Aftermarket Digital Cluster - Guinea Pig

[CJW]

Forum member @antony.charnley is going to install the digital cluster on my 2016 T6 next week.

The benefits for me, who has a Startline with the basic clocks, are:

• see coolant temp (cannot now)
• Oil temp (cannot now)
• Oil level (cannot now)
• Digital speed in MPH (currently only KPH)
• Aesthetic upgrade to the cockpit

I’ve been asking a lot of questions and he has been great at answering them. I’ve asked him about:

• Tank capacity - he says it can be set
• Range calculations - he says it isn’t effected
• MPG calcs - he says are unaffected
• Light bleed from the edge - he says none.
• Black level of the display - he says it’s great
• Firmware updates are done over the air with a phone so no need to break the dash
• Rev redline is right for a TDI
• 2 year warranty

I’m wondering what checks I can do post install. So far I’ve got:

• Check EML is working - my understanding is the EML light should come on when key is put in to test the EML bulb. Could unplug the MAF to test it though?
• Test the gauges - there is a test in VCDS for this under instruments.

Anything else anyone can think of re testing before I let him go? I have VCDS.

Many thanks for your input.

Chris the Guinea Pig

 

[Dellmassive]

That's awesome.

I love the look of the digital dash mod ...... And definitely up for it when I'm fully out of any extended warranty.

I have the NAVI radio.


So will be great to see your install.

Post as much details as you can here. And pics.

.

 

[CJW]

I have an aftermarket head unit so it won’t be the best of tests for those with an OEM head unit. Hopefully Antony can share his experience with OEM HUs.

 

[Sasquatch]

Interesting. I too have a Startline, albeit a later one with the full complement of instruments, and Anthony is only half an hour away from me.

Watching with great interest indeed.

 

[Pewt]

Is the front gloss or matt? Be worth fitting a matt screen protector if gloss to help with glare.

 

[CJW]

Is the front gloss or matt? Be worth fitting a matt screen protector if gloss to help with glare.

Seen someone put a MacBook matte screen protector over it. Will trial without and can add later if needs be. Am just a little concerned about it bubbling over time.

 

[antony.charnley]

SO tomorrow. I plan to put together some helpful videos for the Virtual Dash / Digital Dash / Digidash- this will include (time-stamped):

- Revert from Digital back to analogue (full reverse), i.e. sale or regret (latterly doubtful).
- Full Unboxing of the unit as received, including fitting kit
- Full Install tips and setup, including dash cut & calibration, and usage
- Things to be aware of: Troubleshooting help, i.e. installed speed alert return, dashboard signalling disappearance and known fixes (to date) should you ever experience any of them.

I will try to do it with minimal editing, so let's see how it goes. I must remember not to ramble on, as I tend to do once I get onto my favourite subjects. I am hoping this guide will serve as a decent install reference for the kit to enable you to decide whether to purchase or enquire about supply and fitting: www.everest-vw.co.uk

Either way, if you find it useful, please share with others, and if you feel the need, please like and subscribe, as I will be adding more to the channel, particularly concerning reviewing stuff I have adapted and upgraded on my Cali Ocean over the years, I genuinely thought the list was complete, the list is never complete! We know this now!

(I will post what I have done around the van in another thread just in case others want to quiz me on my life choices)

 

[antony.charnley]

Seen someone put a MacBook matte screen protector over it. Will trial without and can add later if needs be. Am just a little concerned about it bubbling over time.

I haven't noticed anything like a glare with this, it's a really bright daytime display so much so I never really notice any reflections at all except on black screen startup, which also looks kinda cool to me, piano black gloss screen in off mode - in fact, I run it at 12 out of 15 in the day, and it drops to level 3 when dimmed, personal preference (but was also the default)

 

[jayc001]

What's the deal with Android Auto, Car Play, Screen mirror and HDMI input on these? I'm a big fan of Android Auto and use Waze, YT Music, Tune in and Mixcloud constantly through my Discover media headunit. Would there be any benefit connecting the phone to the binnacle rather than the headunit? If so is this via USB?

 

[antony.charnley]

What's the deal with Android Auto, Car Play, Screen mirror and HDMI input on these? I'm a big fan of Android Auto and use Waze, YT Music, Tune in and Mixcloud constantly through my Discover media headunit. Would there be any benefit connecting the phone to the binnacle rather than the headunit? If so is this via USB?

