Multimedia Device Interface (MDI) w/ 250GB HDD

As I wrote previously, the new RNS510 navigation system from Volkswagen has very attractive multimedia capabilities straight out of the box; AM, FM, HD and Satellite radio along with standard CD audio, DVD video, DVD/CDR/CDRW audio and the capability to store music to the hard drive or play music from an SD card are all great on their own right. However, the unit isn’t really complete until the Media Device Interface, or MDI for short, is installed. The process itself was painful and, in my particular situation, twice as laborious, but in the end, I can say without hesitation, it was worth every scratch and bruise sustained.

MDI is equipped with new RNS510-equipped cars, such as the SportWagen we bought last summer. The MDI essentially enables you to connect any mp3 player or USB device and fully control it from the head unit itself or via the multifunction steering wheel controls. Folder structure on the connected device is recognized and fully browseable. Not only that; with the correct included cable, you can also connect an iPod if desired, and there is also an auxiliary input that allows you to connect any 3.5 TRS plug connector to play audio from said device. In short, there are few things you wouldn’t be able to plug and play music from with this thing.

The unit itself lives inside the center armrest. It basically replaces the meager storage the armrest provides with a sleeve that is connected to the back of the head unit through a long wiring harness. The sleeve itself has sufficient storage space to house a USB cable, the actual MDI-to-USB cable (or MDI-to-iPod cable) and an average sized mp3 player (or in my case, a 250GB USB-powered, portable HDD). This enables me to access basically my entire music collection at the touch of a button and I must to say,  being able to listen to any song I want (provided that it’s already part of my collection) at any time while driving, is pretty damn cool.

Installation itself was a process that had to be spread over a two day period- There are simply not enough hours in a day. The swap of an A/C duct that feeds the vents into the rear seats had to take place in order to accommodate the MDI unit in my car. This process involved taking the driver and passenger seats out of both of our vehicles in order to freely remove the center armrests and center consoles. The cabins looked completely gutted out and the garage appeared to be a clandestine chop-shop operation. Then the necessary pieces could be swapped between cars. After both of the cabins were put back together and all was said and done, the unit works beautifully and all the pain was worth it. I also took the opportunity to install an European-spec cup holder that OEMPL.us sent me (I owe you one Rich…)

Thanks to Brian Ricker for building the custom wiring harness that basically got the unit working and all the support provided during the installation process. As an admittedly wiring-challenged person such as myself, it was most welcome to have him as a resource.