RS4 New Head Unit - ADVISE PLEASE?!?!

[Bobsta80]

Newbie here, who's lucky enough to have just picked up a 07 RS4 Avant recently. Absolutely love it and haven't stopped grinning since I got it.

The one grumble I do have is the abysmal, retro-fit ipod lead which plays through the CD changer port. In fact I'm not overly impressed with the whole functionality of the system. I've got the GSM phone prep'd, RNS-E sat nav system and I'm sure that I can't be alone with this bug bear.

Does anyone have any suggestions or advice as to what alternative head units / systems might be appropriate. Ideally I would like it to do the following:

- Sat Nav
- Ipod connection
- Mobile phone blue tooth connection
- Link into the factory fitted CD changer
- Compatible with the Audi DIS.

Thoughts would really be appreciated!!!

[PetrolDave]

Compatible with the Audi DIS.

Good luck finding an aftermarket unit that displays on the DIS - to do that it has to send the correct messages on the Infotainment CAN bus, and (despite having been a Moderator on audiforum.us for many years) I don't know of any aftermarket unit that displays sat nav data on the DIS (some can do radio info).

[Bobsta80]

Is there a newer and better Audi system that might work? Have they made any improvements for the current generation of A4s or the RS3 for example?

[Bobsta80]

Hi PetrolDave

I've been having a dig around on some there threads and I see that you've upgraded your unit to 2010+ RSNE. Does that pretty much do what I am after?? If ebay the best source for them if they do??

Thanks

[PetrolDave]

I've been having a dig around on some there threads and I see that you've upgraded your unit to 2010+ RSNE. Does that pretty much do what I am after?? If ebay the best source for them if they do??

You say you want:

- Sat Nav
- Ipod connection
- Mobile phone blue tooth connection
- Link into the factory fitted CD changer
- Compatible with the Audi DIS.

Sat Nav - yes.
iPod Connection - there's some doubt whether AMI works on a 2010+ RNS-E in a B7; if it does then yes, if it doesn't then it's the same rubbish CD changer look-alike connection.
Mobile phone BT connection - hands free, yes.
CD changer - if AMI does work and you fit it then no, otherwise yes unless you fit the Audi iPod connection.
DIS - yes.

[RS04YOB]

I was looking at updating the head unit yesterday quite fancy this http://www.alpine-usa.com/product/view/ina-w910/ does everything apart fro you can not bridge the CD changer to it so I was told

[adsgreen]

Nice but as above no dis integration

[PetrolDave]

Sat Nav - yes.
iPod Connection - there's some doubt whether AMI works on a 2010+ RNS-E in a B7; if it does then yes, if it doesn't then it's the same rubbish CD changer look-alike connection.
Mobile phone BT connection - hands free, yes.
CD changer - if AMI does work and you fit it then no, otherwise yes unless you fit the Audi iPod connection.
DIS - yes.

Update - AMI definitely DOES work with a 2010+ RNS-E in a B7, I've got it in my RS4 now.

Swapped out the CD changer and fitted the AMI in it's place (needs a different lead so it's not plug'n'play) and all works fine.

I'm using it with a 250GB hard drive not an iPod/iPhone (I won't sell my soul to Apple), but if you use the iPod lead then you'll get full iPod integration into the RNS-E and DIS.

[RS04YOB]

Sat Nav - yes.
iPod Connection - there's some doubt whether AMI works on a 2010+ RNS-E in a B7; if it does then yes, if it doesn't then it's the same rubbish CD changer look-alike connection.
Mobile phone BT connection - hands free, yes.
CD changer - if AMI does work and you fit it then no, otherwise yes unless you fit the Audi iPod connection.
DIS - yes.

Update - AMI definitely DOES work with a 2010+ RNS-E in a B7, I've got it in my RS4 now.

Swapped out the CD changer and fitted the AMI in it's place (needs a different lead so it's not plug'n'play) and all works fine.

I'm using it with a 250GB hard drive not an iPod/iPhone (I won't sell my soul to Apple), but if you use the iPod lead then you'll get full iPod integration into the RNS-E and DIS.

Was this head unit bought as new, can they still be bought new also

[PetrolDave]

Was this head unit bought as new, can they still be bought new also

No I didn't buy it new (that would be very expensive), I bought it from a member on audiforum.us who I bought my previous pre-2010 RNS-E from (and have recommended many other people buy from) called Haaggie.

I guess you can buy them new from e.g. an Audi dealer?

[RS04YOB]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-TT-RNS-e ... _500wt_923

Is similar to the one you bought would this work in a B7 RS4

[PetrolDave]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-TT-RNS-e ... _500wt_923

Is similar to the one you bought would this work in a B7 RS4

It will work but it won't fit! The faceplates are completely different sizes and shapes between the A4, A3, TT and R8.

Unless you can find a seller who has already done the faceplate swap, to fit a 2010+ RNS-E into an A4/S4/RS4 you need a pre-2010 A4 RNS-E and any 2010+ RNS-E (except an R8 one) and you have to swap the faceplates to get something that Audi never made - a 2010+ A4 RNS-E. You also end up with a pre-2010 RNS-E to sell on.