iPhone4 MDI connection

[davyhawk87]

Hi folks,

I'm having problems successfully connecting my iPhone4 to the RCD-510 media unit. I'm using the MDI socket under the arm rest using the VW supplied connector cable.

Since buying the car (2010 Scirocco GT, bought second hand end of last year), the iPhone has always had an intermittent connection, but recently it has been getting worse.

After plugging MDI cable into the phone and selecting Media on the RCD-510, no song/artist info will be displayed at all; the RCD-510 screen either just says "AUX", or something like "No media recognised" (if Aux input is disabled from the Setup screen). Confusingly, the phone will still charge whilst connected.

Sometimes it works fine, usually for the first few miles into a journey, and then suddenly drops out. I've tried buying new MDI cables, an extension cable as well (in case the cable was being slightly pulled out of the phone whilst driving), having the female connector/socket on the iPhone changed. I took it to a VW garage, but frustratingly that turned out to be one of the few days it happened to work, so they could find no faults (and apparently there were no software/firmware updates to be applied to the hardware in the car).

Has anyone had a similar problem? Is it just that iPhone4's do not don't work with the RCD-510 (software incompatibility etc.)? I 'd rather not buy an iPod just to be able to listen to music in my car.

It's the inconsistency that confuses me - works fine for a couple of days, then not at all for a week, or cuts out a few minutes into a journey. Sounds like it's just the cable/physical connection, though I've tried to test to mitigate that.

Cheers in advance,

DH

PS the Aux cable input works fine - but I'd rather not be fiddling on the iPhone to change songs whilst speeding down the motorway!

[RisingRoc]

Have you tried it with another iPhone? Or your iPhone playing music through another device? Have you tried a factory reset on the phone and HU?

I've an iPhone4 and had no problems with mine so know they are compatible.

[davyhawk87]

Only have one other mate nearby who has an iPhone4 (all the rest belong to the Blackberry brigade), and that didn't work either...we're both running iOS 6.1.3 on our phones...is that the same as you, RisingRoc? Haven't tried a factory reset, will give that a shot.

My gf has a 5 year old iPod that works fine...shame it's full of RnB! I might just pick up an older iPod from somewhere for use in the car (I understand VW doesn't supply a connector for the new generation), just trying to get away without carrying two separate Apple devices with me everywhere.

Good to know yours works though, means I should be able to get mine working too! Cheers.

[RisingRoc]

Yeah, I'm running the most up-to-date iOS. Not had any issue through updating my phone in the time I've had the car.

VW are still to release a MDI cable for the Apple Lightning connector, but you can use the Apple 30-pin to Lightning adaptor if you get a new iPod or move to the iPhone5 and still keep all the functionality.

[dimexi]

Hi davy,
I have exactly the same problem as you! I have an iPhone 4, but I am running on ios6.1. However, I believe the problems are pretty much identical.
I dont have it cut out on my so frequently, but I do have periods when it doesnt detect my iPhone and just displays "Aux" instead. I usually have to turn off the engine for a while and reset my iPhone to get things completely back to normal.

The issue of not displaying the artist/track information can be sorted by skipped one track ahead usually.

I complained to VW as my car is still under warranty, but they reported back saying they couldn't "fault" the problem. To me, that means they plugged in a diagnostic kit and didn't get an error code. Well, I knew this, because I have hooked my car up to VCDS lately. I had them update the software, and they said I need to monitor the problem. For a week, it's been fairly ok, but not any massive improvements.

It isnt so bad that it bothers me at the moment though. Ultimately, I am thinking of changing out to the RNS510 unit in the near future anyway.

I know I haven't helped much, but just sharing my experience

[davyhawk87]

Hey dimexi,

Hmm interesting...I was starting to believe VW in that the problem was unique (i.e. just my iPhone). Symptoms certainly sound the same - restarting the engine sometimes works for me (tried it whilst idle in traffic before).

I was thinking of upgrading to RNS-510 as well but am reluctant to do so as I assumed the same iPhone connect issues would carry over to that unit. Having run out of ideas myself (and since VW apparently ran out of ideas before they even started) I think the "cheapest" option is to buy a separate iPod, as they seem to work fine.

I did used to have an iPod which worked perfectly but it was stolen a couple of months back when I stupidly left it in my car overnight once (it was hidden from view in the arm rest, and none of the windows were smashed/locks forced etc., so I'm a bit concerned as to how they managed to get in to a locked car, but that's another story...).

