Swapping RCD510 for RNS510 and vice versa

[Dubya]

Would it be feasible for a dealer to take the RNS510 from one Golf and swap it with the RCD510 in another Golf (eg to change the options to suit a buyer)?

Could it be done quickly enough so as not to be prohibitively costly for the dealer to do it FOC?

Could it be done equally easily irrespective of any other factory installed options on either car such as Bluetooth or RVC?

I am not convinced of the value of SatNav for $2,500 . . . or is SatNav a must-have option? If so, why?

SatNav was a $2,500 option in the Mark V GTI. By rights it should be a less expensive upgrade from the RCD510, but it is the same cost as before (and I presume on Golfs without the RCD510 as standard).

Thanks
Dubya.

[Maverick]

Would it be feasible for a dealer to take the RNS510 from one Golf and swap it with the RCD510 in another Golf (eg to change the options to suit a buyer)?

Wouldn't this be up to the dealer? What I consider feasible the dealer may not and vise versa.

Could it be done quickly enough so as not to be prohibitively costly for the dealer to do it FOC?

Why would they do it for free? Again it comes back to the dealer and if they want a car without satnav but with a gps antenna on the roof to sell.

Could it be done equally easily irrespective of any other factory installed options on either car such as Bluetooth or RVC?

No, what if the car they are taking the RNS 510 from has a RVC? The RCD 510 they have won't work so they have to buy one from Volkswagen.

I am not convinced of the value of SatNav for $2,500 . . . or is SatNav a must-have option? If so, why?

We can't tell you something that is a personal choice, you either want it or you don't. There are a million reviews and videos of the RNS 510 in action covering it's main features so read/watch some of these and make up your own mind.

SatNav was a $2,500 option in the Mark V GTI. By rights it should be a less expensive upgrade from the RCD510, but it is the same cost as before (and I presume on Golfs without the RCD510 as standard).

Why should it be cheaper? The RCD 510 head units (third generation) are replacing the RCD 510 head units (second generation) and are cheaper than the old second generation units to manufacture. The RNS 510 (third gen) arrived late in the Mark V run to replace the old second gen sat nav that had none of the features of the RNS 510 at the _SAME_ price.

[Corey_R]

Would it be feasible for a dealer to take the RNS510 from one Golf and swap it with the RCD510 in another Golf (eg to change the options to suit a buyer)?

Yes, but it's up to them for the reasons Maverick said (the antenna on the roof is only in a factory RNS510 equiped car).

Could it be done quickly enough so as not to be prohibitively costly for the dealer to do it FOC?

The RNS-510 has an accessory cost of $3294.50 - yet most dealers will charge ~$4000 for it to cover labour. So there is around $700 labour involved. If you're asking them to do a swap with another car, you could come to the conclusion that there is at least over $1000 labour involved....

Could it be done equally easily irrespective of any other factory installed options on either car such as Bluetooth or RVC?

Maverick has noted that there are RCD510 models without the video input on them to allow the RVC. However, other dealer members have mentioned that they've not come across this so far. So whilst there could be some caveats with some Bluetooth units, the swap should be able to occur even with these, though it will probably add to the labour due to additional coding required etc.

I am not convinced of the value of SatNav for $2,500 . . . or is SatNav a must-have option? If so, why?

SatNav was a $2,500 option in the Mark V GTI. By rights it should be a less expensive upgrade from the RCD510, but it is the same cost as before (and I presume on Golfs without the RCD510 as standard).

Well, if all you're concerned about is "Sat Nav", then obviously $2500 is a lot of money. Thank god "Sat Nav" is just one of the RNS-510's features.

[dave_r]

FWIW, while waiting for the first batch of R's to arrive, my dealer had one with a satnav and offered to remove it if I wanted that car. Obviously they made the choice to wear the cost of doing so to try and fulfil my order however I declined due to it missing other items I wanted.

So yeah, they can do it, but whether they will is another story.

[Dubya]

"Sat Nav" is just one of the RNS-510's features.

