Hello from Ontario!

It sounds like you've done your homework which is great because I am also considering going down the same path. I have a 2004 V8 with the factory CD Nav and I am considering upgrading it before we embark on a road trip this March to something newer and the RNS-510 along with the FlyAudio are at the top of the list.

Please keep us posted on your progress!

:clap:

 

Subscribed!

Steph, I probably live very close to you, as I'm in Laval also, and very much interested in swapping out my DVD based Nav in my 2005, for the latest and greatest I'm assuming that you read this page. RV65 seems to know his stuff very well. http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/f45/any-luck-with-rns510-units-20654-5.html to help you out. It does get expensive though.

Let us know when you find a vendor. Maybe we can do a small group buy, and get a slight price break. I'm in!
Unfortunately for me, I don't have time to do a DIY for myself, so whenever I decide to embark on this, I will have to pay someone to install it in for me. No time at all...

Keep us posted!

 

Hi,

Yes, I tried to do my homework, and I finally decided to go ahead, after hesitating for a few weeks. Some of you did it, but as there are different versions and equipments on our Touaregs, this is difficult to be sure that it'll work on one specific model.

I ordered everything, including the RNS-510. It will come from OEMPlus and will be the C revission. Price is 2600 USD for the unit with GPS antenna and radio antenna adaptor. The CAN-BUS adapter, Bluetooth kit and MDI interface will come from Kufatec. I already got the VCDS cable from Ross-Tech. I'm also waiting for the workshop manual and parts catalog.

I should be ready for installation in about one month. For sure I'll keep you posted, and I continue to read every post I can find about RNS-510 retrofit

 

It will come from OEMPlus and will be the C revission. Price is 2600 USD for the unit with GPS antenna and radio antenna adaptor.

$2600USD!! :shock: Damn....I would of thought these prices would have come down just a bit due to the aftermarket competition, but I guess not!

I'm going to hold out a bit then..I can't afford both mags that I want and this VW Nav unit. I think that I would prefer to use up that coin you spent on the NAV for some real lightweight forged 20-22 inch mags, but in any case, I figure by the time you and others have sorted all the fine details out, this time next year, I'll be good to go.

We're all vouching for ya! Bow Down

 

I also thought I would find a RNS-510 for less, but anyways I wanted the latest C revision, so I the only solution was to buy a new one. I phoned to my local VW dealer and the list price for the unit alone was 4300 CAD, before taxes !!!

There are perhaps cheaper units somewhere but pay attention to the revision, and it has to be a US Touareg version (Golf/Jetta units are more common, so perhaps cheaper).

 

Wow, $2600US for just the head unit?! That's quite the investment. The aftermarket units are looking much more attractive to me.

 

Yes, that's quite an investment, and that's a little bit crazy, I agree But the RNS-510 has plenty of cool features and the aftermarket unit I saw don't have all of them and also look much cheaper. After that there are also integration problems with the aftermarket units and the other modules of the car, like steering wheel controls and dash display. But yes, aftermarket units could be pretty good alternatives anyways.

 

Good Luck Steph. And thanks for the post! I was unaware that having tha amp would not work with the new Navi. Seems like a lot more work for my '04 V8.

I may just use the iphone navigation and keep the Treg's compass screen up!

 

In fact the amp issue is still not 100% clear for me. I think there is more than one kind of amplifier, it would not be funny with only one

I understood that Touareg 1 amps would not be compatible, so in that case speakers will need to be rewired, from the head unit instead of from the amplifier (because the amp will be unusable and though bypassed). But, there are also more recent amplifiers that would be compatible with the RNS-510, like models found in Touareg 2. I saw a post somewhere explaining that by retrofitting the amplifier, you could get everything work. Rewiring will be done only for the amplifier (adapting to the new model).

So be careful when reading this portion of my post, the amp problem is not easy to understand, at least for me

I found no amp in my Touareg, so I guess I don't have to rewire anything, as I saw that the RNS-510 still has the speaker output signals.

I'm currently investigating how I could setup a CAN-BUS platform to configure the RNS before putting it in the car. I wonder if the HEX-CAN Ross-Tech cable could allow to communicate with the RNS outside the car with a "basic" CAN-BUS wiring. I asked Ross-Tech, I'll see if they can help (and want to).

 

Maps are region locked so you can't install a US map on a EU RNS-510 and vice versa.

