RNS 510 Alternative

[GTD-Smurf]

Been Looking about for a Alternative Sat Nav/Multifunction Unit To The RNS510, Quite Like The Look of The Pioneer AVIC-F9210BT . Can anyone out there Who has Got one of these fitted or Who Knows about them does This Unit Work with The Dash MFD & MFSW OK or Not ?? 

[jkp]

I've also been looking at one for the wifes car. Had a play with the pioneer and it looks a bit 'halfords' but a good bit of kit. Decided on the VW Kenwood unit from the dealer. £997 fitted including the iphone lead. Looks far better and the Garmin sat nav is almost a benchmark in dedicated head units.

Only downside to the kenwood is the iphone lead plugs into the front of the unit and not as neat as it could be. It would be a no brainer for a lot of people if the ipod/phone lead was discrete.

http://www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk/products/car/vw/

Dealer says it's four days to get one into stock at the moment, but hopefully get it fitted by middle of next week. I'll see how it goes in her car first before I look at one for mine when I get it.

[am1w]

A retro-fit LED RNS510* with Premium Bluetooth would cost about the same as the Kenwood. The RNS has a far better screen. Regarding sound quality differences between these two, I cannot comment but there is no question that the RNS looks and is more integrated than the Kenwood.
Conduct a Forum search as there is some useful information on this which might help in your decision making.

[branchespark]

I agree about the RNS510 being a much better fit and a bit cheaper. Works with in-dash display and also steering wheel controls. I got the RNS off eBay for £500 and the Bluetooth for £200. Fitted in no time. You'll need someone friendly with the cable to tell your car it now has navigation installed.

However, Kenwood have done a good job with their bit of kit. Also, if resale is a consideration, then a car with the official built-in sat-nav will doubtlessly appeal to more people than one with a non-standard after-market system, IMHO.

[jkp]

Looks like I may have made a gaff with the kenwood as I was looking at the dealer prices and never even gave ebay or other sellers a thought. Saving grace is the wife really likes the kenwood and it's going in her car.  

I've ordered bluetooth prep with my GTD. Is this compatible with the RNS unit? or would I have to replace the module if I was to add in an RNS-510?

I tried a search on here but could not find any info, which may have been that I never searched correctly.  

[Buck]

The bluetooth module is a standalone unit (as in it's not part of the stereo) so should be a simple swap over of the head unit and bluetooth enable - it may need the 510 coding to show it has BT installed

[jkp]

Thank you Buck 

[branchespark]

I concur, as my GTD came with the Bluetooth prep and the RCD (not RNS). Simple insert of the RNS, a bit of coding, and all was singing and dancing. (I also updated the Bluetooth module, as mine was not iPhone compatible, but that was even more simple!)

[Gene Hunt.]

My ED 30 came with a Pioneer AVIC-F920BT fitted & it's a great bit of kit. Have alook on here for full spec.  www.pioneer.co.uk

[jkp]

Got the kenwood unit fitted in the wifes car. Good looking unit and more important, very simple for her to operate, especially the satnav side.

Only downside that does put me off it is the front mount lead for iphone charge and play.