Thanks, Coreying, this is what I was hoping to find out as the only car in the VW pipeline configured as I want has an RNS510 so I am keen to find out what makes it worhwhile as I do not see a lot of call for SatNav.

However, I do like idea of being warned of:

- school zones; and
- safety, speed and red light cameras;

So if anyone can tell me what else makes the RNS510 worthwhile in itself, or over a $400 portable, I am all ears.

Cheers.

[rs73]

I heard the std maps don't come with speed/redlight cameras POI, and from the sound of it, it's quite an effort to get those data in the maps as it requires to re-burn the DVD to get it in... for $2500-4000 it suddenly looks like it's a lot better to stick with portable ones, especially if the RCD510 can be wired to work with RVC...

[simonm]

You can store music on the hard disk, and play DVDs whilst stationary.

[Dubya]

You can store music on the hard disk, and play DVDs whilst stationary.

Yes, that's right; up to ~30Gb I believe . . . though an SD card in the RCD510 is a fairly economical alternative!

BTW, well done ordering the RVC on your R . . . I wish more dealer stock managers or whatever they are called thought the same and specified it in all of their GTIs etc so it would be easier for me to find a suitable car! But alas, it seems it is a rarity in dealer-specified inventory.

[Dubya]

Helpful as ever, Maverick, thank you. However by way of clarification:

Wouldn't this be up to the dealer? What I consider feasible the dealer may not and vise versa.

Clearly, however what is and is not "feasible" is largely a question of fact.

Why would they do it for free? Again it comes back to the dealer and if they want a car without satnav but with a gps antenna on the roof to sell.

No one does anything free. Perhaps it would be in return for the order...

We can't tell you something that is a personal choice, you either want it or you don't. There are a million reviews and videos of the RNS 510 in action covering it's main features so read/watch some of these and make up your own mind.

Thank you for pointing that out. I was merely hoping that some on this forum might enlighten me about any less obvious benefits or situations in which it is invaluable to help me decide whether to accept a car with RNS510 fitted (and pay the extra $$$), something I am not that inclined to do, and less so given the RCD510 supports an RVC which I find far more appealing.

Why should it be cheaper? The RCD 510 head units (third generation) are replacing the RCD 510 head units (second generation) and are cheaper than the old second generation units to manufacture. The RNS 510 (third gen) arrived late in the Mark V run to replace the old second gen sat nav that had none of the features of the RNS 510 at the _SAME_ price.

I was referring to the difference in likely cost between the very basic head unit in the Mark V and the RNS510 vs the likely difference in cost between the RCD510 (which is now fitted as standard) and the RNS510.

I do not know what differences there are between the various versions of RNS510. However I doubt very much that they would have added much if anything to the manufactured cost. More likely the manufactured cost of such technology would have decreased since the RNS510 was introduced, going by the ever-decreasing cost of its major components such as hard disc, DVD drive, LCD display and GPS receiver.

[FJ Steve]

Dubya,

there is more than enough information on this forum to assist you with choosing between the RCD510 and the RNS510.

If you are not inclined to spend the $$$s to have the RNS, then it is very unfair that you persist in asking forum members to make up your mind for you. If you don't think the additional $$$s for the RNS is really worthwhile....then don't get it. No-one is holding a gun to your head....or are they?

[Dubya]

there is more than enough information on this forum to assist you with choosing between the RCD510 and the RNS510.

Care to share any links? I have seen nothing setting out what justifies over $2,000 for an RNS510 over a portable navigation system.

If you are not inclined to spend the $$$s to have the RNS, then it is very unfair that you persist in asking forum members to make up your mind for you. If you don't think the additional $$$s for the RNS is really worthwhile....then don't get it. No-one is holding a gun to your head....or are they?

"Persist"? Very unfair?

You appear to be another person who chooses to read posts that do not interest or concern them, make value judgements and generally meddle when you have nothing useful to contribute.

What is unfair is you not leaving well enough alone posts that do not interest you so that those who do have the inclination to contribute information might help me (and other readers) decide whether the extra $$$ are warranted.

