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As @MarkyG82 mentioned - a good quality sensible spacer will not cause any issues. I've had spacers on my previous mk2 Octavia RS, and my current mk3 Superb 220. I had 12mm hubcentric spacers on the RS for 6 yrs - not a single suspension/bearing issue. No premature tyre wear - I went through 2 sets of tyres in that 6 yrs, each set lasting me 60,000km plus. For 3 yrs plus now, I have 15mm/10mm (fr/rr) hubcentric spacers on my Superb. Again, suspension/bearings r good. I just changed my factory tyres after doing 52,000kms. They still had a another 2-3 mm or so of thread. Having said that - spacers r not "legal for road/street use" in most countries. Most insurers will say no deal. A lot of spacers r installed incorrectly, or people cheap out on quality. A lot of people get incorrect bolts, causing damage when they snap/break. A lot of people get spacers which r not hubcentric - this will cause bad vibrations n lead to suspension failure and damage the bearings. A lot of people get spacers with the incorrect bore size - again causing suspension & bearing failures. Cheap spacers will crack.

a decent sunrise sets you up for the day, esp after a 45min uphill pedal to see it..

Just to close this off. I was completely wide of the mark. It was either the plugs or the coil pack - I don't know which because I changed both. I took it to David in Enfield to benefit from his VCDS, but I also benefitted from his experience and advice!

Having long had a purchasing policy of buy brand new but buy cheap, we've continued the same way after relocating to Tenerife. Importing cars from the UK is expensive, second hand cars on the island are expensive, so a cheap new one was the way ahead. After researching the market in the Canaries, it seemed the likely choices were old stock i20 or Ibiza, or brand new C3 or Sandero. Having driven 3 of them already we tried the Sandero Stepway at our local UK Renault dealer. First thoughts it's a nice car, though the demo was the top of the range one. Modern inside and out, well equipped, and a good drive. The 1.0 triple is gruffer sounding than VWs, but seems to have better torque than my 110TSI. It's also a big car, 4 inches wider, longer and higher than a C3. Roomier than the other choices, and the interior matches SEAT/Skoda for quality and comfort, whist being much nicer than the 2020 Citroen/Hyundais. So, Mrs Spyyder chose the Sandero, but shortly afterwards I found out about the 5/6 month wait for one 😮 so I wasnt hopeful. Luckily, and unlike any UK dealers, the Tenerife/Gran Canaria agent had about a dozen in stock, so instead of ordering the lower spec one we were aiming for (and waiting forever), we spent a little more and grabbed a stock vehicle which was delivered 7 days later. Our bi-fuel car has an LPG system which improves the engine from OK to very nice. Smoother, quicker, cheaper to run and greener. In the UK theres no price premium for it either, so I wonder why anyone is buying the petrol . Is it really still cheap? Well the stripped out and slow 65PS Access was £7995 but Dacia UK have binned it. The range entry is now £8995, but again its only 65PS. You have to have the 90 or 100PS engine really so the Sandero in mid-spec now is more like a 10.5k car. The SUV-look Stepway is another 1k on top, but most seem to be buying the higher Comfort or Prestige models of that one, which whilst loaded can get up towards £15k. Ours is middle of the Stepway range, and only lacks blindspot warning and satnav options from the highest spec (but has Carplay/Android Auto so who needs integral nav?). These prices are for possibly the biggest supermini on the market, nearly the size of a Golf, and the price competition are mostly tiny citycars, or very basic editions of comparable hatches. It's still real value for money whatever you choose, but no longer old tech, this is based on the current Clio/Juke platform and is genuinely a modern car. I can see why its #1 in European sales, and I'm glad we beat the rush, as stocks in Spain are dwindling now too.

Picked up a little run about. Sorted out the Audio gave it a wash and replaced badges so far.

I have removed my arm rest and am looking for where I can buy a cover for the hole left

An excellent win for me I think. New to me Superb Combi 2.0Tdi 170 Elegance, I thought the clutch /DMF felt "odd" with a "tinkle noise and vibes". Car went to local garage who replaced DMF / Clutch. (I went for the DMF as opposed to the SMF to maintain refinement). Got a very full service carried out at same time. ALL fluids, filters and belts. Brake checks (Dealer who supplied car changed out Disks, callipers and pads) suspension etc checked - no sag so springs may have been replaced already. Dampers fine. Brakes very well. Fortunately it came with a SMTA (Scottish Motor Traders assoc) warranty which covered £1000 of the cost to replace so £780 for the rest of the work. At 93k miles the car now feels like new, pulls very well and is very refined. Only got the 18" wheels to change to something smaller with higher profile all season tyres to improve the road noise / refinement. I dont go fast anymore. Many large capacity motorbikes owned berfore so got the "speed" thing well out of my system years ago. I've now spent £6530 to own this large luxury car in excellent condition. Should be reliable and is very comfortable. Just got to work out the Columbus stereo eating my contacts list from phone and I think I'm done for a while. No errors on vag-com either. Win all round I think. Superb I would say!

