RNS-E Retrofit into a D2....
 

A popular topic this one, so thought I'd cover it off thoroughly...

The 'plan' at the moment is to install the RNS-E, Bluetooth handsfree and reversing camera. I might as well do this right now whilst my carpets and interior is out for the individual rear seat install.

For those not in the know, the RNS-E has a million advantages over the RNS-D Navi plus that comes with D2 normally, here are a few:

Faster, way faster
Larger, wide, screen
Flip down screen reveals 2 SD card slots
Plays MP3 directly from said slots
Support for an excellent bluetooth handfree system
Europe wide mapping as standard
Did I mention it was faster?
TMC built in, no external box, and it works 100%
Supports the exsting CD changer in the boot
Supports reversing camera
Supports playback of CD's through front slot

It does has 2 significant issues though:

1) The D2 console is a different shape to the A3/A4/A6/TT and thus as the RNS-E was never meant to go in to the D2, it doesnt actually fit. The good news is though that the A4 / A6 are a close fit, and with some brave cutting down to size, it should go in snug.

2) You lose the DIS turn by turn directions, and anything else graphical that it would put up in the large section of the screen. You do however get radio / track names etc. I hate this, but I'm willing to sacrifice it for the other benefits.

Today marks the start of the project as some toys, sorry, components have arrived in the post:

First up, from Kufantec.de:

Their order codes: 33406 and 34403, a pair of coax adapters.

The single connection terminating in a blue end is for converting a pre-existing RNS-D type Satnav aerial cable into an RNS-E one. You wouldnt need this unless you already have an RNS-D...

The other cable is for converting the radio aerial from the two connections on the back of the RNS-D into the smaller twin package that plugs into the RNS-E.

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1266578373


Next, also from kufantec.de - Their item bumber 33405 a harness for converting the RNS-D wiring connections into the RNS-E Quadlock.

It makes a really easy job of it. The two stray cables are for the canbus connections which are the other side of the TMC module and must be soldered in manually, there is no getting around this if you want the radio station / track names in the DIS.



http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1266578373


Also from Kufantec, but could be bought anywhere - Some fabric tape. Can make even the messiest of cable wiring jobs look factory standard +++ - I have loads of it as I'll need to do all the wiring for the rear seats too..

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1266578373

And finally, the bluetooth handsfree module. I dont pretend to be an expert on these. I think some of the better ones can do rsap as well, but that doesnt interest me, so here we have a 'brand new' unit from www.carsystems.pl complete with wiring loom and bluetooth aerial... Look on ebay, there are loads to choose from:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1266578373

So, I'm just waiting for the RNS-E now... I've got for the A6 version, which is slightly more expensive due to the rarity than the A4 one, but should give an overall better fit. The A4 version is quite high, but about 1mm too narrow at either side. When fitted the gap is inpercetible really, but it would annoy me because I'd know it was there.

I've also ordered a rear view camera off Ebay (£12) and I'm just deliberating whether to fit a pukka Audi TV tuner or not....

I'll update when some more toys, sorry, components arrive :D

Ian, thanks in advance for doing the RNS E write up. I was going to pay to have mine done so this should save me some money. :)

I currently have my I Phone connected up to the RNS D through the TV tuner in the back using AV cables. How would I connect it up to the RNS E? Also where are you hooking the rearview cam into? As I understand the old TV tuner is no good with an RNS E? Thanks +++

i couldn't live with the gaps or if the colour of the illumination was slightly different :(

good write up tho

any chance of some bigger pics :D:ROFL::p

You'll need the Kufatec IMA iPod interface for that Amar
http://www.kufatec.de/shop/product_i...9bcece866d8fe4

Thanks for that Clive, wow and it integrates through the headunit as well. Very impressive. +++

Yep, full control of the iPod from the head unit +++

haha, yes, I got that a little wrong..... the joys of running a 2560 x 1900 desktop, you tend to overlook the 'normal' size screens out there... !!!

I'll shrink them back down again when I get a mo...

The RNS-E is here....
 

