RNS-E Useful?

[ed@mtl]

I'm planning on getting the RNS-E Nav unit. Was wondering if you guys find it useful. Is there any faults to this unit?

Thanks.

[bcramer]

Hey, I just picked my car up on Sunday so I haven't had a lot of time with it. But, I find it very useful aside from the fact that my map disc is from '04

For example, I needed to go to a Well's Fargo branch to get a cashier's check for the down payment, but I of course left the address/directions at my desk. I didn't want to go back up to my workstation because time was short, so I did a search in my immediate vicinity for banks and there was the one I was looking for. Worked perfect!

My biggest complaint with the unit so far is that you can't play MP3 cds through the cd changer. They can only be played if they are the in the actual nav unit. To do that though, I have to take out the nav disc and lose my mapping functionality. There are two SD card slots to make up for this though, so combined you can have up to 8gb of music.

All songs must be formatted .mp3 and it has limitations as to how many files can be on each card. Somewhere around 400 if I recall correctly. Also, they can't have too long of names and need to be within a range of bitrates.

This forum has quite a bit of useful information: http://www.navplus.us/forums/

[k-f-j]

Out of the 30+ times I have used the Nav part its only taken me to one place wrong. I like the built in SD card reader.

[Tiesto]

The RSN-E unit actually has more features than the current gen MMI, well worth the investment IMO.

[AudiWxGuy]

I bought one for my car last year. I love it. The Nav works great. The hands free phone screen is very cool as well..

[ed@mtl]

So, I'm guessing $1000 for a used unit is ok? No other features are included. Just the standalone unit with all the necessary hardware/software for the install.

[AudiWxGuy]

exactly. for what you need go to www.navplus.us

[k-f-j]

Oh yeah I forgot about the bluetooth for the phones. So worth it.

[DeMOROlized]

Oh yeah I forgot about the bluetooth for the phones. So worth it.

The bluetooth is actually a separate module and not part of RNS-E.

[jimmya4]

i have nav but no nav disc :( bought the car used and it didnt come with it, but its cool having a screen there anyways. whats the cheapest way to get a navi disc?

[Stak3407]

i have nav but no nav disc :( bought the car used and it didnt come with it, but its cool having a screen there anyways. whats the cheapest way to get a navi disc?

Did you buy this car at a dealer? They owe you a disk. Ebay is great if you need buy one on your own.

[TrustNo1]

i have nav but no nav disc :( bought the car used and it didnt come with it, but its cool having a screen there anyways. whats the cheapest way to get a navi disc?

PM Step02, last time he had the new RNS DVD's

[dave405nyc]

u can also bit torrent it, i believe theres a 2007 dvd out there

[Quattro]

when i played with the nav, it was a bit confusing at first, but if you have a color display it would be sweet after you vag your cluster to display your route, which is something I cant do with my alpine nav.

the oem nav, gives you a nice oem plus look, but will lack the functionality and expanding capabilities of an aftermarket system.

[bcramer]

u can also bit torrent it, i believe theres a 2007 dvd out there

I think you're right about that. I've heard people have had issues getting the unit to read the disc after burning it. I'm pretty sure people figured out ways around that at navplus.us though.

[tribe]

i have nav but no nav disc :( bought the car used and it didnt come with it, but its cool having a screen there anyways. whats the cheapest way to get a navi disc?

I'll sell you my 08' disc when I get the '09

[JVD Graphics]

Is it cheaper to just get the Navi included on the car when you buy it? or get it aftermarket. I am in the market to buy a 2008 Audi A4 2.0T fully loaded but without navi in about a week, so trying to figure if should splurge for navi or just get it after buy car...

[Stak3407]

Is it cheaper to just get the Navi included on the car when you buy it? or get it aftermarket. I am in the market to buy a 2008 Audi A4 2.0T fully loaded but without navi in about a week, so trying to figure if should splurge for navi or just get it after buy car...

Are you talking stock? If you are it is alot cheaper to buy with the car. The hands free bluetooth is two grand aftermarket.

[JVD Graphics]

Are you talking stock? If you are it is alot cheaper to buy with the car. The hands free bluetooth is two grand aftermarket.

Ya, I was thinking stock. The car comes with blue tooth already, just not Navi... Still worth getting it when buy car?

[Stak3407]

Personally, I absolutely love it. Just got the new 08" cd and it is so much better than the 07" version. You cannot beat the look of the stock navi look. People complain about the interface, but i find it to be perfect. The voice over directions built into your speakers. If you are thinking about having the bluetooth as well with navi. Very high tech. If you can swing it, get it.

