Rns-e mk1 vs mk2 questions

[FeebleBiscuit]

Okay, so I’ve had an a4 for years and always wanted to do this mod but could never justify the cost but after owning a b7 with the mk1 it seems worth it. Now I have a really clean S4 and think it would be a great mod for the car. I know the screen is high res and the buttons are different, faster possessor, and 32 g slots but is the functionality any better? Is it really worth the extra money for the mk2? Are there any options that I don’t know about?


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[Rs4Sedan]

Optical PDC if u want it.
It‘s only better, because of the display and prozessor.

I wanted also to do it, but i think the RNS-E is very old.. U Need other devices for Bluetooth Musik etc.

You Need also the Converter to Plug it in the B5.

And you have to Build the Front plate.


I will take a Android radio. The Price is much better and the functions also.
Touch, Spotify, YouTube, Mails, Tourge apps, Navi etc.

[FeebleBiscuit]

Oh okay so I wasn’t missing anything then. The way people talk about the mk2 you would think unicorns come out of it. I thought about the aftermarket unit because it’s obviously way more modern but unless your willing to spend a good chunk of change they normally suck too. I really like the oem look. I just wonder if it’s worth the extra money. Plus I think the gloss black on the screen doesn’t pair well with the older car. The mk1 definitely matches everything else better. Thanks for the reply. I just wanted to know if there was something that I wasn’t getting. I have signed up for the next round the MFA screens from litke LLC so I would like the nav to match. I don’t mind doing the face plate.


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[CJ_]

I have had both in my car and had them side by side. The screen resolution alone was enough for me to make the plunge to the MK2. You don’t reply realize how archaic the mk1 screen looks until you have it next to something more modern. I’d say go for the mk2 especially if you are going with a color MFA. The resolution of the colorMFA is close to the mk2 RNSE. It would look out of place with a MK1 RNSE imo.

Edit:
Here’s some pics I took awhile back for comparison:

[goalieman24]

A couple of years ago the MK2s were quite pricey and a big commitment, however they seem to be coming down to a point that IMO it's worth spending extra for.

You have to remember that even the MK2 is approaching 10-year-old technology so it's not going to have any extraordinary functionality, but still a step up from the MK1 nonetheless. That said, I agree with the above. I'd say either stay committed to the 20 year old car with the stock MFA and Symphony 1, or go full modern (relatively speaking) with the color MFA and MK2. The color MFA and the MK1 is kind of a mix of both.

[FeebleBiscuit]

Okay, you guys make some valid points on the mk2. the color MFA is the whole reason i started to think about this. well what i am wondering now is where do people get the face plates. i know ill have to customize it to fit but the TT and A3 faceplates dont seem ideal to start with. So does anyone have a part number for the A4 or C5 face plate to have something good to start with. or can you not just order those anymore. i dont want to have to buy another complete Rns-e mk1 to disassemble. i guess unless i found a really cheap one

[goalieman24]

Okay, you guys make some valid points on the mk2. the color MFA is the whole reason i started to think about this. well what i am wondering now is where do people get the face plates. i know ill have to customize it to fit but the TT and A3 faceplates dont seem ideal to start with. So does anyone have a part number for the A4 or C5 face plate to have something good to start with. or can you not just order those anymore. i dont want to have to buy another complete Rns-e mk1 to disassemble. i guess unless i found a really cheap one

I started with an A3 faceplate when I made mine... it's actually not bad. The top and bottom were pretty close, just took a sanding block and had to take a little material off of each side. The sides were a complete cut and re-fab but that's going to be the case with pretty much any option.

I don't know for certain but I'd be surprised if you could order just a faceplate. Your best bet is to search eBay as there tend to be parts from disassembled units on there. And C5 faceplates are essentially unobtainium so I wouldn't put much faith in finding one of those.

[neveret]

Okay, you guys make some valid points on the mk2. the color MFA is the whole reason i started to think about this. well what i am wondering now is where do people get the face plates. i know ill have to customize it to fit but the TT and A3 faceplates dont seem ideal to start with. So does anyone have a part number for the A4 or C5 face plate to have something good to start with. or can you not just order those anymore. i dont want to have to buy another complete Rns-e mk1 to disassemble. i guess unless i found a really cheap one

I don't want to burst your bubble, but the orange on the colormfa does not match well with the orange on the mk2 rns-e. The colorMFA is still totally worth it.

