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RS6 RNS-E Upgrade Install

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 6:28 pm
by Rich_C
Guys,

I had the RNS-E upgrade installed a few weeks back ... I was very tempted to do it myself but thankfully I had a friend who is an experienced installer to do it for me otherwise I'd have scared myself with the wiring side of things. Unfortunately I got carried away with the install and didn't take to many pictures to warrant a full write up however for those brave DIY'ers then your first port of call should be NavPlus ... this guide for an American RS6 was also a useful source of information ... RS6 Install

So what did I get done and where did I get the parts ...

RNS-E
Supplied by installer


Adapters
Sourced from Kufatec
You'll need one of these ... RNS-E Adapter
Plus one of these ... Antenna Adapter


Bluetooth
Used unit sourced from Kufatec which are no longer shown on there site.
Instead you could get one of these ... Bluetooth
Or speak to CraigyB who has BT modules on ebay every now and again.
Here's what a BT module looks like ...
Image


Multi-Media Player
I originally bought a Rapsody RSH-300 unit (newer chipset but same casing) with a 500 GB disc, however, the Kufatec IMA (see below) doesn't control this unit at present as it uses a different IR remote control. It works with the previous generation RSH-100 and I think the RSH-110 - I've ordered one so will find out shortly.
If you want a one stop shop then try here
If you are happy to format a hard disc yourself then you'll need a RSH-110... plus you'll need a hard disc - for the price I fitted 500 GB.
Alternately you could buy a package deal including IMA direct from Kufatec


Multi-Media Interface
I sourced my adapter module from Kufatec ... IMA
This new design is able to control the media player via the controls on the RNS-E head unit ... although I'm not sure if it is possible to switch the Rapsody unit on or off via the head unit - I haven't figured out how to do it if that is the case.
Here's what the IMA looked like ...
Image


So for starters here's a shot of the old and new units side-by-side ... Image


And here's some shots part way through the install ...

RNS-D out ...
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Empty Gap ...
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Glovebox out ...
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Instrument cluster out ...
Image

I must confess it was a bit scarey in places just given the sheer number of wires sticking out - at one point I actually wondered where all the bits came from and if they'd actually all go back together again. The RNS-E head unit install went quite well although a bit nerve racking seeing cables being spliced.

The bluetooth install was a bit of a pain when trying to run the microphone up under the window pillar trim. The glovebox need to be out to fix the bluetooth module against the bulkhead. We then had to run the microphone cable all the way up the windscreen pillar under the alacantra trim. The only problem is the trim refused to come off even with a fair amount of persuasion ... we wimped out pushing any harder for fear of snapping any retaining clips. In the end we resorted to using an old coat hanger stretched out and bent into shape and an old bit of 3 core cable I had lying about. Problem is you have to contend with the curtain air bags as well. Once the microphoe cable is up the pillar it's relatively easy to run it across to the light cluster. You'll need a new light cluster cover to get the slits for the microphone but these are only £23 from Audi.

RNS-E going in ...
Image

And the final installed product ...
Image

Radio screen ...
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CD Screen ...
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Nav Screen ...
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Phone Screen ...
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Media Player installed in glovebox with output shown on RNS-E screen ...
Image

And finally a moving being played ...
Image
... it's the start of American Pie for all you film buffs.

So after a couple of weeks driving around with the new unit installed I'm very impressed ... so much so I'm actually wondering why I didn't get it done sooner. The whole unit looks much more modern and lifts the interior quite significantly. The actual operation is slicker when changing radio stations or CD's although it's littler harder navigating around menu's mainly because of the greater number of sub-menu's / functions you can access. I quite like the fact all the controls are on the right hand side of the unit so you don't need to stretch across to change volume or change cd track. I also like that you can go to whatever menu you want via the bottom row of buttons rather than having to toggle through the TV, CD, Radio options.

I'm not sure what else to write so I'll leave it there - will try to answer any questions but I am far from an expert on the install side of things.

Thanks for reading.

Rich.

RE: RS6 RNS-E Upgrade Install

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:41 pm
by Wolverine
Another great write up !

Think you need to buy some LCD cleaner/wipes though !! :)

Also, looks like you haven't got the latest 2007 TMC disk as the TMC icon seems to be crossed out .... I would get it soon as the free upgrade lasts only until 30th June. You may need to try one or more dealers though, as some may not provide the free updates on retrofit units.

I have a question ..... how does the Rhapsody compare in sound quality compared to the phatbox ? And are you still using the phatbox ?

RE: RS6 RNS-E Upgrade Install

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:45 pm
by RSVI
Nice one, wish i could get that.

Keep spending money on other things.

