Retrofit of RVC to MK6 Golf

[Ryan_R]

Have fun )

And take plenty of photos

[Idle]

OK I have just ordered by RVC, cables, connectors etc from ECS. Good exchange rate so no better time (and video cable is back in stock).

If you don't have a plastic trim removal set, add it to your order — much cheaper than here.

[MikeB]

OK - another RVC successfully installed. Big thanks to Idle for the help in cable install. I am impressed with its operation and especially in parallel parking - the guidlines at left and right provide a great indicator where the rear wheel is. The guidlines are about 10cm wider than the wheels. So if one lines up the line on the gutter corner (corner off road level) the wheels end up on the boundary of tar and kerb.

Installation Notes
The cable was the hardest part. This is where 'Idle' helped brief me on the job, and to run the cable. Surprisingly, the part at the front and down the side lifting trims is relatively easy. Getting up the rear C pillar (and pulling of hatch entry trim to get at the base of the C pillar) was the messy part along with feeding through the rubber boot joining the hatch and body. About 2 hours with Idle's help. I liked his cable feeder - a piece of model airplane fuel line tube (a hollow, reasonable stick plastic tube with just the right amount of flexibility) which was used to pull some garden twine (which then could pull through the cable).

The electricals took a few hours, but were routine. Just one wire (reverse) to strip and solder through. I used connectors for all others. For those with LED tail lights (like mine) it is the inner wire on the connector. A few discoveries on the connectors and repair wires - I knew the repair wire connectors plugged into the connectors, but I didn't know some of the connectors had a sliding purple cable 'trap' which locks the connectors in place. Not obvious on one of hte connectors - one had to look inside it.

Other than that, post a double check, it worked first time! Then taped up excess cable and carefully reinstalled trim. Part that fit the worst was the hatch light access panels at left and right. These just don't fit well (and look like they ever did). I don't think I damaged them - just suspect I never looked that closely. I would also note I didn't redo the fuse panel to add another power distribution fuse, but just used a piggy back fuse holder (Idle suggestion).

Anyway - very happy with the RVC - I think it fantastic. If anyone in the area needs some help, send me a PM (it made a big difference having some tips from Idle for me, and I would like to pass on knowledge gained to others).

[Ryan_R]

Glad you had success. I'd like to have the RVC but am not confident about wiring and removing the rear trim without breaking anything. The only reason I added the radio, bluetooth, and MDI were due to their plug'n'play nature and comprehensive guides with photos.

[rs73]

would love to get more insight into the later section with c pillar, the only reason why I was reluctant to pull C pillar parts part after haing the RVC sitting around for a few months now!

[HPSOV]

Hi guys, would love to add the RVC but don't have the time or skill to DIY. Does anyone have any quotes to get it installed by a pro (Derek or a dealer) or is anyone in Sydney keen to do an install? (feel free to PM me).

[Corey_R]

I think that Derek quoted $1800 all up.
Dealers range from about the same and upwards to refusing to do a quote at all.

Basically, there is so much labour involved that it's just not worth it for them to quote, because no one would actually pay the prices and they don't want "dealer outrage", thus they just tell you it can't be retrofitted. I don't blame them.

Maybe it would be cost effective to install if you were also stripping the interior to install a full sick stereo?

[Idle]

It's not really that difficult — more tedious than anything, although you do need some muscle here and there.

Were I still physically strong and didn't run out of puff in minutes, I could probably fit one in about four or five hours (after the first one, that is, that one took me quite some while.)

The main problem with DIY installation of most things is the need for everyone to re-invent the wheel — the first time is usually the last.

[kaanage]

That means you missed a setting in VCDS... that's what I did first too. There is another setting that defaults to the RVC view on the RNS with the OPS as an overlay on the left of the screen so you don't have to press the button each time. I've got it written down somewhere, will dig it out and post it.

Did you ever find this VCDS code in your notes, Pepe?

[Pepe]

Did you ever find this VCDS code in your notes, Pepe?

Erm... not specifically, I forgot completely last time I hooked up VCDS a week or two ago. I'll try to go in and list all of the settings I have that relate to the RVC this week or the weekend.

[sdhog2002]

Update. RVC went in yesterday. To answer my first question on this thread, it appears as if all RCD510's now come with the plug for the video cable. Thanks so much to Idle for his instructions and to Maverick for his How-To. Now just need to get my RCD reprogrammed...

[Lucas_R]

Is this on the RCD510 or the RNS510 head unit? I am thinking about getting a reverse camera but only if i can make it work with my existing RCD510 head unit (dont want to change it)

Update. RVC went in yesterday. To answer my first question on this thread, it appears as if all RCD510's now come with the plug for the video cable. Thanks so much to Idle for his instructions and to Maverick for his How-To. Now just need to get my RCD reprogrammed...

[Idle]

Is this on the RCD510 or the RNS510 head unit? I am thinking about getting a reverse camera but only if i can make it work with my existing RCD510 head unit (dont want to change it)

To be really sure, pull the head unit out (very easy) and check that it has the cinch connector for the RVC video cable.

[sdhog2002]

Mine is an RCD510, delivered two weeks ago. Agree with Idle - pull it out. If you are thinking of installing the camera yourself, removing the radio unit is no stress at all.

[xordis]

I put in an RVC this weekend. Just a few notes for those attempting this.
I didn't use repair wires like everyone else. I went with terminals and made my own wires for the harness.