i got up and put in the dark yesterday morningand ground out a 13k on long hill , but out the north face at tge top rather than the full summit to the east. tge drop down to the front of the face and then the climb back up from it to come home, is a bigger climb gain than doing the 13k to the proper top.. its weird. but fun. i enjoyed it, even though i was knackered. it was the first morning in 4/5 minths i had my light jacket on to keep the cold damp off... felt weird too..

Porous, this is exactly it! I just couldn't think of the word. Thanks, wheel arrived, hoppefully fitting tomorrow, will update the thread just for others benefit.

To me it looks like most car makers are facing the same problems.so if you cancel 3/4 months down the line.then reorder a different car you are back to stage 1.so you are waiting longer for a new car.am just going to wait until I get the car I want and not take a backwards step.

A couple from today. Great looking BMW and a Lotus Elise about to arrive at the scene of its own accident.

Just like everything else on an accessory or ignition live does when you operate the starter motor. When the engine is stopped by stop/start the engine is switched off but the ignition remains on. I mean, would you be surprised by a dashcam stopping and restarting when you operate the starter after stalling the engine?

Might be talking out of the top of my head here, But I'm sure I read somewhere that E10 froths more and therefore aerates more improving ignition. I've switch to E10 in my 1.4TSI Octavia and have to say that performance is no worse and in fact I think could be marginally better and I haven't really noticed a drop in MPG.

No; these only apply to trucks with separate chassis, such as Land Rover Series models. You have a unitary construction chassis body, (often misnamed as a monocoque).

PDF version is attached already...

I’ve done it. you need this loom, this microphone and a module. the one I used was 5k0 035 730 B. that gives you Audio and calls! also it needs to be coded in.

On my car I noticed that the front alloy was badly scuffed and just thought the lady was very bad at parking near the kerb of the road. But upon further investigation when looking to replace a Lambada sensor under the car I could see that the complete let side of the suspension had been newly changed so it was obvious that she had just had an accident but did not tell me. The tyre wasn't inflated up correctly and that helped to reduce the pull. When getting the alignment I took it to 2 places as the 1st one could not get it to run straight and the 2nd place noticed there were differences in the gaps from the hub to the strut of the left side compared to the right side and also the camber on my left wheel was naturally too straight as you look at the wheel from the front. They suggested that the hub was bent. You could not tell until it was taken off and then you could see it clearly.

I need to re do the ppe behind the spoiler on mine too , good work

You must be talking about the ones in vaccines? 👼

Difficulty removing dipstick? Be firm, just tell him to get out of his BMW! 😇

Rears are in! What should have took me maybe 90 minutes took near 4 hours. Took the plastic guards off and found, (you guessed it) more rust! Bright side is there was easier access to it so I just went with a wire brush on a drill and knocked all as far back as I could. No after pics, after I washed the arches there was even more rust lurking. Sorted every spot I could see. These shocks were honestly worse than the mk1s, amazed there was no leaks or anything from them. Neat picture I took, from top to bottom is: New Supersport rear spring Mystery stiffer spring from the mk1's stuff OEM Fabia "sport" spring OEM Fabia "normal" spring. I reckon I may put back the stiffer spring I was running, and run it on the new adjustable perches to give it a couple extra mm of height. All fitted and ready to go. Happily no broken bolts. Also painted the drums "Peugeot Cossack grey" because why not. They were dry enough at the end of it that I could put some copper grease on the mating surface of them to stop my wheels seizing on come winter. Quick and poorly lit picture of the finished product. Sitting much the same as before albeit the perches are wound right up. Overall, from the short drive I've done in it its much improved over the original stuff! Really its just made me even more eager to get the fronts in!

700kms on it now, mostly on LPG. The engine is tight and we live in a hilly area but the first tank estimate is 36mpg on LPG which is the cost equivalent of 65mpg at unleaded prices. Once it's run in I expect it will loosen up and do better. Drives nice, very roomy compared with similar small Skoda's & SEATs. And it's cheaper obviously. The only downside (in the UK) is the shocking delivery delays. Phone integration is excellent, using Google Maps and media apps from my Android. Going to give Waze a try tomorrow.

