Dooge

Hey all, I have owned my car for over a year, 2015 Skoda Octavia VRS with factory supplied Android Auto (wired) which worked absolutely fine with my previous Samsung S21. I have recently upgraded to an Oppo X5 Find Pro, not an old phone but one coming to the end of its production (Oppo just announced the X6) I can play music through Bluetooth absolutely fine however, the stock Music app on the Oppo does not show in Android Auto. Spotify does, but I don't use it (I'm a bit of a luddite) If I use the phone to go to the Music app and play music, it will play through the in car entertainment as usual but I'll have no control over the song choice, skip, etc. I have seen in 2019 there was an issue with Android Auto with music apps not showing and they advised with a temporary workaround of accessing developer mode, which I did but it did not give me any further options. Android Auto is up to date and nothings updated on my car since. Is this a case of the music app not being on a particular list or is it likely more a bug? Is there any other music app recommended? Can I update the software from where it is? If I hit 'Update Software' will this do it wirelessly or do I need to download it from a portal somewhere? Any help appreciated! Thanks, Doug

Noted about needing doing, I figured it would but some said you can get away with it. Some debate it's fine but the way through VCDS will reset it to the correct height and keep all calibration in check. From what I understand, from using the Allen key screws it's for tiny adjustment. It may just be enough though.

Hey all, I've got some VWR Racingline 20mm lowering springs to fit soon and I am wondering if I'll need to adjust the headlights. Theres alot of topics from research, some saying yes, some saying no and ways of adjusting them (right way through VCDS or OBD11) or the wrong way through the Allen key screws. Who has fitted these particular springs and did you have to adjust anything? Thanks in advance!

I use something like Autoglym vinyl and rubber care, apply with a microfibre cloth and it will help stop dust buildup. Good leather cleaner and conditioner (both in one product tend to be a bit naff) and I find for any glass, 70% ethanol general cleaning wipes are better than any glass cleaner, you just need to give them a bit of a wipe with a clean bit of kitchen roll to get rid of any residue. Finally, a good hoover with attachments helps. I have an old Dyson with soft and hard brush heads works well.

Yeh, I am pretty sure it was when the tyre were due for replacement and I then fitted bigger tyres rather than the skinny things that are OEM size. It still looks tall, I have 20mm Racingline lowering springs to fit which hopefully will be on in a few weeks. It's got a full dealer service history and no signs of any suspension work so I just assume the shocks are in good order if they aren't sagging. I also think that better offset wheels would make it look not so high.

Just in case anyone wants to have their Xtreme's painted gloss black. Though ultimately would love to have some gloss black Pretoria's and the car lowered.

I think Pretoria's are one of the best. Or anything that has direction to it also seems to suit.

Love the look of the MK3, black on Racing blue works so well I think. The MK4 looks great! A few subtle changes makes it look really mean and a rare sight compared to all the Mercs/Audi's/BMW's, especially with a bit of colour. With the bike I opted for an estate. It is a big car but handles well and takes several bikes and kit easily. I have Racingline 20mm springs to fit as it does look very jacked up.

It's been a bit of awhile since I updated this. At the moment, other than a service, air con regas and MOT today nothings changed! A combination of the little one, work and weather have meant I've been too busy for anything other than the odd clean. I have lost one of my VRS wheel caps so some more have been ordered. Plan is to clear lacquer them and silicone underneath them so they stay in place, the existing ones are corroding too so that lacquer is needed. I also bought a second hand set of Racing line 20mm springs to fit which will be the next job soon. Hopefully this should be just enough to make it look just right. Plan is for 20mm rear spacers and 12mm front so it looks balanced.

Hey buddy, maybe a bit far but there is one in Saltash, just over the bridge in Cornwall. They are called Retrofits Southwest. I've used them for coding but seen they do headunits and full entertainment retrofits. There is one in Dorset called Advanced In Car retrofits or similar.

When you say a little shunt, do you mean a little jump like maybe its selected the wrong gear to pull away? Im anal and if Im going to be sat at the lights for more than a few seconds I will pop it into neutral. If I havent pulled up slowly and seen 1st engage on the dash and crawl up to the lights in 1st, itll jerk when it pulls away. I put this down to the box not being clever enough/not having enough time to engage 1st after being put into neutral. You'd think as a default it would automatically choose 1st after being in neutral but my box doesnt seem to do that. Gear changes and reverse are smooth though.

