Dead Columbus

[Tropheus]

The Columbus unit in my wife's 2013 Superb died during the week.  It started with a popping sound through the speakers, not turning on intermittently and then eventually died completely.  There isn't a peep out of it and the buttons don't light up.  I tried scanning with OBD Eleven and I can't communicate with the Nav or Radio modules.  I have checked the fuses both under the bonnet and at the rear of the unit and both are fine so I'm guessing the main board is gone.  

 

I see that Rustynuts was advertising repair in the past but doesn't seem to have been on the forum in a few months and he can't receive messages for some reason.

 

Can someone give me options - from what I can see, a replacement unit is £500+ which is hard to justify for old technology.  I'd be more inclined to replace it with something aftermarket that has Carplay.

 

I'd appreciate if anyone has any suggestions.

 

A picture with the part number is attached.