T5.2 (2011+) OEM retrofits: RNS510 nav, 9W7 bluetooth, RVC, MFSW

[YellowLemon]

See below in this thread for information on these additions to my T5.2 Comfortline Multivan:

• RNS510 navigation radio
• 9W7 bluetooth kit and microphone mounting
• RVC rear view camera
• Steering wheel with DSG paddles, multifunction buttons, and flat bottom from mk6 Golf R
• Extra 12V sockets on top of the centre trim (like in the new MY2015 T5.2) and in the glovebox (constant on)
• Add light to glovebox. VW DIDN'T PUT A LIGHT IN THERE?!? What a joke.
• LED bright number plate lights (from R-dash)
• Rear fog lights rewired as backup brake lights (2x diodes on each tail light assembly)

I've started separate threads for these mods:

• Mirror electric folding retrofit
• Mirror puddle lights and turn signals/indicators
• DRL daytime LED lights in front bumper
• Front door warning and puddle lights

Still to do:

• Put LED strip in rear reflectors as brake lights (saw this on a UK forum, looked pretty cool)
  Link: White van man T5 Transporter - Readers Rides.... - Edition 38 Forums - this is still pending.
  Plenty of parts on eBay to have a go at adding the LED strips, have a look for part numbers 7E0945106/7E0945105 (R/L)

RNS510
Great info in the forum sticky: http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/...ery-54477.html
To get to the 4 screws holding the RNS510, first unclip the trim at the TOP of the centre dash, by pulling vertically up, and this reveals two torx screws holding on the front fascia of the centre portion of the dash.

9W7 BLUETOOTH MODULE

1. The stock location for the bluetooth black box in the T5.2 Transporter/Multivan is under the driver seat. (thanks IN2VWS) However carsystems.pl support says they prefer installing it behind the dash, saying there is plenty of room.
   
   Links:
   

   http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f136/my11-multivan-bluetooth-can-fitted-later-55959.html?highlight=bluetooth

   
   

   http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f78/help-fitting-aftermarket-bluetooth-my-2013-multivan-91008.html?highlight=multivan

   
   
   
2. The A-pillar is held on with clips but you have to remove the unscrew the grab handle first (after removing the handle cover).
   
   
3. The microphone usually has a separate bracket in the T5, part number 7H5 857 155. Although the centre overhead light console also has a spot for the microphone - see posts below for how to fit.
   

RVC REAR VIEW CAMERA

Best path for the wiring: Up in the roof liner and then down the A-pillar sounds easier than along the floor on the sides (which needs unclipping of the sliding door steps/sills, what a pain!). See post below for update on the RVC install!


GOLF mk6 R - FLAT BOTTOM MFSW MULTIFUNCTION STEERING WHEEL

Since this Multivan has no buttons whatsoever, I will need to run two wires to the steering wheel slip-ring/clockspring: one for 12V power and one to the BCM for LIN-bus connection to the little module inside the steering wheel. See post below for instructions.

[Sunny43.5]

I can help with two items , 1/ the pillar trims just pull off they are held with Christmas tree style clips . 2 / my suggestion for reverse camera wiring is to run it through the roof area along the passengers side . I used a length of flat plastic stuff from the hardware about two metres long remove the rubber bridging grommet at the top of the tailgate once you have the wires through the tailgate you can then use the plastic thing to feed the wires along the topside of the roof trim . If you pull the roof trim away from the side at the front pass door you should see the end of the plastic guide with the wires attached showing just there . pull the wires through and fit them into the holders running down the pillar and then refit the edge of the roof trim back in place along with the pillar trim Good luck with the mods . Howard PS reason for passengers side is it is easier to route the wires from the pillar to the radio as you can remove the glove box which makes it very easy to get into the back of the radio . The radio is held in with 4 screws , once you unclip the top part above the radio remove two screws holding the top of the facia and then just pull it off . .

[YellowLemon]

Thank you for the info!

[IN2VWS]

My bluetooth black box is under the driver's seat.

