Hi,

 

sorry for a repost (originally in ICE / Security section).

 

I have a 2016 version of Amundsen MIB2 installed in my 2016 Octavia vRS. Reasonably happy, but the new facelift Columbus split-screen displays look significantly better and would be a great start for the planned project.

 

I was wondering if anyone successfully managed to retrofit a new 2017 Octavia facelift ICE Columbus system (new big widescreen display with buttons on one side only - see pic) on similar version of an older car (2013 onwards). Is it possible? What is the cost? What are the pitfalls? Does it connect well with other car systems and Maxi Dot?

 

I've asked a Skoda Dealer of course - they're saying absolutely not, factory only option.

I've looked at some retrofit specialists, but no one is offering the latest 2017 version (MIB3?), usually only 2016 Columbus MIB2.

 

Any ideas or experience?

 

Many thanks

 

the phrase 'an arm and a leg' spring to mind. The retrofits specialists charge £1800 for the 2016 version so this would be more.

 

there are alot of really good android octa-core chinese offerings with 10" screens that do a lot more and look almost as good. there are comprehensive retrofit videos on ytube as well.

 

if your selling your amundsen id be happy to buy it 

Edited 22 December, 20178 yr by JohnnyType2

Its not impossible, but would be expensive, dash and glovebox unit would need changing.

 

Probably cheaper to lease a new one with that set up in it....

 

 

yes it will be expensive, and yes it will be much work, and in the end you had to use a dealer because of the component protection - that may be is impossible because your car is not designet for this MIB

Thanks guys.

 

The display looks impressive and the functionality is great, so those were the main reasons why I was thinking about it.

But for £2k-ish it's probably not worth it, especially because I'm not really the biggest fan of the crap SatNav that's a big part of that price tag.

 

Anyway, as I only just bought my second hand vRS few weeks ago, leasing a new 2017 model is not the option. So in the meantime, I've unlocked the SmartLink for Apple CarPlay (the £175 is a bloody ripoff as well) and that should keep the good old Amundsen going for the 21st century.

some of the adroid units that fit, are around £300 and seem to have all the functionality preserved with more bells and whistles than i could be bothered setting up. Would something like this not do what you need? Ive seen where you can download waze etc if Sat Nav is a deal breaker. was thinking about it myself to be honest.

For SatNav, I'm a long time TomTom user (as an iOS app). That's not up for discussion, I have my reasons But because TomTom is not yet supported directly via CarPlay, I'm basically stuck with using my iPhone screen for navigation and CarPlay on Amundsen for the rest of phone functionality. Not bad, but not ideal either.

 

I was basically planning to get a better size/resolution head unit with some kind of external input link box to which I could either send the iPhone screen wirelessly via AirPlay or via HDMI cable. That way I wouldn't be restricted by CarPlay limited functionality and available apps and also by a poor resolution of the Amundsen screen. In the future, I'd connect my special project RaspberryPi car computer the same way. But I see the cost of the 2017 Columbus makes it a bad idea.

I've seen brands like Alpine are providing car specific head units that keep the original in car system functionality (car settings, aircon, MaxiDot, etc), while providing better hardware and connectivity. That's important for me. But of course they're expensive and do come with a lot of baggage I don't need. Haven't checked the Android alternatives yet, so thanks for the tip, will do my research.