I've worked on quite a few Fabias for people, the TRC and Maxton splitters and sideskirts for the polo 6c/6r will fit, we are however limited with spoiler choice. I havent been able to confirm if the spoiler extensions from maxton will fit. You do have the option of a massive tailgate mounted spoiler, but they aren't to most people's taste. If you want a budget friendly option, spend £5 on an ebay rubber splitter. I did it to mine at the start of the year and a few people have followed suite. Its a cheap option, and done right it looks quite good. You also have the added benefit of extra durability, as the TRC and Maxton splitters are known for braking on speed bumps and kerbs if you have a lowered car. If you want to go a step further, you can also use the rubber splitter as a sideskirt. (picture of the cheap option below)

Also installed updated trunk bracket With Rubber insullation all around instead of old one with tinny sponge strip at the top causing that bracket to cut through the paint at lower lateral edges. That's proper factory upgrade

New old stock genuine boot bags

You don’t have to engage off-road mode for the drive to go to 4 wheels, it does this automatically in normal everyday driving. I would check that the Haldex services have been done as here in the UK it is an addition to normal services and even then Skoda dealers in the UK just change the oil and do not remove the pump and clean the filter unless you specifically ask them, and the garage you deal with has a clue. One thing to note if you haven’t driven a Haldex equipped car before if the front wheels do slip you need to keep the power on to allow drive to transfer to the rear, assuming your Haldex IS working.

See how cold the air is with the A/C switched on if you look at the 1.2, (and you care about having working A/C). If it's not much colder with the temp dial set to minimum and A/C button pressed and lit up yellow, it's probably not working and could be a price-lowering bargaining point. Might be a cheap/easy fix, but might well not.

An AC service is only a “requirement” when the performance falls off. Condition Based Maintenance is smartest. It’s a Skoda (dealer) requirement to take as much money as possible from gullible Skoda owners. As stated above, service AC when necessary. And always cheaper and possibly better at a specialist.

But they have time to pointlessly wade into a topic where someone is looking for help to brag about their attitude to their own scummy cars? There is one positive I suppose, it marks these people and I know never to buy a car from them, so it does help a little. 😂😂

Have a look in this section. 👍

Yes I have met with them on numerous occasions. You refer to "this change", nothing has changed in Europe, even if they did give a four X about country identifier plates on foreign registered vehicles, which they don't because in 40 years or driving UK reg vehicles in Europe I have never once had a GB plate, a GB or whatever plate that was legal yesterday will still be legal tomorrow, next year and ad infinitum no matter what political message the UK government is trying to convince you to display. It is a non story, there really are better things to worry yourself over if worry is your comfort.

