Hi all - So I have my first T5 unit in stock after many times of telling and asking them to do this, just when i thought they were about to, they started the 6.1, which has given them big headaches, and I let them know about the Crafter and TGE MANN, which they weren't aware of utilising the same MQB CAN as the 6.1.. But.. finally it is here! [albeit the day before I had knee surgery last Friday!) very frustrating!
I have been on at the CEO and engineers for well over a year to develop this, they just didn't realise the scale of enthusiasm for the older vans, particularly when you see how VW Perspex looks after 20 years! I get 6.1 units that look like theyve been driven around upside down for the past few years, if you get the reference. So you T5 guys have most definitely been taking great care, or hanging tough, for this upgrade for a long time.
So, the unit itself - Physically is looking good, no 3D printing - which I expressed would be rejected, having been the sucker that trimmed and reported nearly all other units before injection mould tooling was finalised, days of driving around and refitting cases, not to mention the SLS is not stable enough around the consistent temperatures in some dashboards, it tends to wilt a little! I've seen that.
As soon as im able, I will hook this unit up on my bench and report on everything you need to know to get the word out there, for likers and subscribers of my channel and in particular that video when it lands - will be automatically entered into a random draw for a free supply and fitting at Everest-VW, if there is more than 1000 I willl throw in a connected ai box to link it through to the head unit.
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www.youtube.com/@everest-vw
The T5 will be almost identical in pricing to the T6, and once I have evaluated this first unit for fit and checked everything is functioning as it should, they will be put up on the site (link in my bio). The first fitting will be fully documented, including fitting tutorials as usual. Use this to decide whether you want to do this yourself or have us do it for you for every reassurance. I have also completedlots of repairs and exchanges for customers over the past 18 months, and carry lots of spare parts, including screens, ribbon cables, etc., you would be shocked how little some seem to understand about these units before being let loose on the tools. But if you are practical, methodical and careful, you can fit it yourself. Sourcing from EVW and you have immediate support - 99.9 per cent is covered by experience, the rest is backed by good community spirit, which I certainly get from this forum whenever I need it too.
Is where it will be posted within around a week, along with a fair bit of new and refreshed content on the 300 or so digidashes I have personally fitted to date, and the 50 or so Dudu7 units, as well as every accessory you can think of, including my personal favvourite the 360 cameras.
Laser calibrated and recording all angles in digital 1080p on the latest 662 Sony units, I am discreet with camera locations and have perfected the front in-badge, under wing mirror low profile, and rear as a flush mounted camera under the number plate overhang - OR on a few I've mounted the camera into the rear spoiler underside to coveer rear cargo and trailers since they act as constant DVR's also. The front dash cam also lane tracks and warns of proximity danger and late pull away, through the audio system, thats cool too!
There is not one part of my van that cannot be seen by a camera - including when parked, autobypass relays taking it off the CAN bus after ignition out, then an additional ACC relay dash switch to bring the unit up with a careful non-backfeed diode to ensure draw from the leisure side and no BCM activity. Mine is a 13" floating screen in a T6 the 12 GB ram and 512 GB storage version, I can assemble with various screen sizes and carry all spares and accesories inclugind single din, double din with 11.5" or 13" screens, OEM VW in 9", 9.5, and a popullar 10.36" the unit can also power external screens and selectively mirror, or throw individual apps over to the Dash centre region for Nav or back to kids screens or movie projector as I do.. Sending the audio out of the Dudu7 head unit with an optical cable into the Gladen Soundup kit with the poptop displaying a 60" screen in 1080 isn't for everyone, but every once in a while its abolutely saved us with two small kids.. and movies under the stars still seems to be popular.. for now.
Anyway, what an essay. This is the Dudu7:
https://everest-vw.co.uk/products/mekede-dudu7-full-options and this is the magic box if your still getting ready for the revolution.. this works a charm an anything that has wired CarPlay or Android auto, and give most head units a new lease of life - with many bonuses not least a full res screen output for mirror or nav throw over to the HDMI input on the digidash..
EVEREST-VW DIGIDASH <--> HEAD UNIT Android Ai KIT: (Android Ai B
If you want to talk some more whatsapp calls are best. Messaging gets pretty crazy every day, orders come first, calls get through, messages might be caught once a week if they didn't get buried too deep :-D But seeing as the dudu and the box both now natively support WhatsApp web, I can get your video calls and messages even without the phone with me.
Im going to be sleeping in a zinc-lined container soon lol.