New Kenwood DNX516DABS Sat Nav, Any Good?

[reserves]

@reserves have you got front parking sensors? If so do they automatically come up on the screen when the sensors are activated as mine don't. I have to go to main menu and select parking camera then it eventually comes up. I've worked out how to get the rear camera to automatically come up when in reverse but not the front sensors.

Mine come up automatically, I installed my unit and it's plug and play.

Not sure why you are having so many problems.

One thing to check is that they installed the right unit, what I mean by this is that even though all the DNX516DABS are the same there are different wiring kits inside, some for T5, Golf, T6 etc

 

[Twoguns]

Mine come up automatically, I installed my unit and it's plug and play.

Not sure why you are having so many problems.

One thing to check is that they installed the right unit, what I mean by this is that even though all the DNX516DABS are the same there are different wiring kits inside, some for T5, Golf, T6 etc

I sent them an e mail today and they have already responded. He's going to get his Kenwood tech to give me a call tomorrow. Thanks for your help so far. I'll report back when I know more.

 

[Twoguns]

Mine come up automatically, I installed my unit and it's plug and play.

Not sure why you are having so many problems.

One thing to check is that they installed the right unit, what I mean by this is that even though all the DNX516DABS are the same there are different wiring kits inside, some for T5, Golf, T6 etc

I'm taking it back Monday as they suspect the Mic lead could of come lose or out as he said it was definitely tested. This would explain the no out going voice but it does not explain the lack of some other functions so while I'm there I'm going to ask them about the interface lead.
Can you just confirm that you can use the phone button and associated buttons on the steering wheel to control the phone functions?
Do the Sat Nav directions show up on the MFD?
Are the climate functions actually supposed to work on a T6? What I mean is, are you able to turn the heated seats and front and rear screen heater elements on from the unit? As mine shows the options but they do nothing once pressed.
I think everything else works as it should.

 

[reserves]

I'm taking it back Monday as they suspect the Mic lead could of come lose or out as he said it was definitely tested.

Quite possible as the lead isn't fixed in, when you push the unit in it's quite tight so possible it came out.

Can you just confirm that you can use the phone button and associated buttons on the steering wheel to control the phone functions?

Mine's a T5, I'm not sure what buttons you mean, all my buttons work correctly, the phone button as described earlier is still operating the VW bluetooth as its' still hooked up.

Do the Sat Nav directions show up on the MFD?

Yes they do.

I had the VW Sat Nav prior to this install, if you didn't have navigation showing on the MFD before then your van will need coding to let it know to display these, it's a 5 min job for someone with the VAGCOM lead, I have one and happy to help but no idea where you're based.

Are the climate functions actually supposed to work on a T6? What I mean is, are you able to turn the heated seats and front and rear screen heater elements on from the unit? As mine shows the options but they do nothing once pressed.

They don't do anything when pressed on mine, I imagined they might but not confirmed anywhere they should, not very useful even if they did.

Hope that helps.

 

[Twoguns]

Quite possible as the lead isn't fixed in, when you push the unit in it's quite tight so possible it came out.



Mine's a T5, I'm not sure what buttons you mean, all my buttons work correctly, the phone button as described earlier is still operating the VW bluetooth as its' still hooked up.



Yes they do.

I had the VW Sat Nav prior to this install, if you didn't have navigation showing on the MFD before then your van will need coding to let it know to display these, it's a 5 min job for someone with the VAGCOM lead, I have one and happy to help but no idea where you're based.



They don't do anything when pressed on mine, I imagined they might but not confirmed anywhere they should, not very useful even if they did.

Hope that helps.

Thanks again pal you've been really helpful. Mine was the basic factory unit so that explains why I'm not seeing directions on the MFD.
I'm in South Wales so a bit too far away but thanks for the offer. I'll see if they have VAGCOM.

 

[reserves]

Thanks again pal you've been really helpful. Mine was the basic factory unit so that explains why I'm not seeing directions on the MFD.
I'm in South Wales so a bit too far away but thanks for the offer. I'll see if they have VAGCOM.

How'd you get on?

 

[Twoguns]

How'd you get on?

Hands free is sorted, it turned out that the mic plug just needed pushing in a little further.. he apologised and said it worked when he tested it but it was not fully installed when he did it which I think he was a little embarrassed about it.

Far play to them, the customer service has been exceptional, he answered my emails over the weekend and even offered to sort it at a time that suited me, even over the weekend or out of hours during the week. As a little sweeter they threw some custom pillows that match the rear seats in free of charge. Plus, it was an excuse to have a look at all their goodies that I'll probably end up spending my money on in the near future.

Ref the actual head unit and not being able to do the things I've mentioned. They contacted Kenwood technical and their rep and this is what they replied with.

