MK5 golf GTI head unit upgrade
MK5 golf GTI head unit upgrade
Author
Discussion

SBN

Original Poster:

1,030 posts

182 months

Monday 15th October 2018
quotequote all
I’m aware there is a lot on this subject already and that’s the problem in that I’m struggling to find a definitive list of head units that don’t drain the battery.

I have read that there is a handful of head units created by pioneer and kenwood that do not require a live feed wire being run. Eg you can just simply swap the original head unit for one of these because the unit was designed to work with Vw etc.

Does any one have such a list of units that will do this so I can stream music and either have nav built in or apple car play?

shotta287

893 posts

124 months

Monday 15th October 2018
quotequote all
I believe Mk5s prior to 2007 need a fuse tap or CAN bus gateway upgrade if you want to avoid battery drain when ignition is off. This stands for the VW OE head units such as RNS-510, RCD-330. As far as I know they both have DAB and the RNS has nav, touch screen and hard drive so you can store music.

I’m not sure whether the above applies for Kenwood, Pioneer units. I’m looking to fit a Pioneer SPH-DA120 as it also has carplay which I could do with.

markrtw

65 posts

201 months

Monday 15th October 2018
quotequote all
Just update the can gateway. I did it for less than £20, then problem solved.
It was quite easy! Just followed the guide on the mk5 gti forum. If that's too much, quite a few of the people who supply the stereos can also supply a pre coded can gateway, so all you have to do is fit it. If that is still too much most will also fit as well as supply, but of course you'll have to travel to them.

va1o

16,117 posts

237 months

Tuesday 16th October 2018
quotequote all
I fitted the RNS 310 to my 55-plate 2006 GTI and never had any issues with battery drain on the original CAN bus

Dr G

15,985 posts

272 months

Tuesday 16th October 2018
quotequote all
I've a feeling the 310 (much like MFD2 and other 'period' units) don't suffer this issue.

If you want Carplay and are happy to rely on GSM data for most things then a 330+ is excellent value. Even if you do end up paying someone to code a new CAN gateway for you these units are so cheap that the total spend remains low.

SBN

Original Poster:

1,030 posts

182 months

Tuesday 16th October 2018
quotequote all
This is good info guys... the RNS 310 looks good. Are we 100% that it won’t drain the battery?

va1o

16,117 posts

237 months

Wednesday 17th October 2018
quotequote all
SBN said:
This is good info guys... the RNS 310 looks good. Are we 100% that it won’t drain the battery?
I've never heard of it causing drain and it didn't on mine, there is no official documentation though!

Dr G

15,985 posts

272 months

Thursday 18th October 2018
quotequote all
Yes, anecdotal evidence only on that one.

It appears that the 'period' MK5 head units are fine but anything newer will need an updated CAN gateway.

Remember that a 310 is an older unit now; how much are you thinking of spending? If you've got a few hundred to do the job you could look at a newer unit and the CAN upgrade within the budget still.