2000 S8 - Stereo change

[ulfilias]

Hi there,

My S8 has the RNS-D from what i gather. The sat-nav is somewhat old and dated. Can't do custom poi's or speed cameras. The inputs are also a little limited.

As such i want to swap for a kenwood after market player, which will probably be a single Din unit.....the complexity comes in that there doesn't apear to be an after market facia for the A8/S8.

One option is to get one fabricated. A pro job is estimated round £100-150 which for some formed ABS is a bit steep....I was contemplating buying one for a A6 or A4, but actualy looking at them you would end up cutting the fixing lugs off in fettling it to fit the surround. You also end up with a spare DIN socket which in use the touch screen would hit, but i'm still not sure.

However some older models had single din stereo's

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/A8-FRONT-FACIA...1%7C240%3A1318

what would retro fitting the older style facia be like.....i guess i'd keep the seat control and swap the button for the older style - BTW the above is for a link idea rather than the unit i'd want to get....at a guess A8parts have these old facias (codes below)???

Ta,
Lee
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Ly7W Silver sea / Light Metallic Exterior
N7R Half Valcona Leather / Alcantra Leather
WK Soul Black Interior
5MG Vavona Wood Colour
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[IT]

I accept your points on the limtations of the RNS-D, but its the first time anyone has come forward with the idea of downgrading to the pre facelift console that I'm aware of....

Your first problem is that the lovely vevona wood that you have wasn't around pre facelift, so you can't get a single din unit in the right wood. You would have to instead change the whole car to walnut, which is do-able, but a pain.

Your second problem is getting the climate to work. Its well documented what is needed to get a facelift climate module working in a pre facelift car, as they are physically very different shapes, but electronically similar. However, we've never contemplated whether a pre face climate module will 'just work' in a post facelift car. It may well do, as you have to add extra connections for the canbus post facelift, but none are moved or taken away I believe.

Then you have the reverse problem of other folks, because your current bcuttons on the console are all non latching, but the pre facelift ones are, you will need to do some hacking around to get the fog lights to work as they are directly wired into a control module that is located in the passenger footwell. Also the heated window, heated seats and hazards will all need rewiring, but at least the wires are physically near the console.

In my opinion, a professionally fabricated modification to the existing hole sounds like a bargain at a mere £100 - £150 as the alternitive will cost that in parts alone, before you start putting in a lot of effort....

Happy to give you some more pointers if you go down the retrofit prefacelift route but it'll not be easy!

[ulfilias]

Hi There,

Thanks Ian....That doesn't quite sound the easy option i was hoping it might be. Changing all the wood is probably not an option. I've seen how much there is and while the odd bit is a little skuffed its not that bad and i'd guess older model stuff is liable to be in worse condition generaly.

Didn't twig the air-con unit would be different or the buttons having a latching issue...seems generaly a bad plan.

I do wonder about the american market though as i'm sure they didn't get the sat-nav option, so there must be a single din facia for a facelift model ???

The cost isn't particularly the off putting option, its that you end up either with a stretch of black plastic, a tray or a hole...And i can't think what will look good in it, so its blank or tray....neither will look that great i think.

Its a puzzler.

Lee

[IT]

Yes, There is a single din facelift option, but again it has sloping sides to it, so it will need some sort of fill in, but not nearly as much....

We have a couple available, but again only in walnut as theoretically the vevona would be avaialble with a single din console, but we've never seen one.

If you went this route, all the switchgear would stay the same and just move over, and the climate module is electronically identical, but a different part number as it has a slightly different slope to the sides as it mounts slightly higher up the console on single din versions.

If it were my 'problem' I'd look at one of the excellent Pioneer or Kenwood double din navigation units, and get a custom face plate made to convert your existing sloping double din hole into a standard double din facia... Then you dont have an overpowering amount of black plastic, and you have the freedom to fit whatever DIN kit you fancy.

And you keep your nice wood...

[ulfilias]

Hi There,

Actualy scratch that idea of the American market...Looks like they put in a double din cd player !

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffwor...?photo=1637119

Arse.

[IT]

Yes, there were double din Cd/Cassette combos etc....

But we did have facelift single dins over here as per my previous post....

And, after some thorough searching, heres a photo of one...

[ulfilias]

Hi Ian,

Ooops didn't notice your second post !

It has to be a kenwood and not the very latest models. I have a phatbox hard drive system which i want to keep and the latest models are loosing the CD changer compatability that this requires. I belive the KVT-829dvd to be the last one, although i'd also be happy with the 729 as the 829 is quite hard to get hold of. Both are single din with hide away units and bolt on sat-nav systems which can be updated and have custom POIs(autogas)/speed cameras etc.

I don't know of a double din unit that will work with the phatbox...i guess there must be one.

I like the idea of that single din facia.

I guess the vavona wood is rare ??? I can't say it looks *that* special to me - If you know where i could get one from ? Would Audi still do them ?

Thanks,
Lee

One option I'm considering is using a CarPC. Basically I am looking to mount a netbook in the boot with the audio output wired in via the CD player. Feed the output to a 7" Lilliput Touchscreen up front. I'm thinking of also wiring in a screen in the rear for my daughter so I can run Dora, Mickey, Backyardigans, Fairies, etc in the back to keep her occupied( with a headphone socket wired in by the door)

This way I can run a decent GPS system when I want, DVDs etc for munchkin, music, internet with traffic etc ( over 3G bluetoothed from my phone ) even potentiall wire in VAG COM directly in )

outwardly I'm making no changes to the car interior(Mines a single DIN PF) and at worst I can take it all with me to teh next car.

[ulfilias]

Hi There,

Oddly while i use PC's for all sorts of stuff (home cinema, music server etc) i'm not sure i want one in the car. I like the it just works factor of a head unit. Also the boot up time would anoy me, particularly for short journies.

BTW - PRINS LPG. I have it on my S8, it came with it. I got told the yellow engine management light being on was normal for LPG, do you have that ??? - I did clear it via vagcom, but it came back within 20miles - Also i find it trciky to start on LPG when warm. If i switch to petrol its easy and then can switch straight back !

ta,
Lee

[IT]

Re - 'It just works' technology - Totally agree. Whilst you can slave away many, many hours of man effort into a carpc, it's often still less efficient than a decent main stream headunit.

The more features you cram in, the harder it is to control, and touch screen isn't always the answer - ever tried to tap away on a touch screen pda while traveling passenger?....

Re the LPG - I had a passat on a LPG conversion (not prins) and the engine management light was constantly on, but never seen it on any 8 with a conversion. Might be worth getting vagcom on it to see what the error is. This is a quick reply as its off topic for this area though, so if you want to discuss more feel free to post a new message under 'engine bay'