Flawed review of VW Passat Alltrack

[Guest001]

The fact it doesn't even supply power is just retarded.

BTW, it's MDI. Not MIDI.

OH dear so sorry.
I have booked mine in to get fixed because I have just connected my Iphone to the USB connection and it started charging

Must be faulty if it doesnt have power

[brenno]

OH dear so sorry.
I have booked mine in to get fixed because I have just connected my Iphone to the USB connection and it started charging

Must be faulty if it doesnt have power

Really? I've tried it on a multitude of devices on a number of different MDI systems. A brightspark on this forum advised it was not possible due to some sorcery Apple impose on a simple USB port (which, amusingly, is not the case on any other USB port I have used). Just confirming you have MDI --> VW "USB" cable --> Standard Apple issued USB cable --> iPhone, and that works?

Still, for VW not to provide the full gamut of services for an interface nearing a decade in age, is a bit slow.

[Guest001]

really? I've tried it on a multitude of devices on a number of different mdi systems. A brightspark on this forum advised it was not possible due to some sorcery apple impose on a simple usb port (which, amusingly, is not the case on any other usb port i have used). Just confirming you have mdi --> vw "usb" cable --> standard apple issued usb cable --> iphone, and that works?

Still, for vw not to provide the full gamut of services for an interface nearing a decade in age, is a bit slow.

yes to all

If it was the Apple USB connector it wouldnt charge on my computer and it does. Also charges off several different Ciggy lighter USB connections using the supplied Apple cable


I think you have a faulty one Was told by stealer that it would charge but not have audio etc and would have to buy the proper cable which I did but not off VW

Heer is all you want to know about USB connectors

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=usb+pinouts&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=wAT&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=a3piUYnHH4ySiQeS34DQBg&ved=0CDcQsAQ&biw=1662&bih=853

[nyc863]

mercedes provide a bunch of cables but no iphone5 connector just original. and their iphone connectivity options suck.
Audi/vw sell cables
a car reviewer should know or look in the manual.
all those home iPod docks and radios do nothing but charge over USB to iPods and iPhones.
a USB port does not carry audio signals, only data and power..
only someone completely unfamiliar with the last 10 years of apple stuff would expect a USB port to magically enable iPod iPhone support..

[brenno]

Flawed review of VW Passat Alltrack

Same old answers lol.

All these explanations don't excuse the simple fact that there are a number of manufacturers that supply a simple USB port that allow an iOS device to be connected and then stream music via a standard cable. MDI does not allow this and it creates unnecessary confusion.

People don't want to have to delve into the user manual. People want to plug in a cable and have things work.

[Guest001]

Same old answers lol.

All these explanations don't excuse the simple fact that there are a number of manufacturers that supply a simple USB port that allow an iOS device to be connected and then stream music via a standard cable. MDI does not allow this and it creates unnecessary confusion.

People don't want to have to delve into the user manual. People want to plug in a cable and have things work.

Simple Buy the cable It works. I knew that from when I bought the car and presumably anyone who bought a car with MDI would be told. Perhaps they dont listen either. Always someone else's fault.

If more people read the manual we might not be having this rather pointless and repeated discussion.

If people dont like VW's way of doing things they should buy something else.

Half the threads on here wouldnt be needed if the manual was consulted.

Even the stickies dont get read obviously as there has been two threads in 48 hours about why they cant post in the For Sale section.

The reason is in the Sticky but neither bothered to read it. Much easier to tripe away and let someone else look for them.

[brenno]

I guess VW attracts all sorts then, those that have time to read the manual and read about pinouts, and then those that appreciate simplistic and intuitive solutions

BTW - I tried the Apple USB cable to power an old iPhone and it works! Thanks for the tip. It definitely didn't in the first MDI equipped car I tried.

[Guest001]

I guess VW attracts all sorts then, those that have time to read the manual and read about pinouts, and then those that appreciate simplistic and intuitive solutions

BTW - I tried the Apple USB cable to power an old iPhone and it works! Thanks for the tip. It definitely didn't in the first MDI equipped car I tried.

Obviously there are some that are worse than the Volkswagen then.

Its a shame there are those who dont read the manual and then bitch about what they would have known if they had. LOL

Tells you all sorts of interesting things like the correct oil to use so you dont void your warranty.

