So Happy Thursday it was not as I found someone had smashed my passenger window on my Mk2 Superb Estate and robbed the Columbus Sat NaV,

 

How very nice.....W****** the lot of them.

 

Anyway, please can someone have a quick look at the gaping hole that is now in my dash and see if everything is as it should be

 

https://goo.gl/photos/h5AATBjmqkbvAAts9

 

I am probably going to install a Pumpkin or an Xtrons unit in the car now as Columbus Sat-Nav are hugely expensive, there are some cheap ones on ebay but I guess you have to question the origin of some of these units...as I have unfortunately found out..

 

I guess I have a few questions and this thread is probably not the best place to be asking them, anyway

 

• Why can't you just use the internal Microphone instead of routing a new one that come with most aftermarket headunits?
• Why can't you use the cars internal GPS?..or is this integral to the columbus sat-navs??

 

Many Thanks in Advance :)

 

 

That (to be fair) looks like a careful removal rather than the usual smash, rive, and cut the wires issue. All the connections have been removed correctly.

 

As regards the questions you've raised, the microphone could be specific to the head unit you buy, as might the GPS antenna. You could possibly use the fitted ones, but I'm not sure of the result.

 

If you need a Columbus, I have a trade in one here which came from a forum member last year, it's going cheap and I'll fit and code it for you up here near Richmond.

Hiya,

 

Thanks for the reply, that is exactly what I told the police, it's a very clear job,used trim removal tools as the facia was undamaged, no damage to the actually dash structure and the went in via the passenger window which meant I could still drive the car home

 

New glass has been fitted today.....

 

I am in Leeds so you are not too far away..

 

 

Looking at your post I guess mine would be the one I've made bold ??

 

https://goo.gl/photos/idjRgoyWUuB2Zpcp6  << this is how it should look ..grrrr???...

 

 

 

GPS antenna (magnetic/3mtr cable) : -                   £6          £5

 

Standard Columbus unit : -                                    £340     £320  1 left

 

Columbus SSD unit : -                                           £390      £370  None available.<<<<<<<<<<<<<

 

Columbus DAB/HDD unit : -                                   £415      £395 1 left

 

Columbus DAB/SSD unit : -                                   £435      £415

 

 

Many Thanks :)

I guess they wanted to do it carefully to keep the stereo in good condition to be able to get maximum profit on it.

 

As for the GPS- if the replacement stereo has a Fakra GPS connection then you're good to go. It's pretty much the standard connector for all GPS stereos even the cheaper chinese units.

 

The microphone could be used to be honest. You would need to remove the pins for the microphone from the current connector then re-attach them to the appropriate connector to match the new stereo. This would be the way I would do it as it would be much neater.

 

Depends on the year of your car but could just be the "standard columbus".

Mine is on a 12 Plate (reg Feb 2012)

 

The replacement stereo I was thinking of getting is this

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pumpkin-Lollipop-Navigation-Subwoofer-Multimedia/dp/B01D30XDXY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484323858&sr=8-1&keywords=pumpkin+Skoda

 

Looking at it the GPS can be attached but looks like I'll need some sort of adaptor and the MIC use a 3.5mm connector to the back of the Unit...so I guess the internal Microphone cannot be used unless I do some butchering but as I am have no idea what I am doing this is probably not an option...

 

The only reason for rushing into things is I have to drive down to London within the next week with work so just wanted to get something in without spending the earth...

 

I really don't use the Columbus tbh I mount  my Nexus 7 in the car and hot spot to my phone, I then have a ChromeCast audio that sits in the centre arm rest and everything links via WIFI (from the phone), this way I can still connect my phone via bluetooth but use the tablet for streaming and google maps as I installed Android Auto on the tablet.

 

Moving to a new headunit would negate the need for the tablet as everything would be available native from the HU, but it would not be as standard and I would have to get a Columbus installed prior to selling as I am sure without offering at least the original HU would devalue the car somewhat...not that I am thinking of moving mine on anytime soon, I'll be keeping her until it become uneconomical to repair   :)

Edited 13 January, 20179 yr by Zenbasses

so first id want a means of denying them entry (glass film amd hooooge alarm then security bolts to stop new unit being nicked...or a front off version...or a slide mount..

 

cos im sure they will come back again

Edited 13 January, 20179 yr by lichfielddriver

My other concern with android HU is mine has the optional 10 speaker surround system in it and it looks like these Android only support 4 out  Front  L/R and Back L/R..Though I am sure all upper and lower speakers are wired as 1 feed...

 

 

Looking at how the connectors look on the wiring diagrams I think they are just + and - feeds

 

http://www.tehnomagazin.com/Auto-radio-car-connector/SKODA-Car-Radio-Wiring-Connector.htm

Yet another victim from the West Yorkshire area. :thumbdown:

So I have just orders the Android Head Unit to arrive in the morning and will get it fitted, I will probably be back in touch RustyNuts when the time is right and have an original Columbus re-fitted to my car..

 

If all else fails and as long as I am careful I will just package it up and return......

 

I guess my only other concern now is the screws are missing from the unit...yes the even took the screws...

