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Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: Wilko2008 on 19 August 2008, 17:23

Title: ipod docking point
Post by: Wilko2008 on 19 August 2008, 17:23
My Mk 5 has the armrest with the ipod docking point in it. However, I have realised that my ipod touch (just bought) doesn't fit in it.

I have got the selection of adaptors but none seem wide enough. Is this because it can't be used or am i being a bit dim?

Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: 2007GTI on 19 August 2008, 17:37
ipod touch was released way after VW produced the kit.  my old iphone fitted, but my new 3G one doesnt.

have you tried taking out all the adapters?
Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: Hurdy on 19 August 2008, 19:54
I hate to say this, but you will be disappointed with the operation of the IPOD adapter when you use it. It is a poor design :sad:
Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: Wilko2008 on 20 August 2008, 09:13
That sounds promising Hurdy! Thanks!

2007GTI How do you remove the adaptor that is in there? There are two small screws at the bottom but was afraid to remove them in case the whole thing came apart!

The "touch" wont fit with the adaptor that is fitted in the armrest as standard.
Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: 2007GTI on 20 August 2008, 09:22
thats what I mean, remove the standard adapter, sure its fine!
Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: Wilko2008 on 20 August 2008, 09:25
Thanks for that! I will try it over the weekend. Are you near London if it all goes horribly wrong?!
Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: Hurdy on 20 August 2008, 11:03
That sounds promising Hurdy! Thanks!


LOL :grin:

Don't get me wrong the IPOD cradle does what it says on the tin. It plays your songs from your IPOD.

The only thing is you can only have 5 playlists and you cannot choose particular albums, songs etc. There is also no readout on the head unit to tell you what song is playing as all you get is a track number. The track number only registers up to 99 and then starts from one again :angry:....so, if you are wanting song 285 you have to scroll through the list from 0 to 99 twice and then count up to 87 to get to the track you want :sick:
Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: NEWEY on 20 August 2008, 12:25
ive ordered the ipod dock on my gti to. i understand the 5 playlist thing, but can i take the i pod out the dock select a track i want then put it in the doc for it to play or will it have to go through one of the playlists?
Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: SteveP on 20 August 2008, 12:53
It's playlist only, when you plug in the ipod it seams to partially reset it and shows the VW logo and firware version of the adapter.

Even the versions of the VW adapter that are mounted on the dash (like the one in my GF's 08 Polo) don't allow direct track selection from the ipod which would have been the only save grace for the kit for me.  :angry:
Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: Russ.C on 20 August 2008, 13:19
ive ordered the i pod dock on my gti to. i understand the 5 playlist thing but can i take the i pod out the dock select a track i want then put it in the doc for it to play or will it have to go through one of the play lists?

Yeah you can select a track/album that way mate, thats what I do.  Its not the best bit of kit but it does the job.  By the way Wilko, I had an Ipod touch and just used to have a bit of card that I wedged down the back (nearest passenger side), and that kept it from moving.  Iphone is a nightmare! You can't lock the armrest to a different height because you can't shut the lid the whole way - pain in the arse  :angry:
Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: Wilko2008 on 20 August 2008, 14:36
Thanks for all your comments. Think I might stick to Virgin & turn it off when all the $hitty adverts come on!
Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: NEWEY on 20 August 2008, 16:30
ive ordered the i pod dock on my gti to. i understand the 5 playlist thing but can i take the i pod out the dock select a track i want then put it in the doc for it to play or will it have to go through one of the playlists?

Yeah you can select a track/album that way mate, thats what I do.  Its not the best bit of kit but it does the job.  By the way Wilko, I had an Ipod touch and just used to have a bit of card that I wedged down the back (nearest passenger side), and that kept it from moving.  Iphone is a nightmare! You can't lock the armrest to a different height because you can't shut the lid the whole way - pain in the arse  :angry:

thanks for clearing that up for me mate. as thats what i used to do with my ipod stereo on my old car anyway, found it eaiser that way.
Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: joesgti on 20 August 2008, 16:59
my ipod connector goes into the back of my hu and then my hu displays the ipod screen on its own screen  :nerd:
Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: Top Cat on 20 August 2008, 16:59
OK i have a ipod touch and it fits perfect with the adapter's provide'd it look's hard to figure which one to use but once you are in the car and try a few it shouldn't be a problem.
I am confused by people on here saying it's crap, granted you do not get any play list or easy selection via the radio,But it only takes a minute to create a play list with the ipod touch and you can put all your favourite song's in this i did one last night and put 135 songs on this list, it took me no more than 3 minutes to do this, press shuffle and your done this will be over 6 hour's of your favourite tunes  :smiley: enough for any journey and you can create many list's. So it's not  the best thing since sliced bread but the ease of use on the i pod touch make's up for VW's lack of thought.
By the way get one of these badboy's for the house the sound qaulity is amazing you wont believe the sound quality.
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm104/tomashandmilly/IMG_0287.jpg)
Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: SteveP on 20 August 2008, 19:36
Good choice in ipod dock for the house TC, very nice bit of kit.  :cool:
Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: Wilko2008 on 26 August 2008, 17:07
TC, the adaptor prefitted in the arm rest wont allow the ipod toch to reach the terminal. Did you remove that one?
Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: Top Cat on 27 August 2008, 18:47
TC, the adaptor prefitted in the arm rest wont allow the ipod toch to reach the terminal. Did you remove that one?

