Upgrading stereo from RDC510

[gableguy]

Hi there,

Just bought a 2011 Passat V6 Highline wagon this week. Great car, but the stock stereo's a bit ordinary (couldn't find a model with the Dynaudio within my price range). I'd like to replace the head unit and add a slimline subwoofer. I've found a head unit & sub for around $700, and an installer that'll put everything in for around $250. Happy with that.

My main question:
What other parts do I need, ie harnesses / adaptors etc? What's involved to get the steering wheel buttons working with the new system? I've got reverse cameras & distance detectors, the graphic parking display etc - would a new Pioneer head unit still show that?

(Reason I'm sourcing all parts myself is because of the extraordinary markup the installers want to charge - full install was quoted at $1600.)

Any recommendations on head units around the $500-600 mark that work well with Android would be welcome. I'm currently leaning towards Pioneer as they seem to have the features I want at a reasonable price point. The Blaupunkt RNS510 models look great but, like all proper SatNav systems, they're stupidly expensive. (I'm happy to just plug in my phone and use Google Maps.)

Thanks in advance!

~GG

[Guest001]

Hi there,

Just bought a 2011 Passat V6 Highline wagon this week. Great car, but the stock stereo's a bit ordinary (couldn't find a model with the Dynaudio within my price range). I'd like to replace the head unit and add a slimline subwoofer. I've found a head unit & sub for around $700, and an installer that'll put everything in for around $250. Happy with that.

My main question:
What other parts do I need, ie harnesses / adaptors etc? What's involved to get the steering wheel buttons working with the new system? I've got reverse cameras & distance detectors, the graphic parking display etc - would a new Pioneer head unit still show that?

(Reason I'm sourcing all parts myself is because of the extraordinary markup the installers want to charge - full install was quoted at $1600.)

Any recommendations on head units around the $500-600 mark that work well with Android would be welcome. I'm currently leaning towards Pioneer as they seem to have the features I want at a reasonable price point. The Blaupunkt RNS510 models look great but, like all proper SatNav systems, they're stupidly expensive. (I'm happy to just plug in my phone and use Google Maps.)

Thanks in advance!

~GG

You can buy a stock RNS510 for about the $700 nowadays but last map update is 3 years old and no more ever. Rest of it is Ok and as cars have crap acoustics will never sound like Albert Hall

[gableguy]

You can buy a stock RNS510 for about the $700 nowadays but last map update is 3 years old and no more ever. Rest of it is Ok and as cars have crap acoustics will never sound like Albert Hall

Yeah, considered that option but the RNS510 is getting pretty old now as you say. Much better options available for less $ these days.

[Guest001]

Yeah, considered that option but the RNS510 is getting pretty old now as you say. Much better options available for less $ these days.

If you can get them to integrate

[Sloanie]

I replaced my stereo with an android one from Aliexpress which cost just over $300US. It shows the air conditioning and the reversing camera output etc and works with the steering wheel buttons. Only thing that you have to do is connect your phone to the stereo and not the car.

[shinjukuthief]

Hi Gableguy,

I sourced a few harnesses and dash kits on Crutchfield (who iirc unfortunately don't ship to Au, or the shipping was cost prohibitive) and found and ordered them on amazon.

I'm not sure if your Passat will have the battery drain issue if you install a 3rd party head unit like a Pioneer, but here is the harness that I got to prevent that.

Here's the recommended harness for steering wheel controls for my car. I ended up getting one from No Limit here in South Melbourne who finished off the install and also put in my reverse camera which just plugged and played with the Pioneer.

You may need a different harness to that though in order to enable integration with all the parking sensors, get the engine data etc to the graphical display. Perhaps something like this Vw Data & Display Retention Interface.

Have a look at Crutchfield's site, as well as youtube to see what others may have used in their installation. Good luck with it!

[gableguy]

Hi Gableguy,

I sourced a few harnesses and dash kits on Crutchfield (who iirc unfortunately don't ship to Au, or the shipping was cost prohibitive) and found and ordered them on amazon.

I'm not sure if your Passat will have the battery drain issue if you install a 3rd party head unit like a Pioneer, but here is the harness that I got to prevent that.

Here's the recommended harness for steering wheel controls for my car. I ended up getting one from No Limit here in South Melbourne who finished off the install and also put in my reverse camera which just plugged and played with the Pioneer.

You may need a different harness to that though in order to enable integration with all the parking sensors, get the engine data etc to the graphical display. Perhaps something like this Vw Data & Display Retention Interface.

Have a look at Crutchfield's site, as well as youtube to see what others may have used in their installation. Good luck with it!

Thanks for that, appreciate it! Glad to hear someone else managed the upgrade themselves.

I had a shop around online and found this, which I'm hoping has everything in the one kit - if anyone knowledgeable can see anything missing from it, please let me know:
Aerpro FP9888K Install kit to suit Volkswagen Skoda | Free Shipping | Automotive Superstore

Pretty much decided on a Pioneer AVH-Z5250BT for the head unit, and bought a little slimline powered subwoofer under the passenger seat. It won't be amazing, but it'll be a significant upgrade.

[Captain Courteous]

Throw up some pics once it's installed

I'm going to start looking into a CarPlay solution.. As mentioned the RNS is too out of date

[danger17]

I recommend you talk to kamold about retrofitting a Discovery Media unit.

Some pics of mine installed:

[Captain Courteous]

Ooh I like that.
You've got steering wheel control for that unit too ya??

[danger17]

Yes. Works a treat. Highly recommended.

[gableguy]

Yeah, that Discovery Media unit looks the goods - nice work.

I've bought the head unit and sub, as well as a whole bunch of harnesses and adapters, but the installer says the OEM camera / parking assistance won't work anymore. There's a data retention CANBUS adapter in existence, but apparently it doesn't work particularly well.

Very bloody frustrating. I figured that for around $1k I could upgrade the head unit ($520), add a sub ($160) and get them installed ($330). I've added $200 to that for adapters / fascia kit / harnesses etc, apparently in order to lose parking sensor info. The next step is to get another after-market camera & sensor kit, which is probably another $300 plus an extra $100 for installation. Installers tell me that this is just kinda the way it is with Euro cars - the Japanese are all easily plug & play but the Euros just don't play nice.

Any comments on the whole parking camera / sensor thing?? Help me out here!!

[kamold]

Parking sensors will still work in that they'll still beep.
As for displaying OPS on the head unit, that's dependent on the head unit having a suitable canbus interface (same for steering wheel controls etc)
OEM cameras for PQ35/36/46 cars use RGBS video input at the head unit. If it's a lowline module (ie doesn't have bending guidelines) then you can use an RGBS to CVBS converter to input to an aftermarket headunit.
Otherwise just get a $70 camera kit and it replace what you have.
Nothing is easy plug and play with any modern OEM system unless it has been specifically designed as such, you need to ensure you get the relevant information about what works with them and what doesn't and purchase accordingly.

[brettue]

I recommend you talk to kamold about retrofitting a Discovery Media unit.

Some pics of mine installed:

Love that track. RIP Keith

[Paddlin_life]

I recommend you talk to kamold about retrofitting a Discovery Media unit.

Some pics of mine installed:

That looks awesome..

How much did that cost?? Was it easy to fit?