FISCON Bluetooth Handsfree "Basic-Plus" Kit Displays Boost in 2008 B6 TSI Passat Variant

[GLISNC]

UPDATE (05.25.12): Quick review of RNS-510 install and BT, A2DP functionality (see below)

UPDATE (03.09.12): Attached video to post

Hi everybody,
Just wanted to post some info here about the Fiscon Bluetooth Handsfree "Basic-Plus" system because of all my research, I could not really find much about it except for on the Fiscon and Kufatec websites. I did find some info on other model forums and threads from euro forums, but still not that much that specifically mentioned the B6 Passat.

For some backstory, reason I was looking into the Fiscon system is because I really wanted some kind of display for boost. Ideally something in psi that was not a gauge mounted on the steering wheel and not something that would require a lot of custom work. So this system is really the only choice when it comes to a digital readout on your MFA (unfortunately it does not display boost in psi [bar only], but I can live with that). The added bonus was that I would be getting all the other features and bluetooth phone integrated.

Both sites claim that boost is not available for certain vehicles, however, I decided to take the risk. Deciding between the OEM system and this one was an easy choice. While the prices are about the same, the Fiscon system offers e-MFA addons that display boost, boost pressure, oil temp, water temp, gas capacity (in gallons), RPMs, battery voltage and digital mph. The OEM system is just bluetooth phone. So even if boost didn't work, I would still have a bunch of other features making it a nicer solution.

So in going back and forth with Kufatec about the e-MFA addons, and being told that the boost readings would not work, I still decided to take the chance. Well, I installed it yesterday and to my surprise boost and boost pressure works! Like I said before it is not displayed in psi, it is displayed in bar, but having this reading at my fingertips while driving is great! As is the other features as well. All of e-MFA options are displayed on one screen and can be toggled with the up and down buttons. It looks OEM in layout and function, which is great.

So while I can't say that it will definitely work in all 2.0Ts, I am happy to report that it does work in mine. I have a 2008 TSI B6 Passat Komfort Variant, so based on that you can possibly make the assumption that it may work if you have a similarly configured Passat (I have not changed or uppgraded any modules of any kind in my car). I am not a technical person, so I can't really tell you what modules I have that would make this work, but perhaps someone else can chime in and maybe explain how the boost readings are getting to the Fiscon system via the internal modules in my specific model (ECU?).

I did VAG-COM one thing, which is to activate 'telephone' in CAN-Gateway [19] (go to Byte 5 and check Bit 2). Thinking about this now though, I remember the Fiscon or Kufatec site saying no coding is needed, so I cannot really verify if this step is necessary. If someone needs to know, I can always uncheck this and see if the bluetooth works... I may do this tonight to test. Or if someone with this system knows, please chime in.

Also, if you have a regular (not RNS-510) radio and plan at some point (like me) to upgrade to the RNS-510, you can purchase the "Basic-Plus" system (meant for the RNS line) and use it with your non-RNS radio. The 'Plus' system has a bunch of on-screen features for the RNS radios that are just disabled until you get one. Or you can just get the 'Basic' system if you plan to never get an RNS radio.

In conclusion, I am very happy with the purchase, and I am starting to really use my steering wheel controls a lot more now with these added features. I hope this information is useful to those who are also considering this system. If you are looking into bluetooth phone capabilities alone, this system works really well.

If you've made it this far, thanks!

UPDATE (03.09.12): Here is a short clip of the digital boost gauge in action


UPDATE (05.25.12): RNS-510 installed and review of RNS functionality (+ A2DP issue)

I recently added an RNS-510 and tested out the Basic Plus features. Basically the integration is OEM-like in that there is full functionality with the Phone button on the RNS as well as being able to look up and scroll through your contact list, dial a number with keypad and look up missed, dialed and received calls. It shows the service provider at the top middle as well as reception bars.

One thing that I thought I would be able to see on the RNS was a screen that showed the boost, temps etc, but that is ONLY displayed on the MFA. Too bad, but not necessary and probably not too safe either.

I tried to use my Motorola Droid Bionic to connect A2DP, but it didn't work. Looking at the phone compatibility list on the Fiscon site, I couldn't find the Bionic (motorola xt875), so that's probably why. Hopefully they add it in a future update. I am going to try my wife's iphone 4s (which should work, it's on the list) and test. For a complete list check this page. I'll report back on sound quality and functionality (i.e. playback functions).

