new beach camper 6.1 spec. bigger media screen option?

[Roc1]

Hopefully looking to order a new beach soon, and wanted to get the larger media screen. To do that do I have to get the 'Discover Media' pricey upgrade? I never use the VW sat nav, just use Waze etc and apple carplay.

Also does wireless carplay come as standard or just with the above upgrade?

Thanks!

 

[DevillBelgium]

If it where up to me I woud not bother to get this option.
I would rather go for the Led lights for better vision.
I do not care if I have to put in the cable for navigation. the Full Digital is nice to have but to price for me for what it is.

 

[dspuk]

Hopefully looking to order a new beach soon, and wanted to get the larger media screen. To do that do I have to get the 'Discover Media' pricey upgrade? I never use the VW sat nav, just use Waze etc and apple carplay.

Also does wireless carplay come as standard or just with the above upgrade?

Thanks!

Not sure what the question is for the first part. Is it worth is it my guess. For us, yes, for others, they might be quite happy with the smaller screen. Yes, you only the larger screen with the upgrade. There are quite a few threads discussing the pros and cons.

Don't know if the smaller one is wireless but we find it a pain and prone to a lag, so disabled the bluetooth to the phone and prefer to use the wire.

 

[chockswahay]

Besides which, wireless won’t charge it. We use cable all the time, do have big screen but only coz previous bought it…… personally I would save the money

 

[andyinluton]

I think its worth it just for the bigger screen, for a beach standard is just 6.5" picture 1, the upgrade gets you the 8" screen thats the standard for the Ocean picture 2.
We have the 6.5" screen in a panel van & in google maps the actual map is pretty small, we had the 8" version in our GC & it was significantly better.

We have never had any sort of problem with lagging etc on any of the versions whether using a cable or not. I know with the 8" screen you can use one phone to stream audio whilst using a different one for maps & a third one for phonecalls. Not sure if you can do that with the 6" set up.
We find this is useful for teenage daughter to be in charge of music whilst sitting in the back, whilst the wife thinks she's in charge of navigation in the front.

 

[RedWhiteMonkey]

I've found the "basic" 6.5" screen to be perfectly fine. Personally, I'd spend the money on something else.

 

[two-saabs]

I think its worth it just for the bigger screen, for a beach standard is just 6.5" picture 1, the upgrade gets you the 8" screen thats the standard for the Ocean picture 2.
We have the 6.5" screen in a panel van & in google maps the actual map is pretty small, we had the 8" version in our GC & it was significantly better,
View attachment 114242

I’m usually a fan of bigger screens but chose not to upgrade due to wanting the real buttons on the sides, useful to not always have to look at the sat nav for quick basic operations e.g volume down or map zoom.

For wireless CarPlay this works on either of the colour screens, what we have is a Belkin iPhone magnetic holder which makes the whole setup work well:



Link to the Belkin (Swiss site but gives you the details):

https://www.galaxus.ch/en/s1/product/belkin-magnetic-wireless-car-charger-with-magsafe-smartphone-holder-17702869

 

[RedWhiteMonkey]

In terms of wireless Android Auto or Carplay, I tried a Motorola MA1 for a while but ended up sending it back and going back to a cable. The actual device connected flawlessly with the head unit but not having my phone out in the open (ie. in the cup holder next to the cable socket) seemed to degrade the GPS signal to the point of it being an annoyance.

 

[andyinluton]

I’m usually a fan of bigger screens but chose not to upgrade due to wanting the real buttons on the sides, useful to not always have to look at the sat nav for quick basic operations e.g volume down or map zoom.

The one in your photo is the upgraded 8" one!!

 

[Roc1]

I’m usually a fan of bigger screens but chose not to upgrade due to wanting the real buttons on the sides, useful to not always have to look at the sat nav for quick basic operations e.g volume down or map zoom.

For wireless CarPlay this works on either of the colour screens, what we have is a Belkin iPhone magnetic holder which makes the whole setup work well:

View attachment 114243

Link to the Belkin (Swiss site but gives you the details):

https://www.galaxus.ch/en/s1/product/belkin-magnetic-wireless-car-charger-with-magsafe-smartphone-holder-17702869

Thanks, useful pic to see! Is that in an Ocean? Do t think Beach comes with a digital dash?

 

[andyinluton]

Thanks, useful pic to see! Is that in an Ocean? Do t think Beach comes with a digital dash?

@Roc1 Note that isn't the basic radio you would get - the one shown in his picture is what you would be paying extra for.

 

[dspuk]

For reference. The basic "Composition Colour DAB+ radio system with 6.5 inch touch-screen" that is base level on the Beach Camper and Tour:

The next step up is the "Discover Media DAB+ navigation system with 8 inch touch-screen including Streaming & Internet" std on the Ocean and upgrade for a Beach:



Then the super top level "Discover Pro 9.2" navigation DAB+ system
including ‘Streaming & Internet’. This is only an optional upgrade for an Ocean..