... all the way from Lithuania, very well packaged and looks mint (just like the last one I ordered from there... +++)

The RNS-E, just powered on with the startup screen....

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1266957658

Here is the navigation map view, still showing somewhere in Germany where it last had a GPS fix. I've not had chance to get a fix here in the UK yet...



http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1266957658

Here is the map view showing the European wide detailed coverage - One of the major improvements of the RNS-E over the RNS-D as it has a DVD rom, not CD...

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1266957658

And it wouldnt be complete without a quick shot of the SD card readers that are hidden behind the drop down screen.... 2 of them, but only good for SD, not HC-SD, shame... but way better MP3 support than the RNS-D +++

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1266957658

Ian, I have a few questions before I order my RNS E.

1)Will any RNS E work? I read somewhere the D2 needs gala enabled for the A8/S8 speed signal and this is the part number I am looking for: 4B0 035 192 P
Is this correct as this unit is more pricey than the others.
2)Does the blue tooth car kit come with the microphone?


Sorry for all the questions. I'm just trying to work it all out.

1) - I think so. gninnam is running an A4 unit in a FL D2 that I suppled a while back without issues as far as I'm aware. There is an uplift in cost for the A6 ones, I'm just hoping it fits better without as much hacking of the faceplate that the A4 needs... You already have a gala signal to your RNS-D, so no worries there..... I'll post more as I find things out

2) this kit did yes

On a long journey (as in 6 hours plus) it did have a habit of turning off, but apart from that, good to go+++

Thanks Ian, so any RNS E should do, great. No pressure but all I'm waiting for is your complete write up before I start ordering bits and bobs +++

Yeah I would - I dont know how smoothly this is going to go yet. Audi Digital Tv tuner should be here this week, so need to test that works. I also need to take it for a bit of a drive to make sure it all works before I start hacksawing the front to fit +++

A quick, and very productive half hour this morning:

Firstly, a quick shot of RNS-D and RNS-E side by side. Notice the taper on the sides is bigger on the A6 RNS-E than the A8 RNS-D - This is good, no gaps. The top edge between the screen and top is almost identical too. Notice also the more matt effect on the RNS-E that comes on the later Audi models. Its one of the few downsides of this upgrade that it wont quite match the climate as well....

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267445781

Here is a side on view. Notice that the RNS-E comes with these lugs on the side, now call me chicken, but because I dont know 100% that this RNS-E is going to work/fit, I'm not willing to snap them off just yet, which is what most folks do.....

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267445781

And here is a rear shot to complete - Notice that not 1 single connector is directly transferrable! - Eveything changes......

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267445781

My solution to the side lug problem - A hack saw:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267445781

and it works beautifully, the RNS-E drops in nicely....

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267445781


And in goes the climate module. Arrows show the discrepancy between the A8 taper and the A6 taper, not a great deal in it. From memory, the A4 units have a more narrow front so the overlap is the other way. You can see the different in plastics now too....

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267445816

but all is forgiven, look how fabulous that is

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267445816


..... And the front cover has popped on without trimming the sides off, which means I can test to my hearts content and consider never trimming the sides off by the looks of it... The slight gap between the climate module and the unit is because I have no screws in the climate module - that will nip up perfectly me thinks... Cool, what a result.... +++

Rns-e
 

That looks soooo good +++

Hi Ian, was just going to order mine now but thought I would double check a few details with you first, just want to confirm that these are the only additional bits I need apart from the unit itself which comes with a GPS antenna and DVD etc...

These are the bits from kufantec. Am I missing anything?

33406
34403
33405

At the moment I am only fitting the unit and will do the bluetooth when I'm less poor! (2/3 months)

By the way mine is also coming from Lithuania, I wonder where they get all these RNS Es from Confused:

Thanks in advance for your help +++

Todays progress, another 3 hours spent on the car sorting out the RNS-E install, which is a lot further forward

First of all, the TV Tuner has finally arrived, hurrah:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267742989

Heres a quick reminder of what we currently have. This being an early facelift, I have a type A tuner, very square, and with 1 set of AV input phonos on the rear. Standard CD Changer, and the Phone amplifer on the left. Ignore the red wire, it was temporary about 2 months ago, and I'll be putting it away nicely very soon....

