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Questions regarding a 2004 B6 S4, TIA

12936 Views 9 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  bint2k, 
O
I have spent some time reading all the threads on this forum, but I don't recall seeing a thread that is similar to my situation.

I have been asking so many questions regarding the RSN-E for a B6 S4 on audiworld for a long time, and somebody said it can't be done, some said just be patient. Finally AUDIB6A4 (sp?) replied saying it is possible and he/she also gave us a link to this forum. I spent all night reading this forum so I can get myself up-to-date on this subject and not ask questions that people have already asked. You don't understand how excited I am since I don't have to sell my 04 S4 and get a B7 just to get the RSN-E. I have been wanting the RSN-E for a long time and waiting for the good news that it might work in a B6. I would give up fastfood if I could get this to work in my car, considering how much I love fastfood! :)

Anyhow, here is my situation.

It is a 04 B6 S4 without stock nav but have XM capability. I have already cancelled XM since I don't listen to it and i don't give a damn if is works with RSN-E or not. I would like to have it to be able to view DVD movies, but not a necessity. I would like to hook up a glove box CD changer, but not a necessity. What I need is to have the NAV MMI unit to work, aka maps (with voiceover for the driving directions), driving direction being able to show up at the screen on the dash and song/FM info being able to show up at the screen on the dash.

So here are my questions.

1. should I get EU or US
2. is it Plug and Play?
3. if not, what kind of plugs/adapters do I have to get (please provide some links on where where I can get them, if you dont mind)
4. if not, how much re-wiring is involved?
5. will I have to wire/route the GPS antenna to the shark fin? if so, how?
6. I read it on one of the threads that on a B6 A4/S4, that you don't have to find the speed wire. Does this mean that "speed info" is being sent to the RSN_E unit through one of the existing wires behind the Symphony II?
7. I live in Seattle. Does anybody know what shop I might be albe to get this installed at? Or if somebody knows how to DIY, would you mind giving me a couple of pointers while I am installing it myself (if I can't find a shop or it is just way to easy to DIY)?


I know they are a bunch of n00b questions. I am trying to pick up as much knowledge as possible. Please help a brother out. If my questions did not trigger the correct answers needed for this project, please tell me what else I need to know/be aware of.

Guys and girls, I truely appreciate your help.
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AudiA4B6US
Welcome onboard, I understand how you feel because I was the same until I finally got it. Below are some answers to your questions

1. should I get EU or US
Really plug and play is only the US unit. The EU unit incolves modifying the US map DVD and it has some minor dificulties displaying certain road types. navigation is not affected at all as far as I can see so far. If you are fine with modifying large (2.8GB) files and if you are able to create a dual layer DVD, if you don't care about OEM XM or AM, then you could get the EU unit and save $1k or more.

2. is it Plug and Play?
I installed my unit in a couple of minutes, getting the GPS antenna wire hidden took the most time. The plug and play adapters you can order from several source are fine if you specify exactly what you need. I did not need to change any wire when upgrading my Symphony II with Bose to the EU RNS-E

3. if not, what kind of plugs/adapters do I have to get (please provide some links on where where I can get them, if you dont mind)
Check out the cables/adapters section here for sources. Kufatec is one, Ralf Deventer is another source, they are both on ebay.de or you can contact them via email

4. if not, how much re-wiring is involved?
As I said, in my case (2004 A4 B6 Avant) nothing but getting the GPS cable from the radio slot to the dashboard

5. will I have to wire/route the GPS antenna to the shark fin? if so, how?
I would recommend to get a new GPS antenna and mount it either on your dashboard (between the windshield and center speaker) or under the dashboard behind the instrument cluster or on top of the glovebox. IMO it's not worth the effort to get a cable routed through the whole car just to get the signal from the shark fin antenna.

