portable navigation and/or phone apps

[lojeff10]

I have a Passat SE with MT. There was no option to add a navigation but I hear the VW navigation units aren't that great anyway. That being said, have any 2012 Passat owners added a portable navigation unit? How about using a smart phone as the navigation. I am also curious of mounting positions.

Thanks

 

[40X40]

I use this one and it works very well for phone calls and navigation.


https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=87052&ra=true

Lifetime traffic and map updates as well!!

Bill

 

[Kchorro]

My Nav RNS 510 is awesome..no complaint at all.

 

[tryin]

I liked the RNS510 in the SEL as well, no compalints. So who is going to be the first to install the 510 in a 6M?

Looks like you can get the unit for about $1700, should be a plug and play swap.

If I wasn't building our house right now, I probably would have done it already.

 

[Lightflyer1]

I use my phone in my Beetle. Proclip has some mounting hardware. My Beetle has a 3.5 mm plug that lets it send sound to the stereo system. I imagine BT to the newer units and cars. Google navigation is what I use. No updates and it will show traffic congestion as well. The only issue I have had is being in the middle of no where and losing signal. I have a cheap used Garmin ($20) that I keep put away for those few times. The cost of in dash units and their updates is just ridiculous and I refuse to pay that. For $1700 it should come with auto drive and tea service.

 

[MyAvocation]

A Dealer insists the RNS-510 comes with free lifetime traffic monitoring. Can any SEL owners confirm this? This would make an upgrade ideal, but for $1700, I'm dig'in the Nuvi.

Regarding navigation and traffic with a smartphone, as awesome as it is, I'd much rather have it built into the head unit. The small phone screen requires much more attention away from driving than a head unit counterpart. And as already mentioned, it's worthless in remote areas, or overloaded cell towers.

 

[Lightflyer1]

It is the updates to the map database that I am worried about. From what I have heard it runs about $200 to $400 to do it once. If you do it every 3 or so years it adds up. For that kind of money they should have just included a tablet and mount in the dash so it looks built in. Way more versatile in and out of the car. Plus all documentation and history and diagnostics could be stored/monitored there. You could have whatever gauges you wanted that were sensored and control buttons for everything. When you can get a new Garmin for $400 or less and $50 used, what advantage does the headunit have over the $50 used one, other than built in styling? Certainly not $1k to $1.4k worth. Just imagine an iPad2 either permanently built into the car or removable where all the central controls are now, doing everything needed. Get rid of all that other stuf and insert an iPad2 and docking station in the car.

 

[MPBsr]

How about this.

http://www.audiosources.net/viewproduct.asp?id=1146

You need to email them for a price.

 

[tryin]

I think I would just save up for the 510 personally. Actually, I will probably just wait until a used 315 comes up and put it in. It will be a while before I do anything though, actually, I'm pretty impressed with the radio that is in it, just miss NAV sometimes. Looks like our stock radio has backup camera availabiltiy, that would be nice.

 

[TDICT]

I have a Passat SE with MT. There was no option to add a navigation but I hear the VW navigation units aren't that great anyway. That being said, have any 2012 Passat owners added a portable navigation unit? How about using a smart phone as the navigation. I am also curious of mounting positions.

Thanks

Not sure who told you the VW Nav units were not good but they are very wrong. I have been a Garmin user for years and thought they were the best, however the VW is great. Easy to use and very accurate.

 

[lojeff10]

Not sure who told you the VW Nav units were not good but they are very wrong. I have been a Garmin user for years and thought they were the best, however the VW is great. Easy to use and very accurate.

When talking about the MT not being available with a Nav unit, my salesman actually said some of his customers had complained that there is too much of a delay between pushing a button and the action of the unit. In addition, I thought car and driver or motor trend had a review that indicated the navigation interface wasn't as user friendly as other car makers and/or the stand alone units.

BTW, this is my first TDI and second VW but have never actually used the VW navigation systems. I don't know exactly how much it would cost to add a vw nav or if it is even possible. $1700 was quoted but not sure if that was a dealer quote or something else.

 

[tryin]

When talking about the MT not being available with a Nav unit, my salesman actually said some of his customers had complained that there is too much of a delay between pushing a button and the action of the unit. In addition, I thought car and driver or motor trend had a review that indicated the navigation interface wasn't as user friendly as other car makers and/or the stand alone units.

BTW, this is my first TDI and second VW but have never actually used the VW navigation systems. I don't know exactly how much it would cost to add a vw nav or if it is even possible. $1700 was quoted but not sure if that was a dealer quote or something else.

I have found the navigation units for sale at around 17-1750, which includes the GPS antennae you would need. You would have to install yourself and change some settings with Vagcom. I was planning on getting an SEL all along so at some point I'll probably do something. I would prefer to stick with the VW ones as they intergrate within the MFD as well, plus prefer the OEM function, quality and look.

 

[MPBsr]

I have found the navigation units for sale at around 17-1750, which includes the GPS antennae you would need. You would have to install yourself and change some settings with Vagcom. I was planning on getting an SEL all along so at some point I'll probably do something. I would prefer to stick with the VW ones as they intergrate within the MFD as well, plus prefer the OEM function, quality and look.

My aftermarket unit from Audiosources was plug and play with full steering wheel controls.

