RNS 510 installation guide needed

**uk-Pedro** · 08-07-2009,07:53 PM

Hi,

I've been hunting around for a few days and can't seem to find a guide for installing a RNS-510 and GPS antenna in a Passat B6. Does anyone have a guide they could share?

Cheers,
uk-Pedro

**GeoffW** · 08-07-2009,10:54 PM

Haven't tried an RNS-510, but the MFD2 I put in a couple of weeks ago was a doddle.
Took the old unit out, four screws, unplugged multi-connector and aerial, then put same plugs back onto MFD2. Added the GPS aerial cable and currently have it routed via the passenger footwell onto the top of the dash and magnetically stuck to the large vent in the centre top of the dash -looks OK from inside!
Can't imagine the RNS-510 will be much more difficult.
Am lucky enough to have MFD display and MFSW, so have not needed any coding to get the display in the dash as well as the MFD2.

**uk-Pedro** · 09-07-2009,09:08 PM

Any pictures?

The bit I'm struggling with is how to route the GPS antenna cable to the top of the dash.

Any help appreciated.

**hartry** · 09-07-2009,11:07 PM

the simple answer is don't route it out onto the dash.

take the glovebox out and mount the antenna under the dash, it works perfectly and obviously is hidden

just be careful to select a mounting position which will not interfere with the passenger airbag

to remove the glovebox there are 4 torx screws at the top inside the glovebox, they're hard to find but they are there, just inside at the top facing upwards, then 3 along the bottom of the box. once they're all out there is a slot near the central bottom screw which you need to push a flat blade screwdriver up into and give it a jolt to free the box. the last bit is fiddly and hard to describe but give it a go, it's not too difficult at all.

**Djosla** · 13-09-2009,06:38 PM

Originally Posted by GeoffW

Haven't tried an RNS-510, but the MFD2 I put in a couple of weeks ago was a doddle.
Took the old unit out, four screws, unplugged multi-connector and aerial, then put same plugs back onto MFD2. Added the GPS aerial cable and currently have it routed via the passenger footwell onto the top of the dash and magnetically stuck to the large vent in the centre top of the dash -looks OK from inside!
Can't imagine the RNS-510 will be much more difficult.
Am lucky enough to have MFD display and MFSW, so have not needed any coding to get the display in the dash as well as the MFD2.

What radio did you have?I have passat b6 very end of 2005...do you think I can do this like you did without any modification?Do I have to play with can gateway module becouse I`ve heard that someone has upgraded rcd 300 with similar product and had battery drain problem....did you use any connectors more?
Do I need something more?

**mhurer** · 13-09-2009,07:36 PM

Originally Posted by Djosla

What radio did you have?I have passat b6 very end of 2005...do you think I can do this like you did without any modification?Do I have to play with can gateway module becouse I`ve heard that someone has upgraded rcd 300 with similar product and had battery drain problem....did you use any connectors more?
Do I need something more?

It is true that upgrading a pre-2009 model to the touch screen radios RCD-310 and RCD-510 can drain the battery, and as you say this is to do with the version of CAN gateway. Although the CAN gateway can be upgraded it is not worth the effort and cost.

However, if you upgrade to the sat navs, either MFD2 or RNS-510 you should not have the battery drain issue, as these do not suffer from the same problem as RCD310/510.

**uk-Pedro** · 13-09-2009,07:48 PM

Originally Posted by mhurer

It is true that upgrading a pre-2009 model to the touch screen radios RCD-310 and RCD-510 can drain the battery, and as you say this is to do with the version of CAN gateway. Although the CAN gateway can be upgraded it is not worth the effort and cost.

However, if you upgrade to the sat navs, either MFD2 or RNS-510 you should not have the battery drain issue, as these do not suffer from the same problem as RCD310/510.

Just to clarify this: You don't need to update the can bus gateway when you upgrade to a RNS-510 if the unit has firmware version less than 2200. If your RNS-510 has firmware 2660 or higher you will need to upgrade the gateway or you will get battery drain issues.

Hope this helps,
Pedro

**Djosla** · 13-09-2009,08:22 PM

Originally Posted by mhurer

It is true that upgrading a pre-2009 model to the touch screen radios RCD-310 and RCD-510 can drain the battery, and as you say this is to do with the version of CAN gateway. Although the CAN gateway can be upgraded it is not worth the effort and cost.

However, if you upgrade to the sat navs, either MFD2 or RNS-510 you should not have the battery drain issue, as these do not suffer from the same problem as RCD310/510.

Now i`m a little bit confused ...you said that upgrading a pre-2009 model to the touch screen radios drains the battery,isn`t MFD2 and rns 510 also touch screen radios?

However you said upgrading to mfd2 or rns 500 should be easy and just plug and play? ...you also mentioned sat nav?is that mean that i don`t need gps antenna?Sorry for asking maybe dumb questions but I`m very new to all this stuff...

**mhurer** · 13-09-2009,09:43 PM

RCD310 is the touch screen radio, with single CD player.
RCD510 is same as 310, but with integrated 6 disk CD changer.

MFD2 is satnav with radio/single cd player, without touchscreen.
RNS510 is satnav with radio/single cd player, with touchscreen.
Both these units need the GPS antenna to function as satnavs.

RCD310/510 will cause battery drain issues on your model.
MFD2 should be fine, straight swap.
Based on what uk-Pedro says, some RNS510 will be fine, some will drain the battery, depending on firmware version!

Hope that helps