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Upgrading head unit.

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#21 ·
Sir Byron Laurent said:
I am actually running an android radio right now and did not have to do a rewire or anything. It retains the factory look not taking away from the look of the interior. It came with an canbus adapter to let you use the factory amp, so it is completely plug and play. I did have to order a adapter to change the 2 antennas the the vehicle has to one into the back of the radio to get better reception (It is still pretty bad and will by an signal booster later for it). My TReg is a 2005 V8 that has the factory navigation and 11 speaker system. I also recently installed an amp in sub as well this past weekend. This is the exact unit I have below.
Click to expand...

But you lost some functionality of the steering wheel controls and info displayed in the MFD screen.


regards
Drag
 
Discussion starter · #22 ·
So, to understand correctly, you ordered a radio off of the Internet, with no special connections or adapters going to the amplifier, using the digital amplifier, and were able to get sound out of all 11 speakers? If so, show me where!

Of course, I'm going to ask you to confirm that you have the digital amplifier, because I know in 2005 they switched to the analog one.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
 
#25 ·
marshatherton said:
So, to understand correctly, you ordered a radio off of the Internet, with no special connections or adapters going to the amplifier, using the digital amplifier, and were able to get sound out of all 11 speakers? If so, show me where!

Of course, I'm going to ask you to confirm that you have the digital amplifier, because I know in 2005 they switched to the analog one.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Yes, I have sound from all 11 speakers. Nope, just the supplied canbus adapter (side note: with the canbus adapter when you put the vehicle in reverse it automatically switches the screen to the back up screen and also as the wheel turns the trajectory markers turns with the vehicle). Posted the link of the one I purchased in the message chain for another member.
 
#26 ·
marshatherton said:
So, to understand correctly, you ordered a radio off of the Internet, with no special connections or adapters going to the amplifier, using the digital amplifier, and were able to get sound out of all 11 speakers? If so, show me where!

Of course, I'm going to ask you to confirm that you have the digital amplifier, because I know in 2005 they switched to the analog one.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
If you tell me what I should be looking for I can confirm if I have the analog or digital one.
 
Discussion starter · #29 ·
I looked at the one that you picked out. It looks like it has some trick canbus adapter which allows it to work. Looks legitimate. I'm very curious now lol. So, the only thing you lost was the ability to see songs/music info on the MDF? Everything else works? Steering wheel controls, speakers, etc?

How does it sound? Did you get the backup camera with it?

Sorry for all the questions, it's really exciting.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
 
#30 ·
Sir Byron Laurent said:
If you tell me what I should be looking for I can confirm if I have the analog or digital one.
Click to expand...
I believe the only way to tell the difference is by which navigation unit you have. The dvd based unit uses an analog amp and the cd based navigation uses the digital amp.
If you have a dvd based unit there is only 1 disc, the cd based navigation uses multiple cd's based on different regions of North America.
Hopefully this helps and if I'm wrong in any way please feel free to correct my mistakes.

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk
 
#31 ·
marshatherton said:
I looked at the one that you picked out. It looks like it has some trick canbus adapter which allows it to work. Looks legitimate. I'm very curious now lol. So, the only thing you lost was the ability to see songs/music info on the MDF? Everything else works? Steering wheel controls, speakers, etc?

How does it sound? Did you get the backup camera with it?

Sorry for all the questions, it's really exciting.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Exactly, the song and music info is what I lost. To be honest I didn't care and still don't miss now. Yep, everything else works. It sounds really good although the sound through bluetooth leaves a little to be desired at higher volumes.

I did not get the camera because I want to get the one that replaces the latch for the lift gate. After the cam shaft tensioner failed which caused a domino effect of other things with the engine I have not spent any more money on A/V related things with my TReg.

I don't mind the questions.
 
#32 ·
deh2002 said:
I believe the only way to tell the difference is by which navigation unit you have. The dvd based unit uses an analog amp and the cd based navigation uses the digital amp.
If you have a dvd based unit there is only 1 disc, the cd based navigation uses multiple cd's based on different regions of North America.
Hopefully this helps and if I'm wrong in any way please feel free to correct my mistakes.

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I most definitely have/had the CD based system. Still have the original navigation and CD's boxed away in my garage in case I decide to return it back to stock.
 
