Hi All,
many thanks for clearing my registration. I have joined up having acquired a TGE 3.140 as my work van to replace a T6.1 that had an unfortunate mishap involving gravity and a gentle slope, an incompletely-engaged handbrake and a building 30 yards away from where I got out of the vehicle. Typically the van didn't move until several seconds after I got out and was sufficiently far away that intervention was impossible. Inconvenient, but only bent metal and pride, and no-one else involved or any injuries etc. mercifully.
Following the insurance pay-out, I found a worthy replacement online. It is a 21-plate 3.140 MWB / low roof, formerly MAN's own West Midlands service centre service van on just over 200k with a very detailed service history undertaken by the service centre. Feels very tight as one might expect, and having driven it back up from East Anglia to Scotland I have done my first few days of work since acquisition. I've just installed a reversing camera to make life with a van somewhat longer than the T6.1 a bit easier. The van is pretty well bargain-basement specification, and doesn't have things I had in the Transporter such as AC, DAB radio, cruise and electric mirrors, but importantly, the heater works well, and I've been impressed with the the large format mirrors on the TGE compared to those in the Transporter.
First question then - if I want DAB radio, I can obviously purchase a second-hand head unit such as the 7C0919606 from a Crafter / TGE online reasonably cheaply. However, what else would I need to do in order to swap this in - presumably one would need a suitable digital aerial and so on - or can it just be plugged in with the existing FM/AM unit released and disconnected?
As far as cruise control is concerned I wouldn't be fitting this myself and I have no desired for 'adaptive' CC and all that jazz, so I am essentially looking for a basic CC setup. Would this require fitting a multifunction steering wheel similar to the one I had in my Transporter or are there any other solutions? I am aware that there are retrofit specialists so that would be an option, although a few months away as I need to book the time off and don't have cover.
Finally, I only have one key. Paranoia dictates that I would like a spare - are there any suggestions on how one goes about this in a way that is cost-effective, whether aftermarket or through the dealer / service centre network? I did think of calling the MAN West Midlands service centre in case they still have the spare kicking around that has been separated from the vehicle when it was sold on.
Many thanks for any thoughts or suggestions.
best, Robin
many thanks for clearing my registration. I have joined up having acquired a TGE 3.140 as my work van to replace a T6.1 that had an unfortunate mishap involving gravity and a gentle slope, an incompletely-engaged handbrake and a building 30 yards away from where I got out of the vehicle. Typically the van didn't move until several seconds after I got out and was sufficiently far away that intervention was impossible. Inconvenient, but only bent metal and pride, and no-one else involved or any injuries etc. mercifully.
Following the insurance pay-out, I found a worthy replacement online. It is a 21-plate 3.140 MWB / low roof, formerly MAN's own West Midlands service centre service van on just over 200k with a very detailed service history undertaken by the service centre. Feels very tight as one might expect, and having driven it back up from East Anglia to Scotland I have done my first few days of work since acquisition. I've just installed a reversing camera to make life with a van somewhat longer than the T6.1 a bit easier. The van is pretty well bargain-basement specification, and doesn't have things I had in the Transporter such as AC, DAB radio, cruise and electric mirrors, but importantly, the heater works well, and I've been impressed with the the large format mirrors on the TGE compared to those in the Transporter.
First question then - if I want DAB radio, I can obviously purchase a second-hand head unit such as the 7C0919606 from a Crafter / TGE online reasonably cheaply. However, what else would I need to do in order to swap this in - presumably one would need a suitable digital aerial and so on - or can it just be plugged in with the existing FM/AM unit released and disconnected?
As far as cruise control is concerned I wouldn't be fitting this myself and I have no desired for 'adaptive' CC and all that jazz, so I am essentially looking for a basic CC setup. Would this require fitting a multifunction steering wheel similar to the one I had in my Transporter or are there any other solutions? I am aware that there are retrofit specialists so that would be an option, although a few months away as I need to book the time off and don't have cover.
Finally, I only have one key. Paranoia dictates that I would like a spare - are there any suggestions on how one goes about this in a way that is cost-effective, whether aftermarket or through the dealer / service centre network? I did think of calling the MAN West Midlands service centre in case they still have the spare kicking around that has been separated from the vehicle when it was sold on.
Many thanks for any thoughts or suggestions.
best, Robin
