Avantéix

well then since there is now a dedicated Nav forum... here's my contribution to it...

this write-up documents the process of upgrading from Symphony II to an RNS-E whether it's a Euro unit (8E0 035 192 C & D) or a US unit (8E0 035 192 E & F).

for a complete list of all the differences btw a Euro unit and a NA unit, please check <a href="http://www.navplus.us/forum/viewtopic.php?t=238">this thread</a> on NavPlus... be aware that the price is significantly different btw a Euro unit (US$1,500) vs. a US unit ($2,000+), however it is possible to modify a Euro unit to operate like a US unit (see the following <a href="http://www.navplus.us/forum/viewtopic.php?t=751">NavPlus thread</a>).

please note that you will need a patch NA map DVD to work with the Euro RNS-E...

i cannot guaranty these instructions may be applicable to those upgrading from a manufactory installed RNS-D (partial or full)...

although such upgrade might appear daunting, it is absolutely not. no electronical skills are required to perform this upgrade, no mechanical skills either. the whole process is really straight forward.

<b>- <u>The Units</u>:</b>

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Symphomy_II_RNS_D_RNS_E.sized.jpg">
the actual shape of the Symphony II and RNS-E (and RNS-D) is the same, thus the RNS-E fits right in the opening of the Symphony II w/o the need for any kind of modifications... that's indeed another story of you've got a Symphony I...

further to an RNS-E unit the following parts are needed:

<b>- <u>RNS-E adaptor</u>:</b>

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-RNS-E/RNS_E_Adaptor_Connector.sized.jpg">

this adaptor is designed for a non-Bose system and is ready for the CD changer... make sure you order the adaptor that meets your needs.

<b>- <u>Diversity and Radio antennas adaptor</u>:</b>

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-RNS-E/Diversity_and_Radio_Antennas_Connector_front.sized .jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-RNS-E/Diversity_and_Radio_Antennas_Connector_back.sized. jpg">

be aware there's another style of adaptors out there, but i would recommend not getting this one... if you do, you'll have to find a way to secure the diversity antenna in its connector, and the Radio antenna adaptor will need to be jammed in to stay plugged in...
i had that adaptor at first, and decided to get the dual one, which fits perfectly... so imo, avoid the one pictured below...

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-RNS-E/Radio_Antenna_Connector.sized.jpg">

<b>- <u>GPS antenna</u>:</b>

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-RNS-E/GPS_Antenna_2.sized.jpg">

all of these can be sourced from <a href="http://www.euro-parts.us/xcart/home.php">Euro-Parts</a> in the States, one can also try to get them directly from <a href="http://shop.kufatec.de/">Kufatec</a> in Germany but beware of <a href="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-RNS-E/Kufatec_Invoice.sized.jpg">shipping costs</a>...

<b>- <u>OEM Manuals</u>:</b>
these can be obtained from <a href="http://www.audi.ddsltd.com/">Audi of America and Audi Canada Technical Literature Ordering Center</a>, and at US$5 per publication, these are quite cheap imo...

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-RNS-E/RNS_E_Operating_Instructions_English.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-RNS-E/RNS_E_Quick_Reference_Guide_English.sized.jpg">

Now on to the actual process of installing the RNS-E unit...

i believe the pics are self explanatory, especially since i've annotated all of them... i also apologise in advance to all the purists out there if i have not used the proper terminology!!!...

<b>- <u>Symphony II Connections</u>:</b>

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Symphony_II_Unit_Connections.sized.jpg">

<b>- <u>Fuse Box Cover</u>:</b>

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Fuse_Box_Cover_01.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Fuse_Box_Cover_02.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Fuse_Box_Cover_03.sized.jpg">

<b>- <u>Knee Bolster - Removing</u>:</b>

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Knee_Bolster_01.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Knee_Bolster_02.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Knee_Bolster_03.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Knee_Bolster_04.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Knee_Bolster_05.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Knee_Bolster_06.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Knee_Bolster_07.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Knee_Bolster_08.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Knee_Bolster_09.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Knee_Bolster_10.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Knee_Bolster_11.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Knee_Bolster_12.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Knee_Bolster_13.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Knee_Bolster_14.sized.jpg">

