TL;DR Replaced about successfully Amundsen MIB1 with Columbus MIB2 in 2014 (MY15) Octavia vRS. Had (& still have) some trouble, and will reply to topic later with (long)coding, (adaptation) fixes &/ some pictures from installation steps.

Some history, why I did this:
I bought my car in January 2014 - and after waiting for six months finally received it in July. Immediately I noticed one small annoying visual bug in the factory-installed Amundsen - in Vehicle status -screen, middle softkey -button (radio) was greyed out just about every other start. Some weird timing-firmware-whatever-bug which would "fix" itself if I visited Media -screen, and what the dealer promised to sort out under warranty (after confirming the bug themselves). After numerous visits and firmware-upgrades around the car, they finally gave up (in 2016, Amundsen MIB2 was just released) saying Skoda probably won't ever release a fixed software, since there's a newer version from the ICE-unit on the market.

I wanted them to try if replacing the Amundsen MIB1 with Columbus MIB1 (or Amundsen MIB2) would fix the problem and was ready to pay for it - but there was just a stonewall incoming, "It's technically impossible, and Skoda doesn't allow any retrofits" and they offered some reimbursement for the software-faulty Amundsen to get rid of me.

I decided not to call "I'll just cancel this purchase under warranty then if you can't fix it, give me a new car" -card, took the reimbursement and went on with my otherwise nicely working vehicle, since it was just a cosmetic issue (but, software issue, on a new car...).

 

Fast forward couple of years and I decide to give some new life to my reliable "companion" as a birthday present for myself - and maybe learn something new on the way - and after reading couple success stories on retrofits and remembering that softkey. I was going for a drive around Europe (*krhm* Nürburgring) and wanted an quick & easy solution, even though it would cost a bit more, and found some companies which advertised about "drive your car here and we'll do all the work while you wait". Unfortunately, none of them replied to any of my messages about if they had time or responding to my "if I have these options already, do I need to order this piece" -questions.

 

After the trip I decided to order a "plug-n-play retrofit" -kit, which looked promising, even though they did not originally respond to my "do you have time for installation" -question.

I had bought a VCDS with a cable already, and the retrofit kit had:

- Columbus head-unit [3V0 035 021 B] ("unlocked maps, no CP,  pre-coding against VIN for plug-n-play installation")

- Screen [5E0 919 606]

- Screen cabling

- Volkswagen USB [5Q0 035 726 E] + AUX [5Q0 035 724] -dongle with cabling

- ...there weren't any radio removal keys, but neither mentioned

 

Ordered a radio removal key -kit from Ebay, waited and received them, and the actual installation was surprisingly easy (after figuring out how to remove the screen and the headunit nicely).

After removing Amundsen, I shaved off some plastic from the white screen-cable-plug to use my old cabling already in the car and managed to install my new screen and Columbus glovebox-unit in place (without those new MIB2 DAB and Cellular options in use, decided to fix that on a later stage after actually seeing the unit and it's connectors for the first time).

 

Excited, I turned it on for the very first time - and there was a Greentec -startup logo welcoming me, instead of vRS. In the Vehicle status -screen the Car was a estate.

And it was silent, mute, none of the sound settings worked nor volume button. There were options for adjusting electric seats (which I don't have, and therefore they just errored out) but Canton was missing. I hooked VCDS up and saw that component protection was active, even though it didn't show the message on the screen.

 

I was quite ****ed. I paid for coding, which I never received. CP was active. There weren't any sound coming out. I had a setup which just wasn't anything I ordered.

After installing Amundsen back in place I threw a message to the seller asking for explanation. And after waiting for a reply for almost a week, filed a dispute claim in Paypal and decided to try coding it myself, before sending it back.

 

Started VCDS, pulled adaptation map from Amundsen, replaced with Columbus, pulled map also from that - went through byte by byte that longcoding -part (first time ever), making minimal changes every time trying to figure out what every (usually undocumented) difference did - and finally I thought it was coded right for Octavia vRS saloon, with Canton Audio, and USB. Screens were correct, there still just wasn't any sound coming out.

 

I packed my laptop and went inside. Amundsen MIB1 adpmap has 395 rows, Columbus MIB2 has 1036 rows - I just didn't have motivation to go through them at that point. And seller had finally responded to my dispute-claim, offering a reimbursement of that "pre-coding fee" I had paid, asking for some more information on the problem and offering Teamviewer -help (yay, finally, great customer service).

