Summary of Bluetooth Options for RNS510 & RCD510

[Peteaussi]

Hey Pete, one thing that I wasn't super clear on from your install guide was the location you cable tied the 9w7 to ? Was it to the underneath side of the ledge/cross brace under the radio (eg above the Airconditioning control section ? Also, curious why you didn't put it under the seat - was it because you didn't want to go through the pain of running the cable down the tunnel and under the carpet ?

Hi Fergus,

Yeah I cable tied the 9w7 to the cross brace that is underneath the stereo that separates the stereo 'comparment' from the climate control 'compartment'. And I didn't stick it under the seat because I like the space under the seat, cbf running cables here there and everywhere, and also just thought it was a nice discreet place to put it. You still get good bluetooth connectivity with the bluetooth unit behind the stereo and I haven't had any problems.

Hope that answers your queries.

[fergus]

Thanks Pete. Presumably the 9w7 doesnt foul against the climate control - looks like there's quite a bit of space there.

[Peteaussi]

Thanks Pete. Presumably the 9w7 doesnt foul against the climate control - looks like there's quite a bit of space there.

There is quite a lot of space behind the climate control. I was quite surprised how much there was. Really all it is is a control panel so a few cables out the back... it doesn't contain any meat like the headunit does.

Do you have a 9w7 that you are wanting to install?

[ronburgundy]

Went and visited my local VW dealer on the weekend (Werribee), as when I test drove a Jetta there and asked to see the BT in action (before reading this thread) they took me to sit in the service manager's car which was an R36 - and sure enough his MFD read KUFATEC FISCON!

Anyway the gal there showed me a leaflet which showed the BT solution they offer - distributed by AdvancedIce of course. Yep a VW dealer actively spruiking non-OEM products!

Anywho I told her I was after an RCD 510 plus Fiscon and wanted to know how much for them to supply and fit as a starting point.
She said they just had an RCD 510 they'd taken out of a car prior to delivery to fit an RNS 510, and that they would fit it and the BT for $1,600!!! Naturally I asked how quickly I could book it in.

Being an impatient bugger at the best of times I was fully willing to pay $500-$600 (plus probably another $50 each in shipping I'm assuming?) each for the RCD 510 and the BT, and then a further $300 to VW workshop to fit. So you're looking at $1200 minimum plus $300 to fit which comes to $1500 MINIMUM. And not only do I not run any 'risk' of importing, plus having to wait for it to arrive... it will be covered under warranty which I'm pretty happy with.

Booked in for this Saturday (6 November) so will let you know how I go.

How cheap must they have bought the RCD 510 off the customer for, to be able to do the whole lot for $1600??!! I was expecting her to tell me another $500 or so on top of that and was then going to ask how much to fit if I supply the parts.
(PS how lazy/ignorant are people that don't do it themselves and sell it

[Pepe]

cbf running cables here there and everywhere.

It's 1 cable, that goes to one place.

[Peteaussi]

It's 1 cable, that goes to one place.

One cable that you'd have to run from the headunit to the unit... and back from the unit up to the overhead console. There is a lot of doubling back required.

[fergus]

There is quite a lot of space behind the climate control. I was quite surprised how much there was. Really all it is is a control panel so a few cables out the back... it doesn't contain any meat like the headunit does.

Do you have a 9w7 that you are wanting to install?

Yes if it ever arrives from Spain - 3 weeks and still counting. Picked up the foam bracket today if I put it under seat when Pepe posts up his cable run pics & instructions

[noisuf]

Hi Fergus,

Yeah I cable tied the 9w7 to the cross brace that is underneath the stereo that separates the stereo 'comparment' from the climate control 'compartment'. And I didn't stick it under the seat because I like the space under the seat, cbf running cables here there and everywhere, and also just thought it was a nice discreet place to put it. You still get good bluetooth connectivity with the bluetooth unit behind the stereo and I haven't had any problems.

Hope that answers your queries.

hi peteaussie, i'm going to install my bluetooth module behind climate controls also. What did you use as part of the bluetooth module to tie the cable ties as my module is flat on all sides...

Maybe you wrapped it around the cables? Cheers, michael.

[Pepe]

One cable that you'd have to run from the headunit to the unit... and back from the unit up to the overhead console. There is a lot of doubling back required.

No, it's one cable.

One cable that goes from the head unit to the BT unit.

