Tenorio74

Sorry to revive an old thread guys, but Mbames I was wondering if you had the part # for the Golf MK4 Bowden cable as there is no Skoda dealership in my country. A dodgy mechanic broke my cable some months back and I he gave me a wrong cable as a replacement (too short so I had to use a piece of wire clothes hanger as a makeshift extension). It's still working but we do have VW dealership so if it's the same length as a MK4 cable, I could probably get one of those. Cheers,

Hi all, okay this is the update: 1. OEM Skoda lamps in Chile = USD 940 to import, so they're just as expensive as here in Peru. 2. At the time being, I have no one at the embassy in Germany to receive the original lamps. =( 3. Aftermarket lamps in Chile I have found to be just as inexpensive as they are in Europe (approx. USD 75 x lamp) - I asked, they're Taiwanese (I have a Taiwanese friend who always makes me notice Taiwan is NOT China =D ) My train of though is as follows: If the lamps are not "optimum quality", I guess the parts most sensitive to "failure" would be the electrical components (plugs, levelling motor, etc.) I would also assume (although I cannot be 100% certain), that the fittings for the bulbs and motor are the same. Therefore seeing as those parts of my lamps are intact, I could swap the electricals onto the chinese body. The experiment would cost me about USD 150. If not, my only other option is to buy the OEM or Hella lamps via eBay or whatever, and see if Mike's friend in Germany would be so kind as to ship me the parts. Does this make sense? Any thoughts? I've attached a diagram that got me thinking this... Cheers, Augusto

OK, so I'll wait and hear from Martin, while I figure out if I could have whichever sent to the embassy en Berlin. If the lamps are dubious and maybe wouldn't be reliable, then I guess I would get Hella or Original (seeing as I and you guys are going to all this trouble, and they will be all the way over here!), there being only about a ±€175 euro difference for both lamps and blinkers. Let see what comes up about these lamps. Does anyone have any aftermarket stuff like this so as to comment on quality? Thanks, Augusto

Not sure, I've never brought stuff for my Octy that way. Shouldn't go missing really.... And as for customs, I will pay the needed taxes as it's illegal to import used auto parts (courier, dhl, luggage or otherwise). I'm not really sure how it works when something comes via DHL etc. from europe, addressed to an individual. I will have to get in touch with customs people to figure that out. Also tomorrow I will be asking my father if we know anyone in the embassy in Berlin, as that would be the safer option I reckon. Keeping my fingers crossed either way! And if this works out, there's a lot of other stuff I'm going to be bringing over!!! :clap: Thanks! Augusto

Thanks Frisco! I just finished sunday lunch with my daughter, and took a sec to look at that eBay link. If it's a legitimate deal, it's just what I need! =DI don't speak german so I'm roughing it out with google translator... But the deal would be so much cheaper than the originally located lamps on the web... I'm always a bit of a skeptic... But as said, there's no better option because I was thinking of buying the whole set anyway. My only indecision is should I request shipping, or have the lamps sent to the embassy (my father was a diplomat, so eventually someone he knows would -I guess- be coming from Germany... Patience is a virtue). Does anyone else have any thoughts on that link? It look ok to you guys??? Thanks all,Augusto

Hi all, this was actually supposed to post 5 hrs ago...:p First of all, sincere thanks Mike for your help, and the whole forum. My Octy is such a trooper, that my only regret is that I haven't access to spares. Sheldon, if I understand right, your estimate would be: 1. 150 (lamp) + 90 (regular uninsured post) = 240 or 2. 150 (lamp) + 120 (DPD delivery - is this like UPS or Fedex) = 270 or is it 150+90+120?? ***UPDATE just read the whole thread now... so it's 169+60 euro? That's about $300 US, which would be about $470 LESS what I'm qouted here.... So we're getting somewhere Mike btw, I checked the ebay link again, and they're at 75 EUR? Could that be right? If that's the price I'd have them bought and sent to the Peruvian consulate in Berlin, as I could probably find someone travellling here given some months time - that is, if the eBay seller is genuine... Thanks all for your input, I really appreciate it. Augusto

Such a sad ending to a beautiful car.... =( Too bad the Atlantic Ocean is in the way, I also could have used most of what you scrapped to make my Octy a post FL...

Sorry pulled the fuse, dials sprang back to life and found the soldering solution after searching the forums. Thanks, Augusto

Thanks for the advice.... I'll go into Radio Shack and get a kit. And then I'll practice, and probably aski again exactly how I need to "resolder" the parts indicated.Until that time, no fuse 15, trip counter or clock in my Octy. At least I can see what speed I'm doing now!Cheers,Augusto

So this is how it will have to be done! Thanks as well za_killer, at least now I know what I have to do! You guys reckon this could this be done by someone who has never soldered anything in his life (I am however a graphic artist, and have a very steady hand)... And I have been a fan of taking things apart and putting them back together (I am DIY in that respect).... Just never done any soldering.... Cheers, Augusto

Thanks Mike, please let me know about the german sellers - my german is no longer existant (it was when I went to school in the UK).... Let's see if any other Euro (maybe Czech) members have any ideas or could lend a hand - I'm new here so I really don't know anybody yet. As for the indicators, those were qouted here @ a reasonable price, so if I get the headlamps elsewhere, I could get the indicators here so as not to bug too much. I am in Lima (capital city), Peru. Thanks, Augusto

RallyeSport, Mine has been doing that, the dials drop then come back. Lately they are down more time than up. DId just the fuse fix your problem? I have a 1999 Octavia L&K, AGU engine. Cheers, Augusto

Mike, those are exactly my lamps! At 75 EUR it's unbeatable. I could pay another 150 euro shipping (really have no idea how much it could be) and still be about 150 dollars UNDER what I get qouted here. If your friends in germany could really ship those over to me here, I think that could be a solution! Let me know please, I assume my Paypal should work... I regularly purchase stuff from the US, and have only once had my non-US paypal be a problem. Thanks, Augusto

Thanks Frisco, I'll be aiming for clear glass however to match the earlier style.... But good thing is you got me looking around on german ebay! Cheers, Augusto

Thanks Mike, In fact my indicators have 4 ribs as seen, then they become clear plastic. I had never actually noticed the ribs, they blend in. However, seeing as my Octy came with clear glass headlamps, logic would dictate that the indicators would also be clear (my Octy was Czech built, and purchased in Romania). I don't know if the fact that it's an L&K has anything to do with it. Thanks for the indicator offer - are they clear? I have found a replacement 1U1 headlamp by HELLA, clear glass, for my Octy. Imported final price, about $350 each, so we're getting better. I assume if they have the same code they will have the levelling and all.... There's SKODA in Chile and Ecuador, but the dealer I called in Chile never answered phone or e-mail; and I have nobody in Ecuador to bring me the parts. Will see what comes up and I'll wait for your pics. Cheers, Augusto