First Timer - 3rd TDI a Golf 7 - almost perfect except for lack of iPod connectivity

[PLANB]

I think VW Australia have gone backwards with the radio system in the Golf 7 in Australia.

End of June I took delivery of my new Golf 7 - TDI Diesel Highline. My third new diesel Golf – first a 5, then a 6 and now a 7.

I had done my homework as there were a few other makes I considered this time around and I had taken a test drive of a Tiguan, but in the end I decided to stick with what I knew.

My homework in checking out the features of the Golf 7 included the radio-infotainment system. From everything that I had read and seen it would be iPod compatible and it wouldn’t be necessary for me to have to buy a $300 accessory adaptor cable as I did with my previous Golf 6. I had read a few reviews and seen on YouTube how the touch screen would work when connected to an iPod – song/artist information displayed and album art as well. Even the Golf 7 brochure which I had downloaded from Volkswagen Australia indicated that all this would happen when I plugged in my iPod. It had references to a USB interface and the USB audio socket in front centre console.

When I picked up the car and the salesman gave me a quick run through on the features he said I could plug my iPhone and iPod in to the USB socket in the front centre console. That’s good I thought, the standard Apple 30 pin/USB cable will do the job just like it does when you connect to a computer.

I was really looking forward to a new level of easy connectivity and control and musical enjoyment. Having access to music is important to me as I work for myself and spend a bit of time in the car.

So imagine my disappointment when I got home and plugged my iPod Classic into the USB socket in the front centre console and it didn’t work.

I have plugged it in and it doesn't recognise the iPod - nothing, nada, zip, zero. The only thing it does is charge the iPod. And then to make matters worse and to add insult to injury it works perfectly fine when plugged in to the USB connection on the radio in my wife's 4 year old Toyota Corolla!! Song title displayed, ability to scroll to the next song using the radio dial and it charges too.

Up until that moment I had thought that my new Golf 7 was just about perfect. I was really cheesed off and that afternoon I immediately sent off an email to VW Australia.

I went back to the dealer and they couldn’t help. Having done a bit more homework on the Volkswagen Australia website I asked did I require a Media Device Interface – MDI. The result – bemused looks from the spare parts service staff. They did however give me a VW accessory Apple 30 pin/USB cable to try but that didn’t work either – It also just charged the iPod. (Interestingly they had a few of these cables on hand that had been ordered by other customers hoping to connect Apple devices – so it looks like they will be disappointed as well.)

After no luck at the dealer and because I had not received a reply to my email I then rang the Volkswagen Assist line and spoke to a customer service person. I patiently explained my problem but received no information from her. She simply kept insisting that I needed to go to the dealer with my problem and have the vehicle checked out. I told her I had done that and that no one at the dealer seemed to know what the answer was.

I then took a different approach and asked her if the ability for the radio-infotainment system to have a fully functional connection to an iPod was perhaps a feature that did not exist for Australian delivery Golfs – despite what is indicated in the brochure. She would not or could not provide an answer to this question and simply defaulted to her earlier response “you should go to the dealer and have the vehicle checked out.”

I don’t really want to use the Aux in socket because while that might get me some audio it offers no control and no on-screen display in the radio. I would have to control things from the iPod – and there would be no ability to use the buttons on the steering wheel – obviously a few safe driving issues there.

There is Bluetooth connection but that is no good to me because my iPhone is just a phone and all my music is on the iPod because an iPhone does not have sufficient capacity. Bluetooth might be okay if I had an iPod Touch, but I don’t and I don’t reckon I should have to get one and in any event they don’t have as much capacity as an iPod.

Like I said totally cheesed off about this situation - I have a brand new Golf and in terms of music connectivity it doesn’t even do what my previous Golf 6 could do.

I then received a reply to my email to Volkswagen Assist and it said I had to use Bluetooth or the Aux input and that regrettably there is no functionality through/by Media Device Interface (MDI) in the Golf 7 variants. Obviously not what I wanted to be told and so I then sent a polite letter to customer Service at VW Australia asking the following questions:

· Why does your marketing information indicate that the vehicle has a USB audio socket and offers connectivity with Apple products with a 30 pin connector?

· Why is connectivity to an Apple iPod something that is available in other markets?

· Why has Volkswagen failed to follow one of the basic rules with new audio equipment in that such equipment should always provide for backwards compatibility with older audio formats? Not that an Apple iPod is that much of an old format as it is still a currently available Apple product.

My letter resulted in a phone call from I think the same customer service person I had previously spoken to and she basically said - Tough - that's how it is with a Golf 7 in Australia.

So like I said I think the new radio system in the Golf has gone quite a bit backwards. And I will be constantly annoyed every time I see an ad for some cheapo buzz box which features an Apple compatible touch screen radio system. VW - how can you ignore a mainstream and still popular and well used Apple product? Why should I now have to go to the trouble of putting songs on a USB?

[stefcio007]

That is extremely bizarre. I bought a Sony Stereo for use in my Golf. Stereo released March 2014. iPod that I'm using is from 2006! (big fat one) They both work together flawlessly. My iPod even works in newer Fords and actually displays the Ford symbol on its screen when plugged in. If it works with a 30-pin iPhone through USB then maybe it's a bug in the stereo software, it would do them good to fix that.

[AdamD]

It's a disappointing situation, no question.

I'm sure you've read through this thread: Mk7 iPod Compatibility (MDI, Bluetooth etc)

If I were in your shoes I'd be looking to purchase a Mk7 MDI from overseas. The Mk7 in Australia does not have an MDI; just the basic analogue audio in socket and USB as provided by the headunit.

MEDIA - IN MDI - Golf 7 5Q - iPhone / iPod