I wanted to share my experience. I just change my original radio Concert 3 (concert III) for the Audi Navigation Plus system - OEM RNS-E 2thGen (8P0 035 193 G).


Audi A3 TDI Progressiv 2012 (Canadian edition)
OEM Concert III - 10 Speakers (with sub) sound system - No Bose System
OEM Multifunction Steering Wheel - 3 spokes - Mode and Speek (SDS) - Thumb wheel
OEM BlueTooth
OEM SDS - Voice commands
OEM Aux jack under the armrest
NO Sat radio,
NO Bose System
NO CD changer



1. I bought my RNS-E on eBay. I recommend my eBay seller. Everything is sent from Europe, but the RNS-E was programming for North America. Obviously, with the DVD North America maps , Fakra GPS antenna and remove keys. Very friendly, responds quickly to emails and shipping is very fast (USPS Express Air Service).

Seller:
gps*system

If you bought from European seller (like me), make sure that the RNS-E is programmed for North America (with the DVD maps). Otherwise, there are DIY for regrogramming the Firmware for North America, but I don't try it...

I paid 899.00 USD, shipping included, for the RNS-E 2th Gen (193).



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2. I bought a 32-pin connector ( 1J0 972 977 G ) for less than 10 CAD to my Audi Dealer. This will allow the AUX plus under the armrests works with the new radio.



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3. I remove the radio concert III with the 4 remove-keys provided with the purchase (eBay). Pretty simple to remove the radio from it's base. Then disconnect the Quadlock connector and FM antenna.

4. For the AUX connector. I remove the blue connector of the Quadlock connector. In the blue connector, I remove the wire B1, B3 and B7.


*I have not taken this picture. Taking on the Internet. *

Then, I connected the three wires on the 32 pin connector ( 1J0 972 977 G ).

B1 -----------> 22
B3 -----------> 21
B7 -----------> 06

5. Installing the Fakra GPS antenna. My choice, for a maximum reception (Number of satellites), was to install it directly in the center top of the dashboard (near the center speaker).

By cons, many people install it directly to the back of the radio, or behind the instrument cluster on top of the steering column, Any order up from under the dash as long as works if there is no metal above the antenna. But, I don't try it. I would the best reception spot.



The antenna was fixed with double sided tape. No need to remove the dashboard. The wire is inserted between the glass and the dash and slid to the fuse box near the door of condcteur. Then follows the wire under the steering column to the rear of the radio. To do this, I removed the plastic panel under the steering column.

6. Connecting the RNS-E. Very simple. Connect the Quadlock connector, the connector pin 32, the FM antenna and the GPS antenna.

Don't replace completly the radio in the hole. You have to do some VAG-COM programming. After, it is good to do some checking (PIN Code, AUX Plug, GPS Nav Reception, ...) before.

NEXT STEP, VAG-COM

 

Vag-Com programming


Audi A3 TDI Progressiv 2012 (Canadian edition)
OEM 10 Speakers (with sub) sound system
OEM Multifunction Steering Wheel - 3 spokes - Mode and Speek (SDS) - thumb wheel
OEM BlueTooth
OEM Voice commands
OEM Aux jack under the armrest * * * (I'll make the modification with the 32-pin socket connector (1J0 972 977 G) - 3 wire to move)
NO Sat radio,
NO Bose System
NO CD changer

My programmation in red.


STG 56 (Navigation System) -> Coding -> Function 07
0?xxxxx: Model
1 - Lamborghini
2 - Audi A3 (8P)
3 - Audi A4 (> 2004)
4 - Audi A4 Cabriolet (> 2004)
5 - Audi A6 (< 2004)
6 - Audi TT (> 2007) (sw US 0150+, EU 0500+)
7 - Audi R8 (sw US 0150+, EU 0500+)

0x?xxxx: Diagnostics for front speakers
0 - activ
1 - inactiv

0xx?xxx: Sound characteristics
0 - linear
1 - Audi A4 (> 2004)
2 - Audi A6 (< 2004)
3 - Audi A4 Cabriolet (> 2004)
4 - Audi TT (> 2004)
5 - Audi A3 (8P)
9 - Bose Soundsystem

0xxx?xx: Telephone/telematics
1 - no telephone (supply voltage for microphone actively)
2 - Mobile phone preparation (Temic - Speisesp. Microphone inactively)
3 - Mobile phone preparation (Cullmann - Speisesp. Microphone inactively)
4 - Mobile phone preparation (Nokia - Speisesp. Microphone inactively)
5 - Telematics Europe (supply voltage microphone inactively)
6 - Telematics US (supply voltage microphone inactively)
7 - Base plate diagnostic capable with comfort control