Anyway...dimexi, please let me know if you happen to find a fix to get a permanent working connection, or if you change out to the RNS-510 and it shows improvement over the RCD-510.

Good luck,

D

[dimexi]

No worries, glad you found my post useful.
I suspect VW haven't had 100s of complaints, that's why it's not flashed up on their radar. I definitely highlighted it to them via phone and also at my local garage. I think they just don't know how to sort it, and they prefer to blame Apple. When I asked how an update in iOS is meant to affect the RCD, I was greeted with Silence.
Ultimately, it seems to be a hardware thing if it's working perfectly with an iPod.

I think it's a bit of an expensive solution to buy a seperate iPod to sort the issue, but then again, so is buying an RNS510.
Have you told your garage to check the latest software on your RCD? Make sure it's up to date?

Mine is so intermitent, it doesnt bother me that much. Also, the main reason I am changing to the RNS is because of the lovely Navigation feature that I wont mind integrated into my car.

On the subject of breaking into your 'roc with no sign of forced entry... Have a search on the forum, there is a thread that dealt with this a while back! Very shocking stuff, a forumer got their car broken into, no signs of forced entry, and the Radio/Nav unit was stolen!!

I will keep you updated with my RNS adventures, I dont intend to buy it yet, possibly towards the end of the year.

Let me know if your glitch gets solved.

P.S: Just a thought, you could keep complaining to VW until they change the RCD unit for you (if you are under warranty). I seem to remember a poster saying he got a new unit installed when he complained.

[rocknob]

You can try update the firmware on the MDI module. Go to the My-GTI site and they have the firmware available. It is done through the USB MDI cable and a memory stick.

Having said that I have a iPhone 4 and an iPhone 5 and both work without problems but my MDI module is relatively new. The South African RCD510 radio's did not come with the MDI and I retrofited it last month so it is probably the newest firmware.

[whiteDevil_170]

I think it's a bit of an expensive solution to buy a seperate iPod to sort the issue

not if you can buy one cheap from eBay like I did. I quickly got sick of plugging my iPhone 4 in every time I got in the car. I bought a iPod nano off of eBay quite cheap and just leave that plugged in all the time now.. I never had any problems with my iPhone 4 using the mdi

[dimexi]

I think it's a bit of an expensive solution to buy a seperate iPod to sort the issue

not if you can buy one cheap from eBay like I did. I quickly got sick of plugging my iPhone 4 in every time I got in the car. I bought a iPod nano off of eBay quite cheap and just leave that plugged in all the time now.. I never had any problems with my iPhone 4 using the mdi

Good point! I naturally think of the iPod touch whenever I think of an iPod nowadays.
I will try and update my MDI firmware and see if that helps anyway

[dimexi]

Tried it, got a "software update not possible" on all the versions I tried (both 2011 versions)

[jimma1983]

I think it's a bit of an expensive solution to buy a seperate iPod to sort the issue

not if you can buy one cheap from eBay like I did. I quickly got sick of plugging my iPhone 4 in every time I got in the car. I bought a iPod nano off of eBay quite cheap and just leave that plugged in all the time now.. I never had any problems with my iPhone 4 using the mdi

I got hold of an iPod classic for my car, I didn't want to keep plugging my phone in every time either. Plus, with 120Gb of storage, I can keep my entire music collection on it.

[whiteDevil_170]

I think it's a bit of an expensive solution to buy a seperate iPod to sort the issue

not if you can buy one cheap from eBay like I did. I quickly got sick of plugging my iPhone 4 in every time I got in the car. I bought a iPod nano off of eBay quite cheap and just leave that plugged in all the time now.. I never had any problems with my iPhone 4 using the mdi

I got hold of an iPod classic for my car, I didn't want to keep plugging my phone in every time either. Plus, with 120Gb of storage, I can keep my entire music collection on it.

Exactly ! My whole music collection is now in my car constantly. Never need to disconnect it either. Makes life much simpler. Plus never had a problem with bugs or freezing etc.

[Moonhead]

Just done the same myself. Bought a second hand iPod off e-bay and now have my entire music collection in my car at all times without having to keep plugging my phone in.

[whiteDevil_170]

Just done the same myself. Bought a second hand iPod off e-bay and now have my entire music collection in my car at all times without having to keep plugging my phone in.

Welcome..

[dimexi]

I usually use the tune in radio app on my iPhone to record radio shows I cant catch, also, I tend to listen to a lot of podcasts. So I wouldn't be able to get anything other than an iPod touch (not sure Nanos offer that service with the space I'd want for a good price).

The problems don't "bug" me too much yet