You can always go with the older but OEM look unit.

http://www.audiosources.net/viewproduct.asp?id=1027

 

[Steve Ferrous]

Get rid of all that other stuf and insert an iPad2 and docking station in the car.

That is actually quite brilliant!

 

[WFL]

I am planning to install the SNV660BT Sony that I had in my 2009 TDI wagon in my 2012 comfortline Passat. It worked great in the Jetta and the interface is the same. I am just waiting for the free Sirius to run out first.

 

[MPBsr]

Just imagine an iPad2 either permanently built into the car or removable where all the central controls are now, doing everything needed. Get rid of all that other stuf and insert an iPad2 and docking station in the car.

Here you go. My son's friends shop in North Jersey does this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2SfUV5rn7s&feature=youtu.be

 

[Lightflyer1]

I meant OEM not aftermarket. Get rid of all the controls and instrument cluster and have the ipad do all of that. It should have something like the torque software loaded and VCDS if at all possible.

 

[MyAvocation]

That is actually quite brilliant!

Only in theory. You'll need a 3G version of the iPad to get the GPS feature.

CORRECTION: iPad 2 comes with GPS (all models).

Using the native GPS app requires a 3G contract (or mobile wi-fi) because maps are stored in the cloud. You can buy a GPS interface for a non-3G unit, but that's extra. Then you need to buy a more expensive app which includes downloaded maps. Overall, it's either a PITA or expensive.

Ford's (Microsoft) Sync however is ideal for iPads. The latest iteration includes App Link, which allows developers to write mobile apps that interface with Ford Sync.

 

[lojeff10]

Called up local VW..about 1700 for unit and antenna. Install charge of $100. The 1700 hurts but I was happy with the $100. Maybe a Christmas present is in the works.

 

[MPBsr]

Not sure why people go for OEM, when there are other options for less than $400 and looks and work just like OEM.

 

[no-blue-screen]

I already had my TomTom XXL with lifetime map updates. It also tells me where all the traffic cameras are (not that I speed or anything). The base audio system is pretty nice IMO. I also have a TDI SE manual.

 

[wolfsburg_de]

I just installed the NMS-specific Proclip mount:

I bought just the car base and installed some velcro for now. It seems to work well and obscures only one of the three constantly visible clocks in the car.

 

[Santa2ya]

I bought just the car base and installed some velcro for now. It seems to work well and obscures only one of the three constantly visible clocks in the car.

Wondering if VWoA thinks it's owners are late all the time or something

 

[lojeff10]

@wolf, this looks like a nice setup...I am curious of how you plan on running the wires either to the lighter or some kind of hardwire setup. I currently have mine to the left side of the windshield with the suction cup. I may have to go your way. Nice setup.

 

[torqueit]

I'll put in my vote for Waze navigation on the iPhone or Android.

http://www.waze.com/

It is an amazing capability and uses the realtime traffic reports from other users to drive routing. You can update the maps where the routing gets wonky as well.

 

[wolfsburg_de]

@wolf, this looks like a nice setup...I am curious of how you plan on running the wires either to the lighter or some kind of hardwire setup. I currently have mine to the left side of the windshield with the suction cup. I may have to go your way. Nice setup.

I really don't need to plug mine in since I use Bluetooth streaming for Pandora, etc. For charging the iphone, I'd just run a curly cord aftermarket 12V power adapter down to the cigarette lighter in front of the shifter. Even if it blocks the radio a bit, not like I need to see the radio display when using the iphone anyway. BTW, here's the car mount:

http://www.proclipusa.com/?sectionpath=383&pageid=16309

... and if I really wanted to spend a bunch more, I'd get this too:

http://www.proclipusa.com/brodit-de...tor-with-horizontal-support-516193-18357.aspx

Here's a shot with the iphone in portrait mode:

There's a bit of glare, but from my normal driving position, the passenger headrest blocks out most of the sky.

 

[Sharky]

I bought just the car base and installed some velcro for now. It seems to work well and obscures only one of the three constantly visible clocks in the car.

lol too funny. A lot of people comment on that when they are in my car and see the three clocks. I then proceed to tell them that all of them requires to adjusted separately !

 

[cj42]

My aftermarket unit from Audiosources was plug and play with full steering wheel controls.

You can always go with the older but OEM look unit.

http://www.audiosources.net/viewproduct.asp?id=1027

Do you have any photo? A back camera would be nice roo.

 

[cj42]

I use my phone in my Beetle. Proclip has some mounting hardware. My Beetle has a 3.5 mm plug that lets it send sound to the stereo system. I imagine BT to the newer units and cars. Google navigation is what I use. No updates and it will show traffic congestion as well. The only issue I have had is being in the middle of no where and losing signal. I have a cheap used Garmin ($20) that I keep put away for those few times. The cost of in dash units and their updates is just ridiculous and I refuse to pay that. For $1700 it should come with auto drive and tea service.

I have been using google map ap on droid and I like it but the only thing I don't like is I can listen to sirius and also listen to navigation on the stereo at the same time.

FYI - If you lose signal on gmaps ap have you tried cacheing area of that map in gmaps under labs?

 

[MPBsr]

Do you have any photo? A back camera would be nice roo.

Unfort not as the Jetta is gone. But you can also get a back up camera.

Do a youtube search for AS7608.

There are a number of video's with the unit working.