#35 ·
Hello all..

When I bought my Touareg I decided I wanted a DVD player\Navigation touchscreen head unit instead of the plain radio\cd player without nav (7L6035195), even though it sounded quite decent. I bought the new head unit at a local shop and it even came with the canbus adapter and I bought a great rearview camera to go with it.

As soon as I installed it, I noticed that the sound was not as good as the original radio, the canbus was not compatible with the Touareg so I lost all steering wheel control, radio reception was horrible, but the GPS navigation was awesome!
I went back to the shop I bought it from and complained, and they installed signal booster for the radio which was a big improvement, but they couldn't do anything about the sound or the canbus as they said this is what came with the radio, and the radio was clearly designed for T1 Touaregs.

One happy day after I changed the car's battery about four years later, my nifty radio decided to retire. I took it in for repair but the bad news was that no knew how to repair it, as it seems that the processor had died. I had the original radio still so plugged it back in and, voila, I had quite decent sound again, but no navigation or Bluetooth or a DVD player on which the kids could watch Tom & Jerry :-(

I don't know if I want to invest in another nifty head unit if I will loose the decent sound I have now. As for losing Bluetooth functionality, I've bought an adapter which you plug into the back of the radio in the CD changer's slot and then plug the wire on the other end into your phone or media player's headphone jack and you've got music, sounding quite decent.
 
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#36 ·
qurtuba said:
Hello all..

When I bought my Touareg I decided I wanted a DVD player\Navigation touchscreen head unit instead of the plain radio\cd player without nav (7L6035195), even though it sounded quite decent. I bought the new head unit at a local shop and it even came with the canbus adapter and I bought a great rearview camera to go with it.

As soon as I installed it, I noticed that the sound was not as good as the original radio, the canbus was not compatible with the Touareg so I lost all steering wheel control, radio reception was horrible, but the GPS navigation was awesome!
I went back to the shop I bought it from and complained, and they installed signal booster for the radio which was a big improvement, but they couldn't do anything about the sound or the canbus as they said this is what came with the radio, and the radio was clearly designed for T1 Touaregs.

One happy day after I changed the car's battery about four years later, my nifty radio decided to retire. I took it in for repair but the bad news was that no knew how to repair it, as it seems that the processor had died. I had the original radio still so plugged it back in and, voila, I had quite decent sound again, but no navigation or Bluetooth or a DVD player on which the kids could watch Tom & Jerry :-(

I don't know if I want to invest in another nifty head unit if I will loose the decent sound I have now. As for losing Bluetooth functionality, I've bought an adapter which you plug into the back of the radio in the CD changer's slot and then plug the wire on the other end into your phone or media player's headphone jack and you've got music, sounding quite decent.
Click to expand...
My guess would be that your original unit used it's built in amp and the DVD nav vw system requires an external amp.

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk
 
#38 ·
marshatherton said:
Well, supposedly, the one that this guy found works with all the speakers. I ordered one. It should be here on Tuesday. I will be installing it and will let you know what works and doesn't.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Please do let me know as well as all that you had to order. I desperately want this old pos out and something more modern in place.

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk
 
#39 ·
deh2002:
Would you believe that that never occurred to me? The plain 7L6035195 radio I have has a "BUILT-IN" amplifier. Well no wonder I almost tore out my trunk area and couldn't find an amp. anywhere! It all makes sense now.
The stock speakers aren't bad so a new head unit will either have to have enough power to drive all speakers (I THINK I have 11 of them, but I have to confirm that), or install an external amplifier which would considerably add to the cost what with the installation and wiring and all that.

marshatherton:
Looking forward to hearing about your experience with the new radio.
 
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#40 ·
marshatherton said:
Well, supposedly, the one that this guy found works with all the speakers. I ordered one. It should be here on Tuesday. I will be installing it and will let you know what works and doesn't.
Click to expand...

I pulled the trigger and ordered one, too. It'll arrive on Thursday. The original head unit from 2004 doesn't have updated streets for navigation, has a dead black spot in the screen, has peeling buttons, and none of the cool extra features of this new unit. I've never really used the radio controls on the steering wheel or looked at that display so I won't miss any of that.


I'm going to add a back-up camera, too. Expect a posting on final results.
 
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