Funnily enough, I've just been playing with this. So, I have just connected my Samsung Fold 5 to the digital dash interface. I did this by smart share casting my screen. Next, I selected my audio input via Bluetooth on the head unit, which in my case is a Halo 11, and I was able to cast ways maps and listen to music on the head unit I could still advance tracks and change volume using my steering wheel and any voice commands or integrations you have in ways to use Spotify or your preferred music app would still operate as before I would say this is a really good alternative for somebody who doesn't have a current navigation solution screencast is fast just dragging down from the top of the screen and clicking smart share the device already comes up so it gets my thumbs up.

Given how well this works, I would stay cable-free and use them for charging. I have converted my two cubbies to wireless charging locations, so this is my personal preference. The early units I received did have an HDMI input on the back. I tried this with several inputs, such as the fire stick on auto mode, but never really got a satisfactory result through it it just appeared interlaced as though it was trying to read an analogue signal at the wrong resolution or something maybe it's a pal ntsc thing who knows anyway on the later versions I received no such HDMI port was there anymore initially I got quite excited because I thought I could use the monitor output cable on my alpine halo to display whatever it was displaying but on further investigation, I also found that the Alpine can only pass through media play content and would not pass through any Android Auto data due to licencing. Similarly, I don't think they're going to manage to do much with the USB input on this there are two of them: one can be used as a data input for manual firmware updates, although presently, all firmware updates I have completed have been over the air. The USB input is labelled Carplay, but I feel this will only be compatible with a USB dongle supplied by China. I have been using Android Auto Wireless, which was a Kickstarter when I first got it they are about to bring out Android Auto Wireless 2 the plus part of that is that they are opening beyond Android to include Apple Carplay, which is a great addition to any Navi unit That currently has a USB input but for obvious reasons, this is not going to function unless a device is licenced to use Android Auto or Apple Carplay and I can't see the Digidash getting that just yet.

 

[antony.charnley]

Shout out to CJW since we spent yesterday evening finding a solution for those with the speed alert return, this is going to be a more common one as time goes on, unless, we learn to stop tinkering! ha...

The reason for this happening is that fundamentally, the virtual dashboard sits in front of the original circuitry, and we must accept that the original circuitry is still being controlled by the buttons I have spoken to the factory about this, and they said they are hoping to be able to block these signals, but I don't believe that will be possible. And so remains the possibility that you will reactivate the speed alert, which I found out after thousands of button presses demonstrating and reconfiguring the unit for others on my unit I started getting the dashboard bong sound just as I crossed over 20 mph and realised the above fact.

I planned to make a detailed video covering how to navigate blindly from a restart back to that setting and disable it whilst viewing your digital dash, thus mitigating the need to revert to the old board to see this change. But thanks to CJW and some ideas we had last night, we tried this on both a start line and my Highline, and the starter battery was disconnected for 20 seconds with a 10MM socket, and then reconnection reset any of those settings. Of course, when you do this, you must cycle the electric windows down, then hold down for three seconds all the way up, release, then hold down for three seconds, steering lock all the way, hold for 3 seconds, reverse hold for 3 seconds not a huge amount of work and no more beeping I'm happy with that if it ever happens again I will know.

The instructions upon installation are to go into current settings and make sure the speed alert is set to 160 or max, then go back and disable the speed alert I'm not sure I understand the first step, seeing as re-enabling the speed alert starts it at zero anyway. They also advise cancelling winter tyres, which, as we know, is also a speed alert.

Anyway, all this will be in my videos, which I will be making and editing today.

Keywords: Digital Dash, Digidash, Speed Alert, Speed Warning Signal, Beeping, Bonging, Make it stop, ARGHH - SOLUTION!

 

[antony.charnley]

Another interesting issue that we came across with one customer was that he called me explaining that the turn signals had disappeared from the digital dash display whilst the indicators were still flashing he had an MOT inspection imminent, and this was an issue. My first instinct was that this could only be a software burp, and we should refresh the firmware as a first port of call since he had already tried power cycling, locking the vehicle, and leaving the vehicle for 5 to 10 minutes. Sure enough, the firmware update ran and sorted the issue, then we went through all the settings and got everything back to how I had installed it for him. Afterwards, I did a bit of investigation to find that There is a setting in the main menu called physical light I couldn't see that it changed anything personally, so I left it turned off we found that it has been left on, and the factory confirmed that this could disable those lights. On the digital dash, my thoughts are that what they mean is if you have a physical light bar still present above the digital screen as some vehicles will, you can disable this in what I'm now going to refer to as a universal menu to suit a wide variety of cars and model configurations.

