EnfigCarStereo's Blog

Here at Enfig Car Stereo we answer the same questions every day so I figured that if I made this guide it would clarify most of the questions and let us get back onto VWVortex.com. We specialize in Volkswagen & Audi. We also carry all the relevant iPod interfaces on the market and have been selling Auxiliary AUX interfaces for over 10 years since they were just used for people who wanted a direct audio input for their in-car TV’s. Everything on this page is for sale on our website EnfigCarStereo.com or you can click on the image of the item for a direct link to the item. PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE PAGE BEFORE CALLING US WITH QUESTIONS. It will help you make the best decision as to what interface you need and help keep us from answering repetitive questions. But if you do have questions after reading this please feel free to call us. We will be more than happy to speak to you.

Lets start with the cars.
Passat 2006-2010

All the cars above have the same audio systems. Dynaudio does not matter for the iPod connection. There are three different types of radios as far as iPod adapters are concerned. Non Satellite ready, satellite ready and the Navigation radio. All of these radios have an external CD changer port that is tricked into thinking that there is an external CD changer attached so that the audio port is activated and opened to allow the transfer of audio from your iPod to your radio. NONE OF THESE INTERFACES WILL DISABLE YOUR IN DASH CD CHANGER OR CD PLAYER.

There are 4 different radios in these cars (us market) Not Satellite Ready single CD, Not Satellite Ready 6CD ,Satellite Ready 6CD & Navigation

Single CD, AM/FM not satellite ready radios

6 Disc in dash CD Changer, AM/FM, Not Satellite Ready Radios

6 Disc in dash CD Changer, AM/FM, Satellite Ready Radios

The navigation radio also known as MFD2

There is also the RCD 500 that is not available in the United States

Radio Removal
Lets start with how to take out the radio. We will have instructions soon!!! Click on the pictures below to go the purchase pages of the tools.

Connection Locations
There are 2 places to connect your interface. To the CD changer port behind the radio or to the black CD changer port in the glove box.   All cars have the connection behind the radio.  All 2006 Models & in 2007 all Avant/Wagon models have the glove box CD changer connection.  Usually only the cars with factory installed navigation radios have the connection in the glove box because all cars equipped with a navigation radio also come equipped with a CD changer in that location. If you do not have a CD changer in the glove box it doesn’t hurt to check but unless someone swapped the navigation radio out of your car before you purchased it you will not have the black connection in the glove box.

Video of the glove box location
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fbI5hle-I4&rel=0]

Factory Satellite Radio
If you have factory XM or Sirius satellite radio it will be plugged into the CD changer port. If you don’t plan on using the XM or Sirius satellite radio you can just unplug it and disable it. If you plan on using the factory XM or Sirius satellite radio there are 2 options. You can take apart the connector and move pins around or for $9.99 (on sale)we have designed a complete plug and play splitter. The Enfig VW SAT PASS 1 http://enfigcarstereo.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/ENFIG_MK5_SAT_PASSTHRU.html. We recommend the splitter because the pins are small and fragile therefore can easily be damaged if you have never removed one before. If you have the navigation radio with the black CD changer connection in the glove box the splitter is built into the car so as long as you connect it at the black plug in the glove box the satellite radio will not be disturbed.

Internet radio: Some iPods like the touch & iPhone are capable of internet radio like AOL radio & Pandora. All of the iPod adapters below will allow you to play the audio through your factory radio. Non offer any control of internet radio besides volume.

Charging
All the interfaces below with the exception of the generic auxiliary aux audio input charge the iPod the new 5V USB charging that is required for the 4th Gen nano, Touch 2nd Gen, iPhone 3G & iPhone 3Gs as well as charging older iPods as well.

AUX
The first time of iPod adapter we will talk about is actually not an iPod adapter. It is the universal Auxiliary AUX adapter. Before you jump on this adapter let me remind you that we also carry iPod adapters that not only have an iPod specific cable but also have a secondary Auxiliary Aux input via 3.5mm jack or RCA input for all other devices that are not iPods. Since there are a few different brands I am going to discuss them on a separate page. INSERT LINK HERE

BlitzSafe
BlitzSafe is the entry level iPod adapter. It works through the external CD changer port. The radio displays disc 1 track 99. The iPod is charged while the radio is on and for 20 minutes after you turn off the ignition. The only control from the radio and steering wheel controls is volume. The iPod controls are never locked. The Satellite splitter is built into the behind the radio interface. Notes: Does not work with 4th generation Nano, Does not work with the Non US RCD 500 radio.

BlitzSafe VW/M-Link1 V.5 connects behind radio – includes XM & Sirius satellite splitter
BlitzSafe VW/M-Link1 V.3A connect in the glove box

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXoivIndHlA]

Grom
Grom adds control from the radio and steering wheel controls. On disc 1 the iPod controls are unlocked and you have track up & track down controls from the radio and steering wheel. Disc 2 is your second, disc 3 is your third , disc 4 is your fourth , disc 5 is your fifth, disc 6 is your sixth playlist on your iPod in alphabetical order. On disc 2-6 the controls on the iPod are locked but the you still have track up & track down controls from the radio and steering wheel controls.

