Hi all,

I've been reading some previous threads about upgrading from a stream to a bolero HU. I'm keen to change it and i understand that i may need to change the gateway if its older than rev K.

I have a couple questions if anyone can help. Basically what are the advantages of the bolero over the stream apart from it obviously looks better? Is the sound quality better?

Also, i've read a comment about an issue with screen brightness (not being able to read it in the sunlight). Is this common? Are there any other potential problems? Will my Aux In conn work with the bolero?

Is it a case of plug and play or would i need any other parts to change it?

Would the people that have made the change recommend it or is it a lot of hassle for not much gain?

If the gateway does need changing i probably wont bother as i dont know anyone with VCDS.

Thanks in advance, Lee

The Bolero is a good unit, screen brightness does cause me problems at times but I have it set to dark for most of my driving is at night (certainly in winter).

Unless the Stream head unit is truly god-awful then sound quality will probably be determined 99% by the speakers I would think.

Sound Quality - much better

Gateway - yes, you will need to change it

You will also need a FAKRA splitter (about £15) as the Bolero has two aerial connections and the radio doesn't work properly without both connected

Screen Brightness - I seem to have an issue with this, the screen is very dim unless I switch the lights on and then off again - I am checking the pin outs on the radio today to see if anything has moved between Stream and Bolero

You will lose your PDC and climate display on the HU

BUT

you will gain the ability to play mp3s from SD Card and the inbuilt 6 disc CD changer

Oh, and my MFSW volume controls don't work anymore, but the mute and next track buttons work fine

I have also lost the audio display on Maxidot, but that was pretty useless anyway so not that bothered! - This might be something to do with the later units being BAP not CAN for communication with Maxidot.

Sound Quality - much better

Gateway - yes, you will need to change it

You will also need a FAKRA splitter (about £15) as the Bolero has two aerial connections and the radio doesn't work properly without both connected

Screen Brightness - I seem to have an issue with this, the screen is very dim unless I switch the lights on and then off again - I am checking the pin outs on the radio today to see if anything has moved between Stream and Bolero

You will lose your PDC and climate display on the HU

BUT

you will gain the ability to play mp3s from SD Card and the inbuilt 6 disc CD changer

Oh, and my MFSW volume controls don't work anymore, but the mute and next track buttons work fine

I have also lost the audio display on Maxidot, but that was pretty useless anyway so not that bothered! - This might be something to do with the later units being BAP not CAN for communication with Maxidot.

Thanks for eplying guys. You sound pretty certain that i will need to change the gateway! My car was registered in Dec 2006, is there a chance that it may be rev K or later?

I'm not worried about the MFSW as i dont have one! And my parking sensors are after market so that wont affect me. Its just this bloody gateway thats holding me up. Is there a way of finding out the revision without physically looking at it?

Is the radio reception better on the bolero? Sometimes is not great on the stream, especially if the weathers not great? I dont think the tuner in the stream is very good, hopefully that will be better in the bolero as well?

Doubt if yours is a revision K - mine was a F on a car a year older than yours.

Anyone with VCDS can scan your car and tell you.

Radio reception on the Bolero is very good, but no LW if you are a Test Match Special fan on Radio 4!

Just checked and mine was a Revision F on a 2006MY car registered October 2006. 99.99999999999999% certain you will have to upgrade the gateway.

What a pain in the arse!

If I'm upgarding from a Skoda Swing player ...will i need a new parking sensor module for the Bolero to display the parking sensors on the screen ....or will they work without any modification (excluding vcds of course !!)??

Thanks!

(Only got rear parking sensors)

Octavia II FL 1.8tsi '09

Right, i've had the glovebox off in the part no on the gateway reads 1K0907530H. I assume this is rev H and therefore i need to change the gateway is you guys suggested?

Been there, installed it, removed it 2 days later!! Sound quality was marginally better, but my bug bear was the screen brightness. As previously mentioned the climatronic info doesn't display and iirc it will not work with maxi-dot. On the plus side, it looked good!

Obviously it's your choice, but you are probably looking at £300+ for the HU, gateway and fakra splitter so you need to decide if it's worth it.

HTH, Lee.

Been there, installed it, removed it 2 days later!! Sound quality was marginally better, but my bug bear was the screen brightness. As previously mentioned the climatronic info doesn't display and iirc it will not work with maxi-dot. On the plus side, it looked good!

Obviously it's your choice, but you are probably looking at £300+ for the HU, gateway and fakra splitter so you need to decide if it's worth it.

HTH, Lee.

Yeah its getting to the stage where i'm questioning whether or not its worth it.

So its not just a case of changing the HU and the gateway? It would then need to be programmed usind VCDS?

Also, what would be the correct procedure, i.e. would i need to plug VCDS first to make note of the values, remove HU, remove gateway, install new gateway, install new HU, re-programme via VCDS?

probably a silly question ----

can anyone tell me how can i see the can gateway number using vcds ?? so i know if i have to change the gateway to have ops on columbus

Plug in VCDS, open controller 19 CAN gateway, and the part number comes up on the opening screen. You'll get the revision letter from here.

