I have a Special Edition vRS on order and I want to be able to play Mp3 tracks in it. As far as I have been able to research the standard Symphony head unit wont play mp3's so is it possible to swap it for an Octy h/u that does? Or am I going to be better off going down the CarPuter route with a nice touch screen display?

Another route - what about one of these

In-Car 12V Wireless MP3 FM Modulator - SVP

replace the CD changer with a CD/MP3?

iPod interface?

I currently have Belkin Tunecast 2 which is ok for an interim but there is a loss in quality that I dont want to have to put up with long term. Can you get an mp3 disk changer?

I currently have Belkin Tunecast 2 which is ok for an interim but there is a loss in quality that I dont want to have to put up

Is that loss considerable?

I currently use my mp3 reader in my car through a cassette-player adapter. I was going to buy a new stereo with an auxiliary socket to connect the mp3 reader directly, but with the new car coming I was hoping to keep the original CD Symphony. If not perhaps, I should get a new stereo anyway.

You could always replace it with a DVD player minus the screen (JVC unit from pixmania.co.uk

thats the way to do it, i have a DVD mp3 player in the car and its awesome.

There is a lot more quality loss with my fm transmitter than the missus' wired cassette adaptor I'm afraid to say. I have got a Blaupunkt Woodstock mp3 player that I could use but I want to keep the car Dash as original and authentic as possible. I do like the idea of an original VAG mp3 head unit cos then I won't lose the automatic speed related volume adjust. But at the same time I can't help wondering if I could hook up an under seat carputer to a VAG mfd?

Alpine CHA-S634 6-Disc CD / MP3 Changer - Dynamic Sounds Car Audio UK

Low Cost Car Audio | Autochangers | Kenwood KDCC719MP *KDC719MP - MP3 CD changer

Cheers P.G! Thats a great solution to my problem as long as I can connect it to the standard head unit. Not mega bucks either!

you would need an aditional adapter at a cost of about £60+delivery to fit it and then it will only work if you have either an MS402, MS501 or MS502 with an 8 pin connector.

even then i still don't think the alpine will work but the Kenwood *might* as the factory fit radio doesn't have an mp3 decoder built in so wouldn't know what to do with the file. the Kenwood does have an mp3 decoder cuilt in but i still think that £230 on something that might work is a bit of a risk when you can buy a brand new JVC DVD MP3 headunit for less. but its your money