Hi all.

 

To start with I will let you know my car......  It is a 2008 pre frace lift skoda octavia VRs so the Z1 engine I think.

 

My questions are this.

 

I am wanting to go back to a standard stereo because I think my after market unit is messing with my parking sensors and also the surround looks horrible.

 

I saw I unit in a Seat Leon which had DAB, USB, AUX and also Bluetooth I think...... 

 

Does anyone know which unit I need that will have those features on? and also will I need anything extra to make this work?

 

My last question is would a newer steering wheel fit and work on my car because i would like steering wheel controls as-well?

 

Many thanks in advance for the information

 

 

Thomas Spence.

Edited 30 June, 201411 yr by Tom1984

DAB, Nav, BT and Aux are on Amundsen/Amundsen+/RNS310/RNS315. What you probably saw in the Leon was a 315. Although not all are standard; the options are BT and/or/nor DAB.

USB is added by adding an MDI kit. You can interchange the end cable between USB and iDevice. Although as the RNS31x has an SDCard, there is little gained by adding MDI, unless you want to connect an iDevice.

It will stream music from a BT device too.

 

What you won't get is climate or parking displays, although the parking beeps will still be there as they're not related to the stereo. If you wanted to get the parking display working again, you'd need to replace the sensors and controller, or go for something expensive like a Polar FIS+ which should convert the older system to BAP (the protocol for a RNS31x)

 

However, if you find the right RSN31x, there's a reverse camera input, which effectively negates the need for the parking sensor display. You can be more accurate too, I can get the towbar within an inch what I've reversing to.

 

Depending on what climate controls you've got, a pukka fascia from your local friendly Skoda dealer should be no more than a tenner.

 

I suspect someone will come along about the Columbus + separate BT option too. DAB Columbus is definitely a sit down before you see the price option though ;)

Thanks for the help :-) will look into this all.  Do you know about the steering wheel question by any chance?

I'm sorry my friend, I don't. I have the original MFSW and it doesn't work with the RNS315. Am looking into the PolarFIS+ box, but that's a very not cheap.

 

Quite a few people have done it though, but I don't know what's involved.

Ok thanks for this.  Last question....  Will I need to buy the Bluetooth kits and Nav antenna for this stereo as well?

Edited 3 July, 201411 yr by Tom1984

When looking, you need to see if there's a MAC code on the side. It's a bunch of numbers looking like xx-xx-xx-xx-xx-xx-xx-xx. If they're all zeros, then the unit Doesn't have BT. If they are anything other than zeros, its a BT unit. A GPS unit is about a fiver off eBay. You'll need a mic too, easily found on eBay, this fits behind the little grille in the front interior light.

 

DAB is a round black connector in the top-left of the unit as you look at the back. That needs it's own aerial about £20 from dabonwheels.co.uk

 

The reverse camera is a long rectangular connector. It's not cheap option to utilise though, as you need the camera (a good one is £80) and a controller (about £150). Apparently there are cheaper versions out there, which don't need a controller, but I have no hands-on knowledge with these. You'd need a little bit of coding too. This is usually in beer tokens to your local friendly VCDS owner

This is the unit I am looking at

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vw-Audi-Seat-Skoda-Sat-Nav-Genuine-Rns315-DAB-WITH-THE-CODE-/271534918467?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_GPSSystems_GPSSystems&hash=item3f38be0b43

 

Will this fit?

All looks good on that. Although I would ask for confirmation that it definitely has BT. (Just to be sure)

 

What fascia do you have at the moment?

What will be different is when you switch it on it will show either a VW logo or the Seat logo for about 5 seconds, and the buttons and menus will be red instead of green. Operationally everything is the same. The red is only a problem if you are seriously OCD ;)

 

Even though the picture shows parking display, it won't work in your car as the car is PDC and the headunit it OPS. You can change from PDC to OPS, but it is a bit of a faff.

 

The pictures don't show if it's got RVC on it or not.

Photo attached is my unit in the car now

Photo attached is my unit in the car now

You will need a new surround if buying that stereo from ebay.

Your surround is for a stream or Balero sized head unit which has a larger face.

You need the same size trim as for fitting a Columbus like this, but the pre fl version.

You will need a new surround if buying that stereo from ebay.

Your surround is for a stream or Balero sized head unit which has a larger face.

You need the same size trim as for fitting a Columbus like this, but the pre fl version.

Do the Columbus come with all the features at the unit I am looking at? or If I went for the unit I am looking at do I just need to change the silver surround???? if so what will I need to get??

Edited 3 July, 201411 yr by Tom1984

What will be different is when you switch it on it will show either a VW logo or the Seat logo for about 5 seconds, and the buttons and menus will be red instead of green. Operationally everything is the same. The red is only a problem if you are seriously OCD ;)

 

Even though the picture shows parking display, it won't work in your car as the car is PDC and the headunit it OPS. You can change from PDC to OPS, but it is a bit of a faff.

 

The pictures don't show if it's got RVC on it or not.

Is there anyway I could change it to green via software or do I need to look down the route of SMD conversions?

Something like this

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Columbus-LED-DAB-sat-nav-navigation-Octavia-Superb-Fabia-RNS-510-/321448582383?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_GPSSystems_GPSSystems&hash=item4ad7d41cef

??

Do the Columbus come with all the features at the unit I am looking at? or If I went for the unit I am looking at do I just need to change the silver surround???? if so what will I need to get??

I think you can get a Columbus with DAB but I don't think they do one with in built bluetooth, the later ones with DAB tend to be rather expensive.

I was purely using that as a reference for the trim you need, if you tell a dealer you are after a Columbus trim they will know what you mean, my unit is an aftermarket one not a Columbus.

Do the Columbus come with all the features at the unit I am looking at? or If I went for the unit I am looking at do I just need to change the silver surround???? if so what will I need to get??

 

Columbus doesn't have bluetooth built-in, you'd have to buy and install the Bluetooth module separately. Columbus has DAB as an option, but be sitting down before you start looking at prices. Basic Columbus is more expensive than RNS315 too. You can have POI on the havigation, and store music on the internal HDD too. IMHO neither are worth the extra money.

 

There is no software conversion for the LEDs in the buttons either, unless you fancy getting the soldering iron out. You'd still have the original VW/Seat logo though.

 

You would need a new fascia too. (For either Columbus or RNS315).........

Black: http://www.skodaparts.com/product/octavia-navigation-trim-2004-2008-31876

Silver: http://www.skodaparts.com/product/octavia-vrs-radio-trim-31881

I think I will have to go for the RNS315.  Will those fascia's fit both units? I don't see the point in spending more money on less really when the RNS315 does everything I would like apart from a logo and colour (The colour will change to green lol)