It really is! If you have any questions let me know! Thanks

Thanks! I have more videos coming on car infotainment systems! I always welcome feedback so reach out to me if you have any ideas or suggestions!

Thanks! You need an OBD reader to change the car settings. They aren't free but I have OBD Eleven. Google it and have a look as it can do things like you want to do.

Officially no; I doubt any VW dealer would do that however unofficially I know that previous generation Golfs have been able to have the larger or newer infotainment systems be retrofitted. However; it would be the entire system not just a display if it's the same as before and it would be very expensive. I'd recommend having a look at VW forums as that is typically where people know all about what can be done and how much and who to speak to.

Glad it was helpful! Thanks

Quite a few viewers have asked this question. It appears that the main difference is the ability for the system to connect to the internet being built in for traffic and to use the VW connect app. You are totally correct in saying you can access maps and everything else using Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

Mine too won't give me a code

The main difference appears to be the connectivity to the online services. The Pro has an embedded SIM card that connects to VW services included in the price while the standard doesn’t have that (although you can buy a standalone SIM from any network and use it in the car).

Make sure that your connecting using Android Auto or Apple CarPlay and see if it shows names there and if it does then it is the car Bluetooth settings which you could reset.

I have had a look myself and I have to agree it is not obvious at all; but from what I read I believe you are correct. The standard discover system doesn't come with a data connected sim card but you can add one yourself. The Discover Pro comes with it and is connected up out of the factory. However buying a Golf R then I would absolutely recommend getting the Pro as a former Golf R owner I wanted it specced to the max as it is an amazing car (which I hope I can review too) although I know it is more expensive than previous generations. Thanks!

@@TechInTheCar Many thanks for the quick reply! Yes, you are right, it is not obvious at all! (poor UK marketing VW!) I have found some videos that I believe explain the differences but they are all in German! Hopefully it wont be long before helpful people like you can test and review the differences in English. Thanks for the Videos.

Thank you for the kind words. Try downloading the UK brochure as that is where I looked to come to that conclusion.

You should be able to change between the users easily. What is the problem?

I had quite a few issues getting signed in myself. I had to create a new account ON the car before it would even let me sign in or connect the app. So if you have an existing account that might be worth trying. Then there is the signing in and signing out to see if that makes a difference. The privacy settings will also stop internet and shop access. And also just bad connection to the internet from your location. The only item I was able to download and install was Alexa. The other features gave me error messages over and over. I do not know if that was because those features were already optioned on the car or if the problem was that it didn't have the correct hardware for those software improvements. I hope that might give you some ideas but without having the car with me I can't test any potential solutions out. Thanks

You do not need the cubic data for live traffic - that is for using the car as hotspot for your phone. However you will need to spec the Infotainment system with the connected functions. You can't lock the car remotely as of when I recorded the video and I do not believe that function is available.

@@TechInTheCar is that the discover pro? I haven’t spec’d that as I wasn’t sure it was worth the extra £1600. Maybe vw will add in the function to lock/unlock via a software update in future then?

From what I read on the VW spec list the standard discover system doesn't come with a data connected sim card but you can add one yourself. The Discover Pro comes with it and is connected up out of the factory. If you add a sim card then if should work.

@@TechInTheCar great I added a three sim payg in my 7.5GTD . I’ll do the same when I get my 8 👍🏻

Let me know what happens!

Great question, I don't think you can. Sorry.

@@TechInTheCar I appreciate the quick response, it’s really unfortunate to be honest !

The only navigation that will show is the VW navigation. If your trying to put your Android Auto or Apple CarPlay in front of your steering wheel it doesn’t work as that isn’t supported. If you can’t get the VW navigation on your VC then I’d suggest the standard steps first; turn the car off and leave it for at least 30 minutes and if that doesn’t work then reset the infotainment system to factory and set it up again. If you still have issues then I’d recommend visiting your VW dealer.