[FeebleBiscuit]

Hmm okay so I will try to find a good one with an a3 face plate. Or maybe I’ll just wait for a good c5 face to come up. I’m not really in that big of a hurry.

Also as far as the colors not matching perfectly I’m not that worried about it. That color MFA is so sweet it’s worth it. It’s like a 6 month waiting list. So I have a while before I need to have the nav done.

Anyway. Thanks for the feed back


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[V1nny]

Real-time traffic update is another MK2 feature. MK2 also indicates turns and highway exits with additional graphics on the main screen. MK1 feels actually slightly faster in some other navigation functions, even with slower processor clock.

[Rs4Sedan]

MK2 also indicates turns and highway exits with additional graphics on the main screen. MK1 feels actually slightly faster in some other navigation functions, even with slower processor clock.

The MK1 also. I had it in my B7.

[tultalk]

Is there some indication on the label as to whether a unit is Mk I or Mk II

Thanks

[DolphinV8]

Label on the top case

RNS-E = Mk1
RNSE PU = Mk2

[FeebleBiscuit]

I ended up going with the mk2. It’s worth it.




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[rollerton]

Don't know if you found a faceplate, fairly sure C5 is the same- ? It would be soft-touch surface though. But this seems about as good as it gets usually--

C5 Faceplate

[colbymc]

Does this face plate work into b5 s4 console with out any trimming/modification?


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[FeebleBiscuit]

Don't know if you found a faceplate, fairly sure C5 is the same- ? It would be soft-touch surface though. But this seems about as good as it gets usually--

C5 Faceplate

I made one the rns-e I bought had an extra face plate so I had zero risk cutting into it



As far as the c5 plate goes it’s pretty close the lines are slightly off.


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[Silverex]

^Is that a unmodded C5 plate?

How did you go about making your faceplate?

I ended up going with the mk2. It’s worth it.

Can you go into detail why you think the mk2 is worth it? I’m still on fence on getting a mk2 or an android look alike

[FeebleBiscuit]

Yeah that is the un modded c5 plate. I wouldn’t pay that for the c5 plate. If it was a perfect fit sure but it’s not.

Well a nice mk1 goes for about 300 I found my mk2 for 500 ish. So the high res screen and extra functionality like the ami system and faster processor, chrome knobs was worth it for 200 bucks. I probably wouldn’t pay 900 for it.

I’ll be modding my extra face plate and putting it up for sale if you are interested. As far as an android look a like it’s kind of hard to beat that if you don’t care about the look. I always wanted the rns-e so I was willing to go through the extra work. I really like the oem plus look.


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[DolphinV8]

For some reason, I thought the Mk2 wouldn't work properly in the B5?

https://audiforum.us/threads/rns-e-2...-rs4-b5.15598/

[FeebleBiscuit]

It works fine. Is used this guide


https://penti.org/~harald/audi/RNS.pdf

The center display stuff is really cool.

Excuse the screen. I’m waiting on the colorMFA



I assume this is how it works on all of them but the Navi functionality works with all the buttons to control it so if it’s on my normal mpg screen one click and it toggles to the Navi screen another click shuts it off then again to be back on the normal menu. When Navi isn’t on it just shows the road I am on and I think a compass but I can’t make out what it is because of the screen. Also I am working on getting the full integration of the ami. I want the blue tooth to show the artist and song. The cd changer Bluetooth I have now only shows track 1 cd 1. Oddly haven’t found much on that for the b5 but later models have some threads on it.


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[FeebleBiscuit]

Although my clock is wrong most of the time it lines up like every 5 or so starts. Also I can’t get the s4 badge to come up. I did manage to get all the others R8gt s3 etc... I guess the 2010 wasn’t installed in the s4 the image was never installed. It does turn off fine and functions great. I just coded for an a4 and use the normal MMI start up because my car isn’t cool enough to rock the R8 GT badge.


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[DolphinV8]

The only way to fix the clock issue is using a CANGate module.
Most Mk2 units do not have the pin for the speed signal and cannot be coded as a C5 unit to receive the speed data from the cluster.