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267742989

My RNS-E testbed, AKA my car..... You really need vagcom to code things up and get things working right, especially for TV / Phone functionality, so it was just easier to mock everything up in the passenger footwell. I'm pleased to say that once installed, the Sat Nav picked up its location quickly, and the radio works 100%, so no problems with any of those adapters then....

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267742989

The next problem to get it all working though is to wire in the infotainment canbus to the RNS-E. Most people associate it with the bus that is used for displaying the radio stations / Cd tracks on the DIS, but its two way, and sends also important signals such as 'igntion on'. Devices like the TV tuner and Bluetooth module will only turn on with a canbus command, so until I get that working, I can't really test anything.

One of the oddities of the RNS-D install is that the Blaupunkt (aka bosch) headunits talk a slightly different canbus protocol to the rest of the car. This means that the RNS-D cannot connect directly to the instrument cluster, instead it must talk through the 'Can gateway' or as people probably better know it, the TMC module. The TMC module was only installed to allow the RNS-D to talk to the instrument cluster, TMC functionality was a bi-product as the TMC module for whatever reason, was designed with 2 canbus connections (4 wires) and can talk both protocols and convert between them.

The RNS-E however can talk to the instrument cluster, and doesnt need the TMC module, in fact, having that in the way will likely screw things up, so its behind the instrument cluster to deal with it....

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267742989

I could simply tap the wires for the RNS-E into the back of here where the correct Canbus is presented to the TMC, but that means running a good length of twisted pair cabling from the head unit up to begind the instrument cluster, which is a bit messy as there is no easy official cable route for it.

Instead, I've taken a more radical approch where I'm going to take the connectors from the TMC module and connect them together, effectively bridging the Audi infotainment CAN with the BOSCH CAN, thus presenting the Audi CAN down near the head unit on the original wires where I want it...

We also need to sort out the aerial feed - As the TMC (when actually working as a TMC) needs to tune into Classic FM in the UK, then it has an aerial feed, but the main aerial goes into it, and then passes from it down to your head unit. If you simply unplug these connectors, you will lose radio reception so we just plug them into one another as they are a male/female pair

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267743045

Here is the Canbus low from the Audi side, and the Canbus low from the Bosch side snipped off and twisted together. There is only 1 connector on the TMC, a 12 pin (2x6) and it comes apart easily.

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267743045

Both high and low snipped, soldered and heat shrinked (shrunk?).

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267743045

Down to the other end, and RNS-D owners may recognise this connector as being the multiplug that goes in half way down the unit. Well, it is also where the canbus goes in, so we can get our canbus from here now for the RNS-E

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267743045

Connector dismantled, and the two stripey grey wires stand out from the (small) crowd...

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267743045

So, snip them off, and I have my canbus available near my passenger footwell where I can continue my testing.... +++

Ok, so now can is alive, I can basically twist all the relevant wires together, hook up some power and make sure everything works....

So, first things, look, we now have a TV option.... +++

(Note my temp power supply, stealing a feed from the connector that normallys powers the cigarette lighter !)

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267744378

... and tuing in the TV tuner, which is pointless as it has no aerials at this point, and wont have until I change the connectors as the Type A tuner has very different ones....

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267744378

and the phone is alive..... Note at the top you get service provider, at bottom you get signal strength which is useful...

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267744378

and here are the memory options - Depending on your make/model of phone it will bring across phone books, missed calls etc... I have a windows mobile and it works 100%.... :D

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267744378

Ok, so it all works, but I cant really leave it in the footwell for ever... :rolleyes:

The TV tuner is going in the boot, but I had some doubts over where to locate the bluetooth phone module. Although I might be able to squeeze it behind the glovebox, and the wiring would be a little easier if I did, I'm concerned I might 'forget' next time I take the car apart and end up breaking its very fragile looking bluetooth aerial, or end up jamming the glovebox etc, so I've decided it can go in the boot on top of the Tv tuner where it has acres of room to safe....

