Upgrading Mk V GTi Head Unit

[Ghostrider_6969]

Hello, all.

Posted my maiden speech yesterday - have just bought a 2007 GTi after trying to kill my $800 Hyundai for 7 years......

As part of my job, I need to send and receive calls in my car between sites and meetings. So I need to update the head unit. I've been reading all of the posts on here, and there's still a bit of confusion at my end. Maybe I'm just simple......

So - if there are some answers out the to the following, would be appreciated.


The primary functions I need are for a head unit that allows my iPhone to send and receive calls, and to play tunes through Bluetooth streaming.
If I can add a reversing camera, bonus.
if it has a HDD, even better, or takes SD cards.
Lowest priority is SatNav, I don't use it much, and when I do I generally use Google Maps via my phone (so if this works through the Bluetooth module, that'll do)

Options that I see through posts appear to be:

OEM RNS510 (or RCD510? Is this more or less an RNS510 without SatNav and HDD?)
Audiosources ANS/DNS 510/810 - a more cost effective alternative, but is the lesser quality noticeable? If at all? What is the cost difference? Can you add the RVC to these?
After market units (Alpine, Pioneer, Kenwood, etc) which may not work with steering wheel controls without some sort of fix/module.

Do these come with the Bluetooth module included, or do you need the additional OEM (9W7) ?

I don't need to go fully sick with amps and speakers. So output types is not critical (at the moment, anyway......)

Advice, pros, cons, tips, traps, prices, links based on your prior experiences would be greatly appreciated. Or re-direction to appropriate posts....
and (good) installers in Canberra appreciated.


Thanks,


D

[moda]

There are heaps of options, and really depends on how much you want to spend and what you want out of it.

The easiest option is to just get an OEM RNS510 (various versions, theres a second hand one going on the forsale forums, but can also look to import one overseas, or people like jku.com.au who is a forum sponsor). Roughly ~$1000-1500 depending on version, and might require activating in VCDS. If you don't have bluetooth, you will need to buy the unit seperately (~$300-500), plus MDI cables for iPod integration etc.

Then there are aftermarkets, ranging from cheap chinese WinCE or Android units (~$300-400, Eonon), to higher end WinCE units/engineered OEM replica units (Audiosources ANS/DNS, Zenec, Dynavin, ~$600-1000), to tier 1 units from Pioneer/Alpine/Kenwood, plus fascia kit and interface kit (iDatalink) (~$1500+). Each has their disadvantages and advantages.

All of these units have the ability to hook in a RVC, and most will have the same basic functions etc.

I'd definitely recommend staying away from the generic, no brand chinese units, they're universally pretty awful.

But yea, really depends on how much you want to spend.