[JVD Graphics]

Stak, the sticker on other cars with Navi show $2100 for Navi Plus, do you think if i ask them to add navi they would do for $2100 upon sale? Or do they charge more once you buy it bc of having to install?

[Stak3407]

I'm sure you have car picked out already so if they can just add nav to that car that would be perfect. I'm guessing that it might be more money due to what other than the system itself would they have to add to the car. As we know they sell a car in bulk built directly from the manufacturer and that 2100 is a bulk price. You can try to negotiate the nav into the deal where it would be about the same as a add on if it turns out to be more expensive. Hope they go for it.

[sakimano]

LOVE the system. GET IT at all costs! well maybe under $1500

I traded my S4 for a few days with another friend with 06 S4 with the symphony? w. Bose and I was REALLY missing my system.

Reasons to get it:

1. SD MEMORY CARDS - 2 slots behind the screen turn your can into a big fat ipod. The interface is awesome, with artists/albums all seperated in folders and laid out nicely on the screen. Two slots x 2GB = 4GB = 1000 songs = 100 albums = your ten favourite artists entire collection of works. I've even heard of guys with 2 x 4GB SD cards in theirs (hard to find 4GB SD cards since when they were coming out, everyone changed over to SD HC which is NOT compatible with the Audi). This beats the piss out of the ipod hookup, I think, as most guys have trouble with the menus on the ipod thing (no song/artist info displayed on screen)

2. SAT NAV - love the OEM-ness of it. Integrated to audio system is awesome too. Steering wheel control of girl's voice...steering wheel button to hear next direction whenever you want it...nice big screen...no awful windshield/dashboard mounted standalone unit to encourage thieves to smash your window and snatch it.

3. Bluetooth phone (if you have it) on the screen is nice for incoming calls etc.

4. Big screen - it makes navigating through all the menus and settings etc. so easy. It also delivers 30 preset radio stations and they can be from either AM, FM or Satellite. This is fantastic...have a couple AM, a few FM and two dozen Sirius satellite stations in mine.

[JVD Graphics]

Great write up, thanks Sakimano. What I may do is just buy the car without Nav, and then add it in later. I really want Nav. The car has everything I want BUT navi, and its a great price, so will just add it after.

LOVE the system. GET IT at all costs! well maybe under $1500

I traded my S4 for a few days with another friend with 06 S4 with the symphony? w. Bose and I was REALLY missing my system.

Reasons to get it:

1. SD MEMORY CARDS - 2 slots behind the screen turn your can into a big fat ipod. The interface is awesome, with artists/albums all seperated in folders and laid out nicely on the screen. Two slots x 2GB = 4GB = 1000 songs = 100 albums = your ten favourite artists entire collection of works. I've even heard of guys with 2 x 4GB SD cards in theirs (hard to find 4GB SD cards since when they were coming out, everyone changed over to SD HC which is NOT compatible with the Audi). This beats the piss out of the ipod hookup, I think, as most guys have trouble with the menus on the ipod thing (no song/artist info displayed on screen)

2. SAT NAV - love the OEM-ness of it. Integrated to audio system is awesome too. Steering wheel control of girl's voice...steering wheel button to hear next direction whenever you want it...nice big screen...no awful windshield/dashboard mounted standalone unit to encourage thieves to smash your window and snatch it.

3. Bluetooth phone (if you have it) on the screen is nice for incoming calls etc.

4. Big screen - it makes navigating through all the menus and settings etc. so easy. It also delivers 30 preset radio stations and they can be from either AM, FM or Satellite. This is fantastic...have a couple AM, a few FM and two dozen Sirius satellite stations in mine.

[bcramer]

Sakimano, is right. It is really, really nice unit to have as I already stated earlier.

As far as the 4gig SD cards go, on navplus.us there is an informal list/thread of users that have been trying to note which cards and which ones don't.

The only thing my unit doesn't have is the bluetooth which isn't a huge deal but it would be nice to integrate. However, my understanding is that getting the OEM bluetooth afterwards is very expensive. I've seen people stating prices as high as $2,000. So you may want to look into how much that will cost if it's not included when you purchase the unit.

Also, I think I'm going to get rid of my Sirius tuner and would be more than willing to sell it to you. Let me know if you're interested.

[aalipio]

will the navi only work with the navi disc inside?

[Blarg]

Love the sd card slots.

Without the DVD the navigation option won't work but everything else will.