Mike

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Address 19: CAN Gateway Labels: 1K0-907-530.lbl

Part No SW: 1K0 907 530 S HW: 1K0 907 951

Component: J533__Gateway H16 0210

Revision: H16 Serial number: 3400K09406010C

Coding: E9A07F06000202001303

Shop #: WSC 33361 790 00000

VCID: 37762982791792A4

No fault code found.

Mike, this is my can gateway .....do i need a new can gateway for ops on the columbus .

Thanks!

No, it is revision S you've got. All will be well, no battery drain with this revision..

Mike

Thanks alot Mike !!!

It looks like i can get a rev AA gateway on Ebay £85 delivered, brand new. The bolero i'm looking at is £140 and about £18 for the fakra splitter. So £250 all in. Does that sound reasonable?

All i would to do is find someone with VCDS to help with the programming.

Would i be able fit the HU and gateway first and then have it plugged in, or does it need to be plugged in prior to the new install?

No, it is revision S you've got. All will be well, no battery drain with this revision..

Mike

One more question for you Mike !!

I'm getting a parking sensor controller 1Z0 919 475 B very cheaply and from what I have read it seems that it will support display for ops on the columbus ...

Is this right ?? And if I get the controller will it be direct swap(i have 1Z0 919 475 right now ) or will i need extra wiring to the can gateway??

Thanks Once again for all your help !

Edited 21 March, 201115 yr by pz1811

Sorry, can't help you, not sure about he Parkins sensor. Not wanting it on my Columbus, it's not something I've ever looked at.

Mike

Thanks for your help !!!

I am putting a columbus satnav in my recently purchased car so will shortly have a spare Bolero unit if anyone is interested in offering me something for it? (Its the 6cd autochanger one.. but you probably knew that already..I'm new!!)

Cheers,

It looks like i can get a rev AA gateway on Ebay £85 delivered, brand new. The bolero i'm looking at is £140 and about £18 for the fakra splitter. So £250 all in. Does that sound reasonable?

All i would to do is find someone with VCDS to help with the programming.

Would i be able fit the HU and gateway first and then have it plugged in, or does it need to be plugged in prior to the new install?

Thats an excellent price, would can expect to pay that just for the Bolero!

One thing to check - has the Bolero come out of an Octavia or a Superb?

The Octavia ones are the same size as a Stream unit, the Superb ones are smaller and you will need a different facia surround as well.

One thing to check - has the Bolero come out of an Octavia or a Superb?

The Octavia ones are the same size as a Stream unit, the Superb ones are smaller and you will need a different facia surround as well.

I didn't realise that, i'll check it out, thanks andy.

It may just be my eyesight, but the screen looks bigger on an Octavia one as well!

I think the ones from the Yeti are the same as the Octavia, but no doubt someone will confirm

It may just be my eyesight, but the screen looks bigger on an Octavia one as well!

I think the ones from the Yeti are the same as the Octavia, but no doubt someone will confirm

I think you're right Andy as the ones i've seen on Ebay are advertised as fitting the Octavia and the Yeti, no mention of the Superb.

Are you happy with you're Bolero upgrade, was it worth the considerable amount of effort?

Yes, I am. The sound quality is much better than the Stream/Stream MP3/Nexus I have had fitted in the last 6 months !!!!!!

And much easier to play mp3s back from the SD card than messing about with the Dension Gateway 300 I had.

The downsides I have at the moment are

• Display Brightness - I need to turn the headlights on and then off again to get the backlight to come on
• MFSW volume controls don't work - slightly annoying but not a big issue as the next/previous track buttons work
• No Audio display on Maxidot - not bothered about this in the slightest
• Doesn't detect the boot mounted CDC - not bothered about this as I will take this out anyway and free up the space in the cubby hole

Also, this is the best TP and TIM implementation I have had on any HU - I have actually started using it after 15 years of not using TP!

The Bolero I got was brand new and out of a new car so is likely to be a BAP unit so that probably explains the issues. Also, it probably only works with the MFSW from a FL which (I think) has a scroll wheel for volume, not buttons.

Just need to get a genuine hands free kit now as I have seen how well these integrate with the Bolero/Columbus units and touch screen on Mike Holroyds car.

Yes, I am. The sound quality is much better than the Stream/Stream MP3/Nexus I have had fitted in the last 6 months !!!!!!

And much easier to play mp3s back from the SD card than messing about with the Dension Gateway 300 I had.

The downsides I have at the moment are

• Display Brightness - I need to turn the headlights on and then off again to get the backlight to come on
• MFSW volume controls don't work - slightly annoying but not a big issue as the next/previous track buttons work
• No Audio display on Maxidot - not bothered about this in the slightest
• Doesn't detect the boot mounted CDC - not bothered about this as I will take this out anyway and free up the space in the cubby hole

Also, this is the best TP and TIM implementation I have had on any HU - I have actually started using it after 15 years of not using TP!

The Bolero I got was brand new and out of a new car so is likely to be a BAP unit so that probably explains the issues. Also, it probably only works with the MFSW from a FL which (I think) has a scroll wheel for volume, not buttons.

Just need to get a genuine hands free kit now as I have seen how well these integrate with the Bolero/Columbus units and touch screen on Mike Holroyds car.

Thanks for the reply. What is a BAP unit?