Is RNS-E worth it?

maxpayne

maxpayne

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Howdy,

The 2005 8P Sportback my wife has only has a standard concert radio and I've been thinking of updating it to something newer and more interactive.

I looked at RNS-E as that's the OEM option but it looks like it was last updated around 2011? I'm worried that just to get the basic stuff running, e.g. IPod integration etc. will end up being a long winded process. Additionally not sure how old the firmware and maps are on it and if it gets updated at all!

Given that I was surprised to see units going on eBay are selling for £500-600 mark for brand new or barely used units! The price seems to suggest that there's still demand. But why?

Thanks!
 
In my previous A3 I retrofitted the RNS-E (G) with the glossy black bezel - I paid £550. I went for this as I wanted the OEM look with Sat Nav. It came with the 2015 disk which had all the new housing developments in my area but unfortunately (and still) only 4 char postcode searching. The A3 had the AUX-in in, which I wired in to the 32pin AV connector (1J0 972 977 G); it all worked with no coding but I'm not sure if this is normal.

I also wanted the RNS-E for the Audi Parking Plus display when I had my front sensors retro-fitted and for VAG bluetooth handsfree retrofit.

To cut to the chase - I wouldn't do it again. I think there is comparable if not better aftermarket units available such as the Pioneer AVIC series and even the Android units which get great feedback on here.

I hope the price remains high as I'll probably look to move to the Pioneer at the end of the year...
 
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Get an android unit.

1. You can get them that look like an rnse.

2. They're half the price.

3. Way more features than an rnse including built in Bluetooth/Bluetooth streaming.

4. You can use any sat nav app that you like..


You may see older posts about having problems with the rear speakers not working but this was on older android units. With the new android units they are pretty much plug and play out of the box and don't need any coding in with vcds etc
 
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ab1702 said:
Get an android unit.

1. You can get them that look like an rnse.

2. They're half the price.

3. Way more features than an rnse including built in Bluetooth/Bluetooth streaming.

4. You can use any sat nav app that you like..


You may see older posts about having problems with the rear speakers not working but this was on older android units. With the new android units they are pretty much plug and play out of the box and don't need any coding in with vcds etc
Click to expand...

Yup thought so. Thanks for the conformation. Any unit you'd recommend? There's tons out there with good spec (2GB RAM 8 cores...)
 
maxpayne said:
Yup thought so. Thanks for the conformation. Any unit you'd recommend? There's tons out there with good spec (2GB RAM 8 cores...)
Click to expand...

Just make sure it's android 6 and octa core and you shouldn't go far wrong.
There's some that look like rnse and some that look like concert/symphony units but they all do the same thing.
I've got the one that looks like concert/symphony and it's spot on.
As above read the thread in the ice section, there's tons of info about them.
 
also good idea to ask seller if it's upgradeable and how much RAM got on it (trust me RAM is needed, at least 2-3GB)
 
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derekw said:
Do these work with bose?
Click to expand...

Yes

You need one of these though as when you have Bose you get a bit of noise interference through the speakers
IMG 2693
 
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Definitely go for a android unit, large thread on here to read up on, yeah you can get it working fine with bose, I did. Loads more options than with RNS-E but will be more messing around getting it how you want it compared to the oem plug and play


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I'd love to fit an RNS-E unit but have decided that I don't want to have to put blankets or coats over the dash all the time to hide what unit is fitted , nor do I want to discover that a brick has been lobbed through a window and the unit wrenched out of the dash......
To me the chance of the unit being pinched and the prospect of my car being damaged in the process just puts me right off even contemplating fitting one....
 
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audi upgrades
yep, I think should be done some thread sticked with HOW TO and list of links for easy access, as seen many psots about mirrors, MFSW, tail lights, or like in this case Android H.U. etc that actually got some serious thread started... @Sandra what do you think about this Idea?
 
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Marek196c said:
yep, I think should be done some thread sticked with HOW TO and list of links for easy access, as seen many psots about mirrors, MFSW, tail lights, or like in this case Android H.U. etc that actually got some serious thread started... @Sandra what do you think about this Idea?
Click to expand...

Starting with the link to the awesome A3 retrofitting website that @FredrikA3 built over the years. That got me going for sure. I'll do a small write up on the stuff I've done already.
 
Marek196c said:
yep, I think should be done some thread sticked with HOW TO and list of links for easy access, as seen many psots about mirrors, MFSW, tail lights, or like in this case Android H.U. etc that actually got some serious thread started... @Sandra what do you think about this Idea?
Click to expand...
If you wish to do some info type threads just write them and send me a link and I will most likely sticky them
 
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Not really me, but seen many of them done by members and if all of them will be attached to top area I think the top area will be like 2 pages xD So instead Just put a single thread with may links, I will try to find as many as I can and pm you later. Thanks :)
 
Nessy said:
I'd love to fit an RNS-E unit but have decided that I don't want to have to put blankets or coats over the dash all the time to hide what unit is fitted , nor do I want to discover that a brick has been lobbed through a window and the unit wrenched out of the dash......
To me the chance of the unit being pinched and the prospect of my car being damaged in the process just puts me right off even contemplating fitting one....
Click to expand...

I always leave my car unlocked in Cornwall!

If I lived in a part of the Country with worry like this, I would just run a round in a 206!!
 
