Is it really as simple as buying a columbus Nav for 500 quid off e-bay, fitting it and flogging my bolero for 150-ish....am I being a bit thick....seems to cheap to be true?

It will almost certainly need coding to the car so that it knows there is 'navigation' fitted. Will cost a few beers to someone with VCDS.

I'm not 100% certain, but I don't think you will need an adapter for the aerial.

You will probably need a new fascia / stereo surround as the Columbus is a different shape to the Bolero (I believe). Depending upon which one you go for, it can be anything from c.£5 (satin black) to £80 (Vrs silver metal).

Have a look at the threads on this forum regarding buying a used Columbus (and there are many), then make up your mind whether you think it something you want to do.

Yep, that easy. I payed 500 for the led version Columbus then about 60 for the the brushed alum surround and 30 quid to a decent local garage to fit and code. Got 150 back on the bolero so all turned out nice! Wouldn't be without it now, my mate bought one for his Audi last week from same seller and all is well

You will probably need a new fascia / stereo surround as the Columbus is a different shape to the Bolero (I believe). Depending upon which one you go for, it can be anything from c.£5 (satin black) to £80 (Vrs silver metal).

Columbus and Bolero do share the same fascia.

Columbus would need the GPS reciever though.

GPS receiver is about a fiver from ebay, and if you buy the columbus from ebay they usually come with one anyway.

Columbus and Bolero do share the same fascia.

I've learnt something today! I went from Stream to Columbus, so wasn't sure.

Aren't there two shapes of Columbus though? A Superb one and an Octavia one?

Yeah the GPS antenna came with mine, also check to make sure you get the west Europe maps if bought from former eastern block country. You will need the new fascia though as the Columbus is a bit smaller than bolero

I've learnt something today! I went from Stream to Columbus, so wasn't sure.

Aren't there two shapes of Columbus though? A Superb one and an Octavia one?

There's a Superb Bolero and a Octavia Bolero too. The Superb ones are taller:

....compared to the Octavia one:

(The location of the knobs is the giveaway )

Bolero, Columbus, Amundsen (and Plus), all share the same fascia, along with the VW head-units. (My 310 uses that fascia too).

IIRC only Stream and Stream MP3 use the other fascia.

Seems strange to me that they made different versions for different cars, especially given that the VW ones fit without issue in Octavia. (Not looked to see if they'd fit in a Furby)

Columbus and Bolero do share the same fascia.

Columbus would need the GPS reciever though.

Just to confirm, that's not true, you will need a new fascia if you currently have a factory fit bolero in your octavia. All other models, the fascia is the same.

DOH, double post.

Just to confirm, that's not true, you will need a new fascia if you currently have a factory fit bolero in your octavia. All other models, the fascia is the same.

Not sure what car the OP has (on my phone so cant see), but if its an Octy then as stated above you WILL 100% need a new fascia. (Bolero is wider than the Columbus). This is the route I went

The Superb Bolero is a different shape to the Octy Bolero,

Just to confirm, that's not true, you will need a new fascia if you currently have a factory fit bolero in your octavia. All other models, the fascia is the same.

Not sure what car the OP has (on my phone so cant see), but if its an Octy then as stated above you WILL 100% need a new fascia. (Bolero is wider than the Columbus). This is the route I went

The Superb Bolero is a different shape to the Octy Bolero,

So you're saying that there are three different size head-units for an Octavia: Stream/Stream MP3, Bolero and Columbus/Amundsen???

So you're saying that there are three different size head-units for an Octavia: Stream/Stream MP3, Bolero and Columbus/Amundsen???

As the OP currently has the standard Octavia Bolero he will definitely need a replacement fascia for the Columbus.

The two Bolero images in your post above are both variants only found in the Superb iirc.

This is the standard Octy Bolero:

As the OP currently has the standard Octavia Bolero he will definitely need a replacement fascia for the Columbus.

The two Bolero images in your post above are both variants only found in the Superb iirc.

This is the standard Octy Bolero:

Although that pic is misleading as it shows a Bolero with 'Navigation' on the screen ;-)

But seriously, yes I would make the jump to Columbus, I jumped from Bolero to Columbus and its a great, the screen is much crisper, and it all just integrates so well, I much prefer the whole look compared to having a dash mounted sat nav or phone etc, and if you have bluetooth as well then it just does everything, you can stream music from your phone so no need for the MDI, you can store all your music on the 30GB hard disk, so no mess with discs, no dash mounted sat navs, if you have maxi dot as well then you can just get all yoru sat nav instructions on that, it just turns the car (admittedly with other bits and bobs) into a fully integrated multimedia system, leave your phone in your pocket and thats it, job done!

I think to elevate it to another level then you could get better speakers as the OEM ones arent great, but thats down to personal choice.

Overall, its well worth the outlay.

I got mine direct from a guy who advertises on ebay and he couldnt of been more helpful, I paid him and the next day he sent tracking info, the unit arrived and was faulty, so I was a bit dubious about getting a replacement, a quick email and he sent new tracking for the replacement and then I sent back the faulty and he refunded the postage.

Although that pic is misleading as it shows a Bolero with 'Navigation' on the screen...

Yes I did consider that when I posted but was in a bit of a hurry!

+1 for the Columbus fascia being different for Octavia. I changed my Bolero to a Columbus and had to get the new one €69 for my local dealers would have been about €16 if It wasn't the brushed alloy effect one . It was 90% plug and play for me plugged in didn't need an adapter for aerial in my 11plate all worked bar the nav display on maxidot which needed VCDS action graciously carried out by my favourite local Briskodian the man and the legend that is magic62.

My apologies. The old grey cells were not as they once were.

Thinking back, the Bolero did indeed fit directly into the Stream fascia and it was when I got the 310 I got a new fascia, as the screws were exposed originally. (My Bolero is gone now, so nothing to physically compare with.)

I was talking beau-lux. I admit that now, in the cold light of remembering.

Although I searched for "Octavia Bolero" it seems that the bottom pic is the VW variant (RCD510), which would fit in the same fascia as Columbus. So, VW did produce 3 different versions of the same head-unit. (Not accounting for change from LCD to LED etc)

I've learnt something today! I went from Stream to Columbus, so wasn't sure.

My apologies. The old grey cells were not as they once

I was talking beau-lux.

I'll unlearn that piece of information now!

Many thanks to all for your helpful advice, I'm definitely going to do this. To the guys that have done this, if you can remember who you bought the unit from I would be grateful, I've seen a couple on e-bay, they look pukka, but I'd appreciate a recommend.

Many thanks to all for your helpful advice, I'm definitely going to do this. To the guys that have done this, if you can remember who you bought the unit from I would be grateful, I've seen a couple on e-bay, they look pukka, but I'd appreciate a recommend.

I went from Bolero to Columbus.

Used these guys -

www.oemretrofits.co.uk

£600 fitted, although you need to buy your own fascia. I had the Fiscon bluetooth fitted at the same time £1000 all in.

HTH