jt57

I drive all over the country with my job and have lost count of the vehicles I see, when it is still dark in the morning or getting / is dark at night, that only have their front drls on because the driver doesn't know the rear lights don't turn on with them. I don't know which cars, if any, also turn the rear lights on also by default but it seems, by my experience, most don't. I think this is a feature that causes a serious road safety problem that should not even exist and all because most owners / drivers don't familiarise themselves with the functions of the vehicle they are driving.

Email sent. Let's see if they reply.

I also have the same one which was bought last May and that too has started to corrode around the edge. At the price I paid of £35, which in reality is very expensive for what it is, I thought at least being made of stainless steel it would last for the life of the car. I will also contact Kopacek about this matter and see if they respond.

Thanks for your reply langers2k. I will, now I know how, get some pictures up when I get a chance. In all honesty swmbo uses the car more than I do so I haven't had much chance to play with it yet. She is very pleased with it and finds it far easier to operate/negotiate than the Columbus. Due to the android os she says that it is like using a big version of her mobile phone. So, needless to say, if she's happy.........................................

I have had this unit for just over a 2 weeks and the only problem I have had I put in my original post. It is a perfect fit and everything works well. Except for pictures, which I have no idea how to post, tell me, what questions haven't I answered? My questions about can bus, original bluetooth etc, were aimed at members that may have a similar setup and if there was anything I should change to prevent any possible gremlins. Up till now i have had no problems with conflict between the original bluetooth and the one built into the new unit, so I just connect to the new one. Steering wheel controls worked straight away as did ac and parking sensor displays. As I have said the full specs are in the ebay listing so you should find the answers to all your questions there. Is that fair?

chris-1d & SimonM4S ;- The maxidot displays the frequency but not the station name. Not being funny or anything but all I wanted was some possible answers to my questions. All I've had is questions about the units look and functions. I bought the unit for the reasons in my post. I am not trying to promote it in any way. Please read the description in the ebay listing and make your own descisions on whether it is suitable for you. No more questions pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease.

Yes Chris_1d. All the specs are in the listing on ebay (click the link in my first post). Iain. Yes it will fit any car the Columbus will. It fits exactly in my Superb 2 estate. Maps are Igo8 but you can install any android GPS app you want. Please click link in my first post for all details.

Yes. All the specs are in the listing on ebay (click the link in my post). I have only included reference to the unit to illustrate what I have bought so if anybody else has the same unit they might be able to help with my questions. I am so impressed with both the quality and function of it and the excellent customer service I recieved that I felt it only right to mention.

After months of my Columbus unit intermittently working and then not it finally died completely. Due to the facts that :- 1) A brand new unit is totally overpriced (imho) for something so outdated. 2) I was never impressed with the sound quality. 3) The GPS satnav, I found, is too long winded to set up routes, or the best compared to my ancient TomTom, and new maps are also few and far between and expensive. 4) No usb input. 5) Very susceptible to theft by thieving, lowlife, work-shy scumbags..............sorry, I went off on one then. Anyway I have now bought and installed a new Chinese Android 5.1.1 all singing all dancing unit. ( this one - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/32G-Android-5-1-DVD-GPS-sat-nav-for-VW-PASSAT-Sharan-TIGUAN-TOURAN-CADDY-GOLF-T5/252435091954?_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D38661%26meid%3D542e4340626b4042ba57e46888099440%26pid%3D100033%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D8%26sd%3D252435091954 ) I chose this particular one because :- 1) It has a different layout (and bigger screen) than the usual replacement Columbus/RNS510 look alike units so less chance of being nicked, I hope. 2) It is Android and therefore it is easy to operate and there are zillions of apps you can install. 3) Built in wifi, bluetooth & can bus. 4) Shipped from UK with 2yr guarantee. 4) The real deal clincher...........a proper quadlock connector and dual aerial socket, so no extra adaptors or wiring to try and cram in behind the dash. I have also bought an adaptor to directly plug in the original shark fin gps receiver instead of using the supplied little block (which by the way worked faultlessly blutacked inside the dash before the adaptor arrived). All in all I am chuffed with this unit and it does more than the Columbus ever could for relatively peanuts money. There are a few little things it won't do like the directions don't show on the maxidot, but the radio frequency does. I have also found that there is a very low level sort of humming/buzzing noise when the unit is on and the side/headlights are turned on. This is only noticeable when the engine is not running. It is so minimal you can't even hear it with the engine running. First thing I tried was to put a ground wire from the units case to a good earth point behind the dash. No improvement. I have tried various things as suggested by the manufacturer/seller who, by the way, have an absolutely brilliant customer services dept ( thanks Paul ), but in the end even they couldn't find a cure. They offered to replace it with a different model, but could not guarantee that it would cure the problem, or a £15 refund as compensation. I took the refund and have ordered a 20A line filter to see if that works. Now, a few questions that I hope some of you may be able to help me with:- 1) Any ideas about the hum/buzz when the lights are on? (bty - my car is fitted with HID xenon headlights but I wouldn't think they could cause any interference with only the side lights on. Maybe you know better?) 2) Do I need to disable/remove the original bluetooth unit to prevent any possible conflicts with the new unit? 3) Do I need to use vcds to recode/untick any modules that relate to the radio, navigation etc linked to the now removed Columbus? 4) Are there any can bus code changes needed? 5) Do I wire the line filter thing in the permanent or ignition switched supply? There may be other changes I need to do that I haven't even thought about, so any suggestions will be greatfully appreciated. Thanks in advance, John.