Keywords: Digital Dash, Digidash, Signals, Indicators, Stopped working, Not working, Gone, Disappeared, ARGHH - SOLUTION!

 

[T6Plumber]

I’m keen on the digital dash but after reading all of the above, I’m gonna hold off until for a while until it’s more settled in & the bugs have been resolved via updates or newer models etc. Sometimes it doesn’t pay to be part of the first wave. Especially with tech.

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

I’m keen on the digital dash but after reading all of the above, I’m gonna hold off until for a while until it’s more settled in & the bugs have been resolved via updates or newer models etc. Sometimes it doesn’t pay to be part of the first wave. Especially with tech.

I’m following this thread and am also of the same mind

 

[antony.charnley]

I'm quietly convinced this is as good as its going to get for us, Improvements will be via firmware enhancement or the unit will be significantly more expensive if bespoke to clock types are accomodated and signals to oem board are blocked accordingly. Understanding the limitations is important, but once understood, they are not insurmountable in my opinion.

 

[CJW]

Shout out to CJW since we spent yesterday evening finding a solution for those with the speed alert return, this is going to be a more common one as time goes on, unless, we learn to stop tinkering! ha...

The reason for this happening is that fundamentally, the virtual dashboard sits in front of the original circuitry, and we must accept that the original circuitry is still being controlled by the buttons I have spoken to the factory about this, and they said they are hoping to be able to block these signals, but I don't believe that will be possible. And so remains the possibility that you will reactivate the speed alert, which I found out after thousands of button presses demonstrating and reconfiguring the unit for others on my unit I started getting the dashboard bong sound just as I crossed over 20 mph and realised the above fact.

I planned to make a detailed video covering how to navigate blindly from a restart back to that setting and disable it whilst viewing your digital dash, thus mitigating the need to revert to the old board to see this change. But thanks to CJW and some ideas we had last night, we tried this on both a start line and my Highline, and the starter battery was disconnected for 20 seconds with a 10MM socket, and then reconnection reset any of those settings. Of course, when you do this, you must cycle the electric windows down, then hold down for three seconds all the way up, release, then hold down for three seconds, steering lock all the way, hold for 3 seconds, reverse hold for 3 seconds not a huge amount of work and no more beeping I'm happy with that if it ever happens again I will know.

The instructions upon installation are to go into current settings and make sure the speed alert is set to 160 or max, then go back and disable the speed alert I'm not sure I understand the first step, seeing as re-enabling the speed alert starts it at zero anyway. They also advise cancelling winter tyres, which, as we know, is also a speed alert.

Anyway, all this will be in my videos, which I will be making and editing today.

Keywords: Digital Dash, Digidash, Speed Alert, Speed Warning Signal, Beeping, Bonging, Make it stop, ARGHH - SOLUTION!

You’re welcome - I love a challenge.

 

[T6Plumber]

I'm quietly convinced this is as good as its going to get for us, Improvements will be via firmware enhancement or the unit will be significantly more expensive if bespoke to clock types are accomodated and signals to oem board are blocked accordingly. Understanding the limitations is important, but once understood, they are not insurmountable in my opinion.

Yeah I get that. Fair play to @CJW for being the guinea pig & you both for documenting it all openly & honestly. It’s allowing me (and others) to see how it all pans out - whether that’s good or bad. I’m hoping it turns out to be as good as it looks & that the reliability aspect is rock solid. Once that’s proven & it’s more established, I’ll likely get one for mine.

Not until I’ve seen this story through til its end though

 

[antony.charnley]

I will share this thread with my other installs too!

 

[z1ts]

@antony.charnley am I correct in assuming this is T6 specific and doesn't apply to T6.1 at this point? Or is are they broadly similar?

 

[antony.charnley]

@antony.charnley am I correct in assuming this is T6 specific and doesn't apply to T6.1 at this point? Or is are they broadly similar?

T6 specific this one, they are almost ready with a 5.1, but doubtful there will be a 6.1 since you have an OEM version driving this demand essentially. There is retrofitting options available for 6.1 OEM, appears to be around 1500 mark and also dependant on a donor cluster within approved mileage range for VW to officially sanction the component protection release and adoption of new mileage, from the info I have spotted whilst reading around.