 

We booked a time, I installed Teamviewer, reversed my changes I made earlier (so the unit was back in the original state I received it in) and waited in the car at the right time laptop hooked up to the car. After poking around and coding it just about identically I had done earlier, seller asked if it was working now and after receiving a negative reply we booked another session. Then the seller poked a bit more around and, since it still wasn't working, pulled an adaptation map from Columbus and asked for fresh adaptation map also from Amundsen to go through - and I sent them both. After waiting for about an hour, the seller came back online to try some adaptations, which didn't help. We called it a day and booked yet another session.

This was just the thing I did not want and the reason I originally ordered a ready-coded-unit...

 

I googled around and stumbled upon a drive2.com -article discribing a need to replace the MIB1 with MIB2 amp, and guessed what was waiting for me on the next day. After coming online, seller told that I needed to change my MIB1 amp with MIB2 amp, and they had some compatible units in stock - and was willing to give some discount because of these troubles. I quickly checked the offer against my local junkyards to see how much they cost here and after discount it was identical  - and agreed to order it (thinking I wouldn't need to drive far to get it) and ordered also a VAS5054a (with required software), because I was told that's what they use in the dealer and it offers much more options than VCDS/VCP.

 

At this point I finally registered here, after reading great success stories/coding ideas/inspiring people. And installed a mirrorlink compatible USB-plug (after getting "this needs to be done, there is some difference" stuck in my head from some sidenote about it in SashaGrace's project,  and it looks like a straight ripoff from VWvortex.com -post about Discover Pro retrofit which I found after installing that plug - my guide was a Youtube -video).

 

I started figuring out what parts to order to get DAB and GSM on the headunit to work - and ordered generic "DAB/DAB+ aerial antenna fakra" & "4G/LTE/3G cellular antenna fakra" with an "VW double fakra antenna adapter cable" from Ebay. Installed them in place and GSM was working right away, DAB will be tested on a later road trip when there's something to test with.

 

New amp arrived, and VAS5054a, but no software. I needed hacksaw, some beers and a lot of patience to modify MIB1 amp-plastic-cradle (below the drivers seat) so that MIB2 amp would fit in there - and it finally was in place. Connected everything, turned Columbus on and finally I had sound! Hands-free-phone worked, navigation instructions worked. Declared it a succes...and then wondered why music sounded so weird. Well, it was coming only from the driver side door. I hooked VCDS up and checked coding on the amps, but they were identical.

 

After remembering a topic on a VWvortex -forum I had found about Discover Pro MIB1 to MIB2 upgrade, I checked faults with VCDS and "Oh, there's Component Protection active in the amp, but there wasn't supposed to be, unlocked like the headunit...".

 

Contacted seller about all of these problems I had and seller responded quickly by booking a time with a technician who would remotely remove that Component Protection from the headunit and the amplifier, using that VAS5054a I had ordered. First session, nothing happened, and after waiting for an hour in the car just a message "let's do this another time, technician has to go home". Second time, this time someone actually connected, and after couple of hours of "nothing happening" seller blamed that my internet connection was faulty. Next time with wifi instead of 4G, again, waited hours, nothing happened (what I could see)...and eventually car battery completely died. This time message was "that VAS5054a might be faulty, but let's try again later".

 

I got frustrated for wasting my time like that, asked the seller to tell me a time when they actually have time to do this, instead of me suggesting a time and nothing happening.

 

After waiting for a week for a reply to my "when the seller has time to remove CP" -question, I sent an email to my local Skoda-dealer; "Hi, I've installed these two parts, they need component protection removed, do you do such thing?"

First reply was simple "no"  - but after 1.5 hours they spontaneously sent a new message, "Actually, technically it should be possible, we've just never done that."

After confirming that they're willing to try and if there's some "political problems" (because of that earlier "Skoda doesn't allow any retrofits" -message), we booked a time, they checked that the parts weren't reported stolen, they removed component protection and I finally had a working setup.

 

I sent them a cake and a "thank you" -note afterwards.

