Completed RNS-e Symphony II Conversion - some thoughts and questions

[PNW Avant]

I received my RNS-e unit today, and partially installed it tonight. The unit is amazing, it's a revision "P", North American unit. I love the OEM look!

Removal of my Symphony II (with bose) was the smoothest part. I disconnected THREE plugs from the back of the unit, and two antenna type plugs.

The harness I got for my RNS-e had ONE RNS-e end with FOUR plugs coming out of it. I connected the three that came off my Symphony II to their proper plugs in the new harness. This left one plug from the RNS-e harness that had four wires in it unused.

I was only able to connect one of the antennae from my Symphony II, that is, after using the provided antenna adapter.

I installed the RNS-e, powered it on, and got the MUTE/STATIC NOISE problem. No biggie, checked the forums, unplugged the wire bridging D11 (TEL/MUTE) to the A2 connector. Everything worked great from then on, no issues to speak of.

BUT

I have a few questions...

1. Why did my harness come with 4 plugs but I only have 4 in my car? I noticed my Symphony II also had spots for 4 plugs, but only 3 connected. Is the other plug for non-bose?

2. What is the other antenna that I do not have plugged in now? Was that the SAT antenna? (I can provide pictures this weekend if it helps).

3. My in-cluster display only displays the radio station now, and not the song that is playing (when the info is provided) like it did with Symphony II. The song names still display on the RNS-e, though. Is there a way to get them both to read the song name? Is this functionality added back in when you edit the VAG to display Nav in the cluster?

4. I have the GALA setting in my Sound Menu. I read this indicates my unit is NOT coded for BOSE. How can I find out for sure? I will have access to a VAG this weekend.

5. So it's pretty clear after the tel/mute wire issue that I probably have an incorrect harness. I'm specifically concerned that my BOSE wire (B7 I believe) has no pin or wire connected to it. Does this limit any functionality? Everything seems to be working fine, sound quality is up to par with what it sounded like on my Symphony II. I thought I read that I should connect the BOSE WIRE pin to GROUND but I don't want to do that until I can get an expert to confirm.

[00s4slvr]

subscribed to question #3!!

[koolade9]

I received my RNS-e unit today, and partially installed it tonight. The unit is amazing, it's a revision "P", North American unit. I love the OEM look!

Removal of my Symphony II (with bose) was the smoothest part. I disconnected THREE plugs from the back of the unit, and two antenna type plugs.

The harness I got for my RNS-e had ONE RNS-e end with FOUR plugs coming out of it. I connected the three that came off my Symphony II to their proper plugs in the new harness. This left one plug from the RNS-e harness that had four wires in it unused.

I was only able to connect one of the antennae from my Symphony II, that is, after using the provided antenna adapter.

I installed the RNS-e, powered it on, and got the MUTE/STATIC NOISE problem. No biggie, checked the forums, unplugged the wire bridging D11 (TEL/MUTE) to the A2 connector. Everything worked great from then on, no issues to speak of.

BUT

I have a few questions...

1. Why did my harness come with 4 plugs but I only have 4 in my car? I noticed my Symphony II also had spots for 4 plugs, but only 3 connected. Is the other plug for non-bose?

2. What is the other antenna that I do not have plugged in now? Was that the SAT antenna? (I can provide pictures this weekend if it helps).

3. My in-cluster display only displays the radio station now, and not the song that is playing (when the info is provided) like it did with Symphony II. The song names still display on the RNS-e, though. Is there a way to get them both to read the song name? Is this functionality added back in when you edit the VAG to display Nav in the cluster?

4. I have the GALA setting in my Sound Menu. I read this indicates my unit is NOT coded for BOSE. How can I find out for sure? I will have access to a VAG this weekend.

5. So it's pretty clear after the tel/mute wire issue that I probably have an incorrect harness. I'm specifically concerned that my BOSE wire (B7 I believe) has no pin or wire connected to it. Does this limit any functionality? Everything seems to be working fine, sound quality is up to par with what it sounded like on my Symphony II. I thought I read that I should connect the BOSE WIRE pin to GROUND but I don't want to do that until I can get an expert to confirm.

1. all depends on what features/options you have (cd changer, sat, bluetooth)

2. if you look on your fakra antenna adapter, you see an empty space...you see how on that "extra" antenna, the plastic connector can be removed...pickin up what I'm puttin down...?

3 & 4. you need to recode your car/unit via vag-com.

5. you most likely bought the harness specific for your car (bose vs. non-bose), so the bose pin should already be taken care of in the harness. The tel/mute is a common issue weather you have the right harness or not.

[PNW Avant]

Thanks Koolade!

2. I will try to get my disconnected fakra antenna into that empy connector space. I almost bought a differnent adapter...thanks!

3. On audiforum, someone posted that song info from RNS-e can't be displayed in the cluster. But, I know when I get to it, I can get the NAV info in the cluster via the VAG.

4. Is there a re-code tutorial online somewhere? I think my coding should be:

1. 0
2. 3 (A4)
3. ? (not sure, active or inactive)
4. 9 (Bose)
5. 6 (I have the car wired for Onstar, would like to add OEM bluetooth later)
6. 1 (default)
7. 5 (I have MFSW)

03x9615

Look okay? Any insight on that #3 digit?

5. I already checked, and my harness has nothing in the bose pin. I may just buy a new harness for the peace of mind, just another $50 shipped. I want to make sure everything is done right.

Thanks for the help! Just need some insight on coding and I'm good to go!

[koolade9]

-when you goto recode via vag-com, the coding options are already listed on the screen, no need to look anything up (you'll know what I mean when you get there)

-as for song info...the DIS will list the mp3 you're playing, and I'm not 100% on what is lists under radio, as I've used the radio maybe twice...either way, re-code it and you'll find out.

If you're really dead set on the whole bose-pin ordeal...find it on your harness and ground it...see if that changes anything for you... but I'd still bet you're already setup.

[PNW Avant]

Sweet, thanks. I'll try the coding out this weekend and report back.

I haven't tried any MP3s yet; I installed the unit pretty late last night. I'll see if it displays.

I read that when you ground the bose pin, it tells the RNS-e not to power the front speakers via the internal amp, but rather the bose amp mounted in the trunk. Any insight on this? Everything seems normal to me...I just don't wanna blow up my bose amp or something though! I agree with you, I dont think it will really change anything, I just don't want to be cutting corners. Like I mentioned, the new harness might be best for my peace of mind!

TY

[AvanTTix]

#3 RNS-E doesn't support song title display when paying the Radio. Annoying given that the Symphony II and the RNS-D offered that... but oh well...

[PNW Avant]

TY for the clarification, and yeah, seems dumb!

[AvanTTix]

2. What is the other antenna that I do not have plugged in now? Was that the SAT antenna? (I can provide pictures this weekend if it helps).

[PNW Avant]

I APPLAUD! Thank you!

[00s4slvr]

also on the acutal rns-e screen, i ahve FULL US sw (0200). when in the FM selection under radio it shows the radio station number then next to it, it will show the radio name, song. Is that correct?

[PNW Avant]

Mine looks like that too yeah.