Hi,

I intend to replace my Amundsen+ with a Columbus RNS510 unit. The car is a Superb MK2 2012. The Columbus unit is also MK April 2012. Does anybody know the steps for performing this action? I am interested more in VCDS coding if there is something special.

For the physical replacement i saw a couple of movies and it doesn't seem so complicated. But i want to know if there are some parameters to be modified and which ones.

I forgot to mention the car is also equipped with bluetooth and phone set but i don't think think this could be a problem for the new Columbus...

 

I don't know if this topic has been already discussed. I've searched for it but without a result.

Have you checked if the BT is built into the Amundsen+ or a separate module?

No i haven't. But is this the main issue? I understood there is a recoding to be done with VCDS to let the ECU know the car has now a rns510 and not a rns315. This i want to know how to do it. If there is something in addition for BT to be done of course also this one. 

Thank you

This is actually a major issue. If your Bluetooth is built into the Amundsen+ unit then when you replace the unit with a Columbus you'll have no Bluetooth. You'll then need to buy a new Bluetooth module and loom, and retrofit that to get your phone function back. There is no Bluetooth in the Columbus. Of course, if the Bluetooth module is currently fitted separately then that's fine, but you should check now before you need to spend another £150 on a suitable Bluetooth kit.

 

VCDS coding is simple really (as long as you have vcds of course).

Edited 18 January, 20197 yr by Rustynuts

@Sarivan  Are you sure you want to do this? I've done the same thing in 2016, but was quite disappointed afterwards. Therefore i made a comparison between the two. Short conclusion is that if you don't need the extra functionality of the navigation menu, than you're better of with the Amundsen+. In detail:

 

The advantages of the Amundsen+ are:

• Auxiliary input on the front (the Columbus only has it on the back, you need an extra optional wire to make it accessible).
• Boots much, much faster. You can enter your destination immediately when you get into your car. With the Columbus you have to wait a few (irritating) minutes before that is possible.
• Navigation is much more responsive.
• The touchscreen in general is much more responsive.
• Controls are not so complicated, much easier to understand.
• You can scroll through a list with the center rotating knob. This works much, much better than the stupid scroll bar of the Columbus.
• Chances of theft are smaller.
• It has a qwerty keyboard (for some reason the Columbus has the letters in alphabetical order, so your always searching...)
• The graphics on the display are much nicer to look at.

 

The advantages of the Columbus are:

• Screen is an inch larger.
• Much more elaborate options in the navigation section (add extra stop points etc), but who still uses the in-car navigation, when you can use Google maps for free. Moreover, Google maps is always up-to-date, while you can buy a new set of maps for you Columbus every year for about € 200, which are already one year (!!) old by the time they are released...
• A bit better phone support (you can add a few quick-dial numbers).

Edited 18 January, 20197 yr by andrehj

Plus points for the Columbus over the Amundsen +...

 

You get 18gb of hard drive space for MP3 tracks. You get a Dual Layer DVD drive which gives another 8gb of MP3, and you can also watch dvd films (while stationary). Columbus maps can be updated for free (if you know how to download and burn a disc) while Amundsen + costs a minimum of £30 from eBay, but the latest Amundsen+ maps are  faulty anyway .And the Google maps argument is valid for both units also btw. All of which is irrelevant as there are no more Eastern European maps being released for either unit.

 

And who still uses an Aux connection.

@Rustynuts thanks for bringing the BT issue in my attention. I've checked now the VIN to a dealer and it seems the BT is built in in the Amundsen for my model. So no BT after Columbus upgrade !

@andrehj your comparison is very detailed and pointing to real life experience. Some disatvanges presented i was not aware about them. The only strong reason while i would upgrade to a Columbus is because VW stopped the East E updates for both of them in 2016 i think but for Columbus some third parties compiled the 2018 BMW maps for Columbus and they are working great. Nothing for Amundsen yet... Google is alway the best choise but as long as i don't have an Android Auto at least i prefer using the NAV instead of having the phone in the window...

 

Thank you both for your input. Really appreciated