[Track5tar]

great review! I'm not in need of a bt kit but appreciate the info. do you have any pics? i've love to see this in action

[bkpapi12]

always wanted to try this but never had the info. great job

[GLISNC]

great review! I'm not in need of a bt kit but appreciate the info. do you have any pics? i've love to see this in action

Thanks! I will try and get some pics up when I have a chance, maybe even a video of the boost readings as I drive. The pics on the Fiscon and Kufatec site are pretty accurate to what it looks like, but they look a little dated in that they've since added a bunch more features that aren't depicted. Also seeing the readouts in German (on USA Kufatec site) is a a little confusing (for me at least).

I will say just the digital mph reading alone has been very helpful, as the readout varies from 3-5 mph (slower on the digital readout) than what the needle says (probably due to the larger wheels I have on, but there must also be something different in the way both readouts are handled, not sure what or exactly how).

always wanted to try this but never had the info. great job

Thanks! Exactly the reason why I posted this. As I use it more, I'll try to post more info for everybody.

[coderedcomputing]

To bad we cannot add a "thanks" with a "hug" or "bow" etc etc

This is great news... SO great. I am shopping for a boost setup and have been dying to enable BT in my B6 (TSI) so seeing that you've done it is just great!

More info like pictures as already stated would be fantastic... and if you have any suggestions about the install, awesome!! Grazie tanto!

[GLISNC]

To bad we cannot add a "thanks" with a "hug" or "bow" etc etc

This is great news... SO great. I am shopping for a boost setup and have been dying to enable BT in my B6 (TSI) so seeing that you've done it is just great!

More info like pictures as already stated would be fantastic... and if you have any suggestions about the install, awesome!! Grazie tanto!

Yeah, like I said there was not too much info out there and I had to take the chance, luckily for me I had the means to do so at this particular time. I'll get pics up as soon as I can, and perhaps a video if I can set it up properly (ie mount it somehow so I am not driving and taking video at the same time).

As for install, it is really easy. Took me about an hour during lunchtime to take the driver side a-pillar, panel above the pedals and radio out. Since I wanted to use the OEM mic location, I had to route the mic from the stock location (just behind the sunglass holder) to behind the little cubby underneath the headlight switch where I mounted the Fiscon box. There is a nice spot on the metal bar behind the cubby that has enough room to mount it (using industrial strength velcro). Did it this way so I could easily take it out if I ever decided to sell the car. Routing the mic through the headliner without taking it off was the hardest part. I did loosen the sunvisor to allow me to feed the mic wire properly to the a-pillar.

[GLISNC]

A little update:

So playing with the e-MFA controls a bit more, I found out that the reading which shows remaining gasoline in the tank is actually measured in gallons. I think the fiscon box is able to distinguish what units to use based on the OEM settings (where you can change miles to kilometers etc). I initially reported that it only displays in liters, but it actually shows gallons.

Pics coming soon!

[coderedcomputing]

Just realized... the Fiscon has the Basic Plus "Suitable for vehicles equipped with Volkswagen head unit RNS 510, RCD 510, RNS 810 with touchscreen"

Guess not for my poor basic headunit! Looks like only the "Basic" one would work, although that one ALSO shows:

DIS Add on -Extended display of the following data's through the instrument cluster:
Only available for vehicles with red DIS

Boost pressure in bar (depends on vehicle)
Oil temeperature in°C/ F
Water temeperature in°C/ F
Remaining petrol capacity in l
Speed in km/h - m/h
Revolutions per minute

hrmn... interesting. and the Basic is cheaper (a bit)...

[GLISNC]

Just realized... the Fiscon has the Basic Plus "Suitable for vehicles equipped with Volkswagen head unit RNS 510, RCD 510, RNS 810 with touchscreen"

Guess not for my poor basic headunit! Looks like only the "Basic" one would work, although that one ALSO shows:

DIS Add on -Extended display of the following data's through the instrument cluster:
Only available for vehicles with red DIS

Boost pressure in bar (depends on vehicle)
Oil temeperature in°C/ F
Water temeperature in°C/ F
Remaining petrol capacity in l
Speed in km/h - m/h
Revolutions per minute

hrmn... interesting. and the Basic is cheaper (a bit)...