 

I hope I would've been able to tell this story on a bit different light since I held up and was planning to skip all ranting about problems with the seller, but since I still have some open problems to date, that was just impossible:

- No reimbursement paid from the original "VIN pre-coding"
- VAS5054a is still useless to me, waiting for that software that was promised

- I can't update maps from the current 2017/2018 -pack, still waiting for instructions how to do it since normal Skoda HIGH12-EU -pack (2018 nor 2018/2019) with "extract files to SD, insert SD to Columbus, start update" - procedure doesn't work

(Normal update doesn't find update files, Service menu says F or ERR on NavDB/Truffle/Eggnog - etc. modules - If anyone knows how to help me on this, please tell or PM if you don't want that info public for some reason)

Edited 6 June, 20187 yr by macro
Fixed formatting

Woah, quite a story! I don't think I'd have the patience to go through what you did! Hopefully all is resolved soon and you have the unit working like it should 

Wow that’s quite a journey!! I must be lucky as I don’t get CP errors when my car is on diagnostics as Skoda themselves coded my stereo to my car so it’s not a universal fit, it works like the original, so if I sold my radio it wouldn’t work in another car. I only have faults for missing data messages because I have coded TSR on my car and the infotainment and camera modules can’t seem to talk to each other about that. I hope to find a solution to that some day! Good luck with sorting the rest of the issues

14 hours ago, macro said:

Excited, I turned it on for the very first time - and there was a Greentec -startup logo welcoming me, instead of vRS. In the Vehicle status -screen the Car was a estate.

And it was silent, mute, none of the sound settings worked nor volume button. There were options for adjusting electric seats (which I don't have, and therefore they just errored out) but Canton was missing. I hooked VCDS up and saw that component protection was active, even though it didn't show the message on the screen.

 

I was quite ****ed. I paid for coding, which I never received. CP was active. There weren't any sound coming out. I had a setup which just wasn't anything I ordered.

After installing Amundsen back in place I threw a message to the seller asking for explanation. And after waiting for a reply for almost a week, filed a dispute claim in Paypal and decided to try coding it myself, before sending it back.

 

I also bought one of the plug'n'play units, having previously bought 2 normal used units, the first didn't have DAB (my fault), the 2nd had no sound (probably just VCDS to fix). Mine opens up with the laurin and klement splash screen and shows a Superb estate To be honest I can live with that. I also get on screen options for everything, even if the car does not have the option, ACC, seats etc

 

VCDS cannot access the stereo - " 47-Sound System -- Status: Cannot be reached 0100". I guess that's their way of removing CP. Is yours the same? I also get CP errors on other modules.

 

Everything seems to work fine, I have no Canton though. The only issue I have is that I have somehow lost the TPMS set button, VCDS shows it as disabled and won't allow me to enable it. I'm going to put the Amundsen back in to try and activate it, if that fails i'm giving up and sending the Columbus back

 

I'm unsure what the pre-coding against the VIN actual entails, I bought the unit without that knowledge expecting to sell it on as a plug'n'play unit in the future, when I sell the car, but that's probably not possible.

Edited 7 June, 20187 yr by Dave77

14 hours ago, macro said:

Immediately I noticed one small annoying visual bug in the factory-installed Amundsen - in Vehicle status -screen, middle softkey -button (radio) was greyed out just about every other start. Some weird timing-firmware-whatever-bug which would "fix" itself if I visited Media -screen, and what the dealer promised to sort out under warranty (after confirming the bug themselves). After numerous visits and firmware-upgrades around the car, they finally gave up (in 2016, Amundsen MIB2 was just released) saying Skoda probably won't ever release a fixed software, since there's a newer version from the ICE-unit on the market.

This is exactly the annoyance I currently have with my MIB1 Amundsen. Thank you for your detailed post, good to see I don't need to try a firmware update to try to fix it.

 

It's amazing they can't get right such a simple bit of software program.

56 minutes ago, Dave77 said:

 

I also bought one of the plug'n'play units, having previously bought 2 normal used units, the first didn't have DAB (my fault), the 2nd had no sound (probably just VCDS to fix). Mine opens up with the laurin and klement splash screen and shows a Superb estate To be honest I can live with that. I also get on screen options for everything, even if the car does not have the option, ACC, seats etc

 

VCDS cannot access the stereo - " 47-Sound System -- Status: Cannot be reached 0100". I guess that's their way of removing CP. Is yours the same? I also get CP errors on other modules.

 

Everything seems to work fine, I have no Canton though. The only issue I have is that I have somehow lost the TPMS set button, VCDS shows it as disabled and won't allow me to enable it. I'm going to put the Amundsen back in to try and activate it, if that fails i'm giving up and sending the Columbus back

 

I'm unsure what the pre-coding against the VIN actual entails, I bought the unit without that knowledge expecting to sell it on as a plug'n'play unit in the future, when I sell the car, but that's probably not possible.

 

47-Sound System is the external amplifier, if you don't have Canton, you can't access it (shouldn't even be active in the can bus controller? dunno) - I can access it normally since I have it. Btw. Amundsen MIB1 + Amplifier MIB2 -combination works normally.

