Just bought a new(er) Multivan: audio questions.

[Type2nut2]

Hi,
We’ve just bought a December 2010 build 4motion Highline to replace our soon to be for sale 2006 version of the same and I have some questions regarding the audio system on the new bus. It has Bluetooth and I’ve been able to connect my phone without any problems but would like to be able to play music from the phone. What do I need to do or purchase to be able to do this please? Can I use the 3.5mm plug in the glove box?
Also, what can the USB plug (connected to a multi pin plug) in the glove box be used for? I connected my phone to this but nothing comes up on the audio screen.
Many thanks,

[Lafijam]

I have the same car, just not the 4motion.
The issue with music playing through the bluetooth is that it will not connect automatically.
Once your bluetooth is connected when you start the car, select the music you wish to play on the phone, and once it starts to play, the bluetooth icon should then become available on the top right corner of the screen. Press it, and you should get it through the stereo!

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[Sunny43.5]

Not sure about factory head units but our aftermarket ones link as soon as we turn the van on , doesn,t matter whether its for phone or music no need to touch any buttons . My mates head unit in his Merc van links as soon as he turns it on but you have to select the music Icon for playback , could be the same for yours .

[The_Hawk]

From memory the bluetooth of that era wasn't always enabled for steaming audio, but you could often turn it on. The reality is that these days you're probably better off replacing the whole head unit with an OEM RNS330+ or an aftermarket unit of some sort which does CarPlay and/or Android auto. We have the basic 2010 Multi and have upgraded to a Pioneer AVH-Z3100DAB a little while back (although I wouldn't bother with the DAB+ version we got as digital just doesn't work (in my experience).

All these units would replace the factory bluetooth too (and I will say upgrading from 2010 vintage bluetooth to 2019 made it work so much better).

[Type2nut2]

Thanks for your responses folks. Tapatalk’s trick works perfectly
If we upgraded the head unit as you recommend The Hawk, is it a straight swap for the existing system (wiring etc) and would the new head unit integrate with the reversing camera ok?
Thanks again!
Andy.

[The_Hawk]

Ahhh, another complicating factor

If it's a factory camera and head unit you'd likely need an adaptor for the camera. For the headunit wiring you can either get an adaptor or splice it into the factory wiring. Mine is spliced in because that's what the dealer did back in 2010, but there are off the shelf adaptors.

eg:
Volkswagen Transporter T5 2010-2015 | Aerpro

[Kombi]

Hi Type2, we’re practically neighbours

[Kombi]

I have a ‘12 Highline and apple phone, once a phone i# paired it will connect straight away every time you turn ignition on
USB is for charging only I think,not ��sure.
Aux for audio cable yes.
If not connecting automatically, Press media button and choose aux or bt audio.

[Kombi]

Upgraded (questionable) from a 08 model, 305000km and still going like clockwork
Did you buy private or from a dealer ? Do not be ignorant to the oil consumption issue with the biturbo engine, check your oil consumption ASAP, upgrade your egr cooler to a D suffix regardless.

[Type2nut2]

Hi Kombi,
Thanks for making contact, yes we are nearly neighbours! We bought private and drove back from Adelaide over the last 3 days. As it turns out we have bought a van with high oil use problems Yesterday I spent the section of the drive between Norseman and Esperance with an increasingly sinking heart and a wife getting closer and closer to tears while I was reading the long thread about high oil use problems on this website.
I noticed your posts on that thread so was going to get in contact with you. I’ll send a private message.
Cheers,
Andy.

[Sendo_VW_multivan_2010]

I hate to say it , but I want to replace my RNS510 with an Android for my T5. It has park assist. But does not support IPhone and no reverse camera.
From all the posts I have read it seems too much of a pain in the arse to try to get the 510 iPhone compatible and add reversing camera.
I have a Hizpo head unit in the Golf and it works ok.

The only thing I’m worried about is park assist , if this is purely a can bus function , and whether there are any android head units that will display the park assist interface. Also I have seen split screen for park assist / rearview on OEM ( or am I just imagining that)
A. Is it worth the money and the time to convert the RNS510 to iPhone and reverse camera? If so what do I need?
B. If not , is there an Android that will support park assist( girls maybe driving the car , so may need it)
C. I might just try my Hizpo golf head unit and see what happens

Any ideas would be much appreciated
NB I have not been able to update the maps on the Hizpo. And the Nav software has a glitch where the volume jumps every now and again when some announcements are made ( annoying, startling), that’s my only gripe about this unit.