 

I believe 04-05 Tregs with CD Navigation have the Amp you are talking about. From what I remember, you could not easily upgrade from CD Nav to DVD without rewiring the Amp. This is probably the same for RNS-510.

If you had a Treg without Navi, you had no Amp.

Good luck with the upgrade! Take lots of pics!

 

No this is true for the RNS-510.

 

Hi,

Sorry for those who were waiting for the results of my installation to do the same, but I cancelled my RNS-510 installation project!

In fact, since I sent the orders for all equipments, I changed my mind a dozen of times, mainly because of the price (total was around $5000) but also because I was not sure of the final result.

I sent the orders during December, and about two weeks ago I still received nothing, had no clear delivery dates and no clear answers from the suppliers. So I got more and more frustrated and finally asked to cancel the orders. Kufatec and Oemplus eventually accepted to cancel both orders, with full refunds, which I appreciated a lot, of course.

So I’m back to the beginning, not knowing what kind of unit I will install. I’m looking to the available units but RNS-510 “clones” seem not ready yet and aftermarket units don’t answer all my needs, like MFD display, which I don’t want to loose.

 

Hi guys. Found this thread after a week of searching since i find myself in the same situation
I have a 2004 V10TDi and actually went the above same route. After 4 months of waiting for the RNS 510 plus associated canbus and kufatec units it finally arrived - not without frustration or...... After asking more than once if this will work on my truck I was told by OEMPLUS this would be a plug and play situation - It seems i should have done my research a bit better.....I just hope I don't have a nice RNS 510 sitting on my work counter in my garage for nothing. My vehicle came with the Factory CD based NAV and has the AMP. Has anyone successfully done this mod yet? I connected it all but got a lot of humming and no sound. Everything else so far seems to work on the RNS screen - nav/media/radio etc.

Any help / advice will be appreciated

 

Well, I think you are facing the most difficult retrofit case, with the amplifier. If I understood well, you have two choices:
- replace your amp by one that is compatible with the RNS
- rewire all your speakers, to bypass the amp

I read a post somewhere from someone who did rewire everything, this is a quite heavy task, and I read another post from someone who installed a RNS and the associated amp he took from a salvage car. Unfortunately I don't have more details, you should search in this forum or perhaps on VWNavi.

So that's not plug and play for sure.

You did wait for 4 months, I could not wait for so long and gave up after something like 6 weeks ;-) (and no delivery date announced from the suppliers)

Stéphane

 

sad to hear someone else had the exact same experience with said supplier. I tried to cancel after 3 months of them having my money. Was told i can cancel but they will retain 10% (really??) and then suddenly a system is available.....i smell something. I checked into this a little more. It seems Kufatec makes 2 different harnesses - one for the system with so called DSP sound (the amp?) and one for the system without. I have the harness for system without DSP....thanx OEMPLUS! Anyone have any experience with the different harness? According to the KUFATEC website - if i have this right - i need the 35674-1 model and not the 35674 i received. I seriously hope this is right 'cause i want my investment to start making some music!! Advice appreciated for a poor stupid Canadian!!

 

I think you can VAGCOM the RNS510 to tell it what kind of sound system you have.. there are a two different channels each with various options... so i would think one of the combinations of these two would allow it work. My 08 V10 had the DVD based RNS2 (with DynaAudio) and after Vagcom'ing my RNS510 to the right settings everything works great.

 

anyone with a handy link to the coding for the above? I realize i have to hook the RNS 510 to my MK5 golf since i can't do this thru the TREG

 

Zuma, I think having an amp doesn't always mean having the DSP sound option, as there are a few different setups. Using VAGCOM on your current head unit could tell you if it's currently setup for DSP sound. Then you'll know if the harness you got is the correct one or not.

 

ok so here is where i am standing right now. I hooked the RNS 510 up to my MK5 golf. Vagcom gives you the option of no sound system - the way it came coded - and 4 other options - variations on Dynaudio with or without DSP and VW SOUNDSYSTEM with or without DSP. According to what i read having the amp usually shows up as VW SOUNDSYSTEM depending on your model of course. I tried all configurations and so far none has worked. That said i have only done a direct connect to the harness from the vehicle and not thru the CANBUS1.6-2.0 harness...I don't think this should make any difference. Finally got an email from OEMPLUS and they said I should have the other harness.....well now boys, why did i get this one then???
I do appreciate any or all advice
the night is young!!!

