Retrofit wireless charging

fastwunz · 14 May 2020 at 19:45

Guys I recently got a new VW Passat R-Line and didn’t realise that wireless charging was an option as opposed to a standard feature (despite it being top of the range but never mind) - it’s a company car so options weren’t a concern.

is it possible to have the wireless charging fitted retrospectively - by the dealer?

HoneyBadger · 14 May 2020 at 20:15

I would have thought so.

fastwunz · 14 May 2020 at 20:28

HoneyBadger said:
I would have thought so.

great - I wasn’t sure if this was something anyone here had done before? It seems daft to have a perfect place designed for the phone to charge wirelessly in front of the gear lever but for it not to be installed

Tinders · 15 May 2020 at 03:44

It’s one of the reasons why I discounted the Passat. Even the top spec cars lack some vital options as standard. The standard and optional features is a bit of an odd mix.

WJA96 · 15 May 2020 at 05:43

https://www.amazon.co.uk/INBAY®-Poc...WFC7WZ36PQB&psc=1&refRID=KJD0RK2GEWFC7WZ36PQB

It's for LHD cars but it might also fit RHD or there might be a version for RHD if you contact the supplier.

It's possible that you'll be able to get the VW Phone Box fitted at a dealer or someone like HazzyDayz but these 'proper' retrofits tend to require all sorts of controller updates and end up being stupidly expensive. I enquired about getting the automatic garage door opener fitted to one of my Audi TT's and it was a £180 option from the factory but the retrofit was £1000 because they had to take half the car apart and replace the ECU that controlled all the cabin controls from the Comfort one to the Highline one.

fastwunz · 15 May 2020 at 07:33

Tinders said:
It’s one of the reasons why I discounted the Passat. Even the top spec cars lack some vital options as standard. The standard and optional features is a bit of an odd mix.

I see your point - my car has the full suite of driving assists, radar cruise, parking cameras, electric tailgate, digital dash.... you name it, it’s got it. I’m also very impressed with the interior and went for the optional 19” wheels which makes such a difference - and the lapis blue paint. It’s a very handsome car to my mind and a very pleasant place to be with the nappa leather.

but no wireless charger. Eh???? Bloody VW - very strange mix of options and since I got a new phone, something I’m starting to want

fastwunz · 15 May 2020 at 07:34

WJA96 said:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/INBAY®-Pocket-VW-Passat-2014/dp/B075XMZ1WG/ref=pd_lpo_107_t_0/259-7696504-2298609?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B075XMZ1WG&pd_rd_r=918db931-854c-45fe-a986-432d3bf98ad5&pd_rd_w=AemDI&pd_rd_wg=AXAhr&pf_rd_p=7b8e3b03-1439-4489-abd4-4a138cf4eca6&pf_rd_r=KJD0RK2GEWFC7WZ36PQB&psc=1&refRID=KJD0RK2GEWFC7WZ36PQB

It's for LHD cars but it might also fit RHD or there might be a version for RHD if you contact the supplier.

It's possible that you'll be able to get the VW Phone Box fitted at a dealer or someone like HazzyDayz but these 'proper' retrofits tend to require all sorts of controller updates and end up being stupidly expensive. I enquired about getting the automatic garage door opener fitted to one of my Audi TT's and it was a £180 option from the factory but the retrofit was £1000 because they had to take half the car apart and replace the ECU that controlled all the cabin controls from the Comfort one to the Highline one.

thank you for this. The idea of getting it to fit frankly terrifies me haha - it’s a company car too so I would likely need to get a dealer to do any work to the car

WJA96 · 15 May 2020 at 08:16

The biggest challenge with VAG is that the items generally come as packages. So the wireless charging is generally part of the phone box package, and that's a lot more retrofitting than the Qi mat. Have you considered getting a USB mat and putting that in the relevant slot?

The picture on the Amazon listing looked very much like it just plugged into the existing loom in series, so I suspect any competent auto-electrician could fit it. VW dealers in my experience will not fit aftermarket parts.

Are you sure you can get wireless charging on the current Passat?

Searching for that brought up the website for inbay who make that charger on Amazon and they have a USB cupholder option at the bottom of the page.

https://www.inbay.systems/en/product/charging-compartment-for-vw-passat-b8/

https://www.inbay.systems/en/product/universal-charging-cup-for-inductive-charging/

fastwunz · 15 May 2020 at 15:58

WJA96 said:
The biggest challenge with VAG is that the items generally come as packages. So the wireless charging is generally part of the phone box package, and that's a lot more retrofitting than the Qi mat. Have you considered getting a USB mat and putting that in the relevant slot?

The picture on the Amazon listing looked very much like it just plugged into the existing loom in series, so I suspect any competent auto-electrician could fit it. VW dealers in my experience will not fit aftermarket parts.

Are you sure you can get wireless charging on the current Passat?

Searching for that brought up the website for inbay who make that charger on Amazon and they have a USB cupholder option at the bottom of the page.

https://www.inbay.systems/en/product/charging-compartment-for-vw-passat-b8/

https://www.inbay.systems/en/product/universal-charging-cup-for-inductive-charging/

just looked at the manual for it’s install. Looks to be entirely possible albeit somewhat confused and in a lot of German. It’s something I would want to do with my dad on his driveway over the course of a day.
It’s a company car though so perhaps it just isn’t worth it. Will need to think on it - some of the photos etc in the manual look very confusing but perhaps it’s not so bad once it’s all opened up

Tinders · 15 May 2020 at 16:41

fastwunz said:
I see your point - my car has the full suite of driving assists, radar cruise, parking cameras, electric tailgate, digital dash.... you name it, it’s got it. I’m also very impressed with the interior and went for the optional 19” wheels which makes such a difference - and the lapis blue paint. It’s a very handsome car to my mind and a very pleasant place to be with the nappa leather.

but no wireless charger. Eh???? Bloody VW - very strange mix of options and since I got a new phone, something I’m starting to want

I was looking at the GTE Advance. Ended up going for a 330e with the Superb Sportline IV as my second choice.

WJA96 · 15 May 2020 at 19:33

fastwunz said:
just looked at the manual for it’s install. Looks to be entirely possible albeit somewhat confused and in a lot of German. It’s something I would want to do with my dad on his driveway over the course of a day.
It’s a company car though so perhaps it just isn’t worth it. Will need to think on it - some of the photos etc in the manual look very confusing but perhaps it’s not so bad once it’s all opened up

I just had a look at the installation guide and that’s easily 2-3 hours of work. So I reckon £500 all fitted by a dealer. I’d have to REALLY want Qi charging to spend that much. The cup holder option is just plug’n’play...

fastwunz · 15 May 2020 at 20:21

WJA96 said:
I just had a look at the installation guide and that’s easily 2-3 hours of work. So I reckon £500 all fitted by a dealer. I’d have to REALLY want Qi charging to spend that much. The cup holder option is just plug’n’play...

I’m quite fond of my cup holders haha

fastwunz · 15 May 2020 at 20:22

Tinders said:
I was looking at the GTE Advance. Ended up going for a 330e with the Superb Sportline IV as my second choice.

Very very very different price brackets though - especially with tax BIK and PUC

Tinders · 15 May 2020 at 21:28

It’s all about the BIK now. With tax at 10% on a hybrid it’s a no brainer. My tax bill will go from near 500 a month to 180 ish.

I just wish VW made the interior a little more exciting. The exterior in R Line and GTE trim looks cracking.