Scirocco R Modifications - RVC Info

[ConR]

You only paid $60 for yours? I paid a lot more than that. Let us know who your dealer is!

[Andych]

You only paid $60 for yours? I paid a lot more than that. Let us know who your dealer is!

Oooops.... try a touch under $60K....

[ozr]

Yeah it takes balls alright
All worth it once you button it all up
Credits for doing a DIY thread as well
WELL DONE MATE

No.. not too many people pull their brand new $60 car apart like this...

[Andych]

Sub Installation
After a lot of head scratching and feeding of wires through the car I now have my Focal Active Sub installed and operating.
While it is never going to be doof-doof machine (nor would I want it to be) the sub makes a definite improvement in the sound quality.
I have trimmed back the bass on the RNS510 to about 1/3rd with Mid just over 1/2 and treble at about 3/4.

You cant tell there is a Sub with the stereo at low (normal) level but when you crank it up the bass comes through pretty well... depending on the music it is more a feel than a sound.
You really can't go too much past 1/2 volume as the standard speakers start to lose the plot a little once you get into the higher volume... I might have to look for some Focal splits now....

Anyway... the install is fairly straight forward...with the hardest part being routing the power cable from the engine bay into the cabin...
In fact routing the cables was far and away the most difficult part of the whole install. You need to pull a fair amount of interior trim away to get enough space to use a long "pull-through" to thread through and eventually run the cables from front to rear.

The connection at the Battery is simple enough... although be careful.. the bolt they use on the battery terminal is peened over on the end so the nut doesn't come off..well it does come off but will never go back on again.... make sure you have a suitable bolt and nut.



The power cable is run through into the area under the wiper cowl and from there through a spare grommet in the firewall.





From there the task is getting the cable behind the dash and to drivers side footwell where it runs along the sill and into the rear quater panel and through to the boot.

The high level connection for getting the signal through to the amp was made at the back of the Stereo



I found the Pin-outs on Volkswagen RNS 510 pin assignments | my-gti.com

This cable along with the remote switching cable are also run along the sill and through into the boot.



I connected the remote switching cable to a switched power source from the fuse box situated on the drivers side...



I was going to mount the sub on the side panel in the boot but it would have detracted from an already small boot area so I decided that it was going into the spare wheel well.
I cut the foam holding the compressor etc with a hacksaw and cut some timber to shape... I used 2 pieces as there is a rib running through the middle of the boot floor...these were covered in black carpet... (should have used dark grey to match) and sikaflexed to the floor. Why Sikaflex? No screws needed and if I want to take it out... it is easy enough to do but it will not move under normal circumstances...



The Sub is attached to the carpet with 4 long pieces of heavy duty Velcro and is hard to remove... but again... no screws required.

Then it was just a matter of tidying up the wiring, testing and putting everything back together....




I have not really fiddled too much with the settings on the amp just yet...I can maybe get it sounding a little better with some adjustment of the frequency and or phasing but at this stage I am happy that it has achieved the goal of filling out the bottom end nicely.

[Bain]

Nice write-up! Ive noticed the current speakers in the car are sub par as well.

Now to figure out what to use as replacements

[Andych]

I finished off the RVC install today... removing the rear bumper, cutting a hole in it slotting the camera in and then putting it all back together again...

Our cars do NOT have the template on the inside of the bumper so you need to work it all out so it is in the middle of the number plate lights.

I am yet to change the coding to enable the camera... that may get done this week... sometime...
In the interim there are a few pics to show the process...and the final result.

Rear Bumper removed....



Cables routed and waiting for the rear bumper to be put back after surgery...



Hole cut and camera & housing installed...



Number plate back on ready to re-fit onto the car...




Back on the car... all trims etc back in place and best of all.... no left over parts at all...

[Andych]

The coding was done while I was away this week and it was all finalised today.....I now have a fully functional RVC.



It certainly isn't a job for the faint hearted and I would estimate it to be approximately 8 hours work so you would want to be friendly with your installer to make sure it doesn't cost an arm and a leg...

I will get around to modifying the Golf How to with the appropriate Scirocco parts... so that anyone wanting to give it a shot has enough info.

[Mac135]

Great write up and pics. I would think this mod would be popular but the effort especially as a DIY might limit its appeal. I know i'm thinking twice having seen this thread

[she_dub]

Great write up and pics. I would think this mod would be popular but the effort especially as a DIY might limit its appeal. I know i'm thinking twice having seen this thread

Agreed. Looking like a nice bit of kit, Andy.

Though I am not even going to contemplate attempting it.

I'm also used to the Roc's proportions now, so I am thinking I can live without it.

[Andych]

I'm also used to the Roc's proportions now, so I am thinking I can live without it.

Maybe... but you could always use it to perve like a certain ad on TV... funny thing that... if it was a guy selecting reverse to perve on a woman the ad would be pulled immediately and the outrage would be massive...
Plus I would never do that anyway...

[mr gee]

Andy, does the yellow guide lines curve with the movement of the steering wheel?

[Andych]

Andy, does the yellow guide lines curve with the movement of the steering wheel?

No, and I am pretty sure it doesnt on the Golf either. There is no connection with the steering at all as this goes straight from the camera into the back of the RNS510, the ones with the movable lines go through a control module... not on Golf, Scirocco EOS etc.
It isnt a big deal though, I found it invaluable yesterday when trying to reverse out of a reasonably busy parking area with an SUV either side... it meant I got a reasonable view of when it was clear to move rather than just taking my chances...

[brimway]

Andy, does the yellow guide lines curve with the movement of the steering wheel?

I recently hired an Audi that was fitted with RVC with the curved lines and found it a little confusing to use. Maybe something you get used to.

AFAIK Golfs, Scirocco etc only have straight lines.

[AdamD]

AFAIK Golfs, Scirocco etc only have straight lines.

Correct. The Golf RVC doesn't have the steering angle interface required to get the lines to move. I've only seen it fitted to a Passat in Australia.

[Beer Baron]

I've been considering adding a RVC to the scirocco R and before starting a new thread (like most noobs) I did a little search and found this thread.

I'm quite used to RVC's having had one in my lexus for oh... 10 years now, plus the R35 had one and infact most cars with a decent size screen display have one or an option for one.

this thread has a great write up by Andy but I can't help but wonder if there's an easier way than cutting holes in the bumper?

I've seen for sale some camera's that replace the number plate light. has anyone used one on a rocco and if so could you let me know how it worked?

also a question about ebay cams. you can buy the genuine VW cam for about $200 on ebay but there are cheap copies for $20 or so. anyone used a cheapie? how do you go about getting it to work with the RNS510?

this is something I want to do but ideally would like the one that just bolts on in place of one of the numberplate lights and cheaper the better! (providing it's still good quality image).

thanks for any help/advice.