Wilko i dont remember there being any adapter's in there to begin with, i got a small bag of them with mine. If you pop down to the stealer's i am sure they would sort it for you quite quickly.  :smiley:
Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: Wilko2008 on 01 September 2008, 13:10
Thanks TC sorted, but I need to make another trip as the ipod doesnt seem work in there, but it is prob my fault, modern technology is not my strength!
Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: Top Cat on 01 September 2008, 13:18
Thanks TC sorted, but I need to make another trip as the ipod doesnt seem work in there, but it is prob my fault, modern technology is not my strength!

Me too! Just make sure you are inserting it right, i sometimes dont quite seat it right even though it feels like it went home correctly. There is some play on mine between the front and back side's, the side slot's are a tight fit on mine.  :wink:
Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: Wilko2008 on 02 September 2008, 12:55
I am a bit stuck - soz!
I press play on the ipod to play an album and the ipod doesnt appear to be recognised. Do I need to press anything? I have pressed CD twice and it says no CDC changer present.

I have also tried to set up a playlist and tried it that way and the same happens.

I have tried to make sure it is seated properly, but before I go too much further I wanted to check I am doing it right. The handbook says the ipod should be automatically recognised. :huh:
Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: Hurdy on 02 September 2008, 13:04
Insert the Ipod before you start the car up, ensure it is correctly seated and doesn't have the red part of the switch showing. Turn on the ignition and look at the screen on the IPOD as you do. If it is being recognised a Blue VW logo will appear on it. If it isn't being recognised then the logo will not appear.
Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: Moscow Flyer on 03 September 2008, 11:50
definately one of them fit as far as i know keep trying dude, but u can also use it without using the adapter and put it straight to the pin
Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: Wilko2008 on 08 September 2008, 13:14
No it definitely won't work. On checking with the dealer, he said this is a not unusual problem with the docking point.

So, it looks like yet another visit to the dealer.  :sad:
Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: ub7rm on 16 September 2008, 07:26
When I picked my car up a month or so ago my iPOD armrest thingie wasn't working and eventually after a few 'we ordered the wrong parts' got it fixed last week as well as a replacement steering rack  :rolleyes:

Its actually pretty good, only trouble is I was only supplied with one insert which I suspect is for a classic so my nano comes unseated going over bumpy roads - I guess I can just pick up  some inserts at the stealers?

What I was surprised at is the sound quality seems a lot better through the iPOD than say playing a CD through the RCD300.  I guess the IPOD bypasses the sound processing circuitry of the stereo?  It can go a fair bit louder with no distortion unlike the radio / CD.......

Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: Top Cat on 16 September 2008, 10:36
When I picked my car up a month or so ago my iPOD armrest thingie wasn't working and eventually after a few 'we ordered the wrong parts' got it fixed last week as well as a replacement steering rack  :rolleyes:
 :sad:

What I was surprised at is the sound quality seems a lot better through the iPOD than say playing a CD through the RCD300.  I guess the IPOD bypasses the sound processing circuitry of the stereo?  It can go a fair bit louder with no distortion unlike the radio / CD.......


The sound quality of my touch is know better than the crap stereo quality. but i did read that the overall quality of sound was lacking in the touch compared to previous ipods they must have focused on usability.
Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: Wilko2008 on 29 September 2008, 14:07
Yahoooo! Got the ipod docking point fixed on Thursday.

It was a faulty connector and after being replaced, under warranty, works fantastically. I am very pleased with the sound etc.

Pleased that it was a unit malfunction and not user error! All clear why I couldnt get it to work now. :grin:
Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: SteveP on 29 September 2008, 14:09
Yahoooo! Got the ipod docking point fixed on Thursday.

It was a faulty connector and after being replaced, under warranty, works fantastically. I am very pleased with the sound etc.

Pleased that it was a unit malfunction and not user error! All clear why I couldnt get it to work now. :grin:

Glad to hear you got it sorted out.  :smiley:
Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: ub7rm on 29 September 2008, 18:39
I spent a while wondering if I was being stupid before taking it to the dealers.  It seems they break a lot...
Title: Re: ipod docking point
Post by: Wilko2008 on 30 September 2008, 13:08
Apparently it is quite common for them not to work , but I was the same as you that I wasn't convinced it was broken & that it was me being stupid.

However instruction for dummies like me is:

You insert the ipod into the holder making sure it locates on to the connector.
The ipod screen will then illuminate (my ipod touch says accessory attached).
Wait a few seconds and then press the cd button on the radio unit and it will come up with track 1 in the centre of the screen. It will then be playing one of the Playlists from the ipod and the buttons around the centre console screen can then be used for other playlists on the ipod.

I hope this is clear. If it doesnt automatically start up, then the connector in the arm rest is knackered!