 

5F is the Amundsen/Columbus -part.
If you want to get rid of ACC -menu, i think the adaptations are: ENG122227-ENG117486-Car_Function_Adaptations_Gen2-menu_display_ACC & ENG122229-ENG117700-Car_Function_List_BAP_Gen2-ACC_0x05 (I thought all vRS:s had ACC )
Electric Seats? - ENG122227-ENG117556-Car_Function_Adaptations_Gen2-menu_display_seat_configuration & ENG122229-ENG117722-Car_Function_List_BAP_Gen2-driver_seat_0x10
Change from Superb Estate to Octavia Hatch? If my memory serves, that's in the longcoding -section where mine starts with 037351 (meaning about: Skoda, Octavia, RS Hatchback) - need to double check it anyway (my notes and open VCDS once more) before posting more on those.

 

TPMS? Now this is just guessing, on my Amundsen adaptations are/were:

IDE04307-ENG117704-Vehicle function list BAP-tire_pressure_system_0x07 -> activated

IDE04307-ENG117705-Vehicle function list BAP-tire_pressure_system_0x07_msg_bus -> Suspension data bus

... and on Columbus (with some fuzzy logic):

ENG122229-ENG117704-Car_Function_List_BAP_Gen2-tire_pressure_system_0x07 -> activated

ENG122229-ENG117705-Car_Function_List_BAP_Gen2-tire_pressure_system_0x07_msg_bus -> Suspension data bus

 

How I understood that VIN pre-coding, there should've been vRS startup logo, correct car in the car menu and no extra (f.ex seat -) configuration options in the menu, and Canton already enabled without any intervention or me needing to have/find VCDS. Real "plug'n'play" instead of just "let's hide CP-protection -message and fix navigation startup".

1 hour ago, wyx087 said:

This is exactly the annoyance I currently have with my MIB1 Amundsen. Thank you for your detailed post, good to see I don't need to try a firmware update to try to fix it.

 

It's amazing they can't get right such a simple bit of software program.

I didn't try to update to 0490 -firmware, since I was more interested on retrofitting Columbus, but at least 0475 was still "faulty".

 

And affected Bolero also (according to a local forum).

25 minutes ago, macro said:

 

47-Sound System is the external amplifier, if you don't have Canton, you can't access it (shouldn't even be active in the can bus controller? dunno) - I can access it normally since I have it. Btw. Amundsen MIB1 + Amplifier MIB2 -combination works normally.

 

5F is the Amundsen/Columbus -part.
If you want to get rid of ACC -menu, i think the adaptations are: ENG122227-ENG117486-Car_Function_Adaptations_Gen2-menu_display_ACC & ENG122229-ENG117700-Car_Function_List_BAP_Gen2-ACC_0x05 (I thought all vRS:s had ACC )

 

Ah, that would explain it then, I though 47 was the Columbus No, my vRS has no cruise control whatsoever, I believe it was standard from 2015 over here.

 

Cheers for the other info! I have the " Vehicle function list BAP-tire_pressure_system_0x07" set to Disabled but for some reason I can't set it to Active, I get an error, i'll have another go at the weekend.

3 hours ago, macro said:

ENG122229-ENG117704-Car_Function_List_BAP_Gen2-tire_pressure_system_0x07 -> activated

ENG122229-ENG117705-Car_Function_List_BAP_Gen2-tire_pressure_system_0x07_msg_bus -> Suspension data bus

 

Just tried setting those again and the settings saved this time, so all is good

3 hours ago, Dave77 said:

No, my vRS has no cruise control whatsoever, I believe it was standard from 2015 over here.

MY14  The only thing with having my radio coded to the chassis number that didn’t change was the splash screen and car on the info tab, both being for a Scout, but they are now correct. It almost seems that coding to the VIN is the ideal way to do it if you can get it done. I must be lucky with my local dealer as they did it and didn’t even charge me (the quote was £15, but they let it slide as they owe me a part for my Citigo the service manager forgot to order and the unit lost functionality, which I knew would happen, but they didn’t).

21 hours ago, macro said:

I can't update maps from the current 2017/2018 -pack, still waiting for instructions how to do it since normal Skoda HIGH12-EU -pack (2018 nor 2018/2019) with "extract files to SD, insert SD to Columbus, start update" - procedure doesn't work

(Normal update doesn't find update files,

 

Just tried mine, same result. I guess we got our units from the same source!