And..... I am keeping the Golf, The Golf flew through its MOT a few Weeks ago and had Minor Service with Oil & Filter change using Genuine VAG Quantum Longlife 3 5W30 Oil & Bosch Oil Filter with New Genuine Sump Plug. The Car had a Major Service last September and Brake Fluid changed when I had the Calipers replaced so didn’t really need anything else and I have only done around 6500 Miles since buying it a Year ago. Next job in October is the Timing Belt, Water Pump & Auxiliary Belt. Then it will be going back into Winter mode with its Steelies. Why am I keeping the Golf? I have had an absolute nightmare finding a Car to replace it with and as I have a bit of time spare this evening I am going to share my experiences over the past 6 Weeks with you with you about the Cars I have viewed, Bought and even rejected... 1. Skoda Octavia VRS TDI, 66 Plate Car located in Louth at a VW Specialist. Very Low Mileage with less than 20K and described as totally immaculate. The Drivers Side Sill had been Repainted very badly with most of the overspray all over the OSR Rear Suspension Arm, Handbrake Cable and Wheel Arch Liner. 2. Another identical Car to number 1, Thankfully this was located local to me and I was in the area so no time wasted. Absolute shed though, Covered in Dents, Chips and Scuffs. Interior was not very nice either. 3. 2016 Ford Focus ST-3 TDCI Estate in Stealth Grey located at Inchcape VW Altrincham/Manchester, It was an 18000 Mile Car and looked stunning in the images but while I was actually there viewing the Car one of the Valeters pulled it off a Display Ramp on the forecourt for me to view the Car properly and ground the front bumper on the floor. I expressed my frustration and wasted journey to the sales manager who offered a Smart Repair but the Bumper looked mis-aligned to me as and was bowing out on one side and the panel gap between the Bumper and Wing was well out...Basically a Bumper off Job and possibly a New Bumper to make it 100%. 4. Skoda Octavia VRS 230, 66 Plate, 44000 Miles, Located at Listers VW in Leamington Spa. I was sent a video of the Car, Loads of images and so I thought it was worth the trip down. Instantly I could see the Car was a bit rough around the edges, Wheels needed refurbing, Bad Smart repair on the Rear Bumper, Damaged Window Seals and was missing Services in the History so walked away. 5. While viewing Car number 4, On my way back to Sheffield I called to Listers Skoda in Coventry to view an 8000 Mile, 69 Plate Octavia VRS DSG 245. The Car I couldn't fault at all and would have bought it however the Salesman I dealt with was a complete bell-end. From the word go I was given the impression that as I had not made an appointment and just turned up I was a massive inconvenience to the Staff there, I was given the Keys and left to look around the Car I had gone to view. The Chap I dealt with came outside and asked me if it was a Diesel I was specifically after? I told him the Car in front of us is actually a Petrol VRS which is what I was after and straight away he began to disagree telling me I had made a mistake and that it was a Diesel. Then proceeded to get into the Car, Start the engine and revved it before getting out and saying that I was infact correct and it was a Petrol. We went inside and I pointed out that the price in the Screen on the Car was in fact £300 more than what the Car was advertised for on their Website and on the Approved Used Skoda Network, Again he disagreed with me and said the price in the Windscreen was correct. We got down to the numbers and he offered me an extended Warranty, Service Plan etc going forward and then asked how I was funding the purchase and I said with Cash/Card Payment from Savings. He immediately said for me to forget the extended Warranty and Service plan as that was only available to buyers that went on Finance, Then went on to tell me that I should leave my money in the Bank and get the Car on finance which I found very rude as he had absolutely no right to tell me what I should or shouldn't do with my money. I should have walked out at this point but I really liked the Car and decided to make a very reasonable offer which to be fair was inline with other similar age/mileage examples on the Approved Used Skoda Network and given I wasn't eligible for the Warranty/Service Plan etc I felt I should haggle a bit and at this point he went online to look at the Figures and said I was correct about the price difference Online vs in the Window and then said that I could have it for the Online Price as it was already discounted by £300 which I knew it wasn't. He then turned his Monitor round and pointed out that 11 People where watching the advert on approved used website and that with that much interest in the Car he was confident if I didn't buy it someone else would, I told him that although 11 People are watching it those 11 People are not sat in the Showroom offering to buy the Car however I was and would have put a deposit on the Car there and then. He wasn't interested in me as a Customer and that came across quite clearly, I stood up and walked out at this point. Guess what, They still have not sold that Octavia Today over a Month since I viewed it and they have now reduced it even further to a price I would have paid for it on that day. 6. Skoda Octavia VRS 230, 66 Plate 33K Miles, After all of the hassle travelling around viewing all of the above Cars I made the Cardinal Sin of buying a Car without seeing it in the flesh. I bought it from a Skoda Independent located in Southampton after spending Hours on the phone asking countless questions, Seeing 15-20 mins of HD Video and loads of images I decided to go for it. It arrived and although I had the Thread deleted off here which I made I rejected the Car within 5 Mins, I had paid for it Delivering on a Transporter and it was driven 300 Miles by a less than desirable character. The Car was simply not as described and basically needed the Front End Repainting due to excessive Stone-Chipping which I was not told about. So the Car was rejected, Collected by the same Bloke who dropped it off and he decided to have a pop saying it was all a waste of his time and because I had rejected the Car he wasn't going to get paid. I gave him a F-Off Tablet and once my Money was refunded gave him the Keys and asked him to get off my property. Serves me right though for been lazy, I won't ever buy anything based on someone elses opinion ever again