:twisted: Jealous :twisted:

RE: RS6 RNS-E Upgrade Install

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:29 pm
by Shaggy
What he said ^^^^^^^

RE: RS6 RNS-E Upgrade Install

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:32 pm
by GardinerG
What he said ^^^^^^^
Ditto. :thumb:

RE: RS6 RNS-E Upgrade Install

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:57 pm
by RSVI
And as wolverine said, get some screen cleaner ;)

Re: RE: RS6 RNS-E Upgrade Install

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 10:03 pm
by Rich_C
Wolverine wrote: Think you need to buy some LCD cleaner/wipes though !! :)
Agree ... pictures were taken on the same day as the install but all cleaned up now.
Wolverine wrote: Also, looks like you haven't got the latest 2007 TMC disk as the TMC icon seems to be crossed out .... I would get it soon as the free upgrade lasts only until 30th June. You may need to try one or more dealers though, as some may not provide the free updates on retrofit units.
Very observant Wolverine ... the car actually went in to Audi on the following day for the 2007 DVD upgrade. Proved to be a bit of a battle to get it in the end and required intervention from Tom Peterkin to get it authorised. My local dealership were adamant that a £100 charge was applicable (confusing RNS-E with MMI) ... in the end there was no charge for the 5 minutes it took the 550 firmware to install.
Wolverine wrote: I have a question ..... how does the Rhapsody compare in sound quality compared to the phatbox ? And are you still using the phatbox ?
I'm still using the phatbox and have the Rapsody unit purely for movies rather than mp3's so can't really comment ... the audio on the movies seems clear enough.

Rich.

RE: Re: RE: RS6 RNS-E Upgrade Install

Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 11:58 am
by skiwi
nice writeup.

i've done this upgrade myself, if that is any confidence booster to others thinking about this upgrade. i haven't done the media player upgrade though, but did wire in an ipod, and a valentine v1 unit into the can-bus wiring that i exposed as part of the upgrade.

i'm keen to know how much people actually watch the movies, and whether they have disabled the gala interface?

Re: RE: RS6 RNS-E Upgrade Install

Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 6:30 pm
by MugelloR
Rich_C wrote:
Wolverine wrote: Think you need to buy some LCD cleaner/wipes though !! :)
Agree ... pictures were taken on the same day as the install but all cleaned up now.
Wolverine wrote: Also, looks like you haven't got the latest 2007 TMC disk as the TMC icon seems to be crossed out .... I would get it soon as the free upgrade lasts only until 30th June. You may need to try one or more dealers though, as some may not provide the free updates on retrofit units.
Very observant Wolverine ... the car actually went in to Audi on the following day for the 2007 DVD upgrade. Proved to be a bit of a battle to get it in the end and required intervention from Tom Peterkin to get it authorised. My local dealership were adamant that a £100 charge was applicable (confusing RNS-E with MMI) ... in the end there was no charge for the 5 minutes it took the 550 firmware to install.
Wolverine wrote: I have a question ..... how does the Rhapsody compare in sound quality compared to the phatbox ? And are you still using the phatbox ?
I'm still using the phatbox and have the Rapsody unit purely for movies rather than mp3's so can't really comment ... the audio on the movies seems clear enough.

Rich.
Reminder for Rich.....Must spoil wifey a tad this weekend so that she doesn't feel neglected!!! :lol:

RE: Re: RE: RS6 RNS-E Upgrade Install

Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 7:42 pm
by grizz
I fitted mine this weekend as well , managed to get a 2007 disc out the back door as my local dealer would not give me one , next up is the blue tooth..

Re: RE: Re: RE: RS6 RNS-E Upgrade Install

Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:10 pm
by Virdee Autos
grizz wrote:I fitted mine this weekend as well , managed to get a 2007 disc out the back door as my local dealer would not give me one , next up is the blue tooth..
Is the dealer still required with a 2007 disc(?), i.e. to activate the TMC?

Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:42 pm
by MugelloR
Rich dude, excellent review of classic install!!! :lol: :lol:

Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:45 pm
by SteveH
Marvellous... will have to put RNS-E off for a while as this week I've committed to new tyres and a front end and rear arches respray :sekret:

Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 10:54 pm
by marmite
Looking good mate

I need to pull my finger out and fit my toys
Got a 6 Disc DVD Changer to fit in mine, 2 headrest screens freeview box, slim line PS2(might leave that out as never used it last time) :-(

already got Phatnoise

I fitted a mini PC into my mates S8 with Wireless keyboard and mouse
that worked really well, he used his mobile as a modem and got Internet on the move

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 10:13 am
by GardinerG
he used his mobile as a modem and got Internet on the move
Surely that's got to be worse than watching the TV or using a mobile phone :lol: Or was the keyboard built into the steering wheel?