As it is, you seem intent on disrupting this thread with feigned or unwarranted indignation about the injustices of someone asking a perfectly reasonable and entirely relevant question in what is supposed to be an open, helpful and convivial forum; apart from which there are moderators, at least one of whom has posted to this thread, who are charged with the kind of moderation in which you impotently seek to engage.

So the question remains: what experiences have users of RNS510 had that justify the extra $$$?

If that offends your sensibilities or sense of justice, FJ, then move along and read another thread and refrain from meddling in threads to which you have nothing of value to contribute and merely desire to suppress. Or is someone holding a gun to your head?

[Corey_R]

Dubya, please tone it down else I'll simply close this thread.

Options are purely that. Optional. They are not a required component of the car, and what one person may find is well worth the money, another person may not.
So FJ Steve is correct on both fronts. There is plenty of information in numerous threads both in this MK6 forum, and in the VW Car Audio and Electronics forum. Do a search, or use the "Archive" link at the bottom and do a test search of the thread title listings.
It is not the job of these forums or its members to justify to you why an option costs what it does and whether it's worthwhile for you. You need to look at the threads and make a decision for yourself.

[peedman]

Dubya,

I dont think sat nav is worth $2500 either. If you really want the RNS510 the most viable option in my mind is to purchase one off ebay for $1000-1200, install it yourself and get someone to CANBUS for full functionality. Then you can sell your RCD510 to mk5/6 owners (with the lockout code) to recoup some costs.

[Dubya]

Dubya, please tone it down else I'll simply close this thread.

Options are purely that. Optional. They are not a required component of the car, and what one person may find is well worth the money, another person may not.
So FJ Steve is correct on both fronts. There is plenty of information in numerous threads both in this MK6 forum, and in the VW Car Audio and Electronics forum. Do a search, or use the "Archive" link at the bottom and do a test search of the thread title listings.
It is not the job of these forums or its members to justify to you why an option costs what it does and whether it's worthwhile for you. You need to look at the threads and make a decision for yourself.

Clearly you misunderstand my post and the questions in it.

I am not asking for anything you imply.

Searching for RNS510 (or any other term) invariably turns up dozens of threads and thousands of posts. The Search tool is not a very precise one.

You're patronising comments about options being options is uncalled for. Why tell me it is personal choice when I am seeking information about what justifies the $$$? Did you not think I knew it was a personal choice? If not, why make such comments?

I am simply asking people who are prepared to help to tell me why RNS510 justifies the $2500 as the only car in the pipleline has this fitted and I do not know whether to accept the car or arrange for the swap I referred to in my original post.

So the information I seek is legitimate, my interest is legitimate and the information would be helpful to me and possible others on this forum.

An unduly prescriptive and dictatorial approach to this and most threads is generally uncalled for.

So, as I have asked FJSteve, please leave my thread alone and refrain from commenting on it if, as a forum member, you have nothing helpful to add or, as a moderator, there is no breach of forum guidelines occurring. As for your original reply, echoing the unhelpful remarks of the previous poster is hardly helpful.

I have as much right as anyone to post a specific post and engage other members in a discussion about the value proposition of the RNS510 which, at $2,500 I cannot see and I challenge anyone to justify. If they can go some way to doing that, great, I might fork out the extra $s.

So far as others are willing and able to do so, I am asking that they enlighten me by sharing their experiences and I would ask you allow this to occur.

I hardly think posing such a question warrants the intervention of a moderator which takes everyone's time and adds nothing to this forum.

I thank BBP for expressing his support and those who are shaking their head at the interventionist and annoyingly meddling approach of some on this forum.

[Corey_R]

I hardly think posing such a question warrants the intervention of a moderator which takes everyone's time and adds nothing to this forum.

Dubya, you're exactly right. This is my weekend, and I don't wish to spend it having to moderate threads. I asked you to leave it alone and just concentrate on the topic of the thread. Since you can't, this thread is now closed.