There's 3 lines on bottom left of Vw Sat Nav screen. Press that and then say show in Driver Cluster

WeConnect app connects using your mobile/cell data and the car has it built in using its own data connection so you don’t need to worry about Bluetooth. I don’t have the car with me right now to double check about privacy but my experience was that you can set a password so that if someone else gets in the car that doesn’t have the password they will only be able to use the guest mode and not have access to all the features.

Not on the model I had for this review. It seems that if you want pre-heating you will need a VW ID.3 electric car (also have 2 videos on that on my channel).

@@TechInTheCar yeah because it would need to start the engine, I should have thought of that! Anyway thanks!!

There are cars that are mild-hybrid which means they can heat the car from the app but the Golf doesn’t have that feature. I would look at the ID.3 if you want a VW as it’s a great car which is essentially the electric Golf.

@@TechInTheCar well the golf mk8 im going to buy is mid-hybrid, hope they add the feature

I didn't see any mention on the GTE for example of that feature but I didn't have one so let me know! Thanks!

It is probably an update since I made the video. If you have issues delete alexa and try again. It may also be your internet connection.

I had some issues with connecting to the internet myself. In my case the issues were down to the privacy settings restricting access so first thing I would check are those. The next thing I would do (and I know it’s very basic) but uninstall and reinstall it. If that fails I would consider resetting the system back to factory settings and trying again. I hope that gives you some ideas. Feel free to let me know if you tried these and if they worked. Happy to talk through it with you and see if we can sort it out.

@@TechInTheCar Hey many thanks for the swift reply 😀 I've done all of this factory reset / uninstall reinstall etc .....same thing still happens ! Now I'm assuming this only works if you connect your phone to the car as a hotspot ? Is this correct or should it connect via the esim? Do I require a data plan ? Seems pretty daft 🤔 what are your thoughts ? Again cheers for your help Stu 👍

On the car in the video it worked off the car connection. On U.K. spec cars they come with the connection to the internet as far as I understand it for 3 years. If anything else is working that’s an online service (such as downloading the app in the first place) then I don’t think thats the problem. Have you tried connecting to WiFi or your phone to see if that fixes the issue? I’d also suggest check the privacy settings again as they caused me lots of issues.

@@TechInTheCar Morning that is interesting so the car in the vid worked of the cars esim connection not a mobile hotspot ? I only managed to get this working via a hotspot access ..would be interesting to understand what software version this infotainment system is on ? Cheers stu

It is important to consider that the car I used was borrowed from the VW dealer and not my car. I didn't get it from factory new and my issues were simply in getting myself added to the app (as you need both keys which I didn't have) and privacy settings that stopped my connecting at all to the internet even just to get traffic updates. Even setting up the App wasn't easy as it didn't accept my existing account so I had to create one ON the car. I don't know if it was from new if I would have had any issues like you have with Alexa. Unless it is in my video I didn't make a note of the software version. Have you tried asking on VW forums? Someone there with the car might be able to give you some other suggestions. In terms of using Alexa it was on the SIM that is built in using that data and it worked perfectly for me. Maybe one other suggestion that might be worth trying is to set up a new user and make them the owner and they do it again. You would need a second email for that and like I did set it up ON the car.

If you are not sure about the seats I would take it to the dealer. However if the heating isn't turning on when you manually turn it on then it sounds like a problem. It is totally possible that she is sitting in a position that the seat doesn't detect her because she is very light (I wish I had that problem myself!). As for the app I would maybe try the typical thing that you should do with an app issue - turn the phone on/off, sign out/in on the app, uninstall the app, sign out/in on the car. If after all of these steps it is still missing on the app then it may be an issue; but it is important to remember that the service/oil information is just a clock counting down and it isn't required. In fact services for some cars can happen outside of the service indicators. I would suggest as long as the car still shows that information on the infotainment system it isn't something to be concerned about. But I understand you want your new car to be perfect - so if that is the case the dealer is where you should take it.

I didn’t have any issues setting it up so I can say what the error code is. However I would troubleshoot this - At which point is it failing? Is it on downloading from the VW shop? Is it on linking to the account? Make sure you have your car connected to WiFi when setting up and your phone also has data.

