Polo Radio Help

[tasguy81]

Hi guys, I am wanting to upgrade the radio in my Polo but as a novice have been left totally confused as to which way to go:

My ideal would be:

- Bluetooth
- Voice control of the unit (to change radio stations etc)
- Capable of displaying reversing camera vision
- Able to work with the Polo Steering Wheel controls
- Touch Screen
- Able to display ipod song/title info on unit itself and the MFD of the car too

I was thinking the genuine VW RNS510 unit may be the best way to go (and get a local stereo place to install it all). Will that do all of the above mentioned things? If so do I need any extra devices or cables besides the head unit itself to make it do all that?

Do I need to instead try and find an after market option from another brand to do all that I am wanting it to do?

Thanks in advance for your help with my total confusion on this...

Marc - New VW Owner (77TSI Manual arrives in 2 weeks)

[gavs]

Marc, I would be looking at complete aftermarket like on eBay. For all those features in an OE system you could be looking at up to $1000 in hardware alone

[gavs]

Oh, you won't get the MFD display info unless you have the highline MFD in the car, this only comes with the comfort or audio pack I believe on the 77tsi models.

[tasguy81]

Oh, you won't get the MFD display info unless you have the highline MFD in the car, this only comes with the comfort or audio pack I believe on the 77tsi models.

Thanks mate for your help.

I got the comfort pack - so does that mean i will have the right display?

Yeah aftermarket may be the cheaper option (although i'm finding it very hard to locate a suitable unit that has voice control). Do you know if the RNS510 has voice control ability?

- From what I can understand the RNS510 would meet all my needs basically but would be expensive as it is the cost of the unit then all sorts of different extras on top (a bluetooth plug-in, ipod plug-in, MFD plug-in etc) is my understanding of that correct?

Thanks again for making sense of it all for me mate.

Cheers,

[FJ Steve]

MDI (with iPod adaptor cable) will work well with RNS510
You will need a Bluetooth kit, but not sure if voice command will change the radio stations for you. Having been born in Burnie, and lived most of my life in Devonport, you really don't have a plethora of radio stations to select from.
You will get a lot more support from members here if you go RNS. Going aftermarket might leave you with this much >< support from your dealer/local car audio installer/specialist.

Keep asking the questions....and congrats on the purchase of the Polo.

[gavs]

RNS 510 would be the preferred/most integrated option because it can theoretically work perfectly but:
RNS unit $1200(locally) $600 from OS
Media in unit $350
9W7 Bluetooth $350
Reverse camera $550

If you go aftermarket, then yes, you lose some of the support but if you add up the costs....

If you get the proper RNS unit then yes, with the latest 9WZ Bluetooth unit it can have voice control.

[readerr0r]

Woah woah, slow down everyone. Bluetooth and MDI are now standard on all MY12.5 Polos. So first things first what Model Year is your Polo tasguy81? Was it built after December 2011?

If you already have MDI and BT then only the RNS510 will work with them, an aftermarket unit will need its own systems (which is very messy)

[tasguy81]

[QUOTE=readerr0r;807692]Woah woah, slow down everyone. Bluetooth and MDI are now standard on all MY12.5 Polos. So first things first what Model Year is your Polo tasguy81? Was it built after December 2011?[QUOTE]

I haven't actually got the car yet but I assume it will be the 12.5 as it arrived in OZ last week apparently.

I know it is going to have the tacky bluetooth add-on system on the dash (Which by the way I was very cranky about).

[readerr0r]

I haven't actually got the car yet but I assume it will be the 12.5 as it arrived in OZ last week apparently.

I know it is going to have the tacky bluetooth add-on system on the dash (Which by the way I was very cranky about).

That means if you install a RNS510, you'll be able to keep the BT and MDI already installed in the car and voice recognition should work too. Then the reverse camera can be installed later as well.

I've taken my touchscreen out of the cradle leaving just the base there, but you will need vcds for that.

[tasguy81]

That means if you install a RNS510, you'll be able to keep the BT and MDI already installed in the car and voice recognition should work too. Then the reverse camera can be installed later as well.

Fantastic! That is great news - exactly what I wanted to do. RNS 510 here i come!

Is it ok to buy one from the UK for example of ebay or will there be radio settings and things that are not suitable for OZ?

[gavs]

Wow, I can't believe I overlooked that fact! GOod pick up readerr0r!

first off, make sure you have the 9WZ bluetooth, otherwise voice recognition will not work with the RNS unit. Second, if you want voice recognition, make sure you get a european spec unit because the US ones are different.

THird, if you want reverse camera functionality through the RNS system, again, make sure you get the european unit. It has a specific 'video in' jack on back of it that takes a 26 pin DIN plug.

THen, get it all coded up and away you go

[Transporter]

That means if you install a RNS510, you'll be able to keep the BT and MDI already installed in the car and voice recognition should work too. Then the reverse camera can be installed later as well.

Fantastic! That is great news - exactly what I wanted to do. RNS 510 here i come!

Is it ok to buy one from the UK for example of ebay or will there be radio settings and things that are not suitable for OZ?

You'll be OK with the unit from UK, many members bought from there and also from Lithuania just make sure you get the latest version of AU maps and check the differences between different versions of RNS510.

...and welcome to the forum.

[FJ Steve]

Maps (AUS/NZ) are not an issue. If you ask kindly.....there are members here who can 'lead' you in the right direction.

Also...there should be a new map version coming out soon....*fingers crossed*

Video In Motion (VIM), re-partitioned HDD for the RNS (more music space), customized splash screens and personal POIs are all the sorts of things we can help you with here.