R36 MDI interface

[simonjohnhead]

Hi all, pretty new to the watercooled scene, taking delivery of my R36 wagon on Friday, unfortunately it doesn't have any iPod connection in the glove box like a B7 passat I was also looking at.

Anyone out there know what MDI interface I should be buying?

I don't know what head unit I have in the car, all I know is that it has sat nav and Bluetooth.

Thanks for your help.

[The One]

Hi all, pretty new to the watercooled scene, taking delivery of my R36 wagon on Friday, unfortunately it doesn't have any iPod connection in the glove box like a B7 passat I was also looking at.

Anyone out there know what MDI interface I should be buying?

I don't know what head unit I have in the car, all I know is that it has sat nav and Bluetooth.

Thanks for your help.

Whats the brand of the headunit in the R36 at the moment?

[simonjohnhead]

Couldn't tell you mate, it's just factory specs. I have bought the car interstate and I have never physically seen it.

[revivor]

Is this what you're after?
Bold-Sport.com :: Media Device Interface / Media In (MDI)

[simonjohnhead]

That's exactly what I am after, I have found them on eBay, but they have different part numbers, are all MDI unit comparable with all headunits?

[revivor]

I'm not sure about the MDI unit compatibility as I don't have it on mine
I was reading this and it may be of interest to you. Seems like VW released a cheaper retrofit kit according to myGTI.com:
Volkswagen Media Device Interface (MDI) Retrofit | my-gti.com

[kleung]

I don't know what head unit I have in the car, all I know is that it has sat nav and Bluetooth.

If it's got factory satnav, it's most likely got the RNS-510. If that's the case, then the unit also has 30gb of onboard storage, as well as an SD card slot. So if your goal is simply to be able to play MP3s, then this is probably the easiest and cheapest option.

I'm guessing you've got a 2008 model (first year they were in Oz - red MFD, RCD300 basic head unit), since MY09+ R36es got the MDI as standard equipment, as well as the updated instrument cluster (white MFD).

You've probably already checked, but the MDI in the Passat is in a hidden drop-down compartment that you pull down after opening the glovebox...

http://www.ausmotive.com/downloads/V...-R36-specs.pdf.

In a nutshell, if the trip computer display on your R36 is white, then the MDI interface should be standard equipment, and you will be able to just buy an adaptor cable from VW (or on eBay) for iDevice connectivity.

There's a post here from last year about fitting an MDI to an R36:

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f78/retrofit-bluetooth-mdi-kit-passat-r36-74180.html

[Guest001]

What about this one in our For sale forum

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f24/mdi-box-usb-ipod-cables-88065.html

[simonjohnhead]

Thanks for everyone input. It's a 2009 MY10. Like I said. I haven't seen the actual car I have purchased, but I test drive a 2009 here in Melbourne and that didn't have the MDI.

I knew that it had a hard drive, but I have about 68GB of music on my iPod classic which I want to just plug in and leave in there.

I ordered one on eBay last night from overseas so we will have to wait and see how I go.

I don't get the car untl Friday...... So excited.

[booba]

Seems like a mighty complicated way of getting all your music into the car. if it has the sat nav then you could just have 2 x 32gb cards and swap them over. I doubt that you would go through all 32gb of music in a single trip.

[simonjohnhead]

Haha, yeah it just me to be honest mate, I love gadgets and I just like the idea of having it there.

[booba]

I confess to loving gadgets as well. MDI came with my Passat. I haven't touched it once. between 2 x 32gb sd and the internal 30gb is really enough.

[greg32]

RE: R36 MDI interface

A bunch of 32 SD cards is a good way to go and if the mdi is there, an iPod classic is great or a portable hard drive also works. The radio will display the song info if set up correctly. There was also a software update for the mdi on the gti site.