Excuse me for being a bit thick, but with a Canton system, the amp requires CP removal to work? I am happy with the audio system I have now, but I have been offered a complete Canton system from another car. I wonder just how much is easy to retrofit (I guess none of it) but it wonder if the speakers are a straight swap (I guess they are a little higher quality) and I could get another amp and sub to work without messing with coding. Ideas on a postcard are very welcome from audio people and anyone with experience of the Canton system

4 hours ago, SashaGrace said:

Excuse me for being a bit thick, but with a Canton system, the amp requires CP removal to work?

Yeah, if CP is active, music only comes out from the driver door (one channel active) - at least that's how it effected my car.

 

Retrofitting Canton, I found some schematic from it and it looked a bit too PITA to do (f.ex speaker cables under left front seat vs. glovebox) - let's see if I find it again.

That’d be great if so. From a cursory glance at Google it appears there is a topic on drive2.ru detailing retrofitting the sub and wiring it to a different amp. This could be an option as I can pick and choose what bits I want from the Canton system. I was thinking about just using the sub and swapping the existing speakers for Canton ones if I were to go ahead with the project at all. I wonder if the wiring for the central dash speaker is in place as that would be a nice upgrade in itself. Then I’d have to alter my boot floor again and loose my hi vis storage box haha. 

The canton speakers are different impedance (higher) from the stock speakers, which would indicate they are driven of the headunit on a non-Canton system and driven from an amp on a Canton system.

I bought the Canton speakers with the idea of upgrading the doors and they ended up staying on the shelf.

 

Summing it up: you need the Canton amp to drive all speakers.

I see, bummer. Wonder if a different amp would still drive the speakers? The car the Canton system I have a chnace at ran a MIB1 system, so the amp is the wrong one. I could talk about splitting the system up and just going for the sub and new amp like the post on drive2

On 06/06/2018 at 22:23, macro said:

- I can't update maps from the current 2017/2018 -pack, still waiting for instructions how to do it since normal Skoda HIGH12-EU -pack (2018 nor 2018/2019) with "extract files to SD, insert SD to Columbus, start update" - procedure doesn't work

 

I've got alternate instructions on how to update via SD card. I've just tried it and I got to #5 where it says the update takes 60 minutes, but unlike the normal update you need to leave it going with the car not running. I'll be updating myself tomorrow.

 

1. Press and Hold Menu Button for approx. 10 sec until you will see:
Green Menu / Test & Erprobung / SWDL / Picture Viewer ....... please select Green Menu.

2. In the Green Menu select rcc >> swdl >> tick "User Defined SDWL"

3. From the Green Menu Press and Hold again Menu Button for approx.10 sec until you will see: "Green Menu / Test & Erprobung / SWDL / Picture Viewer ......." please select SWDL . and tick "Software Download Manual Download" and press Start Download.

4. Insert SD Card with latest Maps then press Update select "SD card" and press "MIB2 navigation database"

5. Press "Select all" and then press "Start"

The 2019 maps update was successful!

 

@macro, if you do get an error saying 'MOST not available' the go back to the green menu 'acc > onoff > MOST coding' and set it to off. I don't think you'll get that error though as you have an amp, it's something to do with detecting an open fibre optic connection which then stops the update.

Can anyone please PM me the 0490 update for the MIB1. Just picked up an early 2015 this week so want to get her to the latest software.

Device part number: 5E0035874A

Hardware: 041

Software: 0435

 

Just wondering as the topic of splash screens and the car pics on the infotainment system have been mentioned here, I don’t suppose anyone knows how to change that? Just out of interest, as mine is correct for my car now (was originally showing a Scout) but just out of interest. I may have bought new wheels, just wondering if there is an option to change the display of the car to one with different wheels is all  Thanks.

I have the VCDS long coding to change the splash and car to vrs and octavia estate, I guess you can just play with those settings. I'll post up details when I've done it.

That’d be great thanks. I guess the car pics have multiple images to select for different wheels so it’d be cool to see. It’s not a deal breaker, but it’d be the icing on the cake really

Splash logo is byte 18: 

VRS: bit 0

L&K: bit 0,1

not sure on rest

 

Car display is byte 0,1 and 2 but the instructions I got to set to Octavia Estate didn't work, my current settings for Superb Estate are

byte 0: bit 0,1
byte 1: bit 2,7
byte 2: bit 1

Thanks for that, I’ll have a play and see what she what

If you do please could you post up the bits from bytes 0,1,2 on 5F, I presume they'll be the same between Amundsen/Columbus. I'm not too fussed on the car display tbh, I can imagine I'm driving a Superb 280 Estate