[colbymc]

Is this the only hang up the mk2 unit has while integrating into a b5 platform? (besides the physical customization of face plate)


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[FeebleBiscuit]

The only way to fix the clock issue is using a CANGate module.
Most Mk2 units do not have the pin for the speed signal and cannot be coded as a C5 unit to receive the speed data from the cluster.

I code it to be an a4 to get the s4 badge and it worked so after trying the other startup badges I just put it back. I’ve seen more than a few people on here with mk2 units in there b5s some with the cangate and some with out. I’m not going to pay 900 dollars to fix a clock. I’ll take a shot at figuring it out myself before paying that kind of money. One guy on here was close but he hasn’t updated anything on it in a while. I didn’t follow the coding in that thread because I’ve used vagcom enough to know what I wanted. Be the speed signal is on connector b pin3. It’s done through the eBay harness.


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[CJ_]

Although my clock is wrong most of the time it lines up like every 5 or so starts. Also I can’t get the s4 badge to come up. I did manage to get all the others R8gt s3 etc... I guess the 2010 wasn’t installed in the s4 the image was never installed. It does turn off fine and functions great. I just coded for an a4 and use the normal MMI start up because my car isn’t cool enough to rock the R8 GT badge.


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The clock does not work based on number of starts or resets. It has to do with the time of day. For example, set your cluster clock and scroll through the hours, you will notice a pattern.

Here is some more info if you’re interested: Page 5 is where things start to get interesting

https://audiforum.us/threads/the-rns...m-thread.1205/

[DolphinV8]

I code it to be an a4 to get the s4 badge and it worked so after trying the other startup badges I just put it back. I’ve seen more than a few people on here with mk2 units in there b5s some with the cangate and some with out. I’m not going to pay 900 dollars to fix a clock. I’ll take a shot at figuring it out myself before paying that kind of money. One guy on here was close but he hasn’t updated anything on it in a while. I didn’t follow the coding in that thread because I’ve used vagcom enough to know what I wanted. Be the speed signal is on connector b pin3. It’s done through the eBay harness.


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Interesting! I just don’t understand how it would work properly as the RNSE isn’t getting speed data from the cluster.
FYI, the CANGate does much more than that. Push to talk, sending speed signal to Mk2 RNSE, VIM, etc.

[FeebleBiscuit]

Interesting! I just don’t understand how it would work properly as the RNSE isn’t getting speed data from the cluster.
FYI, the CANGate does much more than that. Push to talk, sending speed signal to Mk2 RNSE, VIM, etc.

Well maybe it’s because it’s an 09 unit out of an a3. I couldn’t actually find a picture of an rns-e missing the v-signal. As for the cangate it’s still not worth the price to me as it works fine. The only really annoying thing is the ETA is all messed up because of the clock. For the 120 they originally cost it was worth it all day but now they are worth more than gold apparently. Not that I wouldn’t love to get my hands on one.


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[FeebleBiscuit]

The clock does not work based on number of starts or resets. It has to do with the time of day. For example, set your cluster clock and scroll through the hours, you will notice a pattern.

Here is some more info if you’re interested: Page 5 is where things start to get interesting

https://audiforum.us/threads/the-rns...m-thread.1205/

Haha then I must just be lucky of when I am starting it up. Right now I’ve been weekend cruising because of the fall. I’ll definitely be digging into that thread later.


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[DolphinV8]

Early 193 versions still have it.
The last CANGate sold this year
https://forums.quattroworld.com/clas...gs/55076.phtml

[FeebleBiscuit]

The clock does not work based on number of starts or resets. It has to do with the time of day. For example, set your cluster clock and scroll through the hours, you will notice a pattern.

Here is some more info if you’re interested: Page 5 is where things start to get interesting

https://audiforum.us/threads/the-rns...m-thread.1205/

Okay so after reading that thread the time issue make way more sense. Interesting stuff in there.

I found your thread about making a new cangate have you had anytime to work on it more?


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[FeebleBiscuit]

Early 193 versions still have it.
The last CANGate sold this year
https://forums.quattroworld.com/clas...gs/55076.phtml

250 is not bad. I’ve seen 2 units go for over 900 I don’t know why anyone would pay that much. Unless it’s just miss information. But also with how slowly they come up and how many people seem to be looking for them. It wouldn’t surprise me.


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