Scout for Ballooning

[Innes]

Hi,

Will use this as a build thread for my new Scout, picked it up at the weekend. It's my first Skoda.

I will be using it as my daily as well as a retrieve vehicle for Hot Air Ballooning. (Chase car that can get in and out of muddy fields and up rough "landrover tracks").

2009 Plate Octavia Scout. MY09?

(Must be towards the end of the pre-FL Scouts).

Very impressed with the car.

- Magic Black (Mettalic?)

- 57k miles

- PD 2.0 Diesel

- Maxi-dot display

- Xenon headlights

- Usual optional extras Scouts come preloaded with.

A few jobs and projects planned for this car, updates to follow.

New to Skoda but not new to VAG cars.

Innes

[Innes]

To do List:

- Reattach rear parking sensors and get ECU coded to work when towing (aftermarket towbar fitted).

- MFSW, either mk2, mk2 FL or mk3

(Need to do some reading and searching)

- Rear boot door catch catches or jams slightly.

- Would like something a bit nicer than the Stream head unit, would like on of the new Android units but I may settle for a Columbus unit as I can integrate it with the Maxi-dot and rear sensors and parking display.

- Haldex oil, don't think it has ever been changed.

- Figure out a good daily/offroad/winter tyre/alloy setup (would quite like just to fit one set and keep them on all year).

- Potential exterior cosmetic changes.

Ideas:

Don't know if it has been done before but

-Heavy Duty Airbags, Low for motorway, can raise for offroad. Also ability to "slam" it, hard park it and be cool. A Scout lowered to the deck would be quite hilarious and upset a few I'm sure!

Innes

Edited 8 February, 2016 by Innes

[Innes]

Have had a few cars over the years 

 

- Lotus Elan +2S 130/5 (John Player Special Limited Edition)

- mk3 Golf 1.8 Auto (former granny-mobile) - Gone

- mk4 Golf 1.6 - Gone

- mk1 Eunos Roadster (JDM import MX-5) a lot of modifications including DIY turbo ~220bhp - Selling

 

 

 

 

Other VAG cars in the family

(Me and my Dad do most the work on them, already used to VCDS).

 

- Octavia Scout 2.0 PD

- VW Touareg V6

- VW Polo 1.4 TDI

- T5 Transporter/Camper

 

 

 

Innes

[Innes]

Picked the car up on Saturday from Fort William, and drove it back across from West coast to East coast. Scotland has some fantastic roads particularily on the West coast, forgot to take my SLR with me which is annoying.

Stopped off at the Laggan Dam on the way back, rivers were in spate from all the rain we have had recently and the water coming out the dam clearly showing this!

 

 

 

 

 

Popped in by a friend to drop off some ballooning equipment at south Queensferry (first job for the Scout). Need to include the car in the photo next time! Doh! 

 

 

 

Innes

Edited 8 February, 2016 by Innes

[Innes]

First little "mod" this evening, bored and don't have any money to spend on the car currently, but I do have spare bulbs!

 

"De-tango'd" the headlights by swapping the standard amber bulbs for chrome Orsam bulbs (still flash bright amber).

 

Before -

 

Bulbs -

 

After -

 

A nice small touch, will do the rears too but I will have to order another pair of bulbs first.

Also need to get colder temperature bulbs for sidelights and high beams to match the Xenons.

Any recommendations Orsam, Philips?

 

Innes

[Innes]

Update -

 

Discovered -

The boot release button on the key fob has to be held for 2 secs (have had many a VAG car with this function and assumed button didn't work!)

 

Fixed -

Rear boot catch plate (boot shuts with ease without needing a "hulk smash slam" to make the ECU happy.

Rear parking sensors plugged back in as not towing currently.

 

Fitted - 

Heko wind deflectors

Rubber mats (muddy feet landing in muddy fields this time of year)

Front mud guards (rears to be fitted after have time to perform some scout plastic surgery).

Variable boot floor retro fit (won on ebay for £30!)

 

Arriving soon...

- MFSW from pre-FL Octy

- Loom and controller for correct towing electric function

 

Trying out different T10 LEDs and W5W wedge buls to find some same colour temperature as xenon headlights (for sidelights/door mirror puddle lights and fogs).

 

Opinions for best looking rear spolier for an Octy estate?

 

Innes

[Innes]

I can confirm a 77,000 cubic foot envelope (the fabric balloon bit) fits in the back of the car nicely.

 

 

2016-03-15 23.25.49 by Innes Worsman, on Flickr

Edited 15 March, 2016 by Innes

[Innes]

 

Scout meeting (trip to the parents house).

 

Innes

[in2k]

Nice car and touch on the ambers, think I will be doing the same on mine! 

[Vonsharpe55]

I will be following this. I just purchased a 2011 Scout 2.0 diesel and will be keen to see what mods that you end up doing to this. Mine is the update model but most things should be similar. I'm keen to do something with the suspension. Mines done 176,000k's and needs some love.

[Russell1071]

Have you had any luck on the mfsw retro fit . It is my first day here and already getting help on new head unit as my balero on my scout has just stopped working on the cd side . Also I miss mfsw controls for the stereo . Is it a hard job as I am abit of a novice but a willing one at that .I do like your thread . Good ideas

[Innes]

Had a lot of fun with my Scout for the past 2 years

Quick catch-up post of everything I have done...

 

 

swapped amber bulbs for chrome amber bulbs in rear lights

 

 

 

fitted black/charcoal VRS headliner from a written off scrap VRS estate (LOVE IT !)

 

 

Pressed plates (pre - referendum  )

 

 

Fitted highline control module and MFWS

 

 

Fitted genuine VAG tow electrics and removed horrible bodged previous electrics and repaired loom.

[Innes]

New ATE discs and pads fitted before road trippin' with the balloon to Italy last summer

 

Columbus DAB + sat nav fitted 

 

 

Scout alloys power coated and fitted new Michelin CrossClimate tyres (couldn't pick any other brand living in Dundee, they make them here! Michelin in one of Dundee's largest employers)

The CrossClimate tyres have been great for the minor green laneing and offroad they have seen with hot air ballooning.

 

 

Edited 27 January, 2018 by Innes

[Innes]

Back in June 2016 we camped and completed the north coast 500 road trip around the top of Scotland including a trip to Applecross over the epic Bealach NA BA pass

Scotland has some fantastic roads if you go during a quiet time and are lucky enough to get good weather the "NC 500" is now a rather popular tourist "thing".

 

 

 

 

 

[Innes]

France summer 2017 the Scout's AC was perfect for the heatwave, I suffered whenever we were outside! 

 

 

Also disgraceful amount of dust!

[Innes]

Hot Air Balloon Trip to Umbria, Italy Aug 2017, Scout did 3000 miles round trip and didn't miss a beat.

 

 

 

 

[Phillips]

That looks awesome! 

[tintinandcharlie]

I think we're about to jump into a 2007 Scout tdi. Did you get round to any engine tuning/remapping?

 

What size Cross-climates have you fitted? I have them on my current (Zafira) car and would swap them if they fit the Scout.

 

Do the VAG towbar electrics have a Parking Sensor deactivation facility?