Replacing original (2008) cali radio

[andrew bazeley]

My wife's new Golf with a great infotainment system has made me realise my original FM radio/CD player needs some serious updating, adding DAB and navigation etc. It looks like the RN510 will do the trick, but I really need two questions settled before I take the plunge: firstly, does re-installation mean you lose that very handy 30-minute auto switch-off if you leave the radio on when you go to bed (an alternative might be a remote control, if they're available)? Secondly, somebody in Halfords told me that with 2-din systems, the background processes mean there is a risk of draining the battery if you're camping for several days without recharging. You can probably tell I know bugger all about all this, so would welcome help form anyone who has gone through this process.

 

[sidepod]

Are you normally in the habit of listening/believing anything a Halfwits employee tells you?

Any half decent head unit will have an auto off function built in.

 

[WelshGas]

My wife's new Golf with a great infotainment system has made me realise my original FM radio/CD player needs some serious updating, adding DAB and navigation etc. It looks like the RN510 will do the trick, but I really need two questions settled before I take the plunge: firstly, does re-installation mean you lose that very handy 30-minute auto switch-off if you leave the radio on when you go to bed (an alternative might be a remote control, if they're available)? Secondly, somebody in Halfords told me that with 2-din systems, the background processes mean there is a risk of draining the battery if you're camping for several days without recharging. You can probably tell I know bugger all about all this, so would welcome help form anyone who has gone through this process.

1. Yes you still have the 20/30 min cutoff.
2. The RNS510 is really a mini computer with the SatNav and everything else, and yes there have been reports of a flat engine battery if used a lot while camping. There are ways around this. Depending on the California you have, I'm afraid no details under your Avatar, from about 2008 the California Mains Charger also Trickle charges the Engine Battery. You can have it wired so that you can switch to the Leisure Battery when camping, but it still switches off.

I've not had any problems a myself.

 

[andrew bazeley]

Are you normally in the habit of listening/believing anything a Halfwits employee tells you?

Any half decent head unit will have an auto off function built in.

Quite! That's why I thought I'd ask the real experts!

 

[AndyFromTheBrac]

It's worth considering the aftermarket offerings from the likes of Kenwood, Alpine etc especially given their integration with smartphone technology.

I binned an RNS510 last year as I felt it was a bit long in the tooth. If your wife's Golf is a new one then it will have a way better head until than the (expensive) 510

Depends on what you want to do with it of course, but there are quite a few threads on here highlighting alternatives. Worth checking out perhaps especially if you have a local car hifi specialist?

 

[AndyFromTheBrac]

Are you normally in the habit of listening/believing anything a Halfwits employee tells you?

Just rude. No need. The OP is just sounding out some advice here. Be nice

 

[reserves]

Unless you have specific reasons to go with the VW RNS510 you can go with any aftermarket unit you like. These are often cheaper and have more features. The RNS510 with DAB is a very expensive as quite rare.

If you have either an iPhone then aftermarket units with Carplay is great, also there is an Android equivalent.

The unit turning off is a feature of the Vehicle itself, the CANBUS (vehicle information system) tells the unit to power off, this will happen regardless of what unit you install. Funnily enough, people spend a lot of time trying to get this to STOP happening, ideally with the unit wired to the leisure battery.

I'm not sure the RNS510 will fit your 2008 Cali as it's pre Facelift (facelift was 2010) but could be wrong.

If you want some expert help then the person to call is Jason from Absolut T5 http://absolut5.co.uk/ (no affiliation)

 

[Spartan]

...
I binned an RNS510 last year as I felt it was a bit long in the tooth. If your wife's Golf is a new one then it will have a way better head until than the (expensive) 510 ...

I have the latest (last? 2016) generation of the RNS510 and rate it very highly. When installed in a facelift T5, the clever power management means that there is no delay at switch-on/start-up and navigation is ready to use immediately (compared to after-market Nav. units where boot-up can easily take 30 seconds or more). It also has great integration with the dash. display (no need to look at the head-unit for directions when they are clearly repeated graphically, right in front of you), integration with OEM steering wheel controls, OEM phone control, OEM media control, OEM parking sensors, OEM rear-view camera, etc.

That is not to say you can't get that integration with after-market units - you can but it takes a bit more research, work, expense, etc. Ironically however, this might still be your best option since installing the RNS510 in a pre-facelift T5 brings it's own problems - some "out-of-the-box" OEM integration I mentioned is missing and can lead to potential battery drain issues and incompatibility with older dash. displays. Again, these issues can be overcome but could require similar research, work, expense, etc. as fitting an after-market unit.

Edit: @reserves post crossed over with mine but it reminded me of something - most RNS510 units have rounded fascia corners; the pre-facelift T5 needs square fascia corners to fit perfectly so this might limit you to older (slower) RNS510 models or you will also require a fascia adapter ...

You pays your money and ... (it's usually at this point you think, "Sod it - easier just to buy a newer car!").

 

[reserves]

Edit: @reserves post crossed over with mine but it reminded me of something - most RNS510 units have rounded fascia corners; the pre-facelift T5 needs square fascia corners to fit perfectly so this might limit you to older (slower) RNS510 models or you will also require a fascia adapter ...

I'm fairly sure the RNS510 never came with square edges, only rounded for the Facelifts.

There's some great aftermarket options that will give DAB, NAV, CarPlay etc. they don't have the ease of use of the VW Units though, but possibly a better option here.

