sat nav upgrade

[mrmule]

chaps

looking to upgrade the sat nav.

what model is standard, and which does everyone upgrade to (wide screen with only one dial? Where do you get it from (fleabay?) and are there other ancillaries needed to install?

I have a chap who will supply and fit for about 1100. Is that about right?

Anyone offer the service or is it easy to perform?

thanks for advice...

[Balchy]

RNS-D (standard) or RNS-E (plus and maybe some very late model standards). RNS-D is CD based, RNS-E is DVD based, and looks more upto date with 3d nav options and can play MP3s from SD cards (2 slots behind the screen, 2gb each)

Google image search got me this : http://vwnavi.com/gallery/data/508/medi ... _-_800.jpg


craigyb who is often on the forums is recommended a lot : http://www.tclsatnav.com/
I think MRC will fit, but do not supply. I reckon Unit20 would do the same too...

I used Richter Sports, based in Milton Keynes, who are UK distributors for Kufatec products (who supply the wires/adapters needed). I lost my TV, but that was OK, I replaced it with iPod integration thanks to the Kufatec adapter.

Many people have done it themselves, there is a lot of info on this forum and the other Audi / RS forums about doing it...

There are also aftermarket doubledin units that do far more than the OEM units, apart from integrating with the centre dash display...

[mrmule]

Are these RNS E 'P' from Lithuania on eBay any good? I suspect they're OK, but how come there are so many coming from there?

[Shoppinit]

Here is a list of recommended RNS-E I found on another forum:

Nikin777, Lithuania
MAGGIES-DREAM-SHOP, Germany
autosoun2005, Lithuania
polycarsystems, Poland
wrx-subaru, UK
navcentral, Lithuania
navi555, Lithuania
tadas866, Lithuania
car-navi-system, Poland

Car-Navi-System and Nikin777 seem to be the most popular. No idea why there are so many from lithuania. Maybe there are no gps maps for their roads

source: http://www.audipassion.com/services/for ... opic=40652

[rutland-boy]

I suppose it depends on how confident you are in car electrics, I thought long and hard and then did it myself (RNS-D to RNS-E in a C5 RS6)

I would stongly recommend that :-

You use the Kufatec adapters they are great (don't forget to get the telephone mute option - even if you dont think you will need it someone else might)

Use good quality 'removers'

Get the right RNS-E for the car, sounds easy but make sure it is for the RS6 there are lots around for TT's, A3's, A4 and not all (if any) will fit, I recall the correct part number is 4B0 035 192 P but please check !!!!

I cant comment on the units from eastern europe on ebay, i did get mine from ebay but it was a uk seller.

The fitting isnt too bad (or wasnt for me) to about 2 hours of careful work, the most tricky bit was tapping into the TMC connections, and connecting the two TMC antenna connectors together, I got the two cables tapped in to TMC the wrong way round, changed them and the DIS worked perfectly, this method means you dont need to remove the spedo pod, if you tell Kufatec that you have CD changer / BOSE if you have it etc they will provide all the right cables, my rear CD changer / BOSE simply worked first time.

Remember though the TV wont work.

I am considering getting the connector for the back of the RNS-E and using the old wiring to connect to a new digital tuner in the rear - however I haven't done anything about it yet.

I decided not to remove the old TMC unit as someone might want to put it back to original.

The only other tip was its a real tight fit back into the centre console so make sure all the cables a tucked away neatly, I used a piece of tape to keep the cables flat against the rear of the unit, and that seemed to work well.

There is lots of information on here, it is pretty close to plug and play (assuming you already have an RNS-D) with a little bit of work tapping into the TMC cable, for me it worked well and is still working great.

Overall cost for me was £379 for the unit (great buy!), £47 for the cable from Kufatec and 2 x cable splicers that I already have.

Can you tell I did it ? no looks like original fit.

I was really concerned but it was easier than I thought.

HOWEVER if you are worried or have any worries about tapping into cables etc then I would suggest you get it fitted.

Is it worth it - YES!!! - It is a really worthwhile upgrade great to be able to use MP3's and I think the sound is better than the RNS-D unit, but that me, other bonus is that it has Long Wave so I can listen to the cricket on R4 TMS.

[bilko1]

You might need a VCDS to code it to. I fitted one to my B6 A4 along with a multi function steering wheel and oem bluetooth. I still have the RNS-E but am trying to get an A6 front for it as the Proper A6 RNS-E's are alot more money on Ebay. My RNS-E came from Lithuania, but be aware as they tend to send copied nav dvd's which puts extra strain on the laser in the dvd drive. All the info you will ever need for the RNS-E can be found here http://audiforum.us/rns-e/

[drybeer]

Are these RNS E 'P' from Lithuania on eBay any good? I suspect they're OK, but how come there are so many coming from there?

Apparently there is a reconditioning shop there which re-engineers the warranty items which have failed. Allegedly.

It would appear the place has a "back door".

I bought an RNS-E from "djkolia" on e-bay, based London on two occassions, one for my B6, one for the RS6.

[R33]

Are these RNS E 'P' from Lithuania on eBay any good? I suspect they're OK, but how come there are so many coming from there?

Apparently there is a reconditioning shop there which re-engineers the warranty items which have failed. Allegedly.

It would appear the place has a "back door".

I bought an RNS-E from "djkolia" on e-bay, based London on two occassions, one for my B6, one for the RS6.

Tis true, I sold the stereo from my wifes VAG group car to a guy in Lithuania after my son had fed pennies through the CD slot! The guy fixed it in about 5 minutes and kindly sent me an "in your face" email telling me so, cheers

[scooby-tc]

I've just got a kenwood touch screen multimedia centre in mine which has full bluetooth and Garmin sat nav with voice activation which is much better than the standard Audi one,also comes with ipod conector and USB interfaces and the screen is probably 3 times as big.Might be an option unless you want to keep the OEM look

[HYFR]

fitted mine myself .... piece of piss ... didnt need VDCS

[bigjocky]

I too went for the kenwood system, it's brilliant, digital tv too.,! Best thing I ever did. Uploaded the beasts engine pic to the home screen.

[philroach]

I too went for the kenwood system, it's brilliant, digital tv too.,! Best thing I ever did. Uploaded the beasts engine pic to the home screen.

any pics ? , and what is the model no ?

[Billiemapped]

I'm still undecided whether to stick with OEM and renew the RNS-D with a RNS-E or go aftermarket it seems that the Kenwood is the firm favourite as a alternative.
Which Kenwood multimedia centre ? what's the cost fitted and doe's a new unit come supplied with a 2010 disc and the price of new disc's ?

The cost of a recon RNS-E fitted with 12 months warranty and a OEM 2010
disc's is around £950

Cheers
Steve

[bilko1]

I think it works out cheaper to get the aftermarket units, by the time you have added bluetooth module and dvb tuner the rns-e becomes very expensive. I am waiting for reports back on one of these http://www.autoradiogpspc.com/en/car-dv ... 3-983.html or these http://www.autodvdgps.com/audi-a6-dvd-g ... p-722.html http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Autoradio-GPS-NAV ... 3cae37abb1