Hi everyone,

I'm brand spanking new to the forum and have been having a look around, as I'm on the verge of buying a shiny new Octy Scout (while the VAT deal is still on).

I'm currently speccing up my Scout, and trying to make sense of all the optional extras (not the easiest of tasks!).

I'm going for the 4 spoke multi-function steering wheel (minus the Bluetooth option), together with the Columbus Sat Nav.

I want to be able to hook up my ipod and play via the car stereo.

I'm just a bit confused about what connections I'll need.

My OH has a VW Golf GTI and the lead that came free with that allows you to play the ipod via the stereo, via the Media In option.

I see that Skoda has the option of the MDI (which requires an additional adapter?).

I've found a link, which someone very kindly and helpfully put on this site, which lists the accessories for the Octys - and that includes a whole list of media accessories. Skoda Accessories

I'm now really confused about what lead/accessories I need.

Basically, I want to know what equipment I need to be able to play and operate the ipod through the steering wheel/car stereo - accessing albums, etc.

I've looked back over the previous posts, but didn't find anything, so please forgive me if it's been asked before. I'll gladly take the rap if that's the case - if someone can just point me in the right direction.

Thanks and/or apologies in advance.

I've never really understood why anyone would spec the MDI.

Rather than remembering to take your iPod with you and then having to plug it in why not just copy your music onto an SD card (£10-£30) and slot it straight into the SD reader built in to the cars head unit?

I've never really understood why anyone would spec the MDI.

Rather than remembering to take your iPod with you and then having to plug it in why not just copy your music onto an SD card (£10-£30) and slot it straight into the SD reader built in to the cars head unit?

The advantage of the iPod is that I have around 90gb of music on it (700+ albums) and like to play it on shuffle, so that every song is a pleasant surprise.

But I do see your point of keeping it simple.

I have MDI on a Bolero not a Columbus and 4 spoke MFSW (no phone version) so bear in mind your proposed setup may not be exactly the same.

What you get is a socket in the passenger side glovebox for which you need to buy an adaptor lead for whatever you want to connect. It supplies power (while the ignition is on)as well as data transfer. I have a USB connector and have connected an 80GB USB hard drive. For your IPOD you need the ipod connector lead. Cost from Skoda dealer is around £25 - I got mine used off Ebay for £10.

As for steering wheel control you can adjust the volume and skip tracks with the controls at the left of the wheel. If you have selected audio on the maxidot the controls on the right of the steering wheel also control the MDI but I haven't played much with this so not sure what it does.

With the Bolero and HDD you cannot randomise across the whole disk - only within a folder. May be different with the ipod.

Edited 10 December, 201015 yr by eccleshill

I have MDI on a Bolero not a Columbus and 4 spoke MFSW (no phone version) so bear in mind your proposed setup may not be exactly the same.

What you get is a socket in the passenger side glovebox for which you need to buy an adaptor lead for whatever you want to connect. It supplies power (while the ignition is on)as well as data transfer. I have a USB connector and have connected an 80GB USB hard drive. For your IPOD you need the ipod connector lead. Cost from Skoda dealer is around £25 - I got mine used off Ebay for £10.

As for steering wheel control you can adjust the volume and skip tracks with the controls at the left of the wheel. If you have selected audio on the maxidot the controls on the right of the steering wheel also control the MDI but I haven't played much with this so not sure what it does.

With the Bolero and HDD you cannot randomise across the whole disk - only within a folder. May be different with the ipod.

Thanks Eccleshill, that's really useful.

Pardon my ignorance (still trying to make sense of the options, with the little information that the website/brochures give you). so the MDI is basically the connector socket - and I'll need the lead (be it ipod, usb etc) to plug into it also?

Yes, you will. Works ok, I like how the track/album/artist details are displayed on the Bolero when using the iPod (but not the album artwork). I had a similar lead on my previous car, a Mk5 Golf Gti, which worked well but displayed no track etc information. The MDI in my Skoda has one fault the Golf never had though. The MDI likes to keep playing the iPod even when there is no one around to listen. I have about 4000 tracks on my iPod and leave it in the glovebox hooked up to the MDI at all times. I play the tracks sequentially most times and at least a couple of times a month I'll switch off listening to The Clash and next day switch on to find I'm now listening to Donovan! Don't know why, but obviously less annoying if you are listening in shuffle mode. Or have a better taste in music.

I too have just bought a Scout and it has been "fully Optioned", sun roof, electric driver's seat Columbus with Bluetooth and MDI. I bought a connector off ebay and it works sometimes. It does stop the track where you were and if it re-starts it picks up where you left off. The problem is is that it does not always restart, infact more often than not the MDI button shows nothing connected.

In 2003 I bought a Sony unit for my Camry and that was far more user friendly than the Columbus seems to be.

I did read somewhere that there is a box you can buy that plugs into the MDI socket in the glovebox and will then enable the Columbus unit to display artwork etc, does anyone have any experience of this. I am in Western Australia and my dealer is not very helpful or even knowlegable.

Why don't you consider playing music through bluetooth which is very convenient and accesible. No other cable or connector necessary. The sound quality is perfect . The best way for me is using my iphone to play music . I like to have not many devices and cables , etc

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