Best after-market GPS / DVD Head unit ?

[TIG_Paul]

Hi guys -

I have just placed a deposit on a brand spanking new TSI - get it in 5 days!!

got the 125 TSI with DSG, Fog lights, Bluetooth, Comfort Pack & MDI - in Candy White

I would like to upgrade the stock radio head unit with something like this - Volkswagen TIGUAN DVD - Volkswagen TIGUAN GPS - Volkswagen TIGUAN Navigation - Volkswagen TIGUAN multimedia system

or even just buy the 'proper' VW RNS off eBay etc -

Is there anything I need to be wary off going down either of these alleys ??

Thanks in advance - appreciate your help!

Paul

[Sharkie]

Stay clear of the Chinese units ...... not worth half of what you pay for them.

The Chinese units all have inferior screens than the OEM RNS510. Due to the angle of the screen in a Tiguan all of the Chinese units are impossible to use in anything approaching direct sunlight whereas the RNS510s are still useable. Chinese units also do not integrate well with the MFD whereas TNS510 does.

I had a Chinese unit that cost $600 and it was nowhere near as good as the $800 RNS510 I have now .....

Buy a RNS510 off eBay, one of the best buys you will make for your Tiguan ..... other than an APR chip ....

[team_v]

Hi guys -

I have just placed a deposit on a brand spanking new TSI - get it in 5 days!!

got the 125 TSI with DSG, Fog lights, Bluetooth, Comfort Pack & MDI - in Candy White

I would like to upgrade the stock radio head unit with something like this - Volkswagen TIGUAN DVD - Volkswagen TIGUAN GPS - Volkswagen TIGUAN Navigation - Volkswagen TIGUAN multimedia system

or even just buy the 'proper' VW RNS off eBay etc -

Is there anything I need to be wary off going down either of these alleys ??

Thanks in advance - appreciate your help!

Paul

Go the Ebay RNS510.
I had a european brand do-everything nav system and it was good but just wasn't worth the hassel to get everything sorted.

I got the RNS510 off ebay, 2 plug and play cables and a re-code to get the steering wheel controls to work and it was like factory.
Haven't had an issue with it yet.

[team_v]

Hi guys -

I have just placed a deposit on a brand spanking new TSI - get it in 5 days!!

got the 125 TSI with DSG, Fog lights, Bluetooth, Comfort Pack & MDI - in Candy White

I would like to upgrade the stock radio head unit with something like this - Volkswagen TIGUAN DVD - Volkswagen TIGUAN GPS - Volkswagen TIGUAN Navigation - Volkswagen TIGUAN multimedia system

or even just buy the 'proper' VW RNS off eBay etc -

Is there anything I need to be wary off going down either of these alleys ??

Thanks in advance - appreciate your help!

Paul

Go the Ebay RNS510.
I had a european brand do-everything nav system and it was good but just wasn't worth the hassel to get everything sorted.

I got the RNS510 off ebay, 2 plug and play cables and a re-code to get the steering wheel controls to work and it was like factory.
Haven't had an issue with it yet.

[clip]

Not sure if I quite agree with others. I've had two chinese units. The first one did have problems with glare on the screen, the other one doesn't as it has a high res digital screen - and after over 2 years, have had no problems.

There are 2 problems with the RNS units:
1. the satnav. On the unit I have I can run whatever prog I want. I choose to use iGO. I can update my maps regularly for Australia, which includes an incredible range of points of interest, constantly updated radar, red light locations etc etc. If you use the satnav often and it is important to you, you can't go past this.
2. the ability to add additional AV equipment. If you want to further enhance your audio environment with the addition of subs, amps etc. then the RNS will not give you the same flexability and control as these units do.

On the downside, the interface is not as good (except for the satnav side which leaves the OEM for dead).

My unit fully integrates with all steering wheel controls and MFD. Plug and play with no re-coding needed. Bluetooth works perfectly, has SD, iPod & USB connectivity. Video outputs for additional monitors (eg in the rear), reverse camera function etc etc.

TBH, I'd be torn between which one to buy if/when I need to again.

[hippyhippy]

IMHO might as well go rns also for resale value. Also u get integration into the multifunction display which is also handy.

[clip]

Also u get integration into the multifunction display which is also handy.

as does mine: radio station - track number - song title display - etc. but not nav info

[TIG_Paul]

Not sure if I quite agree with others. I've had two chinese units. The first one did have problems with glare on the screen, the other one doesn't as it has a high res digital screen - and after over 2 years, have had no problems.

There are 2 problems with the RNS units:
1. the satnav. On the unit I have I can run whatever prog I want. I choose to use iGO. I can update my maps regularly for Australia, which includes an incredible range of points of interest, constantly updated radar, red light locations etc etc. If you use the satnav often and it is important to you, you can't go past this.
2. the ability to add additional AV equipment. If you want to further enhance your audio environment with the addition of subs, amps etc. then the RNS will not give you the same flexability and control as these units do.

On the downside, the interface is not as good (except for the satnav side which leaves the OEM for dead).

My unit fully integrates with all steering wheel controls and MFD. Plug and play with no re-coding needed. Bluetooth works perfectly, has SD, iPod & USB connectivity. Video outputs for additional monitors (eg in the rear), reverse camera function etc etc.