 

In the US the 2004 V10's had the option of CD Navigation, if such was choosen then the vehicle had a digital amplifier that was wired differently from all other configurations. If you wanted to retro to a DVD Nav you needed to rewire and change the AMP to a non-digital. I wrote a long post on this when I did such an upgrade several years ago..some are still posting from this information.

When the V10 came back to the US in 2006 all had the analog amps and wiring for such so they have no issue upgrading. You are correct in that when you re-code the soundsystem you are enabling analog connection in the head unit but the amp doesn't care since it is only a digital low level line output setup...when the amp and wiring are redone the head unit sends the regular output to the analog amp and all is back. Someone may have come up with another work around than replacing the digital amp but I tried and couldn't get it to energize with low level output I tried working on prior to replacing the amp and rewiring such.

If you never had a CD Navigation unit then you should be already wired with the analog setup and it may then be a wiring issue and OEM.pl will hopefully correct with said harness. Please post on what harness they are referring to...Thanks

 

Found a solution for those with the digital amps from Conexx:

Google Translate

 

you sir are amazing- this might actually be the solution
thanx!!!

 

Yes You can!

Hi there,

I am new to this club but have been following closely the discussion on fitting an RNS 510 into a 2004/2005 Touareg [T1].

I have a 2005 Touareg with the RNS2/CD navigation system fitted. Dynaudio speaker system [Amplfier in the back] I bought the truck in Germany.

I have been working on this project for over two months, getting parts etc... and have just managed to get all working!

All means:
Navy,
Radio,
CD/DVD
CD Changer
HDD
Steering wheel Controls [Volume/CD track]

I will be posting pics tomorrow or day after.

Hope it helps.

 

im sent
please post your solution
how did you get around the amp?

 

RNS 510 Retrofit in 2005 Touareg

Hello,


I thought I’d share my experience in successfully retrofitting an RNS-510 in my 2005 Touareg. It’s my first European car. Up until now it’s all been about US trucks. I just love the torque, the sound and the spirit of the trucks made in the US of A. However, I am enjoying the Treg and on German open roads it becomes a class of its own. Slap her in sport mode and you’re doing 230 km/h before you know it and it feels like 120 km/h. Add the impeccable interior finish, the top notch seats, Dynaudio speaker system, keyless entry, adjustable air suspension, PDC’s and great ergonomics and you got one impressed customer.

Impressed but not fully satisfied. The RNS 2, CD Navi/6 CD changer just does not cut it for me. Popping in a different 180 euro CD for each country we visited kind of feels like I am being constantly ripped off. I love the RNS-510 but was initially hesitant about the cost. My best buddy talked me into after market and I tried to convince myself to go after market too but I always came back to the RNS-510. Its gorgeous and I just had to have it.

I was initially told that the retrofit was either not possible or would require extensive reprogramming. The lack of information was also discouraging and this post is intended to avoid to others the months of research that I went through. The retrofit itself turns out to be relatively easy once I had the right parts.

The Touareg facelift has a different CAN-BUS system that the original Treg so I got a CAN-BUS converter from Kufatec (#35674) which is advertised to be a plug and play solution.

The unit lights up, the Navigation part works and it looks like the rest does as well but no sound. I figured out that the problem was that the onboard amplifier (in right side of the boot) was not powering up. The communication was broken down between the RNS-510 and the amp; and I was not wild at the idea to rewire all speakers.

After visiting audio shops and the dealership. Nada. I remember reading about Connex from the forum, they phenomenally not too far from where I live. (http://www.conexx-video.de). These guys are excellent, they know their business and are ready to spend time with a customer. I paired up with Andreas who explained that the Kufatec 35674 and probably the 35674-1 do not support the 12 channel system that’s in my Treg but its was OK because he’s got me covered with a special house made VW T5 / Touareg 12 channel sound system CANBUS adapter http://shop.conexx-video.de/artikel...iverse-Audi--VW-Mercedes-VW-MFD3-RNS-510-CAN-BUS-Interface-CAN-1-6-CAN-2-0.html.​

This is the 139-euro beauty

Andreas also explained that also needed a Speaker High-Low level converter, which converts the output signal into a line signal [high-low] converter. A preamp of sorts and he’s got two models for me. Either the compact, 20 euro HL406 High/Low-Level-Converter from Sinus Live
http://shop.conexx-video.de/artikel...trom-LautsprecherKabel-HL406-High-Low-Level-Converter--z-b--fuer-VW-RNS510.html

or the more imposing 120 euro i-sotec Auxgate USC Line out Endstufen Adapter z.b. VW RNS510, RCD510

http://shop.conexx-video.de/artikel_group_4-232_seite_1_id_2397_a_Aux-in--Adapter-OEM-Herstellerradios-Audi---Volkswagen-i-sotec-Auxgate-USC-Line-out-Endstufen-Adapter-z-b--VW-RNS510--RCD510.html.
For North America members you would need to know that the two are mostly designed to work in 12V vehicles and some would tell you that it has to be connected to the original cables harness.

