Help Upgrading Older RCD-510 Radio for Late RCD-510 w/ HD Camera Version

gmcjetpilot

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Aug 18, 2008
Location
Memphis TN
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2010 JSW TDI DSG Matalic Grey
Help Upgrading Older RCD-510 Radio for Late RCD-510 w/ HD Camera
Version. My 2010 RCD-510 just went dark. I bought a replacement from a
TDI member. It arrives tomorrow. It's a 2015 model.

Does anyone know if there is a compatibility issue. I have the old Bluetooth
box under the seat that was a point of contention. The early ones did not
do the Bluetooth phone address book as was advertised in sales brochures.
I hate to have to upgrade the under seat box as well.

I think the blue tooth is 9w7 Bluetooth?

I don't care, just want the blue tooth music, iPod connector, SD card
and AM/FM radio. I am excited about getting HD radio!!!! Camera is a
separate issue, I can deal with. I just want the blue tooth to work, no
address book needed.
 
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gmcjetpilot

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Aug 18, 2008
Location
Memphis TN
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2010 JSW TDI DSG Matalic Grey

gmcjetpilot

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Aug 18, 2008
Location
Memphis TN
TDI
2010 JSW TDI DSG Matalic Grey
Just installed the new RCD-510 "H" Model, HD Radio reverse camera in a
2010 VW JSW TDI. The one removed was "AC" model and the BT box I am
guessing 9w2 or 9w3. Not sure.

GOOD NEWS, it installed no problem. The BT works fine and didn't even
need to be re-paired. A 9w7 would add the phone address book and BT
music data or something like that. Not sure I care. If I find a 9w7 I might
buy one.

I had it installed in 30 minutes after I had it out box. The biggest time was
setting getting Sirius to swap radios. They charged $15 to swap! :mad:

Set up the FM and Sirius XM presets took longer to do than install it. The
HD radio is awesome. Going to have to get a backup camera. Now what to
do with the dead RCD-510. It seems no one can fix these things.
 
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gmcjetpilot

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Location
Memphis TN
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2010 JSW TDI DSG Matalic Grey
9W7 bluetooth install, but with RNS-510. I guess the newer RCD-510 will be the more or less the same for the phone.
DIY-9W7-Bluetooth-swap-from-9W2-on-RNS510
Yep that is cool. I just don't talk on the phone that much. I am sure I'd be inclined to call someone. I do take incoming calls. I typically tell them I'm driving and the conversation is short. Bottom line my 9w2(3) works with the newer radio.

The music BT with data is another advantage.
 

ksing44

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Feb 13, 2010
Location
Southeast PA
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2010 Golf TDI
Congratulations on the new radio! I love the HD radio in my car. It's worth it just for that reason alone.

I also don't talk on the phone very much, but I like not having to ever touch the phone to make a call if I do. The 9W7 just adds so much functionality that I couldn't resist back when they first were available. I'm also happy it got rid of the light. That's funny, becuase I was worried about that before I got the 9W7.

I would like to have a back-up camera. I might even go for it after I upgrade the pump, if that's what I do here in the next couple months.

Good luck with your radio and your car!
 
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ericy

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Aug 24, 2004
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Rehoboth Beach, DE
TDI
2015 Golf TDI (wife's car)
I would like to have a back-up camera.
Once you get used to having a camera, it seems hard to drive a car without one. I went on a test drive some weeks back, and that was the first thing I noticed in the car we were in.
 

da.hs

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Jul 28, 2012
Location
SK, Canada
TDI
2010 Golf, DSG, silver (from new). 2010 Audi Q7 (from 2016), 2004 Touareg V10 (from 2018)
Just installed the new RCD-510 "H" Model, HD Radio reverse camera in a
2010 VW JSW TDI. The biggest time was
setting getting Sirius to swap radios. They charged $15 to swap! :mad:

Is it possible the Sirius receiver and its ESN ID chip is a plug-replaceable module that could be moved from the old RCD-510 to the new one? I've seen that arrangement in other equipment with built-in Sirius.

My RCD-510 is a bit over six years old now so might have to find out some day. Lifetime Sirius license.
 

gmcjetpilot

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Aug 18, 2008
Location
Memphis TN
TDI
2010 JSW TDI DSG Matalic Grey
My RCD-510 is a bit over six years old now so might have to find out some day. Lifetime Sirius license.
Good luck, I hope your RCD-510 lasts. It does seem the 2010 RCD-510's
were most prone to sudden death.