I've got the Pioneer F88DAB in my golf http://www.pioneer-car.eu/eur/products/avic-f88dab which is amazing but just fiddly to use unless you're more technical.

I had the RNS510DAB in my Cali, but recently swapped it for the new Kenwood DNX516DAB http://www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk/car/oem/vwc/DNX516DABS/ which I'm not really a fan of.

In the Golf prior to the F88DAB I had the Pioneer sph-da120 http://www.halfords.com/technology/...oneer-sph-da120-car-stereo-with-apple-carplay

For anyone with an iPhone and a data plan the Pioneer SPH-DA120 at £329.99 is a steal for what it gives you, you can also plug in an aftermarket reverse camera which can be brought for £15!

 

[Spartan]

I'm fairly sure the RNS510 never came with square edges, only rounded for the Facelifts. ...

I'll just leave this here ...

Edit: Hmmm. I can see image in preview of post but not after save - I'll try to find another one ...

Edit2: Part number appears to be 7E0035680, as fitted to T5 and Touareg ...

 

[sidepod]

Just rude. No need. The OP is just sounding out some advice here. Be nice

Chill out dude. I'm not having a pop at the OP, just Halfords. Jeeeezzz.

 

[reserves]

I'll just leave this here ...

Interesting! Though not sure they were ever installed in the T5 (again could be wrong).

They defo never came with DAB though and assume relatively slow now being from pre 2010.

 

[brad63]

You can get a new rns510 for your pre facelift with the latest maps DAB And led screen it's just out of a toureg the rns510 of the time of the preface lift was neither Led or DAB it was LCD.

 

[andrew bazeley]

There have been developments (this may take a while, but I do need help)! I eventually got a Kenwood DNX8160DABS system, as it seemed to do everything, and had lots of recommendations. Unfortunately, the local "specialist" who fitted it completely screwed up: he competely ignored the special instructions relating to VWs (the power connections are apparently reversed), and he decided to miss out part of the wiring loom "because it wasn't necessary and there wasn't enough room". The special treatment for VWs is apparently because there is no "A" position on the ignition switch, so you can only turn the radio on by also activating all the dashboard lights etc. I still don't understand why the original radio was fine!

Anyway, after he finally reconnected the power wires correctly, the unit kept packing up, with the message "start up error". I lost so much faith in the local installer (and told VW to stop recommending him!) that I contacted the original suppliers; Car Audio Security in Hayes, and they actually agreed to replace the unit entirely. They drew my attention to the missing part of the loom, and said it was this which was causing the "start up error". They really shouldn't have replaced such an expensive unit, knowing that it was the original installation that was at fault. They warned me that the error was likely to happen again, and - sure enough - it does it quite regularly. I can fix it by removing the unit, and pulling -out and replacing the main plug. I've lost the 30-minute cutout, and have to switch the unit off manually when I leave the vehicle (presumably, since the power bypasses the ignition system).
Car Audio security said I could take it back any time, and they would correct any ongoing problems, and set the whole thing up the way I want it (but I have to pay this time!). Before I do that, I'd be interested to hear if anyone else knows about these radio connection issues on the older T5s, and whether you think I really can re-install the unit so that I can switch it on and off manually (without all the dashboard lights coming on) as well as via the ignition key, and build in a 30-minut cutoff.

PHEW!!

 

[reserves]

Sounds like the people who installed the unit had no idea what they were doing. There’s no need to wire it up to the lights.

The VW units turn on and off again via the CANBUS, the unit which wasn’t fitted converts this signal into a format aftermarket units can understand.

You can easiky get it fitted so that the power on signal comes from the ignition.

If you have any further problems call Jason at Absolut Audio, or take it to him or someone that’s knows what they are doing.

It’s not a difficult install at all, you just need the correct CANBUS converter and then it’s plug and play.

 

[andrew bazeley]

Sounds like the people who installed the unit had no idea what they were doing. There’s no need to wire it up to the lights.

The VW units turn on and off again via the CANBUS, the unit which wasn’t fitted converts this signal into a format aftermarket units can understand.

You can easiky get it fitted so that the power on signal comes from the ignition.

If you have any further problems call Jason at Absolut Audio, or take it to him or someone that’s knows what they are doing.

It’s not a difficult install at all, you just need the correct CANBUS converter and then it’s plug and play.

Now that does make sense! So if I get this converter fitted, it will work exactly the same way as the original did, with operation via the ignition, or manual over-ride without the key, and 30-minute shut-off? (the last two essential when camping!). I live in Wiltshire, so Amesbury is a good deal nearer for me! Many thanks - I'll give them a ring.

 

[Kjetil]

Can anyone tell me how I can see if I have “Double DIN” or ISO connection? I have a T5 Cali SE 2005 and would really like to replace my worn out VW standard CD/Radio to a modern one with navigator. It’s a square so I guess the RNS510 won’t fit. Which one of the Kenwoods would fit best?

 

[reserves]

Can anyone tell me how I can see if I have “Double DIN” or ISO connection? I have a T5 Cali SE 2005 and would really like to replace my worn out VW standard CD/Radio to a modern one with navigator. It’s a square so I guess the RNS510 won’t fit. Which one of the Kenwoods would fit best?

A double din should go straight in ti a 2005.

A picture of your dash would help.

 

[Kjetil]

A double din should go straight in ti a 2005.

A picture of your dash would help.

This is a picture of a similar new one.

 

[reserves]

This is a picture of a similar new one.

View attachment 112891

Any standard double din stereo will fit straight in there