I don't live in what I regard a high risk area at all, but the fact that so many cars are broken into because of their RNS-E units really has put me off fitting one.
 
Nessy said:
I don't live in what I regard a high risk area at all, but the fact that so many cars are broken into because of their RNS-E units really has put me off fitting one.
Click to expand...
If you got it insured shouldn't be a problem, but anyway I don't see any clue in getting one, it was ok like 10years ago, get better android unit or just some H.U. from e.g. sony rather than it. For me just isn't worth it, is like getting 2008 macbook for 1000£ in 2017, no clue. may look original etc, but other than playing some music is useless, using gps or phone can be annoying, using wheel to dial numbers... seem to be back in '80s and see again my grandmas red phone. as well the position of the screen that is too low, I mean you need to get your eyes down that getting like 2 sec to see the screen = major possibility to do an accident...
 
Agreed, so out of date feature wise now. Android auto or apple car play comparable units are far better value for money


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Marek196c said:
If you got it insured shouldn't be a problem
Click to expand...
I'd much rather do without the hassle of broken glass and damage to my car thanks.
A lot of stolen units get sold on eBay and other online outlets, there's even a sticky on this website about RNS-E thefts, is there not?
An RNS-E unit, (even if outdated) is still an unacceptable risk in my book.
Perhaps I'm just too cautious, or paranoid, who knows........
 
Interesting to read some of the posts saying how outdated RNS-E is. Is the nav that bad? I recently bought one mainly for the OEM look and music via SD card.
I know that theres some really good xtrons units, maybe I should've got one of them..
 
Now you have it, it will be fine - no point spending more £ to change at this stage. I'm on the 2016 maps and it has all the new building developments in the area - the nav is fine.
 
For me the RNS-E is worth every penny! I paid £395 for it, one of the later ones with black gloss surround.

When I bought the A3 it had the stock "concert" radio fitted, I wanted a better radio with Nav if possible.
I ordered an "Android"type radio from the net, cost £300.
It arrived and looked cheap! Once plugged in the EML came on, not a good start, the volume and radio reception was very poor. Sat Nav looked dated. Had a word with the seller, said no way the radio would put the EML on, it did!

Put the concert radio back in, all good cleared the faults in the ECU, all good.
Just to check, plugged the "Android" back in, again dash lit up like a Christmas tree!!
Back to "Concert" radio.

I sent it back, got a refund after a fight, looked around the net, bought a different "Android" radio.

This time no dash lights, but still was cheap and flimsy, did not sit in the dash properly, radio reception poor and sound very low.
Sent back, full refund.

Then bought the RNS-E unit, the later type with media button and gloss surround for £395.
Very happy, looks the part, built like a tank, Nav works great, reception fantastic, sound first class.
Has two SD cards, each supports 32GB. I carry four of these in the car, full of music.

RNS-E works for me!
 
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Cornish John said:
For me the RNS-E is worth every penny! I paid £395 for it, one of the later ones with black gloss surround.

When I bought the A3 it had the stock "concert" radio fitted, I wanted a better radio with Nav if possible.
I ordered an "Android"type radio from the net, cost £300.
It arrived and looked cheap! Once plugged in the EML came on, not a good start, the volume and radio reception was very poor. Sat Nav looked dated. Had a word with the seller, said no way the radio would put the EML on, it did!

Put the concert radio back in, all good cleared the faults in the ECU, all good.
Just to check, plugged the "Android" back in, again dash lit up like a Christmas tree!!
Back to "Concert" radio.

I sent it back, got a refund after a fight, looked around the net, bought a different "Android" radio.

This time no dash lights, but still was cheap and flimsy, did not sit in the dash properly, radio reception poor and sound very low.
Sent back, full refund.

Then bought the RNS-E unit, the later type with media button and gloss surround for £395.
Very happy, looks the part, built like a tank, Nav works great, reception fantastic, sound first class.
Has two SD cards, each supports 32GB. I carry four of these in the car, full of music.

RNS-E works for me!
Click to expand...

Hey,
That's great. If you're happy and it's meeting your use cases RNS-E is worth it.

For me, having something that streams music, has support for mobile apps or app mirroring (e.g. CarPlay) is important and RNS-E wouldn't really fly.

When did you buy the 3rd party set? My understanding is that things are rapidly improving and most of the issues with the first and second generation units have been sorted out.
 
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maxpayne said:
Hey,
That's great. If you're happy and it's meeting your use cases RNS-E is worth it.

For me, having something that streams music, has support for mobile apps or app mirroring (e.g. CarPlay) is important and RNS-E wouldn't really fly.

When did you buy the 3rd party set? My understanding is that things are rapidly improving and most of the issues with the first and second generation units have been sorted out.
Click to expand...

It was within the last 24 months.
If I was going down that route again, I would only consider "Alpine" or "Dynavin"

But happy with RNS-E
 
now i am not saying that the android or the rns-e are better than each other to me its horses for courses and it all depends where you live i would say would determine if you go for an expensive alternative or the original . but what i have gathered from this post is in time to come the rns-e will be forgot about so my car will be safe but the ones with the new all singing and all dancing units will be the targets now mind that all when looking for a new unit and remember good theives don't steal crap lol:nogarors4::greyrs4::yellowrs4:
 
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