First my Columbus started acting up with blank screens and loud thumps from the rear speakers so, on chatting with Rustynuts, I disconnected the unit. Now I'm getting random beeps seeming to come from near the passenger glove box. The beeps start as soon as I turn the ignition key, sometimes a single beep and sometimes a number of beeps. The beeps are similar to the reverse warning noise and are b....y annoying as they happen all the time and soon I have to make a 300 mile trip south! I've removed my phone from the car in case that was causing it but it wasn't.

Mine gave some audible tones, but more like the noise you get for not putting your seatbelt on, about 3 dys before by battery gave up the ghost. Now either it's very clever and was trying to warn me of my battery going, which I suspected because it would flash the hazards whilst parked up, which is another warning, or it was just coincidence/the battery failing was causing another problem unbeknown to me and it made these noises.

If you could plug in a VCDS diagnostic tool it could show maybe some info..

Thanks for your replies guys but the mystery is solved. I pulled up outside the garage that I'd booked the car in for a diagnostics check when I noticed the little red switch that the first owner had fitted when he had front parking sensors fitted. I noticed the switch was in the on position so I switched it off and the noises ceased saving me a diagnostics bill. As we don't normally use the front sensors the switch must have been knocked by accident so all's well that ends well. Now to take the Columbus down to Rustyknuts next week.