aerial to the rear window and (2) compensation. I'm still a little unsure whether to just settle for this, but don't know what my options are now. Anyone else experienced this?

That’s a new one on me. I stand to be corrected but believe the aerial for the radio is incorporated in the drivers mirror and it’s a pricey item. Sounds like a good old bodge and at the least you need compensation or some fancy dealer options. A shame your dealer was not upfront with the nature of the “bodge”


Mike

 

[2into1]

I believe the autodab is just a box that plays through the Aux function. That's pretty crappy on a 2017 and will soon look ancient and will be a severe handicap at resale. I'd insist they put it back as was intended, including the factory dab aerial which I understand is in one of the door mirrors.

 

[Steve39]

Mmm..so this just popped up on my unread posts but otherwise hadn't seen this thread before. Weird coincidence because I just got home from picking up my second new Beach in 6 months.

Long story short I picked up the first Beach in Sept. My other car is a Golf and I'm a big Radio 6 Music / TMS listener, so took me all of 30secs to notice DAB was missing. Dealer agreed but I drove the van home anyway (we were both convinced it couldn't be missing as its standard now on all T6 vehicles in the UK).

Anyhow turned out it was missing.

So this is what I know.

There was a mistake at the factory late summer and a batch were built without DAB. 3 elements missing, the DAB module (behind head unit), the DAB arial (in driver's wing mirror) and the wiring between the two (behind, in my case, the comfort dash).

I told my dealer (who have been brilliant througjtout) that I was unhappy and wanted it sorted,
they confirmed it was a known error and were waiting for a fix.

3 months later they got details of the fix from VW. Basically, I was offered the same as above, a full 'retrofit' of DAB which involved fitting the Auto DAB module. I told my dealer I would only accept an as factory retrofit for various reasons but the main ones being that the bolt on DAB module looked awful and is a pain to use (separate interface).

My dealer suggested lodging a formal complaint with VWCS, which I did. A few months and much banging of head against various walls later, I was told VW would not sanction a retrofit as it was deemed too risky and financially not feasible.

I was offered 3 options, the Auto DAB plus £250, or a full refund, or reorder and replace with a brand new van.

Needless to say I took the later. The change was at no cost to me, I stayed in the old van until the new one was ready, and I get a 2018 plate with 0 miles on it and DAB.

I'm happy with the outcome (and new van is missing a few other minor niggles as a bonus). But it was a crazy solution to such a small problem.

I did get a quote from a T6 audio specialist and they were happy to do the job using genuine VW parts for about £500ish!!!! VW wouldn't even offer me the cash to do it myself.

Runningsoy - I'd recommend putting in a complaint and seeing how you get on. Happy to chat through the arguements I made to get what I wanted. PM me if you are a VIP.

I'd advise against settling for the AutoDAB option unless (a) you don't really miss the DAB and (b) you're planning on keeping the van long term i.e. to the point it won't affect your re-sale.

Sorry for the long post everyone. Had avoided the forum for a while because I was so pi#&ed off with it all.

Happy with the new van now though