I have had the letter for several weeks now but, as other members have said, if the car is running sweetly now why should I have modifications done to the software which do not give any benefits or could possibly jepodise the performance and/or economy of the car. If and when there is concrete proof to confirm that this mod has NO detrimental effect to the car I may consider having it done.............until then, NO THANKS. P.S. I am all for a better and cleaner environment but if reports on increased fuel usage since having the mod done are true how can using more fuel possibly constitute to less emissions ...or am I being thick?

I don't want to tempt fate but it has been four days since I reinstalled the software and it has performed faultlessly since. Time will tell I suppose.

This morning SWMBO moved car off drive so I could get my van out. Later she phoned me and said Columbus was alive and all working again. She's been out visiting this afternoon and just got back and all is still well with Columbus. It's doin my 'ead in. Do you think a software reinstall would be a good idea?

Hi. I think my Columbus has finally died..........It all started three weeks ago today when I put a new battery on the car. After fitting the battery I found the Columbus didn't work at all. Tried the 3 button reset/reboot....still dead. As it was late I left it, in disgust, and looked through the hand book to see which fuse powered it so I could check it the next day. Next day, after work as I don't use the car during the day, I pulled out the relevent fuse, in the box under the bonnet, and instantly dropped it. It fell down under the battery tray where my hand will not fit, oh joy of joys. I retrieved it using Blu tack and a metal kebab skewer. I checked the fuse, not blown, and put it back in. I then turned on the ignition and, lo and behold, the columbus fired up with the Welcome Aboard screen. Super, smashing, great. I tried the radio, satnav, etc and all worked. Next day swmbo took the car shopping and when I got home she informed me that the radio wouldn't work. I went out and tried it and, yes, it didn't. I did the 3 button reset and it booted up and all worked again. Since then it has worked and then not worked intermittently until yesterday when, whilst listening to the radio, it went off with a loud thud though the speakers. It came back on later for about 15 mins but did the same again. Now here's the strange part, when we got home I stopped the car, took the key out of the ignition, went round and opened the boot and as I looked into the car I saw the Welcome Aboard screen on the display. Spooky..... I had to turn it off with the power button and since then it is as dead as a doornail. Today I checked the fuse in the box again, didn't drop it this time, and also pulled the unit out of the dash to check the fuse on the unit and make sure all the plugs/connectors were seated right. All seem ok. From the way it has been acting I think it is a power supply problem, which may have been caused by a power surge when i fitted the new battery, but I had no problems before when I had the old battery on and off a few times when it went flat and had to be charged. Does anybody have an idea what the problem could be?

I would appreciate response from any members who have fitted wind deflectors to their mk2 Superb estate as to whether they reduce the horrible buffetting noise created when one of the rear windows is opened whilst on the move. As much as I don't particularly like the look of them on most cars I must admit that the Heko ones I have seen don't look too bad at all on the Superb. Thanks.

Unless anybody else comes on and knows how to repair it I can only point you to where you can buy a new one. Here is one source http://www.skodaparts.com/product/superb-boot-cover-2010-2013-50490 You could also contact Craig Jones at Listers Coventry - [email protected] - with the part number and mention you are a member of Briskoda. He normally gives a good price to members.