RNS-D to RNS-E Conversion for Audi B6 S4 A4

[S2central.net]

Now you can actually access the plastic chassis for the old TV Tuner and TMC units.

- Remove the three bolts holding the chassis in place... 2 x 13mm bolts and 1 x 10mm nut

[S2central.net]

- Then simply unplug the two coax cables from the TMC (this is the uppermost unit by the way)

- And remove the 12-pin AMP connector

- I also unplugged the old TV tuner connectors at this stage... the stupid safety clips aren't unlocking it from the plastic carrier either but that is because I am special !

[S2central.net]

- Now connect the two COAX plugs which came off the TMC unit together... this connects the radio antenna directly to the RNS-E unit where it can process TMC info by itself

- I actually wrapped the assembled plugs in a perfectly sized bit of old sound insulation from the S2 and taped it to the factor loom where it nestles perfectly

- A quick test on the radio to see that the TMC indicator lights up is good at this point !

[S2central.net]

Now attention turns to that 12-pin plug for the CANbus wiring

- Cut the 12-pin plug off the TMC loom as we just need the bare wires here... I left enough of a tail on the plug so it may be useful for someone else buying the TMC for an RNS-D install

- Separate the wire groups... the two CAN bus pairs are easily spotted as they are twisted together.

- The brown wire and the red/blue wire are not needed here, so just isolate them and tape them neatly out of the way

[S2central.net]

Nearly finished now...

- To bridge the two CAN busses together you may prefer to solder the wires together, but I couldn't be bothered to run around the house looking for the soldering iron and I fancied a test/access point back here for the CAN bus anyway so I actually coupled the wires together and crimped them into a 2-pin female plug for future use

- Remember to keep the wires twisted when you have them spliced together... that is their only defence against noise ingress

The connections to make are as follows:

grey/red + orange/lilac (CAN Bus High)

grey/white + orange/brown (CAN Bus Low)

[S2central.net]

For now its just a matter of putting it back together - reversal of removal as usual, but again care required with those trim clips... take your time to see things starting to align before you start applying pressure on that panel.

Only other thing to add is that I removed the little carrier for TMC from that plastic chassis - it could be reused to carry something much more interesting... there is also tonnes of remove below the TV tuner... the sharpest eyed viewers might have noticed I already have the two auxiliary AV connectors ready here - at least for CVBS anyway.

The next step will be bridging the CAN bus wires behind the head-unit but that will have to wait for another while.

[S2central.net]

Oh I see that everyone is riveted by the excitement and technical wonderment of this thread (not)... but I will continue with a bijou update for posterity.

I sourced a suitable CD changer on eBay in great condition for the tidy sum of £25 - 8E0 035 111 D - fitted tonight (after remembering to empty CDs from the old unit first of all) and all is well with RNS-E head controls working nicely.

[S2central.net]

Another quick update today that completes the basic RNS-E upgrade...

- Remove the head unit and unplug all connectors

- Chop off the 26-pin plug used by the RNS-D unit and insulate all the wires not required (yet)

- Prepare the two CAN bus wires on the RNS-D plug - these are grey/red (Hi) and grey/white (Lo)

- Splice together the two flying CAN bus wires (Hi-Hi and Lo-Lo) from the Kufatec loom - this now connects the RNS-E head unit to the cars convenience bus

- Tuck the wiring back in carefully and plug everything back in (power plug last)

- Power it up and hope to see button illumination when I turn on the lights - heyy it works...

- Then I notice the instrument cluster is already reporting what radio station is on so thats encouraging...

- Last test was to enable some route guidance and sure enough the instructions are relayed visually in the cluster

NOTE - My cluster and power supply controllers were already coded with RNS-D SatNav so I didn't need to change that.

The next part will be determined when I can locate an OE DVB-T tuner for the right price - I haven't been successful so far finding a suitable DIN plug to adapt the old loom so I may just have to chop the DIN plug off and get busy with the soldering iron.

Actually I might tackle the AUX plug first - I saw a nice OE part once with a 3.5mm plug and USB connector which could be a nice subtle addition.

[re2500]

Oh I see that everyone is riveted by the excitement and technical wonderment of this thread (not)... but I will continue with a bijou update for posterity.

