hi all after searching through the forum and reading up on how to upgrade to the columbus stereo i just need clarification that this will just plug in with only the ariel adaptor to buy extra. i have a 57 plate vrs with the nexus sat nav and maxidot so im assuming i can just take out the nexus and just plug in the columbus and it will work with the exsisting sat nav factory aerial?? also with mine being a 57 plate will i need to do anything regarding battery drain?? and finally is it better to look for an english seller or are the foreign ones just as good?

Anyone before I take the plunge!!

The aerial adapter is only needed if you have two aerial inputs to the existing HU and a different connector to the Columbus. I have not seen the Nexus so cannot comment for definite.

The GPS should have the same connector and plug straight in.

You may have to update the firmware in the Columbus to work with Maxidot (and MFSW if yo have one) and might experience battery drain (depending upon which version of the CAN Gateway you have installed - look at the Ross Tech Wiki for a definitive answer when you know which module you have).

HTH

I'm assuming that the Nexus sat nav is the same as the MFD2? If it is, then the only thing you'll need is an adaptor for the radio aerial. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RNS510-MFD3-radio-antenna-adapter-VW-SEAT-RCD510-310-/180852157926?pt=UK_CE_GPS_Accessories_Software_ET&hash=item2a1ba0ede6

Apart from this, it'll use the existing sat nav aerial and will slot in the dash with no changes.

You will need to get the unit coded in as your car will need to know that it's got a Columbus fitted. I've yet to get this done and have lost a lot of the functionality of my Maxidot. The main thing is the navigation instructions in the maxidot. A friendly Briskoda member who lived near you may well be able to do the coding work for you! You shouldn't have any battery drain issues either - my vRS is a 57 plate and it hasn't had an issue.

The Columbus itself works brilliantly and it's a massive improvement over the MFD2. Get one (preferably from a trusted UK source) and enjoy. And see if you can get one which has the latest maps (at least V7) along with the latest software. That'll give you the 7-digit postcode search.

cheers guys thanks for your help!! now im sure it will fit straight in think im going to start looking for one now although there arent many in the uk on ebay ive noticed

You might want to try OEM Retrofits.

you might have to buy a new panel as the shape might be different, A silver one cost me near £40.

Apprently all columbus from eastern europe are stolen but you can get very good deal, i got the lastest one LED with manufacturing dated Dec 2011 for £400 to my door.

Make sure you get a code with Radio!!

Mines was staight plug and play but new facia panel was £40 and coded in cost £10

Edited 22 April, 201214 yr by tony2311

you might have to buy a new panel as the shape might be different, A silver one cost me near £40.

You won't need a new panel. The MFD2 is the same shape as the Columbus.

That is a statement you cannot make. Yes, some will turn out to be stolen, but to say they are ALL stolen is wrong and bang out of order

Mike

Thats why i said 'Might' . There was endless argument regarding unit from eastern europe, i brought mine from eastern europe via ebay and it was a excellant buy and everything working as it should

so are the ones from eastern europe ok to buy as im always wary of buying out of uk incase it never gets to me??

I personally got mine from a member on here, but there is inherent risk in getting one from abroad I suppose. There seem to be a really high number of units from Lithuania, why that is I will let you decide. There is a chap in Ireland who sells them for a reasonable price on ebay ...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-RNS510-COLUMBUS-SAT-NAV-SYSTEM-LED-2010-V-7-2-Maps-/251034832833?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item3a72d78fc1

Seems legit to me and it comes with a 6 month warrantee too (no idea what that's worth though!). It looks like it has the recent software in it too. It does look like it comes from a Superb (it's a 3TO unit, like the one I have) which may mean extra VCDS coding but it'll still work well.

wouldnt mind so much from ireland even though its still out of uk and he doesnt have bad feedback! so would this one just plug in and then get coded to work with my maxidot??

It will do. Mine certainly did. The only issue is that I don't have full Maxidot access any more, but I've been told a little recoding will sort that out. Just need to find a friendly VCDS-equipped member near to me!

When you say full maxidot access what do you mean?? Which things can't you see on there??

Surely is the seller been selling lots of sat nav units and have loads of positive , what can go wrong? i rather use then then some kid with no history of selling sat nav. Also the ones in eastern europe most would have been updated to latest map as they been doing it for a while and know what they are doing

When you say full maxidot access what do you mean?? Which things can't you see on there??

Basically, my maxidot will act perfectly well as a computer (mpg, average mpg, range etc.) but I only have a couple of the menus that you can adjust settings with - the convenience menu basically. I no longer have the sound or navigation options that I had previously. As I said, these can be sorted via VCDS but I haven't access to this yet.

I can get the nav on there at the min but nothing else apart from mpg etc! There is something else on there about speed warning but nothing ever shows on there?? What kind of things can be programmed to go on there??

If you press and hold the rocker switch on the end of the stalk it should bring up more options - although this will only work when the car is stationary. It should allow you to change settings such as whether the mirrors move independently or together, if you want the convenience settings etc. To be honest, I've not changed much as I don't know what they do! Someone on here will no doubt be able to tell you more about it than me - or you could search for maxidot and see what that comes up with.

Cheers big man thanks for your help

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180852157926?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 do i need one of these to go with it? just bought one for £385!!!

Only if you have two aerial leads going to the back of the stereo!

Do you have a window aerial in the rear quarter window or in the read window demister?

If not, then no you won't and the lack of a second aerial will make little difference to reception (as long as you plug it in to Antenna 2 socket) but will trigger an 'Open Circuit' fault when scanned with VCDS (nothing to worry about).

If you have two aerials, then yes you will as this will enable you to make use of the diversity function built in to the Columbus unit that automatically and seamlessly switches between aerials to provide the best reception.

not sure mine is 57 plate estate how can i tell if it has another aerial? ive just been informed by the seller that because i have a cd changer and aux point that i need to move two pins in the quadlock is this correct?

Mine was an '07 estate and I did not have to change any pins around (and I still have use of the CD changer). Try it first, then change the pins if it doesn't work or if you get 'buzzing' over the speakers.

As yours is a 57 plate, you probably won't have the second aerial - Sorry.

However, take a look in the rear side glass (driver's side I think) and see if there is anything that looks like a screen demister. If there is, that's the aerial.

If it's not there, have a look at the rear screen demister and look for two vertical lines. That is usually a give away of having an aerial there.

I'm currently trying to work out a way of adding second aerial to an Octavia and will update my thread with any news. I think I'm getting closer though....

Cheers will just plug it in first and see what happens

You may well have to change the pins - I had no idea this was needed but as my aux input and CD changer haven't worked properly since the Columbus was fitted, I guess that is the cause. TBH, I have my music on an SD card so it's not a major issue for me!

As for the aerial adaptor, my MFD2 had a single aerial input but the Columbus required a split input. The single plug didn't fit at all.