 

I do not think the Pumpkin comes with screws as its not something I can find when searching online.

 

Can anyone let me know what size screws these are so I can start looking at screwfix and the like for some new ones...they look pretty standard and may some normal PC case screws would do the job in which case I have a plentiful supply of these....

Yet another victim from the West Yorkshire area. :thumbdown:

 

Very true, they did over 3 other cars at the same time

 

2 x Audi A4's and

1 x VW Golf

 

Shocking...

By 10 speaker system does that include the additional amplifier?

Is so it won't work with an aftermarket stereo as the amp is powered up through canbus.

By 10 speaker system does that include the additional amplifier?

Is so it won't work with an aftermarket stereo as the amp is powered up through canbus.

 

Hiya,

 

This maybe so...hmmmz

 

If it were to have one where would it be located in the car, I have a Bluetooth module under the drivers sear but nothing under the passenger seat,

 

There is no sub in the boot or anything like that...

 

Where would be best to check,

 

As I say I have ordered through Amazon so if upon inspection it is not right then I'll just send it back for a refund as its Free

I've cancelled the order, I do not want to run the risk and I am contacting RustyNuts via PM :)

 

Thanks for all your help everyone :)

If 10 speakers (Sound System), it doesn`t have subwoofer but it definitely has amplifier.

Pretty sure you can get the upgraded stereo to work with the aftermarket headunits. There was a thread on here about it. For reference I bought an android unit to replace my Bolero as the Columbus units were too expensive and the risk of it being stolen seemed too high and I can't really fault it. Sound quality is better, everything works, my only criticism would be I bought one which only has red illumination. Other than that, works spot on.

RustyNuts is sorting me out a Columbus tomorrow afternoon for a good price...

 

As I use my phone as a hot spot I tether my Nexus 7 to the phone which connects to a ChromeCast Audio in the armrest connected to Aux.. The tablet runs Android Auto so I can stream from Spotify/Google Play/DAB Radio Station/Google Maps in HD sound due to using the ChromeCast Audio....Set my car's Bluetooth as a safe place and when I turn the ignition on everything syncs within 15secs...

 

Going to a stand alone HU maybe more convenient but my tablet is running Nought 7.1 and will be more powerful than these headunits....

 

RustyNuts thank you so much and I recommend your service's to anyone :) 

I parked my 2012 Superb behind the National Media Museum in Bradford for one hour [taking daughter back to Uni]  - busy car park, CCTV, 7pm on a Friday evening - came back , alarm going off, PCSO in attendance, window smashed, Columbus unit gone. The PCSO said it was very frequent in the area. I couldn't help noticing on Ebay that quite a few that are for sale are in Bradford, Leeds, Pudsey. Again it was a pretty neat job. Insurance company deemed it beyond economical repair so now I have a few quid from them, my car back and looks like I'll get a replacement unit from Rustynuts. Apart from having to drive back to Ramsgate without a window at midnight in January - it hasn't worked out too badly so far - and I feel like I've helped the local economy!

Obviously I'm not really condoning this - it's causing a lot of stress and expense for a lot of people and it would be interesting to know if there was some way of making these units visibly more theft-proof

There's this available:

http://www.oemretrofits.co.uk/navigation-security-lock.shtm

A great idea but costs almost as much as a replacement unit. Having said that, I would consider having one fitted to avoid the hassle of dealing with the after effects of the theft of my Columbus.

Dave

Rustynuts sent this link http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261757676992?clk_rvr_id=1154251954879&afsrc=1&rmvSB=true  - four screws, four different heads [that would make an interesting film title, wouldn't it?] - simple, but probably effective - and only a tenner.

Rustynuts sent this link http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261757676992?clk_rvr_id=1154251954879&afsrc=1&rmvSB=true  - four screws, four different heads [that would make an interesting film title, wouldn't it?] - simple, but probably effective - and only a tenner.

 

Would the thief not just wreck the dash and rip the unit out?

 

Dave

Would the thief not just wreck the dash and rip the unit out?

 

Dave

thats exactly what i thought too, also why wouldnt they steal the pumpkin head unit either??

 

id say the best way is to avoid badford and leeds as this seems to be where they are stolen and strangely enough where most on ebay are from.

Anyway ..... having given it a bit of thought ... I have, nonetheless, ordered a set of the screws - worth a punt for less than a tenner! Maybe the prospect of damaging the Columbus unit and perhaps making it unsaleable when wrenching it out of the dash might deter some thieves. That way I'd only have to sort out the broken window - bad enough but could be worse? I will also mark the unit with my Reg. No. using a security marker pen (UV).

 

I suppose we'll never beat the thieving toe-rags but at least we can make life a bit more difficult for them.

 

Dave

If they break in and damage the unit and can't steal it, then you're in the same boat as if they'd stolen it anyway. Might as well have them risking their liberty for nothing as risking it for the stolen goods.

Instead of using a UV pen, as any decent thief (is that an oxymoron?) would have a UV torch and some solvent, I would engrave your postcode on the case in very big letters on the top and bottom.