I'm interested I only have single din concert II in my b6, but its pretty interesting to see what your concocting!

I know who to ask if i need wiring info

[S2central.net]

Oh some interest finally lol - I could hook you up with my old RNS-D unit, the matching TMC and analog OE tuner which can be used to gather up 2 x auxiliary AV inputs (such as for in car DVD, DAB or whatever - only pain being you need a magic eye for controls). I am concocting something else for AUX inputs on my RNS-E but thats another project for another day, but I have all the cables now ready for the next phase.

[Rob W]

Hi Paul, doubt you will remember me, been away for 8 years or so since selling my S2,
I bought a Supra TT , then a few years later got hitched, moved out of the smoke.
I recently sold the Supra, my wife g/f at the time had loved my S2, and earlier this year I returned to the Audi fold, with a b6 s4 avant no less 😜.
I'm probably going to junk my rns d at some point, and either go aftermarket or go the rns e route which definitely looks better, and works DIS, but lacks niceties like DAB without lots of flaffing, even my aftermarket headunit in my S2 had that.
Anyways I was browsing on how to go from RNS D to RNS E and your ace write up popped up, great work.

[S2central.net]

Hey Rob - I vaguely recall the name from some years ago... You would think that someone could make an aftermarket DAB unit which can be integrated with RNS-E... even if it had to emulate the TV Tuner so that head-unit buttons could control its tuning etc... obviously problematic for those RNS-E users already with a DVB-Tuner, but as you get all the national DAB channels on DVB-T anyway its not going to be a common complaint for folk in the UK at least. Otherwise, if you want digital radio channels on RNS-E then you need the expensive DVB-T tuner.

How are you liking B6 S4 ownership then ?

[Rob W]

Hi Paul,

There are DAB units that work with the RNS E but you need a multifunctional steering wheel for starters, then the unit, or as you said you could get a DVB-T tuner but it all gets pricey.
Was just saying to Dean (JubJub who is considering an B6 S4 too), that I am really enjoying mine, I did originally want an S6 V10 but it was a few grand dearer and £500 per year in road tax. So I happily settled for the S4 which I mostly only use on weekends, and the wife takes to work a couple of times a month.
There is a to do list though. Replace my RNS-D, Milltek (resonated) mine's auto and I hate drone (my S2 droned at 65 - 75mph) clear out the pre cats and then get a JHM tune, apparently this lot can scavenge 50/60 bhp, short of a supercharger its all that can be done with them.
I take it your enjoying yours too? Any other plans for yours?




Rob

[S2central.net]

I would like the Milltek pipes too, primary CAT removal and ECU tickled accordingly... I don't expect anything like 50bhp gain though on this motor... maybe 5% due to better exhaust really. I am slowly working on a proper cold air intake for mine though - made possible by removing drivers side aux rad which was leaking. As you say though - the cost of all the above certainly mounts up fast... I might be swayed by the MFSW from a B7 S4/RS4 if I find one for decent money - its really for nice integration to the phone that I am thinking of. But that wheel is silly expensive.

The B6 S4 is probably the least tuneable of the entire S-Car fleet... short of bolting on a supercharger as you say, there isn't a whole lot to be gained... At nearly 2-ton weight its not like they are built to be fast anyway... I just want mine to burble a bit more - it has a very understated tone as you know.

I have a wheel bearing to change at some point and the camshaft covers are waiting to be done too along with few other odds and ends. On this car, I have strangely spent most time with modifications & retrofits in the cabin vs the engine bay.

[Rob W]

On various sites the set up i listed is usually quoted as giving between 380/400 bhp most site non stateside seem to still agree on the 380+ bhp, the pre cats are uber restrictive, and the JHM tune apparantly cantake good advantage of all these mods.
My reading on the S4 usually surmises the air intake is perfectly fine as it is, I do like intake roar though. I have changed many interior bulbs to led, will do external next, have you had to chang a side light bulb yet? I would like to change my interior trim to carbon but it is soooo dear, i may just go Glossy Black.
In regards to the b7 MFSW does this not have a two stage air bag as opposed to the single stage in the b6, from what I have read the b7 bag won't work on a b6. There are some lovely steering wheels for Audi, but call me old fashioned I would like the air bag to function, I have read some horror stories where the upgraded steering wheel bag failed to deploy.