"Speaking with the kenwood Rep, he has confirmed with me that the DNX516DABs will only work with any heated seats if your vehicle has factory climatronic (Digital climate control)?

He also confirmed with me that your unable to scroll through the phonebook or control the phone using the Muti Function Steering Wheel, however you can answer / reject / use call volume.

The technical support also confirmed this, The phone button will do the following

If you have an incoming call, you can use this button to answer the call / If you are on a call, you can use this button to end a call

You should be able to see climate control (not manual zircon) and parking sensors – but you cannot control climate control from the screen."

I feel a little disappointed that you can't use the MFSW to fully control the phone as it's a VW approved unit. You would of thought VW and Kenwood would work together and have a fully functional unit. I understand that you can't control the heated seats as the T6 Kombi has manual control AC but at least sort the controls for the phone.

Other than that the unit so far seems good. It's quick and has loads of options and adjustments of various settings.

Again @reserves thanks for your help, I owe you a beer.

 

[Twoguns]

Just to inform anyone who is thinking about this unit. I've had a fault already, just two weeks after having it. Up on turning it on the unit would not start as it had a "Start Up Error" and would not boot up. Got straight in touch with converter who was fast to respond and said this is the second unit that has done this and has arranged for Kenwood tech support to contact me. I'll keep you up to date. Just think it's important to share this info as it's a new unit and believe it or not VW approved. Not too impressed with it so far.

 

[Twoguns]

Latest update is the unit is screwed. Had Kenwood tech support on the phone and basically there is no why of resetting it I.e there's no hold down the power switch for a few seconds like a iPhone and it does a reset. It's just a case of taking advice off the "IT Crowd" "Have you tried turning it off and on again? Unreal, something that's not got away of resetting.
So the conversion company is arranging a replacement unit just two weeks after install. NOT IMPRESSED. It will have one more chance, then it's coming out!!!

 

[reserves]

Ouch, sorry to hear.

 

[Rik]

Can anyone tell me if the parking sensors come up on their display as mine don't. Plus the dab radio does it need another aerial to work correctly? Many thanks

 

[a5cyt]

I've had 3 replacement units in my sportline twoguns, and gave up in the end and just put up with the faults. one common one was and still is if you have a reversing camera fitted ,when you go back into forward gears some times it leaves the screen blacked out,meaning you have to stop and then restart the ignition to get the display working again,thats as long as yourve noticed its happened ,if not you drive along and have to guess where to press the screen

 

[a5cyt]

parking sensors should come up on your display rik,

 

[Rik]

Yeah I thought so but if I drill down into the menus I can find parking sensors but its greyed out. Have they forgotten to plug something in?

 

[reserves]

Yeah I thought so but if I drill down into the menus I can find parking sensors but its greyed out. Have they forgotten to plug something in?

If they are factory sensors then they should work automatically.

With DAB, go into settings from the DAB screen and turn the Aerial power on, that should sort the reception.

 

[Twoguns]

I've had 3 replacement units in my sportline twoguns, and gave up in the end and just put up with the faults. one common one was and still is if you have a reversing camera fitted ,when you go back into forward gears some times it leaves the screen blacked out,meaning you have to stop and then restart the ignition to get the display working again,thats as long as yourve noticed its happened ,if not you drive along and have to guess where to press the screen

Are the replacements with the new DNX516DABDS or the previous version? I've told the company that this is the last chance and if it fails again it will be coming out.

So far the replacement unit seems pretty good. Everything is working as it seems it should. No problems with the parking senors or camera.

 

[a5cyt]

mine is a dns521dab,so I guess its the old one as its 3years old

 

[Rik]

Latest update is the unit is screwed. Had Kenwood tech support on the phone and basically there is no why of resetting it I.e there's no hold down the power switch for a few seconds like a iPhone and it does a reset. It's just a case of taking advice off the "IT Crowd" "Have you tried turning it off and on again? Unreal, something that's not got away of resetting.
So the conversion company is arranging a replacement unit just two weeks after install. NOT IMPRESSED. It will have one more chance, then it's coming out!!!

I found an initialise button that reset mine in the menus if that helps. It reset it but didn't cure my issues though.

If they are factory sensors then they should work automatically.

With DAB, go into settings from the DAB screen and turn the Aerial power on, that should sort the reception.

I can't find this to try unfortunately.
Seems there's more issues as my sat nav takes ages to find satellites at times plus none of the steering wheel controls operate. I'm thinking they've not plugged something into the vw wiring loom on that issue.

 

[a5cyt]

on my set if you press the menu button in for a while ,this resets it

 

[Twoguns]

Kenwood inform me that there is no reset button on this new unit. Unreal if you ask me. Never mind its been replaced now and all seems fine.