Hi I’ve reduced the privacy settings and the error code has gone. The system is trying to connect but keeps telling me to wait. What do you think is the issue? @@TechInTheCar

Yes - the privacy settings. They are designed to keep your data secure but caused me issues too when setting up Alexa. Is it Alexa connecting? did you link your phone? are you on WiFI? I need a little more specific information about what is connecting and how far you have gotten. Thanks!

These systems do not natively support video playback for safety reasons. You may be able to find an Android Auto or CarPlay app that will allow it although even those are technically not allowed.

It might be that the internet connection isn’t great and so it isn’t sending the data to Amazon. As long as the car is showing the set up as complete I would try turning the car off and leaving it for 15 minutes just in case the issue is the car and if it still doesn’t work I would expect it is the internet so I would maybe try connecting to a different WiFi network or trying a hot spot from your phone.

@@TechInTheCar it is already on a phone hot spot

Turn off the phone and restart the hotspot. It may have dropped connection. And it still possible the data doesn't have a good connection. What you need to do is to trouble shoot this by going through every possible cause until you find the reason.

You can use your own SIM card or connect to WiFi, but personally I’d just use Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

you can use your own SIM card but you won't get your automatic updates so it's down to personal preference I hope this helps

That’s a great question. Think of it like this. If you connect your Android phone/iPhone then the car actually has 3 voice assistants. VWs own system, Alexa (if you download it) and Siri or Google Assistant. Long pressing the voice button will bring up your phone assistant. A short press will bring up VWs voice assistant. I couldn’t activate Alexa myself except by saying Alexa. However it might be that a long press without your phone connected will engage it. But Alexa in the car is still limited. It can’t play the music from your phone. Essentially if your phone is plugged in your better off using the voice assistant that uses. Thanks!

@@TechInTheCar keeps getting stuck on Code screen for me ? Is it UK only .. I'm in Ireland

This is the Life model - the entry spec so your car will have EVEN more features! You will love it when it arrives. How long do you have to wait?

Tech In The Car will be here by the 31 October

You must be excited! It’s next level cool.

Tech In The Car I’m so very excited so can I down load load the Alexa app

@@helenknight6683 Yes. Download the app create or connect your Amazon account and then your be ready when the car arrives!

In the VW Shop you can download Alexa. I hope that helps!

I bought a r line version 1.5 etsi and i don't have alexa in my vw shop? Why? Can you help me?

I agree that there are changes that you need to get used to but having driven it and the new ID.3 (videos on my channel) I think it is something you will get used to fairly quickly. The screen is close enough that you can reach it and you can use voice to control it. Most cars have similar systems now so it may be hard to find something different!

@@TechInTheCar true, but the voice system is kinda awkward to use and with passengers in it, they need to be quiet to actually use it. Nothing can beat the simplicity and easy to use interior of the mk7

I personally would always use Android Auto or CarPlay as I think those are best and then your just using your finger to slide the climate control up and down. I am tech lover as you probably can gather and for me I welcome these changes but your right about ease in the Mk7!

Yes you can. It is in the assistance settings; if you look at my other Golf 8 video I go through all the settings in that: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bb-Hld2YmNK8gKs.html

@@TechInTheCar Thanks that is real nice of you to take the trouble. I have only had it couple weeks and gradually trying to figure out everything but in my late 70s and the car is a bit smarter than me -- again thanks

@@arthurblundell6128 No problem. That is why I made this channel to help out with the tech in the cars. If you have any other questions or get stuck I will try and answer them as well. Thanks!

@@TechInTheCar I lease and the cost of this car was just under 28,000 (I had the pearl paint) -- surprised there was no keyless entry and find out it was a £400 extra which is a little surprising -- given the price of the thing now.

@@arthurblundell6128 Keyless seems to be an optional extra on all cars even the ones that cost double the price it seems to be an extra! But the Golf 8 is very well tech’ed out with tons of safety features as you know yourself as standard.