2016 GTI Car-Net Question

[dave_young123]

Hi guys,

Please can I ask for some help, with my new gti. Can you help me to understand (in simple, non tech speak):

A) what is car-net?

B) what does it do, above and beyond the standard functionality?

C) how do I register to use it?

Many thanks in advance, as you can tell I'm a touch confused!

[fredgroves]

http://volkswagen-carnet.com/int/en/start/online-devices.html

register here:

http://volkswagen-carnet.com/int/en/start.html

[Speedyslug]

Simply speaking as pre Fred's link, it's VW umbrella name for all the online services of the car. So for example Google search when car connected to net/ fuel prices and some other stuff

[dave_young123]

Thanks. Do any of you actually use it??

The link to register sends me to a site that doesn't accept a UK address?!!

https://carnet.vw.com/

[NeilH]

Try this
https://www.volkswagen-car-net.com/portal/en_GB/web/gb/register?command=c

Eventually it will give you a code. Get the car connected to the web by tethering to your phone or what have you and enter the code under Menu | Car-Net | Registration - this bit took numerous attempts but my mobile signal was very weak it may be better for you guys.

I've got Discover Nav so I get weather, news (you can add things like BBC news, sport, etc, as feeds via the car-net portal), parking, petrol, online POI, personal POI import, etc. Not loads but a few things. I'm sure we'll get more in the future.

Cheers, Neil.

[fredgroves]

Thanks. Do any of you actually use it??

Too early to say - the first cars with it are being delivered now...

Had this been available on my MIB1 unit LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE - yes, I would use it.

Yet to be proven how good the online traffic is mind you and similarly, nobody knows quite how much data this will munch through on your phone yet to know if its something you'd use all the time or just when you were going somewhere special.

[p3asa]

Audi offer pretty much the same system and have done for a few years now.
Street view, parking, weather, news, price of fuel locally, google searching online (great feature)

I was worried about the data when I started using it but can let you know its hardly anything. Only a couple hundred Mb per month.

Also I was concerned it would be classed as tethering as its not allowed on the tariff I was on with GiffGaff so after a few enquiries I was informed by them that no it wouldn't be classed as tethering.

Just in case it helps anyone.

[JonnyG]

I registered for Car Net OK (at the 2nd attempt) using Neil's link above.  It's working fine on my Mrs G's new GTD (standard Discover unit). 

It has limited use for me at the moment, but looks like you can add personal destinations and POI's in Car-Net online at home and then transfer them across to you cars Sat Nav.  That should save a bit of fiddling around on the MIB unit     If your car is parked close to your home router you can hook it direct to your Wi-Fi.   Otherwise you'll need to tether it to your phone (much slower connection for me).

However the more useful new addition is App Connect but this does not work for me (and others apparently).  We get the message :

[mcmaddy]

App-connect is what you pay the 100 quid for. It can be activated from a dealer but not until about October ish.

[NeilH]

I wouldn't get too excited about the app connect side. It's pretty limited and a tad flaky. Mine keeps losing connection and I have to go back into the car menu and re-enable the option to allow data transfer. The Android apps are limited at best. The VW one that records as you drive so you can see g-force, brake pressure, etc, overlaid  on a map is about the best. Maybe the Apple ones will be better but I don't have an Apple phone....

I'm sure in time we'll see a lot more apps. Amazon music would be good although that will work pretty much as is as a Bluetooth source streaming from the cloud.

Cheers, Neil