Personally if I spend upwards of $50,000 on something I prefer to read the manual and utilize its many systems correctly.

Simple and intuitive. Sounds like you would be happy with a model T Ford ROFL

[nyc863]

Same old answers lol.

All these explanations don't excuse the simple fact that there are a number of manufacturers that supply a simple USB port that allow an iOS device to be connected and then stream music via a standard cable.

I'm not saying outright you are wrong -- yet -- but exactly which car offers a USB port, one where you plug in your iphone using any stock apple cable (not a special cable supplied by the car company which is what VW offers), and voila get streaming music with all the normal functions on the head unit or steering wheel?

Because here is the thing, if it is a stock USB socket, it cannot receive music, it can only receive data and send power. The car cannot pretend it is itunes and download/update/access the music on the iphone etc etc.

[Inego]

I can see both sides ont eh MDI issue. I specifcally had MDi installed on my car. Logic would suggest that smoeone isn the dealer chain might think "this customer has ordered MDI, perhaps they'd like cables to use it, or perhaps even advice that specific cable will be needed".

But no, that's too much to expect. And of course, the mutitude of cable form a stealer is almost $100 ("but sir, we don't know which deveice you'll be connecting so we'll sell you all the options"). $25 and a week later from the UK, I finally had the cable and was pissed off with the dealer.....

[brenno]

Flawed review of VW Passat Alltrack

A Hyundai iLoad, for instance. There are others. I seem to remember a standard VE Commodore SS will allow it too.

[Guest001]

I can see both sides ont eh MDI issue. I specifcally had MDi installed on my car. Logic would suggest that smoeone isn the dealer chain might think "this customer has ordered MDI, perhaps they'd like cables to use it, or perhaps even advice that specific cable will be needed".

But no, that's too much to expect. And of course, the mutitude of cable form a stealer is almost $100 ("but sir, we don't know which deveice you'll be connecting so we'll sell you all the options"). $25 and a week later from the UK, I finally had the cable and was pissed off with the dealer.....

You got robbed $9 and 4 days from Honkers

My dealer did explain that a different cable to what was supplied would be needed.

[Guest001]

I'm not saying outright you are wrong -- yet -- but exactly which car offers a USB port, one where you plug in your iphone using any stock apple cable (not a special cable supplied by the car company which is what VW offers), and voila get streaming music with all the normal functions on the head unit or steering wheel?

Because here is the thing, if it is a stock USB socket, it cannot receive music, it can only receive data and send power. The car cannot pretend it is itunes and download/update/access the music on the iphone etc etc.

In fairness there are lots of aftermarket stereos that have a USB ipod connector My son has an Alpine that has it Most other makes have it in different models as well.

However it is probably not the MDI unit that is at fault but the rather ancient headunits used by VW. The RNS is old school now and badly needs a revamp and upgrade of hardware. Either that or rebuild the MDI to convert the signal to what the the headunit will play

Do the Chinese Delphi RCD510 units which have a USB input play an Ipod direct or not.

[nyc863]

Whatever is in use to look like easy, is some kind of hack.
Either there is a custom cable supplied by the car company (Hyundai do sell one) or the music streaming happens over bluetooth behind your back with the control happening via USB.

Here for example is someone failing to get their phone working with a Prius with disabled bluetooth:
Using iPhone 4s with USB instead of Bluetooth | PriusChat

What they thought was they were plugging in the phone into a stock USB port but what was happening was the phone was getting charged and controlled that way but streaming the audio over bluetooth, not via the USB cable.

People should think of the cables that are sold as docks. You buy the dock for the your phone type by buying the right cable, that is pretty much the story with every car.

Or, you forget about wired docks, and do everything over bluetooth, accepting a small loss in audio quality vs wired, and the USB ports become just delegated to charging things.

Final edit (lol): the old ipods worked plug-into-USB because they appear as a drive with all the music exposed, but iphones are more complex and do not appear as a drive full of music files.

[brenno]

Full iPod® integration (via the USB port) allows customers to connect using their original iPod cables, conveniently making operation possible via the head unit.

Ref: iLoad Interior - Hyundai Motor Company Australia