<b>- <u>Knee Bolster - Re-installing</u>:</b>

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Knee_Bolster_15.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Knee_Bolster_16.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Knee_Bolster_17.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Knee_Bolster_18.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Knee_Bolster_19.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Knee_Bolster_20.sized.jpg">

<b>- <u>RNS-E Unit Connections</u>:</b>

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-RNS-E/RNS_E_Unit_back.sized.jpg">

<b>- <u>RNS-E Connector Adaptor</u>:</b>

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/RNS_E_Connector_Adaptor.sized.jpg">

<b>- <u>Diversity Antenna</u>:</b>

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Diversity_Antenna_01.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Diversity_Antenna_02.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Diversity_Antenna_03.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Diversity_Antenna_04.sized.jpg">

<b>- <u>Diversity and Radio Antennas Adaptor</u>:</b>

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Diversity_Radio_Antenna_Adapter_01.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Diversity_Radio_Antenna_Adapter_02.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Diversity_Radio_Antenna_Adapter_03.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Diversity_Radio_Antenna_Adapter_04.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Diversity_Radio_Antenna_Adapter_05.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Diversity_Radio_Antenna_Adapter_06.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Diversity_Radio_Antenna_Adapter_07.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Diversity_Radio_Antenna_Adapter_08.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Diversity_Radio_Antenna_Adapter_09.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/Diversity_Radio_Antenna_Adapter_10.sized.jpg">

<b>- <u>GPS Antenna</u>:</b>

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/GPS_Antenna_01.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/GPS_Antenna_02.sized.jpg">

<b>- <u>GPS Antenna Location</u>:</b>

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/GPS_Antenna_Location.sized.jpg">

<b>- <u>CD-Changer Harness Connections</u> [optional]:</b>

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/CD_Changer_Ground_Connection_01.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/CD_Changer_Ground_Connection_02.sized.jpg">

<b>- <u>RNS-E Connections</u>:</b>

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/RNS_E_Unit_Connections_01.sized.jpg">

<img src="http://www.thegaulois.com/albums/Audi-My-Avant-Others-Symphony-II-to-RNS-D-to-RNS-E/RNS_E_Unit_Connections_02.sized.jpg">

finally the next step is to <a href="http://audi.ogdenlabs.com/vagcom.htm">VAG the car</a> so that it aknowledges the RNS-E unit...
note: accessing "Module 17 - Instrument Cluster" isn't necessary if you've already had an RNS-D installed and programmed before...

now time to put your car back together, so just follow the above instructions in the reverse order...

QuattroRocket

Is there any functional difference between a Euro unit upgraded to US and a US unit ?

German Driver

Zero, the unit will mimic the US 100%. Only difference is CD/SD button on US units

Avantéix

the disclaimer appears everytime you turn the unit on and the colours of the roads are not the same, making some of the NA roads invisible w/ the Euro SW while they show up w/ the NA SW.

and there might be one or two more things...

the most annoying, and that has stopped me from upgrading, is the disclaimer... f***ing lawyers...

QuattroRocket

I am seriousily looking at this as my Chanukkah present to myself this year ! My little bro just got Nav in his A3 and I played with it the other night and its great. Not to metion that I am hearing that the sound quality is upgraded from the stock unit.

Avantéix

i had a couple when i was down in WA... the NA SW would take care of that, but the PITA w/ that software is the disclaimer screen...

German Driver

Both show disclaimer both show the same color roads.

If he asked difference between Euro unit and US unit then yes, roads, colors, disclaimer, reception, AM are all changes...

Avantéix

too much thinking to do right there... ;o)

NSX JR

Plus, the EU unit will not play SAT radio...

German Driver

Flashing the Euro unit to US spec will allow SAT to work w/updated SAT receivers