For this to happen though, I need to sort a few things. The in car microphone for handsfree connects directly to the bluetooth module, and then it has microphone wires than connect to the RNS-E. There is also power, canbus, mute & K line (vagcom) to get connected up. Thats 8 wires to run to the boot, so need to sort that now really...

I did a little cheating, and whittled it down to 4 extra wires, as 4 of them are already present in the boot that I can tap into, so I got myself 4 x 5m long pieces of wire, along with the pre-fabricated RNS-E TV loom, and also I through in some AV leads for good measure and bundled it altogether into one long loom that I could run the length of the car..... The AV leads have no immediate purpose, but at least they are there in case I want an ipod or something up front to play on the RNS-E....

Heres my 'loom', with a couple of breakouts - 1 is the microphone cable which will divert and go up through the headlining once it enters the cabin, and the other is the AV leads which are given a bit more freedom once they enter the front of the cabin so I can reroute them easily later on without un-taping the whole loom to free them up..

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267744450


And here we have what is then fed to the boot... 4 wires, 2 multiplugs, the old TV connection and the 'future proofing' AV lead

The 4 wires here are the 4 that I knew I could tap in the boot easily, ground, +12 (constant), can high and can low. Handily, these 4 are all sa in the (now disused) TV tuner 6 way connector, so I simply stole them from there, soldered them up and wrapped it all up neatly...

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267744450

... and here it is all wired up neatly, tested and working again... Next time, I'll sort out the wiring in the front, the microphone and hopefully consider testing it on the road at some point soon..

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267744450

What happened to waiting till I'd finished? :p

I wouldnt want to confirm any part numbers for definite until I see this thing work - Yes, the screen lights up and it plays music, but until I actually drive it somewhere I dont know if the Sat nav will work properly ....

... and I cant do that until I fit some seats, and my carpets, and my LPG tank, and the million and one other bits that are now littering my house :D

Ahh I see. Its just that the A8 and S8 are both parked up now for upto two weeks whilst my old tail lamps go to the US then the new ones come back.. So seeing as I can't drive it I need an excuse to spend some time in it. :D
Excellent write up by the way, I am trying to get my head around everything, thanks for doing this +++

Another day, another part arrives....
 

Just the 2 x Av input adapter for the Audi TV Tuner, with a dummies guide on installing. This is on a type C tuner, but its the same process for the Type B which comes in the later D2s (> 2000 ish)

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267812949

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267812949

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267812949

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267812949

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267812949

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267812971

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1267812971

Job done, 5 to 10 mins +++

RNS-E install into the dash has halted (again) due to the impending install of a new airbag controller. The airbag controller sits on top of the transmission tunnel, and underneath the center console so I need to leave it all out to gain access....

Anyway, I've finished the audio loom off, which is a result. After running the Bluetooth and TV tuner into the boot, making my loom and running all the cables back again, there was still plenty to do.

This is where I also discovered a couple of important 'features' of the Kufantec adapter cables:

1) They dont put a wire in for the reverse pin. I'm not sure yet of the implications of this. There is plenty of chatter about the different ways that different cars use reverse either over canbus, or over the reverse pin. I dont know if the D2 generates a reverse signal over canbus, and the result of having no reverse is that whenever you go backwards, the Nav counts it as forwards, which is a double wammy as far as out-of-positioning is concerned. With this in mind, I have inserted an extra pin into my Kufantec adapter. It is pin C2 on the RNS-E, marked as RFSL and should simply be a +12 high when reverse is engaged. This can be taken off the reverse lights feed, or if you're upgrading from a factory fitted RNS-D, it will be in the multiplug connector from your RNS-D, also marked RFSL. Here is my modified cable:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1268176819

2) If you dont order the cable with 'phone yes' then I suspect they dont put the pins in the adapter for use with a phone (I dont know, as I always tick this when ordering) - If you intend to install a bluetooth module at some point, then having this is handy as 3 of the crucial wires (Tel +, Tel - and Mute) will all have pins present that you can tap into. Without these, you will need to add another 3 wires to your Kufantec harness.