0xxxx?x: Options I
1 - default
2 - Digital-Radio
3 - Satelite-Radio
4 - Satelite- and Digital-Radio
5 - AUX in (Euro sw 0650+)
6 - AUX in and DAB (Euro sw 0650+)

0xxxxx?: Options II
1 - default
2 - TV-Tuner
3 - CD-Changer
4 - TV-Tuner and CD-Changer
5 - Multifunction Steering Wheel
6 - TV-Tuner and Multifunction Steering Wheel
7 - CD-Changer and Multifunction Steering Wheel
8 - TV-Tuner, CD-Changer und Multifunction Steering Wheel

STG 56 -> Adaptation -> Function 10
-> Channel 001 (Tires)
1930
*** For 225/45 R17

-> Channel 002 (GALA)
0 - Self calibration
8 - Audi A6 (4B)
43 - Audi A3 (8P)
45 - Audi A4 (> 2004)

-> Channel 003 (Language)
0 - German
1 - English (UK only)
2 - French
3 - Italian
5 - Spanish
7 - English (USA only)

-> Channel 004 (rear view camera - US SW Lamborghini mode only, EU SW only with SW 0600+)
0 - disabled
1 - enabled

-> Channel 005 (TV in motion)
0 - off
1 - up to 5 km/h
250 - unlimited (unlocked units only, otherwise value will not store)

-> Channel 010 (Region)
0 - Northern hemisphere (Europe, North America)
1 - Southern hemisphere (Australia)
2 - Southern hemisphere (South Africa)
Reverts back to 0 after loading software update

-> Channel 018 (Startup Logo, sw US 0150+/EU 0500+)
0 - Default
1 - S3 (EU 0500+ only)
2 - S4 (EU 0500+ only)
3 - RS4 (EU 0500+ only)
4 - TT
5 - R8

-> Channel 136 (Voice commands)
00005 - LHD (USA + Europe SW 0500+)
00013 - RHD (USA + Europe SW 0500+)
02632 - RHD (Europe SW < 0500)
03226 - LHD (Europe SW <0500)

STG 17 - Instrument cluster

xxxx?xx: Country
0 = Germany
1 = Rest of World (RoW - Left Hand Steering)
2 = USA
3 = Canada
4 = Great Britain (Right Hand Steering)
5 = Japan (Left Hand Steering)
6 = Arabien States
7 = Australia
8 = Rest of World (RoW - Right Hand Steering)
9 = Japan (Right Hand Steering)

xxxxx?x: Seat Belt Warning
0 = No Seat Belt Warning
1 = Europe-NCAP (permanent visual warning and acoustic warning active for 91 seconds)
2 = USA and Canada OLD (visual and acoustic warning for 6 seconds)
3 = USA and Canada NAR-NEW (permanent visual warning and acoustic warning active every 30 seconds)
4 = Europe-NCAP (including passenger - permanent visual warning and acoustic warning active for 91 seconds)
5 = USA and Canada OLD (including passenger - visual and acoustic warning for 6 seconds)
6 = USA and Canada NAR-NEW (including passenger - permanent visual warning and acoustic warning active every 30 seconds)<

STG 17 (Instrument cluster) -> Adaptation -> Function 10 -> Channel 62

Channel 62
+04 - Navigation
+23. Bluetooth

STG 16 - Steering Wheel

00?xxxx: Transmission
0 = Manual Transmission
1 = Automatic Transmission

00x?xxx: Steering Wheel
0 = 3-Spoke, w/o Tiptronic, w/o Multi-Function
1 = 3-Spoke, with Tiptronic, w/o Multi-Function
2 = 4-Spoke Multi-Function (with Radio Control)
3 = 4-Spoke Multi-Function (with Radio/Telephone Control)
4 = 4-Spoke Multi-Function (with Radio/Telephone/Voice Control)
00xx?xx: Tiptronic/Heating
+1 = Tiptronic on Steering Wheel

00xxx?x: Cruise Control/Board Computer
0 = no Board Computer, no Cruise Control
1 = Board Computer, no Cruise Control
2 = no Board Computer, Cruise Control
4 = Board Computer, Cruise Control

00xxxx?: Rear Wiper
0 = w/o Rear Wiper
1 = with Rear Wiper
2 = with Rear Wiper 2012

STG 77 - Telephone (Bluetooth)

0?xxxxx: Brand
0 = Audi
1 = Seat

0x?xxxx: Functions
0 = Basic (for RNS-E basic/Radio)
1 = Comfort (for RNS-E high/RNS-Low)

