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iPod Album artwork in a VW Golf media system

testcard

testcard

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Apr 13, 2009
3,760
2,924
Northumbria, UK
This is a tricky one, so bear with me. I drive a VW Golf Mk7 with the VW Composition Media System. I have an iPod nano 7th gen connected to the Media System through VW's own MDI connector to Lightning lead. Everything works fine with the nano in terms of navigating through playlists, albums and so on. Only problem is that album artwork only displays at roughly half size in the artwork panel in the media touchscreen. However when I connect my iPhone 5 with the same lead, artwork displays at the correct size on the screen. Music is a mixture of albums purchased from iTunes and my own tracks ripped from CD. For the latter, I always used high quality album artwork. Help!
 
testcard said:
This is a tricky one, so bear with me. I drive a VW Golf Mk7 with the VW Composition Media System. I have an iPod nano 7th gen connected to the Media System through VW's own MDI connector to Lightning lead. Everything works fine with the nano in terms of navigating through playlists, albums and so on. Only problem is that album artwork only displays at roughly half size in the artwork panel in the media touchscreen. However when I connect my iPhone 5 with the same lead, artwork displays at the correct size on the screen. Music is a mixture of albums purchased from iTunes and my own tracks ripped from CD. For the latter, I always used high quality album artwork. Help!
Click to expand...

Do you know what size of album art your incar system can display ?
..
may be you should use 200x200, 72 DPI album art.
I suggest to test it on some mp3 file.
 
Connection problems with Lightning iPod Nano 7 to Golf Mark 7

testcard said:
This is a tricky one, so bear with me. I drive a VW Golf Mk7 with the VW Composition Media System. I have an iPod nano 7th gen connected to the Media System through VW's own MDI connector to Lightning lead. Everything works fine with the nano in terms of navigating through playlists, albums and so on. Only problem is that album artwork only displays at roughly half size in the artwork panel in the media touchscreen. However when I connect my iPhone 5 with the same lead, artwork displays at the correct size on the screen. Music is a mixture of albums purchased from iTunes and my own tracks ripped from CD. For the latter, I always used high quality album artwork. Help!
Click to expand...


My problem is that I am unable to access any of my play list on my iPod 7th generation on recently purchased VW Golf Mk 7. Have tried four different Lightning connectors supplied by the dealer with no success as none will connect. Not the only customer to have this problem according to the dealer.
As you are able to connect your 7th generation iPod to your new Golf would you be able to let me know what reference appears on the connector so I can source this device or get the dealer to do it .

many thanks if you can help
 
Regarding my artwork, I finally realised that the nano outputs album artwork at the native screen resolution of the nano. I've since replaced the nano with the latest generation iPod touch and artwork displays the correct size. Regarding your problem with the Lightining connector, you need the connector with the dark green collar. This displays all of my music, including playlists.
Edit: the VW part number for the Lightning connector with the green collar is 5N0 035 554 F here in the UK.
 
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Connector problems to Mk 7 Golf

Many thanks for your quick reply.

I shall search for this connector
 
Lead

Did you find the correct connector? My service dept is suggesting I try part 446Q for £40.00 does anyone know if this would work with nano 7th generation?
 
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iPod Nano connector problems to Golf Mk 7

Sadly it still did not work with my iPod. In fact the VW dealer originally supplied at delivery of the vehicle in January the identical green collar Lightning connector with same part reference as was kindly provided by previous contributor.
My iPod was purchased last month. Maybe Apple have changed the software and not provided VW with the latest connectors. That is the suggestion from the dealer
 
I found that it's often an issue with the connector in the iPod. I clean the lint out of the connector and it fixes many issues.

If your iPod has bluetooth, it also needs to be off.
 
Connector

Thanks . I didn't know Bluetooth had to be switched off. I will try that but which connector are you using?
 
Connector Problems on 7th Generation iPod to Golf

I tried the suggestion of cleaning the lint on the end of the adaptor - and it worked for the first time, after all the effort in trying alternative Lightning connectors something as simple as this was the solution to my problem - Thank you to Plutonious - this is the first time I have joined a discussion like this ( I am of mature age ) and it is refreshing to find people so helpful in providing advice
 
official reply

Hello
We are sorry to hear about the problem you are having with your Ipod Nano and Golf 7.
From the launch earlier this year of the lighning connector lead, information from Volkswagen has been sketchy.
Recent information illustrated below makes things alot clearer.
From your details I can see your Golf 7 was fitted with a 'Composition Media' radio.
As stated below unfortunately the lightning connector lead cannot be used with
composition radio systems fitted to the golf 7.
Whilst this isn't the answer you hoped, hopefully this will resolve the issue you have.
I believe also the Ipod Nano 7th Generation is bluetooth comapible and this should be able to play
through the bluetooth system.
Regards

<LIGHTNING.jpg>
 
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I'm guessing you're in the US, but here in the UK, there's definitely a Lightning to MDI connector that works with the latest generation nano. That's what I was using recently until I switched to an iPod touch.
 
no iam based in the uk. i received the email today .it went onto say it would work with following systems rcd 310,510,850 but not the composite media system that i have installed. the part number was 000051446Q and costs £40.00

----------

basically its a big mess. i will revert to my sansa mp 3 player which works ok
 
latest

thanks. i sent your link to my vw man and here is his reply

I don't think the collar indicates the specific lead.
The new golf 7 lighning leads are coming through white.
The radio system in yours is the same as my Golf 7, and my lads iphone 5 wont work with it.
In the thread the difference being one is a lightning lead the other the older 30 pin connecter with a converter to lighning lead attached.
Whether the older lead with a converter would work I dont have information as that is not an accessory that Volkswagen offer.
I have the lightning leads for the Golf 7 in stock.
You are quite welcome to pop down and try the lead in your Golf 7 with no obligation.
I think the main issue is the radio head unit and the software used to communicate to media devices.
Volkswagen may in the future produce a software update to enable the lightning lead to work with all Golf 7 audio systems.
The information from Volkswagen is that:-

Note that the connector can only be used in conjunction with RCD 310, RCD 510 and RCD 550 radios, and the RCD 850, RNS 510 and RNS 310/315 radio navigation systems.



Exclusions: Cannot be used with:

Radio systems Composition Colour, Composition Media and Composition Touch
Navigation systems Discover Media and Discover Pro
Mobile telephone integration in the central armrest


Hope this heps and doesn't confuse matters more, as I said you are quite welcome to pop down and try the lead in your Golf 7 with no obligation.
Regards

----------

I will try the white lead and let you know
 
Latest - iPod 7th generation to Mk 7 Golf

Have you tried the green collar Lightning connector ref: 5NO 035 554 F

If you clean the lint at the end of the connector it might just be the solution - it was for me.
 
Hello . No I haven't tried the green collar lead cause I was quoted £70.00 which is ridiculous. It seems to me that vw and apple are very similar- both out to take as much money as possible.I have to take my car for a service soon so will try this white lead then but I am not very hopeful.
 
white lead

Just for information the white lead didn't work. this seems to be a software problem with my particular system. Can anyone confirm the green lead works with the composition media system or does it only work with rcd 310,510,550 radios. One final point have you used a convertor from the 30 pin to the lightening lead? If so which one? Sorry for so many questions but i would like to get to this sorted in my head at least. thanks for your time
 
My 7th gen iPod touch works with the green collar cable and connected to my Composition Media System. It's a Lightning to MDI connector. I think you need to speak to or visit another dealer.
 
Apologies. I have both the latest generation iPod touch, and latest generation iPod nano. Both work fine with the Composition Media, and the Lightning to MDI connector.
 
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