TBH, I'd be torn between which one to buy if/when I need to again.

Thanks mate - do u have any specific links to the 'brand' of non-OEM ...my thoughts are to go for the 'proper' RNS unit and follow the many very helpful guides for install ...but it never hurts to have a look at options, expecially if they have more features and carry reliability -

cheers again!

Paul

[TIG_Paul]

Hi guys -

will this one do the trick ??

VW RNS 510 SAT NAV RNS510 Ver C LED DVD 16:9 Golf Jetta | eBay

What do Version #s and Spec Letters mean ?

Also - what does this info mean ?

Part number: 1T0 035 680 C.

HW: H50.

SW: 2840.

Thanks again - what a great forum!!

[clip]

Not sure what the go is with these. They say: "Original box NOT included" are they stolen, chinese rip offs? Maybe they are refurbished units?

Regardless they look good - and great price. The place I got mine from seems to have disappeared - no surprises.

[Sharkie]

Hi guys -

will this one do the trick ??

VW RNS 510 SAT NAV RNS510 Ver C LED DVD 16:9 Golf Jetta | eBay

What do Version #s and Spec Letters mean ?

Also - what does this info mean ?

Part number: 1T0 035 680 C.

HW: H50.

SW: 2840.

Thanks again - what a great forum!!

I bought mine from this guy a year ago. Super quick service (delivery to Oz within 1 week) and no problems at all with the unit. These are real OEM RNS510s. Where he gets them from I don't know, but he's be doing it for a while with 100% feedback so legit otherwise eBay would have closed him down long ago.

I plan on buying another from him soon.

[drsmithy]

Currently trying to make the same decision for my MkV GTI. Northfield car sound in Moorooka recommended a Zenec unit which a few others here have also posted about, but no-one seems to have recent experiences with.

The other option I am considering is an RCD510, because the RNS510's Nav functionality really is pretty dismal from what I can tell, and I'm not particularly after a GPS anyway - my little stick on the windscreen Garmin would work better.

Personally I'm a little suspicious of the source behind those eBay RNS510 units, and that is giving me pause before ordering one.

Let us know how you go !

[PaulM]

Not sure if I quite agree with others. I've had two chinese units. The first one did have problems with glare on the screen, the other one doesn't as it has a high res digital screen - and after over 2 years, have had no problems.

There are 2 problems with the RNS units:
1. the satnav. On the unit I have I can run whatever prog I want. I choose to use iGO. I can update my maps regularly for Australia, which includes an incredible range of points of interest, constantly updated radar, red light locations etc etc. If you use the satnav often and it is important to you, you can't go past this.
2. the ability to add additional AV equipment. If you want to further enhance your audio environment with the addition of subs, amps etc. then the RNS will not give you the same flexability and control as these units do.

On the downside, the interface is not as good (except for the satnav side which leaves the OEM for dead).

My unit fully integrates with all steering wheel controls and MFD. Plug and play with no re-coding needed. Bluetooth works perfectly, has SD, iPod & USB connectivity. Video outputs for additional monitors (eg in the rear), reverse camera function etc etc.

TBH, I'd be torn between which one to buy if/when I need to again.

Hey Clip - can you tell us what brand you have and where you got it? Sounds like a beauty (also can we beg for a pic to see how it looks in your dash? Cheers!)

[team_v]

Currently trying to make the same decision for my MkV GTI. Northfield car sound in Moorooka recommended a Zenec unit which a few others here have also posted about, but no-one seems to have recent experiences with.

The other option I am considering is an RCD510, because the RNS510's Nav functionality really is pretty dismal from what I can tell, and I'm not particularly after a GPS anyway - my little stick on the windscreen Garmin would work better.

Personally I'm a little suspicious of the source behind those eBay RNS510 units, and that is giving me pause before ordering one.

Let us know how you go !

I haven't had an issue at all with the Navv on the RNS
And no worries with the RNS system either.

The Zenec is good but only really worth it if you use all the functional extras that come with it i.e. bluetooth, video in motion etc.

[Sharkie]

I haven't had an issue at all with the Navv on the RNS
And no worries with the RNS system either.

The Zenec is good but only really worth it if you use all the functional extras that come with it i.e. bluetooth, video in motion etc.

Aaaaargh ...... when will it end ......

All of the Chinese units are false economy. They will cost anywhere from $600 -800 and will NEVER be as good as a RNS510. The Zenec is the best non VW unit I have seen to date, but it will cost you $1200+ ......

Anybody who goes for a non VW RNS510 is pretty bad at doing sums IMO.

Genuine VW RNS510 can be had for $800. Genuine VW BT can be had for $300. All up $1100.


And I'm talking from experience ..... The screens on the Chinese units (especially) and even the Zenec is not up to VW RNS510 standards. I have had a Chinese WD-6051 for 3 months and a Zenec for a week in my car . The RNS510 has a superior interface and a screen that you can read easily even in direct sunlight.

And as far as I'm concerned the Nav is pretty good. Certainly no worse than a Garmin Nuvi I have at home.

The RNS510 also includes 30GB Hard drive space which allows you to copy music from your Ipod or SD card and play from there. Nothing else has this feature.