0xx?xxx: Steering Wheel
0 = No Multi-Function OR Standard Steering Wheel (Old Style without Menu Thumb Wheels)
1 = Modular Steering Wheel (New Style with Menu Thumb Wheels)

0xxx?xx: Installation List
1 = Diagnostics via CAN
2 = Multi-Function Steering Wheel, Diagnostics via CAN
3 = Head Unit (e.g. RNS-E), Diagnostics via CAN
4 = Multi-Function Steering Wheel, Head Unit (e.g. RNS-E), Diagnostics via CAN
5 = Diagnostics via K-Line
6 = Multi-Function Steering Wheel, Diagnostics via K-Line
7 = Head Unit (e.g. RNS-E), Diagnostics via K-Line
8 = Multi-Function Steering Wheel, Head Unit (e.g. RNS-E), Diagnostics via K-Line


0xxxx?x: Language (Voice Control)
0 = Voice Control OFF OR via external Device (e.g. RNS-E)
1 = German
2 = English (UK)
3 = French
4 = Italian
5 = Spanish
6 = Czech
7 = English (US)
8 = French (CA)
9 = Speaker dependent (Voice Commands inactive, Acoustic Name Selection active)

0xxxxx?: Language (Display)
0 = No Display
1 = German
2 = English (UK)
3 = French
4 = Italian
5 = Spanish
6 = Czech
7 = English (US)
8 = French (CA)

channel 133
1.BT ACTIVATION

channel 134
0. handsfree over BT

channel 135
1234. Bluetooth pin

 

Some pictures - RNS-E in action


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I'm really happy of my purchase. This is a good investment and it's added value to my Audi.
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Everything works perfectly:
- OEM Bluetooth (pairing phone, address book, call logs)
- OEM multifunction steering wheel (mode, volume, voice control, shift tronic (DSG), ...)
- OEM AUX plug
- OEM 10 speakers and subwoofer
- OEM screen on-board computer (GPS direction, phone book address, fuel consumption, ...)

RNS-E
- 32GB SDHC card for MP3
- GPS and maps of North America
- AM / FM
- Menu for the mobile phone
- Menu for MP3

Sorry for the quality. Taken quickly with my iPhone4.















Enjoy.

FourCircle

 

DIVERSITY FM ANTENNA PROBLEM

RNS-E require the Diversity FM antenna amplifier (HF and ZF from up to 4 antennas). Cars without RNS-E or BNS 5 do get the Concert radios that only have two HF antennas. Therefore, you need to buy FM Diversity amplifiers (quite expensive) and installing them in the trunk pannel. JohnS3 on audiforum.us did a DIY on this.

For your information, on the A3 TDI Progressiv 2012 (Canadian version with the original radio Concert 3), there is NO problem with the FM antenna (diversity).

FM sound is perfect. NO fault code, NO graying in the FM sound.

I assume that diversity FM amplifiers are installed at the Audi assembly plant, but I don't check it under the trunk pannel. The key is that everything works perfectly.

If you need the DIY: audiforum.us/threads/converting-symphony-ii-antenna-system-for-use-with-rns-e.5662/page-4


Enjoy,
FourCircle

 

Thanks for this!

 

If you have any questions, I can try to answer them. This retrofit is a fairly simple. If you want the nav, it's much better than a portable GPS.

 

Any negative warranty implications?

 

Very detailed info. Thanks a lot. I have 2012 A3 and was considering this upgrade.
Do you know what would need to change to make sure Satellite radio (option I have as well) works with this unit too?

 

I am not an expert. According to my reading, Quadlock serial connector should be compatible. You have only to move wire when you have :
a) Bose system (which I did not)
b) Auxilary jack (I have)

For cons, you should modify in the VagCom programming.

STG 56 (Navigation System) -> Coding -> Function 07
0xxxx?x: Options I
1 - default
2 - Digital-Radio
3 - Satelite-Radio
4 - Satelite- and Digital-Radio
5 - AUX in (Euro sw 0650+)
6 - AUX in and DAB (Euro sw 0650+)

But how should program the both ? I do not know. For VagCom programming, Audiforum.us should help you. PetrolDave user helped me a lot.

http://audiforum.us/forums/rns-e.40/

I am very happy with my upgrade. It's a nice improvement and investment.

Fourcircle

 

Obviously, the RNS-E radio is not covered by Audi warranty vehicle, as it was not factory installed. Normally, the eBay seller offer a guarantee of 12 or 24 months. For me, it is 12 months.

On the other hand, I do not think it's a device that easily broken. It's still an Audi radio. There a degree of risk, but I'm not really disturbed by the warranty. You can keep your old radio Concert3 for the warranty, but for me... I will try to sell it on eBay. It seems to have a value of $ 200.

FourCircle