Apologies I have hunted but can’t find a guide on dropping the roof liner to access the roof antenna.

 

Specifically the C covers, and enough room to get my hands into the antenna base to swap it. I am putting in a new antenna and running two wires to the head unit. 

 

can anyone point me in the right direction? I have got the rear pillar covers off but the roof liner doesn’t move much at all. I don’t want to damage it.

Edited 9 October, 20205 yr by john999boy

Got the fakra wires to the rear of the car along the roof. Just have to figure out getting to the blasted antenna nut and wires without folding the roof liner and creasing it. 

So new MIB2 is installed. 
 

Ran a new microphone wire from the headliner to the unit as my old setup went to the Bluetooth module under the driver’s seat.  Ran the USB wires to the old aux socket under the centre console and cut the new socket hole. Ran two wires with fakra connectors to the rear of the roof. 
 

On the VCDS front I physically disconnected the old Bluetooth module, enabled the speakers and turned on navigation in adaptions.
 

When I get a moment I will cross reference all the threads that helped me and the gotchas I found. 

found a thread covering getting the correct C pillar covers off (not the D as shown in the thread) by the rear seats

 

I can't edit previous threads and posts above to amalgamate research for anyone else going from a stock Bolero radio with premium bluetooth to a MIB2 PQ upgrade like me. So apologies but here's my brain dump of useful threads and information I've gleaned from folks so far.

 

Details on centre console and bluetooth wiring: 

Details on different aerials and the roof liner:

Lots of research and reading in relation to the MIB2 install:

Differences between the aerials:

 

My parts list (mostly bought off eBay):

• I bought a genuine USB and AUX cable: 5G0035222E
• I picked up this roof antenna (intended for a VW I believe but cheaper than the Skoda alternatives): 1K0035501H . It appears to be identical to a 6R0035501D with the 1K prefix being VW with 6R being Skoda.
• Microphone replacement cable from roof to the radio: 3B0035711B 
• I used a radio surround from Connects2, part number CT24SK12.
• I am waiting on my 5Q0035726E USB socket to arrive as the one I have is for charging and probably USB sticks only. I need the 'E' USB socket to support Apple CarPlay and Mirrorlink. This then fits inside the USB/AUX socket I already have which is a 5G0035222C / E5638 and is now mounted in place of the now enlarged original factory AUX socket in the arm rest cubby.
• Map SD card is a 5NA919866AR with latest 2020 maps (AS 1430 maps V12).
• I picked my own Amundsen 2 from https://retrofitsw.co.uk which was ready to go from out of the box.

 

Now that I have half the rear boot supports down I should be able to remove the rear grab handles and drop the rear liner enough to get to the antenna and swap that out tomorrow.

 

Some notes I made today:

The rear support inside the radio mounting cage needs to be cut back if you connect the USB cable as the socket bumps against the back and holds the radio out by a 1cm or so. I dremel'd the right half of the support back on mine.

You don't need right angle fakra connectors for the GPS and DAD hook ups, there's enough clearance at the back for a standard connector.

You need FEMALE to FEMALE fakra cables to run from a standard antenna to the radio. I bought extension cables and had to get an extra adapter to swap the genders at the radio end.

 

Disconnecting the passenger airbag on/off warning light or the airbag disable switch in the glovebox with the ignition at any point live (say you power it up to test the radio) will result in an airbag warning light that you need to clear with a DTC clearing supporting device such as VCDS/Vagcom. Both items need to be disconnected if you pull the glovebox and swap the radio fascia.

Edited 7 October, 20205 yr by Oli

While I am at it, a thread on how the grab handles come out, which I am doing to ours 

 

To confirm you do indeed need to remove the rear grab handles to drop the roof lining enough to get my arm in to undo and disconnect the old shark fin antenna. Wonderfully the old fakra lead is clipped to the roof and that needs to be pulled out carefully with pliers. 
 

You have to be very careful pulling the roof down or you’ll get a crease by the grab handles. 

 

I cleaned the area under the old antenna and refit the new fin. I tightened up using an adjustable as it gave me better control your mileage may vary.

 

It’s ten times quicker to rebuild the car once you’ve had it carefully to bits once!