After being let down for fitting OEM Bluetooth to my Octy, I've now got about £500 burning a hole in my pocket! I know I can pick up a Columbus unit for around that price, so my question is, can I just swap out my Stream MP3 for the Columbus with no extra things required? It's an '07 reg Octy with Maxidot.

If I need other components what do I need? Or I suppose the better way to ask this question is, what's the whole process I'll need to undertake to fit a Columbus to my car?

Thanks in advance guys!

It should come with a magnetic GPS antenna you can stick inside the dash. It's just a 10 minute job to install then 2 mins in VCDS to code it to get it perfect....

Awesome, thanks buddy, just purchased one! Now time to grovel for VCDS... Lol!

After being let down for fitting OEM Bluetooth to my Octy, I've now got about £500 burning a hole in my pocket! I know I can pick up a Columbus unit for around that price, so my question is, can I just swap out my Stream MP3 for the Columbus with no extra things required? It's an '07 reg Octy with Maxidot.

If I need other components what do I need? Or I suppose the better way to ask this question is, what's the whole process I'll need to undertake to fit a Columbus to my car?

Thanks in advance guys!

As yours is a 07 plate, I'm not sure if there might be a problem with your battery going flat all the time due to the fan running in the headunit, if so you will also need a ' can-gateway ' ( I think its called ) fitted it costs about 80 quid,

I'm sure somebody on here,will be able to tell you more...

You will need a slightly different fascia trim too as the stream is not quite the same size as the columbus but pretty cheap for the pre FL cars.

Trim part number is 1Z0858069R2AU for silver assuming you've got climatronic.

Yeah I knew about the battery drain and luckily the one I've bought says there's no battery drain so I presume it's got the can gateway with it. I didn't know about the different trim, anyone know a price from Skoda? Or is there anywhere else cheaper?

I think it'll just have hybrid firmware pre-loaded (old can gateway code).

Ah right, fair enough. I don't really mind as long as it doesn't drain the battery. I've got 6 months warranty on the unit anyway, so if it does I can get it sorted.

Nick, when you fitted your Columbus, did you get that dual antenna adapter thing? If so, what's it for?! May be a noob question but it's use isn't that clear to me.

Let me know if you need a hand. It will only need coding if you have maxidot i would have thought, although mine is a FL so may pick up more things.

No, I bought the adapter separately later on so it's not pictured on my install photos. It's not really a big deal. Just plug into the right side antenna socket as shown above.

Let me know if you need a hand. It will only need coding if you have maxidot i would have thought, although mine is a FL so may pick up more things.

Awesome, thanks mate! The unit should be arriving early next week so I'll probably be fitting it straight away if I can. Let me know if and when you're free next week

No, I bought the adapter separately later on so it's not pictured on my install photos. It's not really a big deal. Just plug into the right side antenna socket as shown above.

Ah ok, that's good then!

The two antenna sockets are for the antenna diversity. Improves the reception.

But also for the TMC messages.

On the Octavias that are not having a second antenna yet (from 2009 on?), it is a bit more of a hassle to get a second antenna.

As the antenna needs a 12v feed over the antenna cable.

Check the Quadlock plug sticker on both of the units. The Columbus has a few leads that have to be changed.

(for the CD changer (if installed) and the aux in socket) Dont remember if there where leads that had to be changed for normal

operation (ie without the changer and aux in)

Trim panel here:http://www.skodaparts.com/product/octavia-vrs-radio-trim-31881 if you have climatronic?

Or dealer but shouldn't be much more than the price quoted here either way.

Its different if you have an FL climatronic, I just upgraded my old climatronic to the FL version and the fascia was 60 odd quid!

Awesome, thanks mate! The unit should be arriving early next week so I'll probably be fitting it straight away if I can. Let me know if and when you're free next week

Ah ok, that's good then!

No probs, i can come after work one day as i work in telford so free from 4.30.

Brilliant!

Right, as James has kindly offered to do the coding, what exactly does he need to do? Is it the same as on his FL, or is there a different process for pre-FL Octys?

Right, the Navi unit is coded in (BAP ticked, navigation ticked and short press menu system for the stalk is inactive) but when you go into navigation menu on the maxidot either manually or through starting guidance, you can't get out of it unless you turn the system off which will throw up the menu.

I have tried the short press system active and inactive and this doesn't make a difference. The only thing i can think is that the Can Gateway isn't fully compatible as it is an '07 reg car and it does say there is an incorrect code in the can gateway which comes back as soon as you clear it.

Any ideas?

What he said ^ lol

We were racking our brains earlier and really couldn't figure it out! So hopefully someone on here will shed some light onto the situation!

sound similar to the problem I had, have you tried downloading firmware fix?

See the fixes section here, it got mine working fine.

http://www.my-gti.com/3374/volkswagen-rns-510-firmware-upgrade-and-information

The old gateway with new unpatched firmware shouldn't make any difference other than battery drain. It's an '07 so it doesn't want BAP enabled. Have you enabled Navigation on the gateway installation list?

The old gateway with new unpatched firmware shouldn't make any difference other than battery drain. It's an '07 so it doesn't want BAP enabled. Have you enabled Navigation on the gateway installation list?

the seller reckoned it has modified firmware for battery drain. Bap didn't make a difference on or off, what's its for?

Yes navigation is ticked in the gateway

Here's the link to the ebay ad if it helps narrow down the issue:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320958433289?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_2790wt_1413

Ideally I'd like it to be running the new firmware to accept SDHC cards and then hopefully postcode search for the nav, but I'm not sure what firmware version it is atm etc so I'm reluctant to do it. I've contacted the seller asking what version it's on and also asked him why the speed cameras aren't showing up like it says in the ad. Just gotta hope for the best now!

The speed cameras will be in the poi list, none of these are shown as default, you have to go into the maps menu and tick them before they will show.

It should say the firmware version on the top label of the unit.

Right, I've heard back from the seller and he says like the above post, so I've managed to enable to speed cameras. He says the unit is on firmware version 1164. I've messaged him back asking whether updating the firmware will make me lose any features. My main worry is losing my maps as I don't have the CD, and I obviously don't want to lose TV free either.

Can someone tell me if I update the firmware whether I will lose either of those? Also, will I lose the music that I've saved to the hard drive as well?

Also, when I went for a drive today (first time since yesterday) I noticed that all of my nav options etc have been lost on the maxidot and nothing is showing up now. It's like it doesn't recognise that there's a head unit fitted. James can't get to me until the weekend at the earliest, so I was hoping someone would know of another way to get it working again? If I were to disconnect the battery would that reset the settings?

Right, I've heard back from the seller and he says like the above post, so I've managed to enable to speed cameras. He says the unit is on firmware version 1164. I've messaged him back asking whether updating the firmware will make me lose any features. My main worry is losing my maps as I don't have the CD, and I obviously don't want to lose TV free either.

Can someone tell me if I update the firmware whether I will lose either of those? Also, will I lose the music that I've saved to the hard drive as well?

Also, when I went for a drive today (first time since yesterday) I noticed that all of my nav options etc have been lost on the maxidot and nothing is showing up now. It's like it doesn't recognise that there's a head unit fitted. James can't get to me until the weekend at the earliest, so I was hoping someone would know of another way to get it working again? If I were to disconnect the battery would that reset the settings?

I have PM'd you a link for the firmware. You may lose the Video in Motion but i have a CD update hack for that. You may also lose your maps. Again i have a CD somewhere for that.

Having looked at this, i think i need to untick BAP to get the maxidot to work....It must code itself after a cold boot which we didn't do yesterday