Mk6 stereo swap

[ozzzy2]

Hi all.
I have just got my hands on a Golf MK6 MP3 CD Player Head Unit 1K0035186AA with the intention of putting it into my MK5 Golf.
Before I attempt this, does anyone know if I need to upgrade the can-bus or even if the main plug will be the same?
Thanks guys.

[Lucas_R]

Depends what year model your Mk5 is. I think that cars older than 2007 need the Canbus updated. The Canbus unit is pretty cheap though: Bold-Sport.com :: VW/Audi CANbus gateway 7N0 907 530 R/ AJ

[Mattlock]

Looking at a Google image search on that part code, it is using the same Quadlock connector as in a Mk5 and from recollection (I pulled mine out in November) the same pinouts as the RCD-310 that came in my Mk5. I think you should be fine from that perspective and it should be just plug-n-play (coding excepted).

As for the CANBUS - what Lucas_R said...

[Tom87]

Yeh mate, I put one of these in my MY08 GTI (built Late 07). No major issues to date and didn't have to do any programming to make it work. I don't know if it now bypasses the OE amplifier in the premium sound equipped Mk5 GTI but whatever it does, I'm fine with it as it sounds much clearer and better tone than the original RCD500.

I had no canbus issue, my car already had the minimum spec revision and the right software. I did need to buy an antenna adapter cable like this one Antenna Adapter Fakra FOR VW RNS510 MFD3 RCD510 | eBay which I bought from VW for a reasonable price.

The canbus revision will not stop you from using the radio, what will happen is it will not turn off properly and drain your battery.

If it didn't work, my plan was to fit an aftermarket HU with fascia adapters to make it look proper in the dash rather than one of those chinese windows mobile powered units.