as People are just out to mis-lead you and rip you off. 7. VW Golf GTI Performance Pack, 16 Plate, 30K Miles. Drove down to Parkway VW in Derby to view this. Instantly I could see it was not a very nice Car Cosmetically so didn't bother asking for anymore information on that Car. 8. Whilst in the Derby area I had another Car lined up to view, Skoda Octavia VRS 245, Similar to the Challenge with all the Toys on a 2018 Model with just 18000 Miles. I had been talking to the Dealership the Night before and told them I was in the area the following day and at that time the price was £19990, I rang the Dealer after viewing Car number 7 and said I would like to come a view the Car. I pulled up and saw the price in the Window of £21300 and was met by another Jobsworth with a beaming smile painted on, I mentioned the Cars price increase and he simply said "Everything's gone up" I told him I was interested but at the original price as I wasn't prepared to ay another £1300 for no reason and he said there was no negotiation on that Car and that £21300 was the price. So I calmly walked out with my fists clenched ...Another wasted journey. And they have now since reduced the Car back down to £20300 a Month on. 9. Skoda Octavia VRS 230, 66 Plate, Meteor Grey and just 15000 Miles! located at Border Skoda Dumfries. I saw this and actually got excited as you might have noticed I have been after One of these. I actually put a deposit on this as the Dealership was closed last Sunday and I didn't want to miss out, I was sent a load of Images and a Video and I was planning on going up to view the Car Today. Salesman said the Car had Full Skoda Service History and I asked to see the Printout. Too good to be true, The Car was never Serviced until it was 3 Years old which was disappointing. Got my Deposit back, I didn't even bother getting into a discussion about the fact the Car clearly doesn't have Full Service History and that it doesn't qualify to be an Approved Used Skoda in the first place. 10. Golf GTD Estate, 66 Plate, 33K Miles. This was located at DACE Specialist Cars in Stockport. A supposed German Car Specialist. This was a Telephone enquiry, The Car is 5 Years old so is due its Timing Belt changing. The Salesman who thought he knew everything would not have it that the Timing Belt was due and kept quoting the Mileage and not the Interval that it was due. I could here him banging his keyboard and eventually he agreed it was due but that they wouldn't be prepared to do it anyway. I told him to stick the Car up his Rectum and hung up. German Car Specialists my backside. 11. Last One, I promise. VW Golf GTI Performance Pack, 66 Plate, 19K Miles. This was at an Independent located near Birmingham and had been traded in. One elderly Owner from New, Looked absolutely stunning and Full VW Service History done every 4000 Miles. I thought, This sounds like a winner and well worth viewing! It took them 3 Days to get me pictures of the Service Book as they couldn't answer what the Car had actually had done when Serviced. I quickly realised that the Car had been Serviced by VW every Year but had only had a Basic Lubricant Oil/Filter change each time and nothing else. Not to worry, I rang the Dealer and said I was still interested but that the Car never had its Brake Fluid done at 2 & 4 Years, Never had Spark Plugs at 4 Years, Never had the VAQ Differential Service at 3 Years and that it was also due a Coolant change as its now 5 Years old. I was happy to get all of the work done myself if the Car was as good as it looked in the pictures and had quotes from VW of £550-£600 to get all the work done as it was overdue. Given the Car was up at £21000 and was priced £1000 too high for a non VW Main Dealer, I asked for some money off the Car to contribute towards the Work doing OR if they would be happy to get it all done at their expense and I would pay the asking price. They wouldn't budge a penny or agree get any of the work done, Even though they agreed the Car was infact overdue for all the above work. This for me was the final straw. I have honestly never struggled so badly to buy a used Car, Over the Years I have now owned over 45 Performance Cars ranging from 5 Years old to 20 Years old and I totally get that sometimes you have to view a couple before finding the right example but this time has just been a nightmare. Been a bit old school and saving my Money for Car/Motorbike purchases means that whatever I buy is not just to fuel my Hobby but also it is an investment and I pamper whatever I buy. Not all but I think the Majority of people nowadays that get Cars on PCP and then hand them back after 24/36 Months just don't look after them, They use and abuse them and then hand them back. Then I come along and see a 1 Owner Car at a Main Dealership, Full Main Dealer History and then go and view it and its a total shed and when some of these Cars are over £20K in Money I really expect perfection for my money because if I had bought a Brand New Car and ran it for 2/3 Years it would be going back onto a Forecourt wanting nothing. I have bought £4000/5000, 10 Year old Cars in the past which have had 4-5 Owners and have been Cosmetically and Mechanically better looked after. Even my current Golf in this Thread was far superior to any of the Cars I have viewed over the past 6 Weeks and that was the catalyst for wanting to keep it. Why should I spend 4 x Times the amount that the Golf is worth for something that doesn't tick all the right boxes? So I would like to thank you for reading, Apologies if I have gone on but I needed to vent.

The easiest way to remove the springs is to undo the pinch bolt that attaches the wishbone to the hub carrier and drop the wishbone down: the spring falls out easily. Use a trolley jack to support the wishbone while you knock out the pinch bolt, it will give you control as it drops down (I used my motorbike jack, it stays level and gave good control to realign the bolt). Be careful doing the passenger side if you have xenon headlights as it's easy to pop the ride height sensor linkage apart. Pop off the sensor drop link before you let the wishbone down. The wishbone pinch bolt uses a deformable locknut and the service manual recommends replacing the nut and bolt after removal. P/N's for the nut and bolt are N106 286 02 & N101 064 02.

Sounds to me like OP is confusing Light Assist with Auto Lights.

Now sold!! End of an era

Well done ☝️ I really need to get out...