GUIDE: Retro fitting OEM Satnav MFD2/MFD3

DanGB

Who need's a Diesel....
Feb 12, 2006
3,772
2
London
This is the first of a series of guides im writing... so stay tuned..

Introduction

The Seat Satnav unit is a very expensive option when buying the car new, but these units can be had off ebay for a fraction of the price.
When buying from ebay you should receive the Unit (MFD2 or MFD3), Code card, GPS antenna, and Navigation CD or DVD.

There are several types of MFD2 unit available. Basically, VW DVD or CD version, and Skoda or seat CD versions. Be aware certain models of VW DVD units cannot play audio CD's. For a full guide of part numbers and any questions, please see www.vwnavi.com

The New MFD3 (or RNS-510) is streets ahead of the MFD2 unit, but is currently available only in VW form. For more info see this thread: http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=139127

The VW units are perfect for the job as the buttons illuminate in the same red colour as the Seat buttons. The only thing telling you is VW is a splash screen on start up.

Installation

Click images for larger version.

Generally these units are a straight swap with the original Seat Headunit.

You need to purchase one part, which is the fascia surround for the unit. This will work on both the MFD2 and 3.
Seat Part number 1P2 858 071 AN87. And this retails at £7.19 + VAT

Also I would strongily recommend a set of trim remover tools. As the fitting involves lots of trim removing, its best to protect it, with these plastic dedicated tools. These can be had off ebay for under a tenner. search for 'Trim Tool' or 'Trim Remover'
This is the set I have, I highly recommend it:

trimtools.jpg



If fitting the MFD2, Vagcom would be useful, more on that later.

Head unit Removal

It is advisable to disconnect the negative terminal from the car battery first.

To start with we need to remove the factory headunit. This isnt too hard but persistence may be nessecery. I'd like to thanks Leon1p for his idea of using a cut up dvd case :)
First of all, you need to either use the correct seat tools to remove the radio, or make your own, as most people will!
Leon1p's idea works great. Basically you cut up the cover of a dvd case. Cut 4 strips at least 12cm long and the width of the slots on the headunit (see headunit).

the picture below shows the headunit halfway out and unlocked ready to slide out. Study it carefully!



Stick the 'removal keys' into the two slots in the radio, you need to push them quite hard and you may feel a click.
The other two keys need to be pushed in at the top of the headunit into slots which are actually hidden. Have a look at the picture which should give you a rough idea where they are. Use of the trim tool can bend the unit back and reveal the slots a bit better.
It took me a good 20minutes before I released all four locked tabs around the head unit. Use trim tools to wedge the unit out when its free. It should just pull out.
You then need to release thhe radio connector and quadlock connector.

The Head unit should now be free revealing a big hole in your centre console!

Installing the GPS Antenna

This is actually the hardest part of the install. The antenna comes with a long cable and small unit on the end. Its is upto you where you want to install it, apperently it can be hidden behind trim, as long as its covered by metal.

This is the method I used...

Comes out of the back of the unit then goes up behind the instrument cluster. Then goes round where the fuse box is. Up the A pillar. Across the front of the roof lining, then sits just in front of the Rear view mirror. I iused this method as the receiver is pretty much hidden from view inside and outside the car, as it is hidden infront of the interior light, and sits behind the widescreen sunstrip.

Firstly, remove the fuse panel cover on the right side of the steering wheel, just use the trim tool to wedge this off.


Then you will need to remove the A pillar, this also needs to be wedged on with several trim tools. it is just clipped into place using about 4 clips. Do not be afraid to pull hard. :)


Next, you need pull out the aircon unit above where the headunit sits. You will see two screws above the headunit hole which need to be removed. It is then a case of simply wedging the unit off as this is held in by small clips. It wont pull out very far as It is attached to a few cable looms.

It is then required that you take the dash unit, which is the large piece of silver plastic covering the instrument cluster and along the right edge of the centre console.
You will find three screws along the right edge of the centre console which will need to be removed. Bottom one is where the headunit was, and the top two are bewhind where you have pulled out the air con unit.