So, I've now installed the modified harness, hooked up reverse, connected the Tel +. Tel -, Mute & Kline for the bluetooth along with all the power and canbus requirements so its basically all there. I just need to mount it now, and actually drive the car to see if it works !! :D

Just a note for anyone not wanting to change due to gaps/colour mismatch. I just read something CraigyB wrote and he said if you use Kiwi shoe polish on the RNS E it will match the rest of the dash fine. Gaps ain't a problem..

1 Step forward, 4 steps back....
 

RNS-E is now 'in' the dashboard, although its not exactly working out in my favour.

Singh was spot on with his unit noting that the front cover wont fit on, so I am going to have to trim. It will look good once done, but OMG I am going to have to accurate with that trimming... not looking forward to that ! (see the ill fitment with red arrow)

Second problem is the size of my resultant wiring loom, (green arrows) which although very functional, it now a bit bulky to fit behind the RNS-E itself leaving me a loop of cabling to 'lose' somewhere.....

Both problems fixable, but setbacks nonetheless.....

Photo:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1268598609

The third problem is that my car used to have the early fixed Nokia 3310 car kit in it, which is now redundant, so when I had the center console out I removed the now unused phone adapter from the loom :

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1268598916


When I removed this, it seems I lost a +12 ignition feed on the mobile phone aerial amplifier that i was using in the boot to control the power on/off of the rear seat entertainment kit...., so now need another +12 that only goes live with the ignition...

The most annoying problem though stems from the aerial setup on the rear window.

There are 4 aerials on the rear screen, which feed into a diversity switch box, which then feeds 4 connections into the Tv tuner in the boot.

There seems to be some revisions to the way the aerial setup works with possible some large, and rather prohibitive changes to the aerial setup in the 1999 car I have (with the type A tuner, single A/V input, square and boxy) vs the later type B tuners.

The later type B tuner is well documented by CraigyB in an RS6 as being able to have the connectors to the TV tuner changed, and it works with the RNS-E tuner. The type A tuner though seems to have compeletely different aerials and a much earlier revision of the diversity tuner, so i'm now losing confidence that the aerials will work with the RNS-E unit when I want them to..... which i dont right now, but it will annoy me if it doesnt work and I could fix it now.

This has a knock on effect to other projects, as to gain access to the aerials, you need to remove the rear seats, parcel shelf and D pillar trims, so not only do I not get to put my rear seats back together (seperate project in interior trims), but I also now need to remove more bits :rolleyes:

I'm just going to have to retrofit the type B tuner loom into my car, along with the relevant aerials and diversity.....

oh joy....

1 Problem fixed....
 

After the earlier problems, I have made some progress.

The old type A tuner has a +12 ignition feed on a black/green wire. I have verified this using wiring diagrams, and a test meter so hurrah, thats a problem fixed. The last thing I really want to do is have to run another wire the full length of the car.

On another plus note, I get the chance to run the 3 x Av phonos from one side of the boot to the other. This is used to take the output from the rear seat entertainment kit into one of the AV inputs on the Audi TV tuner. This means whatever is playing in the rear, can be viewed in the front, and now I have RNS-E, not RNS-D, they are both widescreen too which is cool +++

I've been quite careful on these recent projects to ensure cables are insulated, fused and safe. This is no different so I take the ignition feed wire that needs to run from the old TV tuner connection on the left side to the RSE on right and I bundle that with the 3 AV connectors and bind it all up with fabric tape for safe keeping..... They can then all be run underneath the plastic boot lip trim....

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1268599507

Got mine fitted now, brought some 'aluminuim oxide paper' from Halfords and spent the day getting it to D2 size, I'm happy with the fitment, hard pressed to find any big gaps. Once I have gone over it with the kiwi magic shoe polish it should look as if it just came like that out the factory. :)

shaving down to size.....
 

Right, its D-day - I need to make the RNS-E fit so I can start to rebuild the front of the passenger compartment....

So, with the RNS-E in place and the wood bezel on the front as best possible, I use a sharp knife to score the sides of the RNS-E for the best fit....