Should have cancelled on the spot. They would have begged me to come
back and saved the $15. However I was hot to trot to get my new radio
going. It is only $15. I am on a trial 5 month plan I just renewed. If you
have lifetime plan, they may not charge you. Also the radio I bought was
previously registered. So I had to call them.

I took the old radio apart and clearly see the Sirius section, the antenna
goes straight to it; it's in a metal shield mounted direct to the board. I
would not attempt to remove it and install in the new radio to save $15.
Most likely I could destroy both radios. I am into electronics and I am
going to try and trace the power and see if it's the power supply. I think
it has a switching power supply. It might be an easy fix? If I can fix it, I
will offer the repair or info on how to repair to TDI Forum members. I
have not read anyone has successfully repaired a radio. Although the
dealers offer Refurb units in exchange for $600 or something (new I
think the radio listed for almost $2000). I am sure VW is sending it back
to Delphi or Blaupunkt and having it repaired. What they do is might put
in all new boards or replace individual components? There was someone
who sent a radio out to someone who repaired it for $200 and that lasted
a week. As well another individual "repaired" it a played around with it,
and got it working. It seemed pretty vague. His repair also did not last.

There are chips on the board that might be "proprietary", which are likely
not available. However I would not replace a chip even if I had one to
install. They are all surface mounted and need a machine to solder properly.
At some point not even Delphi or Blaupunkt might will not be able to repair
them. Typically life cycle of a design support is 5-7 yrs after last produced.
Special chips go out of production and they will not have parts. That's the nice
thing about old discreet electronics made of generic components, you can fix
them 80 yrs later. I think 2014 is last year for the RCD-510. The 2015 VW's
have new radios. Based on my 7 year support rule, after 2021 they will not
be supported by VW. You are looking at used surplus radios, parted out of
retired cars. This is all conjecture. There is always aftermarket... no worries.

With that said I see MK 7 Golf and Golf Wagen post by owners about
their new radios going blank. These are new radio designs.

Per link below, almost half way down, they describe the MK7 2015
model year radios.
http://www.myturbodiesel.com/1000q/a7/2015-vw-golf-tdi-forum-faq.htm
The base-line is stripped down. The RCD-510 is equal to or better
than the top-O-line radio in the SEL. You can add Nav to that one,
like RNS-510. I suspect the new radios will not be trouble free.
If you love CD's the RCD-510 is pretty cool, with 6 disks. I remember my
old Acura Legend had a 5 disk changer in the trunk. I thought that was
cool. I think you can still buy aftermarket w/ a cassette player. Remember
8-Track.
 
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gmcjetpilot

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Joined
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Location
Memphis TN
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2010 JSW TDI DSG Matalic Grey
More surprised of the "H" model. It clearly has later Sirius XM software. The display shows more info in different format.

It was reported the "H" has faster iPod interface? The jury is still out it works well. However I have a iPod Touch stuffed with 32 gb, and to go down all the (artist or genre') takes a little time before screen refreshes. If you set up your folders in smaller chunks it will help.

Almost ever time it gives me a pop up warning (backup) Camera not available. I am sure I can turn that off, some how. I want to get the camera. I just don't want to route that freaking cable from the hatch to the RCD510.

Of course this radio is made to work with 9w7, which I don't have. Then I get phone and voice commands.
 

da.hs

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Joined
Jul 28, 2012
Location
SK, Canada
TDI
2010 Golf, DSG, silver (from new). 2010 Audi Q7 (from 2016), 2004 Touareg V10 (from 2018)
I have Sirius radios in other vehicles that show one more information field than the 2010 RCD-510 (or early Sirius portable units) - nice to know it's updated. Thanks for posting detailed background info.

Perhaps they're designed to self destruct. A colleague used to work in Chrysler R&D - he says it was common talk there that engine management software was designed to "cause issues" at around 8 years old to ensure people replaced their vehicles frequently (this is hearsay, of course) - for which reason he would never own any American car, keeping to Toyotas with simpler, old-fashioned management electronics.
 

GearheadzTV

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Apr 5, 2011
Location
MIA
TDI
'10 JSW DSG
I have an extra 9w7 and mic lying around in the garage, willing to part with it...let me know
 
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