I went for the diminutive HL 406 as I did not have enough room under, behind nor on the side of the navy.

The i-sotec Auxgate USC is a lot more imposing and I was not sure there was space readily available.

The i-sotec converter produced a “SICK” sound but the unit has to be firmly fixed flat to the vehicle and -as per recommendation- screwed on!

BTW, Andreas can also hook you up with a RNS 510 for 1399 euro which is a bargain compared to the 3000 / 4000 from the dealership.
http://shop.conexx-video.de/artikel...-RNS-510-Navigation----1T0-035-680-inkl--Software-V6--Neuwertig-Gebraucht-.html

I was not about to leave the shop without this working but Andreas did not have time to help me out but he let me use the workshop, tools and tasked Sebastian to help me out. How AWESOME!

We got about to make it happen, took particular attention to skinned off the speaker cables and weld them together to the new Sinus Live converter as shown on the box [Input]; re-wire the [+] and [-] to the signal converter as the RNS did not send power to the amplifier [output]. Do not forget to ground it!

That’s it, EVERYTHING works and it’s a great sound.

As you can see from the pics below: the navy is up and running using the old antenna, Radio [FM/AM] work with the old antenna, Internal CD/DVD work [Sound and video] HDD –looks like I won’t be needing my iPod after all-! I have full control of my Steering wheel functions: Volume, CD track changer; the only thing missing and I am a little sad about is the lost of direction info’s when in Navigation mode from the MFD.

It all works but while the front CD/DVD worked perfectly, the CD changer produced a rather scratchy sound. We rewired everything but the sound remains and we think it’s probably an incompatibility. Out of curiosity I will borrow a CD changer from a T2 but its not an issue, I got 20GB of space to dump my music! J J

So to recap, should you have the same Treg and setup as mine, you will need the following:

1. A CAN-Bus adapter with a 12 channel sound system Can Bus interface
http://shop.conexx-video.de/artikel...iverse-Audi--VW-Mercedes-VW-MFD3-RNS-510-CAN-BUS-Interface-CAN-1-6-CAN-2-0.html
2. A Speaker High-Low level converter
http://shop.conexx-video.de/artikel...trom-LautsprecherKabel-HL406-High-Low-Level-Converter--z-b--fuer-VW-RNS510.html

http://shop.conexx-video.de/artikel...agen-i-sotec-Auxgate-USC-Line-out-Endstufen-Adapter-z-b--VW-RNS510--RCD510.html
3. To rewire the speakers cables and wire the plus [+] and [-] minus wire to power up the amplifier.

I have full control of my Steering wheel functions: Volume, CD track changer; the only thing missing and I am a little sad about is the lost of direction info’s when in Navigation mode from the MFD.

My next project is to install the Bluetooth Adapter. I am thinking of:

1. The Zemex adapter [Zemex Handy Freisprechanlage Bluetooth VW RCD 510,RNS 510 ( MFD3 ) & RCD 310] http://shop.conexx-video.de/artikel...ex--Handy-Freisprechanlage-Bluetooth-VW-RCD-510-RNS-510---MFD3-----RCD-310.html

2. Instead of OEM integrated Bluetooth adapter
VWvortex Forums: OEM Bluetooth DIY

3. Or the FISCON Bluetooth Hands free.
FISCON Bluetooth Handsfree

They are quite pricy, around Euro 379, which is a bit too much if you ask me… Any solution to get around that number is welcome!

That is it for now.

 

It all works but while the front CD/DVD worked perfectly, the CD changer produced a rather scratchy sound. We rewired everything but the sound remains and we think it’s probably an incompatibility. Out of curiosity I will borrow a CD changer from a T2 but its not an issue, I got 20GB of space to dump my music! .

You need to swap the two cd changer wires to remove the distortion from the cd changer. Look at the pin out difference between rns 2 & rns 510 & you'll know what I mean.