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1268858460

So, now we have the markers, time to trim it down to size. Sure sandpaper would work, but I'm on a timescale here, so time for something a touch quicker:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1268858460

Less than 5 mins and shes chopped down to size.... It was coated in cling film first just to stop too much plastic dust getting inside and causing any weird optic problems with the laser.

....and da - dar - A D2 shaped RNS-E is born, ready for fitment....

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1268858460

And here she is in place.... beautiful..... +++

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1268858460

So, I guess its nearly done now... As long as the transmission tunnel covers go back on with the extra wiring in place, then we're good... I cant actually test it until I can move the car, which cant be done until I fit a drivers seat... <doh>

Looks good though.... :D

Sounds fishy.... Tuna
 

I'm more determined than ever to sort out the aerials now before I commit this RNS-E project as complete.

To recap, I'm not 100% sure that the older style TV tuner with its old pre 2001 diversity switcher etc will work properly with the RNS-E tuner. This may become more of an issue when I want to go digital, so whilst suck it and see is 1 option, I've decided the only solid solution is to retrofit the later Type B tuner aerials.....

Firstly, here is the location of the diversity switcher. I'm no expert, but I believe it basically takes the aerial input from all 4 aerials on the rear screen, selects the best signal and squirts that out to the tuner. It also supplies the audio headunit with its radio aerial feed:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1268859716

I have the aquired 4 later aerial amps, but after removing my parcel shelf I was pleasantly surprised to see that I already have the same versions, which is good. Note there are 4 different aerial amps, and they are 4 different part numbers doing presumably slightly different things. All are marked TV/FM apart from one which also does AM... 2 aerial amps are at the bottom of the screen (1 either side) and there are 2 on the D pillars, again one either side. Each amp connects with a single wire to the rear screen where the actual aerial is, and in turn it has an SMB coax connector and power feed back into the audio loom....

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1268859716

To change over to the newer type tuner setup is easiest if I just add in the later tuner loom. The type A tuner has round push fit coax connectors and as yet I havn't been able to identify their name. the Type B tuner has instead newer fakra connectors which are an SMB connector with a fancy keyed plastic cover on. The switcher has 4 aerial amp feeds in, 4 feeds out to the TV tuner and 2 connections to the head unit. It also has a simple +12/ground power supply connector:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1268859716

So, I start with an entire type B tuner loom from a D2

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1268859716

and I strip out the 4 coax feeds to the aerial amps (red circle), and the 4 feeds from the diversity switcher to the 2 x dual Fakra connectors for the Tv tuner in the boot (green arrow) The power connector is the same as the Type A tuner, and the aerial feed to the HU is an SMB on the type A, which will plug straight into the Type B diversity. The diversity feed is SMB too, but the wrong gender so I've ordered a fakra connector and set of crimps so will have a go at putting that single connector on.... eek.

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1268859716

Finally, the wide dual connectors on the Type B tuner are too wide to fit the RNS-E tuner, but changing them over should be easy. The SMB connectors inside pull out, and the plastic green/brown blocks can be bought from audi parts to fit the RNS-E tuner.... This is my plan anyway...

Tomorrow will see this loom being fitted so I can refit the parcel shelf and hopefully get the rear seats in too..

New aerial loom goes in...
 

Installing the new loom was fairly straight forward. Firstly remove the D pillar trims and parcel shelf.

Two of the aerial amps are at the bottom of the screen on each side as per my previous photos and the other two are tucked up on each side like this circled in green.

Its a fairly short run to the diversity switcher circled in red on the passenger side, and from the drivers side the coax wires run along the edge of the parcel shelf as arrowed in black.

Note the extra foam layer on top of the parcel shelf for sound deadening which you only get on facelift cars and the roof airbag ignitor which is a fairly big looking beast when the covers are off....

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1268945806

I then run the 4 coax cables from the switcher through into the boot area and after taking them out of their original brown/green housing that wont fit this tuner, I directly insert the SMB connectors into the tuner to test...