My suggestion would be to get the basic plus kit if you plan on getting the RNS-510 (or any other RNS unit). The difference between the 'Basic' and the 'Basic-Plus' kit is the on-screen (RNS screen) stuff that you can control if you have an RNS unit. I don't have an RNS-510 but plan to get one, so when I do, I will also have some touch screen controls available to control the Fiscon unit on the RNS screen. I assume it gives you similar control options that the steering wheel buttons have, only on the RNS unit. So if you know you will never get an RNS unit (or if you get an aftermarket NAVI) then the 'Basic' system will be the one to get. Hope this helps.

[Robman]

I've wanted to get the FISCON adapter for 2 years now. How was the install? I imagine it is pretty straight forward since they have a plug and play adapter.

[GLISNC]

I've wanted to get the FISCON adapter for 2 years now. How was the install? I imagine it is pretty straight forward since they have a plug and play adapter.

Install was very easy. The hardest part was routing the mic to the OEM location which requires taking off the A-pillar, loosening the driver-side sunvisor and taking out the domelight console.

[GLISNC]

Uploaded video. Not the greatest quality but it shows the digital boost gauge working, among other features.

[NY TDI]

Hi,

I'd like to know about the bluetooth audio streaming. Do you know if the fiscon basic plus allows you to go to next/previous track using the steering wheel controls?

[coderedcomputing]

Hi,

I'd like to know about the bluetooth audio streaming. Do you know if the fiscon basic plus allows you to go to next/previous track using the steering wheel controls?

Hit them up at info@fiscon-mobile.de and they will answer about anything, I'm checking with them about all sorts of things on this kit.... lots of wrong info on other forums out there...

[bkpapi12]

Uploaded video. Not the greatest quality but it shows the digital boost gauge working, among other features.

just saw video looks great nice song also. i didnt see ur gear indicator 123456 was not displayed.is that because of the setting on fiscon or something else? love the quad readout! really nice.

[coderedcomputing]

i didnt see ur gear indicator 123456 was not displayed.is that because of the setting on fiscon or something else? love the quad readout! really nice.

It's in Drive, the 123456 doesn't show until you flip to tiptronic, or if you have paddle shifters, until you down/upshift.

[bkpapi12]

My 07 does but im fsi

[GLISNC]

Hi,

I'd like to know about the bluetooth audio streaming. Do you know if the fiscon basic plus allows you to go to next/previous track using the steering wheel controls?

I haven't yet played with that feature yet since I don't have music on my phone (only bluetooth media player I have).

On another note, I have an RNS-510 arriving next week, and will be able to take full advantage of the RNS touchscreen features the Basic-Plus kit has to offer. At that point I may try out the BT streaming.

[coderedcomputing]

So if I never, ever, ever, plan to get the RNS models.... but possibly may get an RCD-510 because touchscreens are nice looking... then there is no real reason for the Basic Plus, the Basic model would work fine?

[GLISNC]

So if I never, ever, ever, plan to get the RNS models.... but possibly may get an RCD-510 because touchscreens are nice looking... then there is no real reason for the Basic Plus, the Basic model would work fine?

Correct. From what I learned from asking Kufatec the Basic kit offers all the exact same features minus the RNS on-screen stuff. So you would use and control the Basic kit from the MFD only (RED MFDs only, "it does not work with White MFDs" that are in the 2009+ models). Just to note, the Basic-Plus kit on-screen stuff will NOT work with RCD models (although technically the boost readings weren't supposed to work on the B6 Passat but it does, so depending on whether you want to take the gamble for the extra $85, you might find that those on-screen features may work on the RCDs if the RCD has the same pins/plug as the RNS - this would require some research though).

[coderedcomputing]

Excellent, I appreciate the info. I may hold off on buying until I've seen the bluetooth streaming in action, for now I'll just keep hovering over the BUY button.

[GLISNC]

Just a quick update.

I recently added an RNS-510 and tested out the Basic Plus features. Basically the integration is OEM-like in that there is full functionality with the Phone button on the RNS as well as being able to look up and scroll through your contact list, dial a number with keypad and look up missed, dialed and received calls. It shows the service provider at the top middle as well as reception bars.

One thing that I thought I would be able to see on the RNS was a screen that showed the boost, temps etc, but that is ONLY displayed on the MFA. Too bad, but not necessary and probably not too safe either.

I tried to use my Motorola Droid Bionic to connect A2DP, but it didn't work. Looking at the phone compatibility list on the Fiscon site, I couldn't find the Bionic (motorola xt875), so that's probably why. Hopefully they add it in a future update. I am going to try my wife's iphone 4s (which should work, it's on the list) and test. For a complete list check this page. I'll report back on sound quality and functionality (i.e. playback functions).