VAG / Skoda hifi headunit upgrade to aftermarket

[campbell]

Needed bluetooth in the Octavia so after months of faffing around, settled on a bargain price Kenwood double din unit.

Ordered relevant fascia adapter plates etc but now have a hunch that a cable adapter may be needed to convert from Skoda / VAG connector to ISO connector on the new unit.

Believe this is called an "ISO-quadlock adapter". The existing unit is the standard Skoda Stream headunit with a couple of minor CANBUS feeds for ambient temp and time. Neither of these feeds need retained as both available on the dash display in any case. Just want the wiring as simple / reliable as possible.

Murray have kindly offered to do the swap for me next week but I want to provide any bits required up front if possible.

Any experiences here, people?

[graeme]

Yes, you'll usually need a harness adapter for your car, and an aerial adapter too. Sounds like you're after a simple adapter like this (without all the canbus stuff):

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/install ... da-octavia

Halfords will probably have one if that's easier. That'll get you basic switched and constant power, and speaker wiring.

You'll probably need an aerial adapter too. There are two types... one is just a plug, the other is for active (powered) antenna, so you'll need to check what your car has.

Don't forget keys to get the existing unit out... do MMC have those? If not, they're a couple of quid on ebay.

If you want to retain all the canbus stuff like retaining steering-wheel button control, then you'll have to get busy with the Kenwood manual and see what it supports before it's worth forking out for an adapter. They can be pricey.

Honestly, if you get all the bits, just DIY. It doesn't need MMC to do it. I'd order the keys first, haul the old unit out and see what the score is... then you know the adapters you're ordering are correct.

[campbell]

Thanks Graeme.

Our Octy is poverty-spec so no wheel controls to worry about.

Aerial is an interesting one. It's not powered in terms of raising / lowering, but perhaps you mean signal-amplified? No idea there!

[graeme]

Yes, amplified signal. I'll be obvious when you haul the old unit out... there will either be an antenna power wire, or not.

Quickest solution: swing by Halfords with the car, tell them you want to buy the adapters but to be certain you're gettting the right thing can they please pull the old unit out while you're there. That'll save you a few £ buying keys, which will balance the few £ more it will cost for the bits vs online, and you'll know you're getting the right things and you'll have them immediately. Whole job done in one go, unless they don't have the bits, but then you'll at least know what to order online.

[campbell]

Fractionally ahead of you...rang Car Audio Direct, they advised the following comprehensive adapter:

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/ct20vw0 ... olf-touran

...which I have just ordered. Tenner plus some shipping.

As for removal keys, I am trusting to Craig's crack team of commandos at Murray that they will have a magic tool to fit the bill

Thanks again for insight. Might just squeak this in time for the planned swapover next Tuesday...

[graeme]

That looks about right... The extra red and orange wires in that kit are a mystery to me... could be a few things, but not sure why they're not already pinned into the plug, but provided separately. If the instructions tell you what they're for, I'd love to know.

Next good thing... A quick search suggest that you don't need security keys to remove the Skoda Stream... there's a plastic cap at each corner covering a screw. Too sh*t to steal?

("Skoda Stream" is causing flashbacks to slightly wrong-tasting fizzy drinks from the 80s... )

[campbell]

Lol on all counts. It's poverty-spec for a reason, mate

[graeme]

It's a VRS... hardly poverty spec!

[campbell]

It's still poverty-spec vRS

[Fluoxetine]

Bit late, but did you investigate swapping for one of the OEM units with bluetooth?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SKODA-RNS-315 ... 4ad3408b93

(Might need a tweak with VAG-com to tell the car it's there, and you'd need a £60 UK SD card / £30 worth of GPS receiver / link cable if you were bothered about the sat nav working...)

[Mike Scib]

IS the Bluetooth not a separate unit on Vag units Ross?

I would also like Bluetooth for my van and the unit you linked would be ideal if it worked??

[Fluoxetine]

A quick google suggests so - Bah.

http://www.vwt4forum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=114165

I retrofitted a bluetooth headunit to my old Alfa 156, and it had everything in-situ within the single DIN stereo. I was also looking at retrofitting the newer Audi unit into a C5 style A6, if I flog the Mini in September and get a cheaper car. From what I can see online, the Audi RNS-E has bluetooth in-situ, but I might be worng.

Looks like you need a mic & bluetooth module if you fit a VW RNS 510 unit.

(The modules are available from £60 up on eBay, but you need to get the correct one - Especially if you have a multi function steering wheel).

Not insurmountable, but a fair bit of research required.

[campbell]

I looked closely at an OEM swap, Ross. Stevoraith nearly convinced me actually, but the expense, effort and complexity was more than I could stomach.

The whole thing stalled until I saw what good value the low-end Kenwood 2-din offered. All bits shipped for about £190.

Will report back on the end result after Tuesday...

And now I'm off to put a mechless Bluetooth streaming head unit into the Elise...OMG! £65 from Halfords. What's not to like