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[The_Hawk]

I hate to say it , but I want to replace my RNS510 with an Android for my T5. It has park assist. But does not support IPhone and no reverse camera.
From all the posts I have read it seems too much of a pain in the arse to try to get the 510 iPhone compatible and add reversing camera.
I have a Hizpo head unit in the Golf and it works ok.

The only thing I’m worried about is park assist , if this is purely a can bus function , and whether there are any android head units that will display the park assist interface. Also I have seen split screen for park assist / rearview on OEM ( or am I just imagining that)
A. Is it worth the money and the time to convert the RNS510 to iPhone and reverse camera? If so what do I need?
B. If not , is there an Android that will support park assist( girls maybe driving the car , so may need it)
C. I might just try my Hizpo golf head unit and see what happens

What do you mean by Park Assist? Do you mean the parking sensors with their pictures of which sensors are going off?
Our Multi has parking sensors and would have had the factory RCD310 which I didn't think had a display to show what the parking sensors were doing. You just got beeps from the front/rear speakers that got faster then a solid tone as you got closer to things.
In our case the dealer fitted a Pioneer AVIC system which had zero integration with anything so we have only ever known the beeping (and never pictures), but the AVIC did have a reversing camera installed so we have that.

My 2011 Golf has the factory Bluetooth (9W7?), in any case the iPhone works fine, connects, steams music and phone calls. In VW’s case the Bluetooth has nothing to do with the stereo in these models. I upgraded from the RCD310 to the RNS510 and besides getting a pretty colour screen to make calls on, nothing much else has changed. In short, there is no reason the factory components wont work with a modern iPhone.
On the head unit with split view on the RNS510, this is just a coding issue. You can make it show both the OPS and RVC at the same time with VCDS.

When it comes to being worth the time and effort, let me break that into a few parts parts.

Reversing Camera
Installing a reversing camera is going to be just as painful regardless of OEM or aftermarket. Both need to have cables run front to back. Personally with such a large vehicle I think the camera is definitely worth it, even in smaller cars I think it’s a great addition.
In short, get whatever works with whatever head unit you end up getting.

Factory Bluetooth
I wouldn’t bother with the OEM stand alone unit. It’s an extra thing to install wiring for that you just don’t need. Instead getting the RCD330+ (just make sure you get the model that does both CarPlay and Android Auto) because this comes with Bluetooth integrated. One less thing to worry about.
It’s also worth noting that this should be plug and play and if anything is likely to work with OPS, this would be it (I don’t have any experience with these units yet).

Head Unit
Which leads to the big question. Which head unit. I still think the RCD330+ is the best option for most people since it’s OEM and is plug and play and is pretty affordable. The only reason I haven’t installed one in my Golf to replace the RNS510 is that I don’t drive it very often any more as I walk to and from the train station to commute to work these days, if I started driving more often I’d swap it out very quickly.

If you want more bells and whistles or higher quality audio with amps and all that, then I’d be looking at other brands with adaptor wiring kits and all that.


I will say that before CarPlay came along I was looking very closely at the Android based head units. Essentially a tablet in your car to your favourite navigation app and steam your music. Even as an Apple user this was really attractive since Apple didn’t have anything in the space and these were very cheap compared to traditional Pioneer/Sony/etc navigation head units and provided the ability to run any apps at all. For me one of the biggest wins would have been Torque Pro. These days, CarPlay/Android Auto is probably the better alternative since it runs on your Phone which means it’s getting upgraded over time, also your phone is permanently connected to the internet for anything you might need rather than having to manually connect to a hotspot or install a dedicated cellular modem in the car for the headunit.

[Sendo_VW_multivan_2010]

This is the feature. If the sound is good enough, then probably won’t need the picture.
I will try the head unit from the VW (Hizpo). See how it works In the multi.

[The_Hawk]

Yeah, I've never had that picture, only ever had beeps

[Sendo_VW_multivan_2010]

OPS Works well . All functions same as in Golf. Just have to fit reverse camera. I might fit 2 with a video switch . One for normal reverse angle , and one near stop light for higher view.


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