If you don't have a pre-installed mic, then yes, you need to run a mic, but you need to do that regardless, and that goes straight to the head unit anyway, so where you mount the BT unit is irrelevant.

Personally, I think under the seat is better as I'm betting the environment in the dash is warmer than under the seat, so less likely to fail. Plus, no chance it'll come loose and rattle around under the seat. But that's me

Oh, and next year, when the super-dooper MY12 BT unit comes out with the built in back scratcher, I can just plug it in and go

[Peteaussi]

hi peteaussie, i'm going to install my bluetooth module behind climate controls also. What did you use as part of the bluetooth module to tie the cable ties as my module is flat on all sides...

Maybe you wrapped it around the cables? Cheers, michael.

Hi Michael,

I wrapeed the cable ties around the unit and didn't put though any specific holes etc.. I tightened them pretty tight so they shouldn't move and there isn't much in the way of horizontal movement that the bluetooth unit can go through when in there (it is pretty snug).

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Pete

[Peteaussi]

No, it's one cable.

One cable that goes from the head unit to the BT unit.

If you don't have a pre-installed mic, then yes, you need to run a mic, but you need to do that regardless, and that goes straight to the head unit anyway, so where you mount the BT unit is irrelevant.

Personally, I think under the seat is better as I'm betting the environment in the dash is warmer than under the seat, so less likely to fail. Plus, no chance it'll come loose and rattle around under the seat. But that's me

Oh, and next year, when the super-dooper MY12 BT unit comes out with the built in back scratcher, I can just plug it in and go

Pepe... If you read the DIY you would realise that I bought the KIT in that it has the harness, microphone, and module. As such I had to run the microphone. Not everyone who will be doing the 9w7 install will have factory bluetooth already. And the microphone cable attaches to the harness at the point where the connection to the BT module is.

Really it all comes down to peoples preference. As I said, it is the way I did it and if people would like to go about it the same way then they can.

[noisuf]

Hi Michael,

I wrapeed the cable ties around the unit and didn't put though any specific holes etc.. I tightened them pretty tight so they shouldn't move and there isn't much in the way of horizontal movement that the bluetooth unit can go through when in there (it is pretty snug).

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Pete

Thanks Pete...will need to get some big ass cable ties...

[Pepe]

Pepe... If you read the DIY you would realise that I bought the KIT in that it has the harness, microphone, and module. As such I had to run the microphone. Not everyone who will be doing the 9w7 install will have factory bluetooth already. And the microphone cable attaches to the harness at the point where the connection to the BT module is.

Really it all comes down to peoples preference. As I said, it is the way I did it and if people would like to go about it the same way then they can.

I just looked at the tiny pic on the Spanish eBay seller's site, and it does indeed look like the mic cable runs all the way to the BT connector... in comparison to the Polish guy's harness which has a connector that hooks straight into the back of the RNS with the Mic Out pins, etc. Means there's only one cable that hooks into the BT unit. So, glad I bought the Polish one

Also, not that I care, as I floor mounted, but if you floor mount, you only need to take out the RNS, not the console panel too.

[noisuf]

I just looked at the tiny pic on the Spanish eBay seller's site, and it does indeed look like the mic cable runs all the way to the BT connector... in comparison to the Polish guy's harness which has a connector that hooks straight into the back of the RNS with the Mic Out pins, etc. Means there's only one cable that hooks into the BT unit. So, glad I bought the Polish one

Also, not that I care, as I floor mounted, but if you floor mount, you only need to take out the RNS, not the console panel too.

hi pepe...i bought the polish kit too. How did you manage to floor mount the bluetooth module as the cables don't seem long enough to go to the right of the driver then under dash to rns?

Did you route the cables through a different path?

Cheers, michael.

[Pepe]

hi pepe...i bought the polish kit too. How did you manage to floor mount the bluetooth module as the cables don't seem long enough to go to the right of the driver then under dash to rns?

Did you route the cables through a different path?

Cheers, michael.

First time around, that was my problem too... but, I pulled them back to the area behind the RNS and started again. Once you take out the long, thin trim piece, you can basically run the cable directly down behind the console and out near the gearstick area. You then keep it tucked up in there there's a deliberate opening in the carpet there, which is where you feed it in and it comes out down in the two cut out bits of carpet you'll find under the drivers seat.

When I did it properly the 2nd time around, there's actually slack in the cable, so it's definitely long enough.