The picture below indicate the location of the three scews behind the headunit/air con to take the dash out.
dashscrews.jpg


You can then start to pull the dash out. The trim tools may be help at the top of the dash area.

This will then reveal the instrument cluster. To remove this, you will need to unscrew four screws located at the edges of the cluster. Two at the top, and two at the bottom.

The picture below indicated the screw locations, except the bottom left one is hidden! (the cluster is removed).


Once screws are remove, you just need to give the instrument cluster a tug to remove it from its plug.

You are then ready to thread the cable. round.

This shows where the A pillar is removed. I taped the antenna cable round the current loom.




Then guide it pass and behind the the fuse panel.


Then up and across the instrument cluster (I sat the cable across the plug for the cluster) This picture contains another cable loom I put behind the cluster (but pretend its the antenna cable!)


You will then need to guide it to the hole at the back of the headunit space. Small hands are helpful here!

Your cable should now be threaded through!

Regarding the other end of the antenna cable, I just tucked this under the roof lining and around the front of the interior light. Then gps receiver then just poked out of the roof lining infront of the interior light, and generally out of view.

Continued below...
 
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DanGB

Who need's a Diesel....
Feb 12, 2006
3,772
2
London
......
With my MFD3, I have had to cut out a section of plastic behind and below the headunit. This is because there is a part at the bottom of the unit that protudes slightly, and the fact that the gps/radio antenna plugs stick out quite a bit too. The part at the bottom is pretty obvious once to try and fit it, but the picture below shows where it needs to be cut at the back. im not aware if this needs to be done with the MFD2 unit.



Once this is done, Reconnect the GPS, FM and quadlock connector and you are good to go! Reconnect the battery and it should work.

The final part is fixing the unit inplace.
you will need four 'U nuts' and four screws to fit in these nuts. These can be bought from Halfords (located in the store next to the fuses) in packs of three (!) and you need to by the right size screw pack with them. I think they come in 7 or 8mm. Either is fine But im using the 8mm.
A u nut:
unut.jpg


Slip the u nut over the four plastic holes along the sides, You may have to bang it with something to make it slip in place. You can now push the sat nav unit all the way back and screw the unit in.

In this picture I have circled in green where the units are place. Its pretty obvious when you see yourself. (ignore the mass of wiries, thats for the bluetooth install!)




Finally clip the fascia adapter in place and away you go.


MFD2 VAG-COM coding. (Thanks go to VRStu for this information!)

When installing the MFD2 into a car not previously equipped with an MFD2 you will need to recode the CAN Gateway, Radio and your new Navigation Controller. Before changing the coding of any controller it is essential that you make a note of the original coding of that unit.

CAN Gateway - Controller 19
This controller uses Long Coding, recoding should be carried out using the Long Coding Helper built into VAG-COM. Select Byte 3 and put a tick in Bit 3 to enable Controller 37 Navigation.

Navigation MFD2 CD - Controller 37
Softcode should read 00002 or 00004 if you have Phone Preparation.

See my VAG-COM prgramming guide for futher help on how to do this!

If you have the bluetooth option, the units should mute when making a call.

That should be all! Enjoy!


Comning next... Complete OEM Bluetooth Retro-fit.
 
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GL07

Guest
dear i need to know from where did you get the satnav and how much it cost you

thanks
hani
 

flakmunky

Olympic Knitting Champion
Aug 23, 2005
652
0
Marmitehampton
Hi,

I am about to retrofit an MFD2 in to my new Leon. I did the same with my Golf MkV before but didn't do the following:

When installing the MFD2 into a car not previously equipped with an MFD2 you will need to recode the CAN Gateway, Radio and your new Navigation Controller. Before changing the coding of any controller it is essential that you make a note of the original coding of that unit.

CAN Gateway - Controller 19
This controller uses Long Coding, recoding should be carried out using the Long Coding Helper built into VAG-COM. Select Byte 3 and put a tick in Bit 3 to enable Controller 37 Navigation.

Navigation MFD2 CD - Controller 37
Softcode should read 00002 or 00004 if you have Phone Preparation.

Can you tell me why you need to do this? I didn't with the Golf and things worked ok, but I believe when it went in for a service they did do this... What is it for?