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1268945806

and the result kind of speaks for itself really :D

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1268945837

I guess there cant be many D2's running RNS-E with working Audi TV Tuner too.... +++

probably because fitting one is sooooooo damned involved. Don't think i'd be brave enough to tear most of my car to bits, but i got to admit it looks great! :D

Right, well transmission tunnel covers are on with out a problem, and I've now been able to take it for a test drive, which was succesful so I think we can consider the RNS-E transplant a success +++

When you first set off the arrow on the map will likely be out, and will keep being out for a little while. Just keep driving and it will calibrate the speed pulses from the GALA feed against the GPS position and figure it out. Drive with it on maximum zoom so you can see how accurate it is and within about 10 mins, it should be spot on. Mine is :D

Heres a quick boot shot of the new TV tuner on top, with the bluetooth module tucked down the side....

Now is it just me, or does that look rather tidy ? :love:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1269039433

Looks rather tidy to me!
 

Well, what can I say? It certainly wasn't plug and play, but you make it look so easy... :D

As always, a superb write-up and the best result possible. Nice work Ian +++

Looks factory to me Ian. Top write up and added to sticky. +++

RSE.... with RNS-E...
 

Last little bits now.....

I spent a good long time pi55ing around trying to get the rear seat entertainment to work, and was going round in circles... I have 2 AV inputs on my Tuner, and no matter what I did, AV1 wouldnt work properly... Alas, this was fundamental in my overall plan and annoyingly I eventually tracked it down to a faulty AV adapter for the TV tuner that I had bought - They had got of the pins in wrong holes hence I have no AV1... Fixed that and hey presto, shes alive...., here we have the 10 discs DVD changer in the boot showing on both widescreen displays... +++

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1269288587

Here is another photo of the drop down Audi screen in the rear, which is made by Sony (model XTL-750w) and is also used in the BMW X5 RSE kit, but I digress - Mine was black, so I repainted it, but got it a little too light, but I can always darken it again later if the need takes me:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1269288587

and finally, another problem I have is that the boot mounted LPG tank prevents me from fitting the pukka armrest cubby hole that houses the DVD changer control an playstation controllers. Well, I think the PS1 as probably had its day, so I'm happy to forego that, and the DVD changer control, well I popped that here:

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1269288587

Its right up behind the rear lights so the driver cant see it at all from the front, yet the rear passenger can see if perfectly by just looking up.... I nicked the carrier from an A6 RSE kit as in the Avants they stick the controls on the roof just like this... +++

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1269288587

V cool! :respekt:

ooops, almost forgot
 

For those with the early RNS-D or RNS-C units, you have a small speaker down in the driver B pillar trim for the navigation directions and the phone speaker.

Later models 2001/2002 dont, it all comes out of the standard speakers.

The RNS-E is the same, and the speaker is now unused.

However, it does need to to know where the driver is sat as it bleats the driving instructions out of his/her speaker, and by default factory units come coded for LHD cars, so she shouts her self stupid at the poor passenger that gets the shock of their life...

Its a simple recode, whip out vagcom, go to adaptation and channel 136. Modify it as required. Mine wouldn't accept 2632 for the RNS-E Basic, but took the 00013 for RNS-E high quite happily. No idea what the difference is, but my woman now comes out by my feet, and not out of the glovebox... +++

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1269289704

That makes sense now! I thought I was going mad thinking the directions were coming from the passenger side of the car.
Very clever fitting, it all looks great however I have never really liked the look of that Audi RSE. I had the opportunity to have it and passed as I actually think the screens look better in the headrests. It doesn't look very OEM. 10 Disc DVD changer is very cool however. That looks great Ian, top work and a huge thank you for the write up. I owe you one +++

I agree that the screens *look* better in the headrests, and two seperate screens arguably give more functionality than a single one, however they are more obvious and more prone to theft. I know for a fact we've had calls before from people wanting 'new hearests' because they've had them nicked for the screens....

I like the Audi kit because its so discrete.... Just like the rest of my 8.. +++

Why is this not a sticky!? :Confused: +++

Cos the senior admin has not told the junior admin to do it yet! :p

Far be it for a mere Librarian to tell an 8 God to do his own sticky's!!!! :ROFL:

However, if you look in the forum sticky you will see it is linked! :p