Better than Denison?

[Shoppinit]

No, that's pants. Loads of people have upgraded theirs.

[GardinerG]

RNS-E is a great OEM upgrade to the RNS-D and not difficult with the help of Kufatec adapters.

[lindowkid]

Wow Kufatec adapters, tell me more... I've also got a Nokia Bluetooth kit I assume I can still use with the RNS-E ? Shoppinit where are you with the Xcarlink ? Also, thanks for the part numbers I managed to glue the knob I was moaning about on beautifully and ordered the other bits with your codes - it always saves a load of teeth sucking on the phone when you have the part numbers....

GardinerG - any advice where I can pick up an RNS-E and TV tuner to go with it ?

[GardinerG]

Kufatek sell the kit to effectively plug the RNS-E into the RNS-D wiring (you need a few bits) - they will tell you what you need based on what you tell them you have in the car. AFAIK the RNS-D Bluetooth isn't the same as the Bluetooth for the RNS-E. Once connected you will need to change some of the RNS-E's settings (I didn't as it had previously been installed in an RS6). If you are not sure get someone like Unit20 or MRC to do it for you, they may even be able to supply you with the headunit. I did it all myself using . Hmmm just trying to remember, I seem to recall taking a feed of the speed sensor wire behind the instrument cluster, which was the only bit of actual wiring I had to do.

Alternatvely e-Bay is your best bet, or the forums as someone might be selling one. There are several versions of the RNS-E so make sure you get one designed for an A6.

http://www.kufatec.de/shop/product_info ... k-key.html
I also needed another antenna adapter, as I was advised by them when I asked.

Some VERY useful info here http://www.audiforum.us/rns-e/

HTH

Grant

[coullboy]

Guys,
Finally I have managed to get the Xcar Link interface fitted. (sorry about the delay, my back is getting much better!)
First thing - the Microphone cable is way too short, I extended mine with some mic cable I had lying about. 10 min job, if you are handy with a soldering iron?
It is fairly straight forward to fit, I dropped the panel under the drivers footwell. Passed the Mic cable down the drivers door post along the rubber door seal.
The end is passed through the lid for the fuse box. Now I mounted the control box right down at the end of the centre console and there is a perfect space just there. I passed the wiring up to the head unit (a fiddle to get the plugs passed up to the head unit once the head unit is out) unplug your auto changer connector, plug in the xcar link connector and re plug your cd changer and plug in the ground connector to the 1/4 blade on the back of the headunit. The Mic cable has the box for the blutooth on the end of it and a cable to plu into the xcar link control box. I mounted this with DS tape to the left of the steering wheel on the top of the footwell panel.
Thats It!
Now I have to say It runs better than I first thought. Other than the Mic cable being about 1M too short and having to change the eyelet connectors for the ground connection to the head unit for a 1/4" receptacle. As for using it, Sync your bluetooth, simple. Turn your RNS-d to CD, and press play on your I phone (3GS mine) and with no cables attached you have music. It sounds not too bad, quite good in fact. Now I don't think the plug in interface is any cope at all. when you plug it in, the Iphone will not charge and it tells you that in your iphone display. Also you have no usefull display on your iphone and a rubbish interface on you head unit! FF and RW works ok but its not as good as using your iPhone display as in the bluetooth mode (which is just like using it with headphones). The phone part works very well with the blutooth but I have not tryed the cable connection for that. I am going to buy a Iphone car charger and not use the xcarlink one as it just unplugs. In fact I might even make up an adaptor to allow me to use the same xcar link connector to charge the phone through my own charger cable (will keep you posted on that one). Would I recommend it, YES! Its never going to be like a purpose built head unit with an ipod facility but for the money? go for it. Its like bringing a 1990s car up to the 2000s! I love the iphone!!!

[lindowkid]

Struth I thought the Xcar charged the iphone and the inteface sounds like a disaster (I read the website) I think I'm going to have a think about my strategy here, you really need a charging facility. It says on their website "When the iPod is connected, you will have full control on ipod from the iPod itself, your iPod and screen will NOT be disabled when connected" I assume this is in Bluetooth mode then, but what if you just order the unit without the bluetooth kit ? it also says "No batteries required, keeps your Ipod fully charged all the time while connected" so it sounds like it should charge the iphone ?

[coullboy]

I agree, It does say its will chare the 3g iphone. But, it dosn't! I think I will give them a call tomorrow as I think it should too. If you look inside the ipod connector supplied the quality of the soldering is not the best. (I'm an electronics engineer) I'm going to ask them if they can send me a replacement charging cable.
In the Bluetooth mode it works like a dream, the display is just like when you use your headphones. To be quite honest, other than charging, why would you ever want to plug it in anyway.
One other thing, the phone part of the system will not work through the speakers / car kit unless the headunit is in CD mode. This is a minor thing realy as if your phone was ringing and the headunit was on say TV or Radio, it would be a quick button press to change to CD? I will give it a go over the next few days and post back.

[lindowkid]

Did you get anywhere with your questions ? They gave me a very strange answer when I asked them the question about whether the unit charges the iphone. They weren't very clear on the subject.

[darrenswift]

I'm having second thoughts about this now, but am still happy to get discount codes from Xcarlink if you like?
Minimum order of 5 units gets a 6% discount, which I appreciate isn't LOADS, but every little helps!

[jd_hants]

Can I just ask/clarify, this is all I need to enable the iPhone be able to make/receive calls and play music via bluetooth? Does the phone sync with the RNS-D phone book etc or just purely use the speakers for voice?

For charging, I have a centre-mounted brodit clip with an active charger which allows you to fix your iphone charger cable to the holder so you dont need to plug/unplug the cable everytime. see here: http://www.dsldevelopments.com/brodit/h ... holder.asp

[Shoppinit]

The RNS-D has a phone book???

[lindowkid]

Guys this is the response from Xcarlink when I pushed them on whether the unit supported charging - "Many thanks for your enquiry. I can conifrm that that the unit is fully compatible and charges the iPhone 3G/3GS when connected. Please let us know if you have any further queries and we would be pleased to assist you further. Based on that "coulboy" I would get a new one.

[coullboy]

Guys, all stop!
I'm away to take this Xcar link out of my car!
Its a pain in the! If you are driving along listening to the radio and a call comes through, you have to switch to CD and 50% of the time you end up with CD error comming up on the display!!
The Phone microphone quality is rubish to say the least with very low gain and next to no noise rejection.
Basically guys don't waste your money! I could do you a good deal on one if you like.

I'm away to get a parrot! (not the type on yer shoulder!)

[darrenswift]

Thanks for being so honest coullboy. We could all have shelled out quite a bit of cash on these.
Sorry to hear it didn't work out for you.

[Shoppinit]

Got the answer to my question. Sorry everyone for the bum steer And thanks to coullboy for being the guinea pig