Tools

- T20 torx bit with magnetic tip
- trim removal tool (optional really. All you need it for is to remove the stereo and you can do that with a spoon)

Parts
- decent wire from an auto electrician. 1mm. Don't bother going to jaycar as the shielding it too thick and is a pain to use. When you get your parts, you will see how thin the wire is for the RVC. It is like 22 AWG.


My order from ECStuning

camera - Home Page > Search > 5K0827469R > ES#1172860 Reverse Camera - 5K0827469RULM
cable - Home Page > Search > 5M1970161AC > ES#1304785 Wire Set For Camera - 5M1970161AC - dont use the power wire from this, it is too short. Just grab enough to run the length of the video cable + a metre on each end to be sure.
cloth tape - Home Page > Search > 000979950 > ES#10764 Cloth Webbed Adhesive Tape - 000979950 cloth tape. Probably mandatory as pulling the cable through the back/boot rubber is extremly hard and I suspect tape would come off)
drain - Home Page > Search > 5K6827861 > ES#1174182 HOSE - 5K6827861 - maybe optional, but for $5 for OEM why would you bother sourcing it elsewhere.

plugs
Home Page > Search > 3B0972722 > ES#340279 4 Pin Connector - 3B0972722
Home Page > Search > 4B0973712 > ES#370867 4 Pin Flat Connector - Priced Each - 4B0973712
Home Page > Search > 1J0973802 > ES#311353 2 Pin Connector - 1J0973802 - I suspect this connector is wrong as I had to break the pink bits for it to fit?
Home Page > Search > 1J0972924 > ES#311305 HOUSING - 1J0972924
Home Page > Search > 191972713 > ES#296747 HOUSING - 191972713

wire
Home Page > Search > 000979129 > ES#265436 WIRE SET - 000979129 x 2 - couldnt find a matching terminal for this, and because the wires are short the repair wires work fine

terminals (Get at least one extra of these just incase, nothing worse than stuffing one up and not being able to finish cause your missing a 50c terminal)
Home Page > Search > N90684405 > ES#470510 Flat Contact - Large - N90684405 x 5 (terminal from 000979133) - One of these is needed for the fuse box
Home Page > Search > N10335807 > ES#467999 Flat Contact - Small - N10335807 x 7 (terminal from 000979131)
Home Page > Search > N10336105 > ES#468001 CONNECTOR - N10336105 x 2 (terminal from 000979132)

extras (optional)
Home Page > Search > 5604472W > ES#2093774 LED License Plate Light Conversion - 5604472W - license plate LED's for extra lighting


I used the following references. Neither are perfect, but enough to get the job done.
Installing a Golf Mark VI Rear View Camera (RVC) into a Golf Mark VI | my-gti.com
How to install rear view camera (RVC) on Golf 6 models with RCD 510 & RNS 510! - VW TDI forum and Audi TDI forum - myturbodiesel.com
How to install OEM backup camera on mk5 mk6 VW Golf or VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI JSW

Things to know.
- If its pink and on a plug, then its a locking part. Look at it closely and you will find a way to slide or unclip it.

Procedure summary

- pull out stereo.
- remove fuse cover
- remove drivers side storage box.
- unscrew fuse holder.

From here you can feed the cable through to the hole where the stereo was.
You can also wiggle the fuse box down and remove the back and pop a new circuit in (slot 16). Very easy to do, just no room to move)
Also leave about 1ft of cable out the front of the stereo. You will have about 3 foot remaining at the back, so you wont run short.

- remove A piller trim - just pops out
- remove back section - pop off small cover, remove two screws. Pop back trim off, remove one screw. Pull out whole section.
- remove C pillar trim - should pop out now back section screw is removed.
- remove door sill trim. lift up hard.

remember to take all clips out and put them back on the trim before replacing.

Once you have done this, run the wire the full length to the back.

- pop out rubber from back to boot lid.
- push something stiff from the top and find it down near the seat belt reel. tape the cable to it very well and try to pull it through.
- somehow push the cable through the rubber. This is hard, but doable. Remove all the tape you can so its just a raw end. compress the rubber and feed it in. Carefully with a small set of plyers walk the rubber over the cable until it comes out.

Almost there.

- remove two screws from rear trim.
- pop off rear lens bulb covers.
- pull the rear trim off firmly and evenly. It will come off in one of two tugs if you use some force.
- feed the wire through the hole to the back

Making the loom.
Either wait till you get the back trim off or follow the guide on my-gti. I found the measurements on the my-gti to be a little too short. I allowed 5cm extra and it was still too short.
Everything except the reverse light plugs needs to be 10cm longer.

I found nothing worked until I had it all hooked up. So your boot switch wont work so don't panic. Just get it all done and troubleshoot after.
Be sure to zip tie or tape everything up nice and firm. This will help with getting the trim back on and also stop any annoying rattles.


NOTES:
- dont remove anything from the front except the stereo, fuse box, storage draw and a pillar. Removing the dash on a mk6 I think requires removing the gauges.
- dont remove the rear wiper. I don't know why this is even on the my-gti guide. Probably a cut and paste from the MK5 guide.

Took me around 6 hours not rushing it.
Hope this helps.


EDIT - 11/8/2011
After having a bit of a think about it, and talking with bigdave260 who installed a blue tooth module, I am thinking it would have been easier to run the coax cable down the passenger side of the car. He said it was pretty easy getting the wires behind the glove compartment, and I suspect by the number of wires on the left side boot rubber vs the right that it was made to go on that side (the whole LHD/RHD thing)