adamal

Pretty sure stock on the Mk2 pre fl non vrs octavia is 288. That's what I had before I uprated the brakes to 312 and I too have a 2008 pre FL l&k.

There is the issue of different connectors (they look like the ones in the preFL Octavia that were changed to FAKRA when the FL model came out) and the OEM one gets a phantom power feed through the am/fm line I believe. Whether that one does is unclear. Plus as stated by lowedb, the OEM ones work really well and for a saving of just 20 quid I personally wouldn't skimp.

I used the same kit and put it in the glovebox. I just had to buy a cover for the female port, part number: 4F0 035 909.
Most of the part numbers are here although prices are probably out of date.
http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/168370-mdi-retrofit/

I agree about not contaminating the seat of the seal. I added a tiny bit of silicone around the outside of the seal after install to keep it sealed (it is a good seal but does not seem 100% perfect so I feel more comfortable this way - just hope it doesn't damage the paint!).
Webasto is the heater used in colder climates and the curry connector is for the remote receiver to turn it on (not diversity - see the other thread you contributed too).
I have exact same setup as you and struggled in the cold too. They key is to keep any cables above the side airbags. With hindsight it is probably easier to drop the headlining but I did a write up in the DAB aerials thread I linked to above as to how I managed without.

The door card has to come off unfortunately. There are five or six screws, one behind the little speaker at the top of the door, one or perhaps two behind the main door handle (both which clip off with a plastic spatula or trim tool) and three on the underside. Then its slowly pull it off by levering off at the sides with the plastic tool. This step tends to break the plastic door card clips which hold it in place so you should get a few (cheap from dealer or eBay) for putting it back.
Once the door card is off you can take off the internal cover for the mirror plate and its obvious how to replace the mirror itself.
Hope that helps
Adam

Any of those will do it. Personally I would buy just the loom and mic from carsystems and look for module 3C8035730D on ebay for about £100. Wont give you much over the other units if you stick to iphones but will allow premium services with Samsungs etc.
What ia extra with the later 3C8 modules is they allow you to connect your phone for calls but a separate phone as a media player. I view this as quite an advantage.
Adam

It downloads the whole phonebook somehow not just SIM contacts. It is mighty clever kit... Voice control is byte 1 (bearing in mind there's a byte 0). But not sure the Bolero does it...

Yes agreed, 77 telephone needs ticking in the gateway module 19...
Then code up module 77 using the coding helper. The last two bytes are 01 01, which is not obvious from the helper.
Adam

I dont know that it is apart from perhaps being narrower to fit between the side guides???

When the car is connected in the mode that allows texts (rSap), it takes over the SIM card.  This means the messages are on the SIM card when you leave the car.  To retrieve them go into messages, then settings, then manage SIM messages.  They can be copied from there onto the phone.
 
Alternatively you can use the SMS menu on the maxidot to copy the message to the phone.  Howeve, I find this a bit hit and miss on my S3.
 
Hope that helps
Adam

Simple answer but no!

I reckon it has fallen through into the centre console as it just slides into a couple of runners from underneath (as I think I recall from when I took it all apart to replace the handbrake gaiter last year).
 
If you remove the ashtray and vents at the back of the armrest, you can probably see it.  Search out centre console removal on here and there are some good instructions.
 
Adam

It is certainly a pretty new one.  Does it tell you the firmware and map version too?  Firmware is a 4 digit number probably beginning 4 or 5, maps also 4 digit beginning 7.
 
Adam

Reasonably good news in that you are pretty up to date.  7690 is v8 maps which you might have seen mentioned elsewhere and are fairly recent, although I believe v9 are available and the dealer should probably have given you this version.  The firmware is recent and offers a pretty full range of functionality (similar to this: http://www.my-gti.com/3354/volkswagen-rns-510-firmware-upgrade-to-version-4020-4024-4026-4028).
 
Regarding the maps though, I have v8 and am pretty content with it.  I am not shelling out for v9.
 
Adam

There are three white connectors are in the middle of the loom in that picture, two are connected together when it arrives and the mic you fitted presumably went into the loose one? But if you swap those connections over before fitting the mic, it should then work.
 
Adam