6. I read it on one of the threads that on a B6 A4/S4, that you don't have to find the speed wire. Does this mean that "speed info" is being sent to the RSN_E unit through one of the existing wires behind the Symphony II?
If you get the RNS-E part number 8E0 035 192C (EU unit) or 8E0 035 192E (US unit) you get all signals over the existing CAN-BUS connection. No additional wiring required.

7. I live in Seattle. Does anybody know what shop I might be albe to get this installed at?
I would recommend to start with Justin's installation pictures here http://www.navplus.us/forum/viewtopic.php?t=70. If you forget about the speed wire and the whole process dosn't look to difficult to DIY then do it. You may need to find a (friendly) Audi dealer or someone with a VAG-COM to check/update your settings but the installation itself should be pretty straight forward.

I hope this helps, good luck!
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AudiA4B6US
I forgot to mention that the EU is currently the only unit which is confirmed working with external video sources (not confirmed by me but that's what people did in Europe usign the Dietz adapters). I have not read or seen so far a US unit being able to display a video source. there are also rumors that a future EU software update will allow wathcing movies, but this is just a rumor for now.
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O
I just got done reading Justin's thread. Comparing the great info you have given me with the direction given by Justin, does not look like I have to mess with the GALA signal connector (what does a GALA do anyhow). It is just a guess, I don't have to mess with the GALA in order to send signals to the screen on the dash (the info screen)?! All of the signals will be sent through the existing wires behind the Symphony II?!

According to the cable/antenna section, this is what I need:

RNS-E adapter for Symphony II with Bose
antenna adapter (dual)
GPS Bosh RNS-E antenna

Correct me if I am wrong.

And also, what kind of settings need to be checked/updated through VAG-COM?

AudiA4B6US, thanks for all of your great help. You have definitely made my day.
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AudiA4B6US
GALA is Graduated Audio Level Adjustment and means that you head unit increases the volume in synch with the speed (GALA needs the speed impuls to adjust the volume). In newer Bose systems this has been replaced by the Bose AudioPilot where a microphone mesures the noise level and adjusts the volume based on that (I wish they would have stayed with GALA).

If you order the RNS-E adapter, get one with support for Bose, CD-Changer and handsfree phone set. This way you get all the cables you may need and have some spares in case you want to add stuff later (e.g. connect a CD-Changer or iPod or Phatbox).

Justin posted a nice summary of the required VAG-COM changes on his site at http://audi.ogdenlabs.com/vagcom.htm. before you change anything, write down the current coding and confirm the settings based on what's posted at http://www.navplus.us/forum/viewtopic.php?t=73. You can't screw up things here badly but I would ask if something is not as expected.

Have fun...
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T
great post...great dialogue.....this should be the first thread that anybody reads...if they have a B6 (or B7) A4/S4.

Awesome!
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O
I just called up my dealer (University in Seattle) and they said it will cost $4200.

And I also called Clairparts and they said it is $2800 (ish give or take) without DVD and without adapters. Clairparts said that price is strictly for just the unit.

Where else do yall get yours from and how much did you get it for?

TIA...
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O
This forum is just great. If I made a mistake on some terminology or definition or things of that nature, I usually get flamed. But not here. You guys have been very patient with me, although I made a mistake here and there.

If I have not said it enough... you guys are great, so is this forum.
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AudiA4B6US
That sounds about right for the US unit, although the last time I checked with Clairparts they said $2889.44 plus $20.00 shipping. To get it for less you would need to have very good contacts to a dealer, I think somewhere someone mentioned $2400,- as the dealers invoice price. Once in a while you can find a US unit on ebay.de. They usually go for a little more than the EU units because by now those who are looking there for the US unit know what it's worth. And those who don't know stop biding at about 1000 Euro. ;-)
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B
do if u have a symphony 1 is there some rewiring to do?

** correction i have a symphony II so no rewiring with the PNP adapter. but for VIM i need the dietz 1417 and a hacked rns-e correct? no need for the dietz 1280? also do i have to do some rewiring for the 1417?

Cheers
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