Here is the brochure overview.

 

[chockswahay]

For reference. The basic "Composition Colour DAB+ radio system with 6.5 inch touch-screen" that is base level on the Beach Camper and Tour:
View attachment 114259
The next step up is the "Discover Media DAB+ navigation system with 8 inch touch-screen including Streaming & Internet" std on the Ocean and upgrade for a Beach:

View attachment 114260

Then the super top level "Discover Pro 9.2" navigation DAB+ system
including ‘Streaming & Internet’. This is only an optional upgrade for an Ocean..

View attachment 114261

Here is the brochure overview.

View attachment 114262

Oh that’s weird……. That’s the one we have on our Coast (Discover Pro)

 

[dspuk]

Oh that’s weird……. That’s the one we have on our Coast (Discover Pro)

Maybe a more recent "upgrade" path? Seems to say the best a Coast can get today is the 8" but who knows, maybe that's a brochure thing and through the DMS you can order the Pro.

Edit - said Coast but obvs it's Beach. HT @andyinluton

 

[andyinluton]

Maybe a more recent "upgrade" path? Seems to say the best a Coast can get today is the 8" but who knows, maybe that's a brochure thing and through the DMS you can order the Pro.

You cant get a Coast today, only Beaches and Oceans - when it was available the Pro was an option on a Coast..

 

[Kayleigh]

Now here’s a question.. If you opt for the basic media in the Beach, can you actually update it at a later date?

I’m sure I heard somewhere that the dashboard is slimmer if you have the basic media, which would mean you can’t. Maybe people can get their tape measures out to confirm.

 

[dspuk]

Now here’s a question.. If you opt for the basic media in the Beach, can you actually update it at a later date?

I’m sure I heard somewhere that the dashboard is slimmer if you have the basic media, which would mean you can’t. Maybe people can get their tape measures out to confirm.

I wouldn't say "no, impossible" but I know that what gets fitted loom wise at a factory is very model dependant. Looms nowadays are more or less made to order for the spec of vehicle ordered. So it could be that the loom for a 6.5 is missing some connectors for a 8. If you ever ask VW they would say it's not an aftermarket upgrade, but of course some companies have sprung up offering them.

 

[andyinluton]

Now here’s a question.. If you opt for the basic media in the Beach, can you actually update it at a later date?

HazzyDayz are the people to go to for any sort of retro fit on VWs, upgrading the media unit is one of the few things that they don't offer which would lead me to think it cant be done.

I think that the basic beach unit could be swapped for an aftermarket unit pioneer do a 6.9" unit that fits with a trim panel round it.

 

[two-saabs]

The one in your photo is the upgraded 8" one!!

Ah yeah different spec on the Swiss models, this was standard on the Beach “Edition”, then the full touchscreen is the upgrade

 

[two-saabs]

Thanks, useful pic to see! Is that in an Ocean? Do t think Beach comes with a digital dash?

It’s a Beach with digital dash, different standard spec in Switzerland though, and no limits to the option list

 

[two-saabs]

The one in your photo is the upgraded 8" one!!

Yeah I should have said mine is a Swiss model where the base spec and options list are different to the UK

 

[Kayleigh]

HazzyDayz are the people to go to for any sort of retro fit on VWs, upgrading the media unit is one of the few things that they don't offer which would lead me to think it cant be done.

I think that the basic beach unit could be swapped for an aftermarket unit pioneer do a 6.9" unit that fits with a trim panel round it.

So in summary, best to order the upgraded media unit from the factory rather than rely on the ability to upgrade it later.

 

[CampervanOwner]

Roc1: I posted this question last week (along with a few other queries). It was helpful to hear from those who'd not chosen the better option, but the most relevant replies were from those who had. It's easy to understand why not to choose it (cost) but no-one who had it, said they wish they hadn't. The most helpful reply was from someone who'd had both so had experience and recommended the upgrade. I'm taking our steer from them and we're ordering the Pro (larger screen). Larger screen for reversing camera too in my mind. Good luck!

 

[Kayleigh]

Roc1: I posted this question last week (along with a few other queries). It was helpful to hear from those who'd not chosen the better option, but the most relevant replies were from those who had. It's easy to understand why not to choose it (cost) but no-one who had it, said they wish they hadn't. The most helpful reply was from someone who'd had both so had experience and recommended the upgrade. I'm taking our steer from them and we're ordering the Pro (larger screen). Larger screen for reversing camera too in my mind. Good luck!

Just to be clear, with the Beach I believe the media system you can upgrade to is the one that’s standard on the Ocean. The one with the two knobs and not the PRO version that is available as an upgrade on the Ocean.

Is that your understanding too?

 

[andyinluton]

Just to be clear, with the Beach I believe the media system you can upgrade to is the one that’s standard on the Ocean. The one with the two knobs and not the PRO version that is available as an upgrade on the Ocean.

Is that your understanding too?

Agree the upgrade is to the 8" screen, standard on a beach is 6.5"