Thanks,

fM
 

DanGB

Who need's a Diesel....
Feb 12, 2006
3,772
2
London
This is so the cars CAN gateway (communications network for the electronic devices) can see the device. No sure the advantage of this exactly, but may help integration with the rest of the car, and/or to enable coding/adaption of the actual unit in VAG-COM or the dealers unit.
 

flakmunky

Olympic Knitting Champion
Aug 23, 2005
652
0
Marmitehampton
Well, I decided not to buy the MFD3 as I can't justify £1200, nor was I happy with what DanGB said re the clock not being displayed properly and the cluster display not working completely as it should... Coupled with the fact that I have 3 discs for different parts of the EU that I bought for my Golf, I decided instead to go for a SEAT satnav from Ebay (naviandbmwparts - good trader) which I fitted as per the instructions above which were a great help but you missed one thing!!!

To remove the A/C unit, you remove the 2 screws you mentioned, but there are another 2 underneath, on the 'roof' of the radio bay that also need removing!

I also needed to add a connection to the 'Safe' pin in the Quadlok connector which requires a constant +12V. I bought a cheapy Autoleads ISO harness and hacked a pin out of that with my Dremmel. This then slotted in to the relevant (unoccupied) space in the Quadlok connector, then I used a 'vampire' connector to tap in to the Red/Yellow wire which is a constant +12V (but please do check first!) Without the above connection made I couldn't enter the PIN...


I haven't yet had the VAG-COM stuff done but everything seems to be working fine - the directions come up on the MFD cluster, BT Phone prep still works, clock is displayed correctly, etc...

Had to drive round a bit before the unit calibrated itself properly which it has now done...

All fitted for £438.49 saving over £1k... So I'm happy... I know it isn't as flash as the MFD3 but I would rather have an HD TV + PS3 for Christmas!!!!

HTH someone!

fM
 
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Simon_Peters

2008 Leon Fr TFSI & 01 R6
Apr 11, 2007
399
0
Weston-Super-Mare
Hi,

I have just fitted mine into my 2007 Leon, I can enter the pin ok but I get a safe pin not connected. Will I need to do the same? I am a little worried about chopping wires etc? I am guessing I need to add a constant 12v to it as well but I am unsure which and what to do

Anyone help me out, it would be appreciated.

Thanks
Simon
 

tommy-cupra

Full Member
Jan 31, 2006
380
0
Prague, Czech republic
Hi,

I have just fitted mine into my 2007 Leon, I can enter the pin ok but I get a safe pin not connected. Will I need to do the same? I am a little worried about chopping wires etc? I am guessing I need to add a constant 12v to it as well but I am unsure which and what to do

Anyone help me out, it would be appreciated.

Thanks
Simon

If I understand you enter the pin but nothing happend right??? Thats becose you didnt have navi before in your car, on the navi you have a schema of cables and there is sign SAFE, thats diffrent from normal seat radio, its has to be wire in.
sorry its problem for me to explain this in english but we had a same problem on friends altea.
 

flakmunky

Olympic Knitting Champion
Aug 23, 2005
652
0
Marmitehampton
Simon,

Read my post. All you need to do is get an cheap (Autoleads) ISO connector block (about £3.50) and remove one of the pins from that with a Dremmel. Insert this pin in to the Quadlok - look a tthe pin-out diagram on your MFD2 to see where. Then use one of those connector blocks to splice it in to the UB+ connection which is a constant +12v. See this post for a little more detail: http://vwnavi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6554

It really is v. simple and you don't need to chop any wires at all...

Also, I tried DanGB's suggested location for the antenna and got crappy reception. Instead I took it across to the fuse boax, then round the front of the dash (between the dash and the windscreen) and it is sat in the middle at the front. Much better!

fM
 
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Simon_Peters

2008 Leon Fr TFSI & 01 R6
Apr 11, 2007
399
0
Weston-Super-Mare
I will find out when I get my new disk. I have put mine in the dash. If it doesn't work to well then I will put it where Dan has.

Has anyone got a copy of a manual for the mdf2 at all?

Si
 
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