[YellowLemon]

RNS510 DAB+ has arrived from Poland in 3 days with UPS
Carsystems shipment with RVC, 9W7 BT, MFSW flat bottom wheel & airbag arrived after 4 days with FedEx, and I got hit with a $250 "Customs charge"!!! The whole order was only ~$1000. Stupid FedEx.

[Sharkie]

RNS510 DAB+ has arrived from Poland in 3 days with UPS
Carsystems shipment with RVC, 9W7 BT, MFSW flat bottom wheel & airbag arrived after 4 days with FedEx, and I got hit with a $250 "Customs charge"!!! The whole order was only ~$1000. Stupid FedEx.

Out of interest, where did you order the MFSwheel from?

[YellowLemon]

Carsystems have them complete with airbag. Or you can search ebay.com and ebay.de and get lucky sometimes .. if you buy the airbag and wheel separate it can be cheaper by $100-200 but risky if you don't know the exact matching parts. The carsystems one comes with matching airbag and wiring harness (the existing harness won't have MFSW connectors if you don't have MFSW already .. if you do have MFSW and just want paddles+flat bottom, you don't need the harness at all, just use the existing one.)

I suspect I was hit with the tax because the total order was >$1000 (not sure now because it was all in EURO, depending on the conversion etc etc...) At least the Polish guy had the decency to call the rns510 a '$50 car part' hahaha

[YellowLemon]

Rear view camera

Rear View Camera

I got the lowline camera and harness for Transporter/Multivan. Didn't need the extra handle bar because I just cut a hole in my existing one.

Two caveats:
1. I went the path along the floor rather than in the headlining. The branch in the wiring harness for the yellow wire to connect to the reverse light is thus placed at the perfect position BUT: it's very difficult to remove and replace the door sill steps without breaking the clips. All my clips are now broken, luckily it doesn't make a difference and the step still sits fine. Maybe the headlining route would have been better.

2. The camera hole needs to be cut in the plastic trim 10mm offset from centre, because the back of the camera is asymmetrical. The catch is, I accidentally mounted the camera UPSIDE DOWN at first, and thus cut the hole IN THE WRONG PLACE!! So I had to grind away some metal from the bootlid - not visible at all, just a disappointment. So: on my camera the STICKER WAS ON THE BOTTOM. It was a shame there was NO MARKING TO INDICATE THE TOP OF THE CAMERA. If you get it right, no grinding of metal is required and the camera sits perfectly through the existing hole.

Step 1: Remove the pins RNS510 side of camera harness so you can thread the wire easily from boot toward dash.


Step 2: The top grey trim from the bootlid just unclips with a hearty tug.


There are two screws behind this handle.


Then the entire back panel of the boot just unclips. Start by pulling at the far end (I put my finger in the emergency boot release hole and yanked away.)


This is the hole where the elongated back of the camera pokes through.


Run the wire along here. Silicone spray really helped get the wire through the rubber tube.


The reverse light signal can be tapped behind this panel. You have to remove the rear light cluster, the rear light wire at the connector is the wire furthest on the right (use a multimeter to confirm) - you have to unwrap the cloth tape and tap the wire further down (once inside the cab, past the rubber boot)


Push the wire along here behind the trim. Make sure it doesn't foul the back seat. This took a bit of fiddling to get the wire right by pulling and pushing.


You can unclip the entire step by pulling straight up but putting it back on is a total b!tch.


Go past under the B pillar here


And under the front step, under the carpet, towards the centre console gear lever trim.


I pulled the whole lower dash apart, starting from left (passenger) to right (driver). It's not hard, but it's time consuming, undoing all the torx screws and yanking at clips.


Removing the gear lever trim made getting the wire under the carpet really easy. Here is where some of the screws are located.


There are hidden screws to remove the central trim here - but you have to pretty much remove the entire driver side lower trim to get to them.

[YellowLemon]

9W7 Bluetooth

1. I placed the 9W7 black box behind the centre console because there is bucketloads of room for it there. I wrapped it in some non-slip mat to stop rattles. This keeps under the driver's seat free for a later under-seat subwoofer upgrade

2. The "extra trim" for the microphone is not needed .. and there is no need to cut the headliner... (cringe). The little vents up in the centre roof console are indeed for the microphone, but when you remove the console, the space for the microphone hasn't been "cut out" at the factory. But it's definitely the right place because you can see they even left a little hole for the mic wire to poke through.