GROM I2-VAG-D connects behind radio
GROM I2-VAG-T connect in glove box

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5MTBm0nZvY]

USA Spec
USA Spec adds a secondary Auxiliary Aux audio input via a left and right RCA plugs on the side of the unit. Disc 1 is your first, disc 2 is your second, disc 3 is your third playlist on your iPod in alphabetical order. Disc 4 is all the songs on your iPod in one playlist. On disc 1-4 the controls on the iPod are locked but you still have track up & track down controls from the radio and steering wheel controls. Disc 5 unlocks the iPod controls and you have track up & track down controls from the radio and steering wheel. Disc 6 is the Auxiliary Aux audio input.
USA SPEC PA11-VW6 connects behind radio
USA Spec currently does not have a unit that uses the connector in the glove box.

Dice Electronics

The dice i-VWR/i-VW-T unit never locks the controls on the iPod. Disc 1 activates track up/track down. Disc 2 activates playlist up/playlist down, once you find the playlist you are looking for you go back to disc 1 to go up and down the songs on the selected playlist. Since the controls on the iPod are never locked you can always keep it on disc 1 and select your music (like a genre) from the iPod controls and the go track up and down from the radio or steering wheel controls. The Auxiliary Aux audio input is controlled by disc 5 track one is iPod track 2 is Aux. When you are in the aux mode discs 1-4 act like EQ & volume for the aux. Its a nice feature since some of these external units have low audio levels. Dice also advertises artist and album controls on disc 3-4 but we think they function poorly and think you should ignore them.

Dice I-VWR connects behind radio
Dice I-VWT connect in glove box

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z6jPVXYTIw]

Dension

Dension makes the GW16vc1. The GW16VC1 will show text on the MFD (Multi Function Display) in the speedometer as long as you do not have the navigation radio and have the MFD.

GW16VC1 DOES NOT WORK IF YOU “DO” HAVE THE NAVIGATION RADIO OR IF YOU DO “NOT” HAVE THE MFD (Multi Function Display)

Below are pictures of both the compatible MFD instrument cluster and the non compatible instrument cluster.

The GW16VC1 is the best interface available for your car. It will show all the information your iPod does on the MFD while the iPod controls are locked in GW mode. In UI mode the iPod controls are unlocked but you get no iPod text on the MFD. But you do get playlist up/Down on disc 1 & song up/Down on disc 5. Then there is the AUX mode that gives you auxiliary Aux audio input via a female 3.5 mm headphone jack on the Dension Unit.

Video of the Dension GW16VC1 in a Jetta

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr-Q7ybcKKM&rel=0]

iPod Mounting
Now that we have the iPod adapters out of the way. Some of you may want to keep your iPod mounted inside of the cabin instead of inside the glove box. There are several ways to do this.

2Point5 Spec Dock VWMKVV2I is my favorite. It replaces your front cup holder and turns it into a iPod dock. Very good especially if you have an iPhone. We also give you a $20 credit for your iPod cable if you order an adapter at the same time. Since Dension units are sold without the iPod cable the $20 credit does not apply to Dension interfaces.

ProClip also makes custom Dash Mounts that clip onto 3 different locations on your dash to give you a universal mounting surface for any purpose. When you use these dash mounts along with an iPod holder it places the iPod at a location that is convenient to you. ProClip makes 4 different ones for your car.

ProClip 803606 Installation Instructions:
http://www.proclipusa.com/media/documents/pdf/803606.pdf

ProClip 833604 Installation Instructions:
http://www.proclipusa.com/media/documents/pdf/833604.pdf

ProClip 853603 Installation Instructions:
http://www.proclipusa.com/media/documents/pdf/853603.pdf

ProClip 853652 Installation Instructions:
http://www.brodit.com/montering.jsp?anr=853652

Panavise is another company that makes a dash mount. They make a dash mount that is made of metal and bolts into the car.

Link to Panavise 75138-206 installation instructions:
http://panavise.com/pdf_indash/75138-206.pdf

iPod Holders
We have many different iPod holders depending on your need. Some are just holders that do not incorporate the iPod cable. Then there are what we call cradles that hold the iPod cable in the holder so it does not get run over by the seat track or get wet on the floor. The best bet is to go on our website and browse your iPod model at the following link. http://enfigcarstereo.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/ipod_holders.html

If you still have questions contact us at numbers below. Remember it’s always best to call. E-mails may not be responded to immediately because we are busy answering phones.

Thanks for reading and let me know if I forgot something,
Christian
[email protected]
888-Yo-Enfig (Not a joke we actually got it )
888-963-6344