So get the dremel out and cut away the space.


And glue the mic in it's spot.

[YellowLemon]

MFSW steering wheel with DSG paddles

Ordered the MFSW steering wheel with paddles from the States - eBay.
Ordered the airbag including MFSW wiring harness from carsystem.pl.
All up $700-800 incl. shipping.

Make sure you have the correct 12-spline bit and torques wrench to remove and refit the steering wheel. Otherwise it's very straight forward.

As this car never had an MFSW whatsoever, I had to run two wires from the clockspring/slipring connector at the steering wheel to the BCM (LIN bus) and light switch (power+).

Removing the steering wheel column to run the wires is easy.


The wiring is easy too. You can get the wires with the correct pin pre-wired from alibaba/ebay/vw dealer ("repair wire" it's called). Need about 80cm length for each and just follow the existing harness. The BCM is really easily accessible once you remove the trim.


You can confirm all is working well even without coding - if the MFSW buttons light up if you switch the lights on after fitting, then your LINbus and power connections are good. But the MFSW won't work until you code the BCM with "MFSW present". The buttons and paddles will work great with the radio and DSG. And suddenly I can access the menus is the instrument cluster, which was IMPOSSIBLE with the washer stalk stick controls I had previously!

Now I can change radio channels without accidentally knocking the DSG into neutral!

Link up with detailed instructions I followed - it is for a POLO 6R but the T5.2 and POLO 6R are pretty much identical electrically (the parts are even numbered 6R0 xxx xxx) - UK-POLOS.NET • View topic - 6R - Multifunction Steering Wheel Retrofit

[YellowLemon]

Other small upgrades

The latest 2015 T5.2 have a cigarette lighter on top of the centre console so I wanted one too!
Part off the shelf from jaycar (dual USB charger):


And added a LIGHT and extra 12V SOCKET to the glovebox:

[Sunny43.5]

Great write up and photos I still think the roof is the better route but hey it's done now . Don't you just love the suicide clips used these days , welcome to my world . I fit sunroofs to new cars and believe me there are some doozies out there , I miss the good old days when things were screwed in . These days you have to drink a lot and be prepared to use foul four letter words when trying to remove some of these nightmares . Whatever you do don't try and remove the interior grab handles and visors of the new Golf 7 .

[YellowLemon]

These days you have to drink a lot and be prepared to use foul four letter words when trying to remove some of these nightmares.

Ah yea those are wise words. The poor neightbours heard a few of those over the weekend I'm afraid. That's why I generally recommend if you want RVC, just tick the option on your order and pay the $, the retrofit is not worth the hassle and tears. But with a used vehicle you often don't have a choice and now that it's all done the pain is quickly forgotten and I can enjoy the little comforts

[nicmic72]

Hi guys, great write up of all your mods, but could anyone awnser me this, I have a 2011 multivan with rns 510 radio with blue tooth but it's not recognizing our iPhone, I have heard that the early models indeed not do this. Is there a way to make this work with updating the firmware or do I have to install a new 9w7 Bluetooth kit??
Secondly I do not have a RVC and would love to put one in, is there a write up that explaines how to go through the roof instead of the floor!!!???
Cheers

[YellowLemon]

I have a 2011 multivan with rns 510 radio with blue tooth but it's not recognizing our iPhone

2011 MY bluetooth works fine with iPhone.
1. Have you tested with another phone and it's all working OK? So the problem is JUST iPhone?
2. What do you mean 'not recognising'? Ie, you go through the MFD menu, do "Add new phone", and it can't see your phone? Have you put your phone into pairing mode first.
2. Just after you turn on the car ignition, on your phone do a bluetooth scan can you see "VW" in the bluetooth list? Just add that (from the phone) and it should work fine.

Secondly I do not have a RVC and would love to put one in, is there a write up that explaines how to go through the roof instead of the floor!!!???

Yes that's easy, the kufatec one is here

You'll need a sturdy wire or bluetongue to fish/push the wire through, there's plenty of space, just make sure you don't foul the side airbags if you have 'em.