MK3 VRS definitely feels more modern inside than mk6 GTI. I had one before and its a Gen1 EA888 engine, only a handful will have had the problematic timing chain tensioner replaced too. They are marginally quieter but I wasnt blown away. The Golf definitely feels older, and you have to remember they basically have the same underpinnings as the mk5 Golf. They are the underdesirable one between the mk5 and mk7, a bit like the mk3 was after the mk2. The mk7 is a nicer car overall, most will probably be a bit better equipped than the VRS but definitely pricier. Power wise, the Gen 3 EA888 in the VRS I find is a more rounded product, but this be how the DSG box puts the power down and uses the rev range (my Golf was a manual) The Golf was mapped to 270 and it felt fast but stock clutch couldn't hold the power and would slip in 3rd upwards with a foot flat down moment, even feeding the power in more gently. Facebook was where I found my VRS Autotrader is overpriced chancers and eBay isnt reliable. The petrol VRS is probably rarer than the Golf too. Keep looking, they are worth holding out for.

Common issue in older Octavia's and Golfs. The board inside burns out. The only true way to guarantee to get it fixed is repair...some repair, some replace with 2nd hand, it seems to be juat delaying a problem.

Some of the silica tanks were double walled and you couldnt easily remove it. Likewise, mine was hard to see even though my coolant was fairly new. Its not a massive job to change and doesnt cost very much either.

OP, sorry to hear you are still having issues. No help for you but this thread made me find something new after 9 months of ownership... I didnt know the gearbox had a Sport mode! Id always defaulted to the VRS modes but tried it and definitely makes a difference for quickly overtaking. FYI, mine definitely kicks down regardless of VRS modes in Sport mode on gearbox. Hoping you get it sorted!

Second, D/S. Am I about to learn that I have some special function I didnt know about? 🤔

Maybe his DSG is setup differently to my VRS, I have driving modes via the mode button and then manual by pushing it to the left, either sequential or via the paddles. I assumed as he had mentioned economy mode it was to do with driving modes.

Not sure if the mk2s are similar but I would guess. Depending on what you go for (and I cant advise you on what would and wouldn't have unfortunately) the car you are looking at may have a solid rear beam or it may have independent rear suspension. Its common on rear independent suspension for flatspot wearing on the rear tyres, partly due to suspension design and partly due to the concentric adjustment bolt being rusted and seized as VAG install them dry. Can often hear it after 40 miles per hour, can sound like a helicopter. All mk3s suffer a bit with road noise but its not horrendous. Knocking or creaking lock to lock could suggest front topmounts are on their way out. Check for damp carpets, especially if it has a panoramic roof. Some older cars are starting to show signs of water pooling in rear doors because of dirt in the drain holes or the seals have expanded.

Good to know. I wonder if it comes down to torque of the engine? Like the old diesels used to pretty much creep using their own steam in first.

Yes buddy, this was around 96k from memory. The clutch and flywheel was changed, cost me £950 through an independent with OEM parts approximately 4 years ago.

Is this because its the dry clutch variant? Ive only driven a few wet clutch DSGs and they all creep from my experience. Just interested to know.

I had very similar on my old Golf GTi (mk6) which probably has a very similar box and clutch to the Octy. One day it just went half way down and wouldnt fully return. Could drive it but bite point was very low. Was told it was a tiny fracture in the slave which are plastic and get brittle over time. Annoyingly the slave is internal. If you can drive it properly a common mod was to bash out the little yellow plastic disc in the bleeder block on the mk6 so you dont have that delay between clutch pedal release and clutch engaging. Not sure if the manual Octy's have the same setup however.

Do you mean using the 'mode' buttons between Eco, Normal and Sport? If I engage Sport and the revs are low down it will kick down a gear automatically. Even driving in Sport and the revs drop or I select a higher gear, it will still force a gear down after a short while. If I push the shifter across to manual, the revs wont kick down and it will take on whatever gear it was in. I think I saw your other post, seems like the dealer is playing silly buggers. Yes it does throttle sensitivity but I thought that was the major benefit on the DSG, was that it keeps the revs high deliberately. FYI mine was serviced in November by a Skoda Dealer and I noticed no difference (there was a debate if it had been recently serviced due to no proof) and mines a 2015 VRS TSi. I hope you get it sorted.

I think with interest rates at an all high, lack of cars and massive delays on new cars its not a bad shout to wait. I suspect all dealers are upping prices and certainly things seem a bit pricier after Christmas too. Hopefully 6 months and the interest rate will start dropping and things will improve. Always best to monitor the market though. Still may find something that ticks all the right boxes.

235's also look soooo much better than the 225's which look stretched IMO. Ive been running 235's for a few thousand miles with no adverse reactions. The tyres were cheaper and its a more standard size meaning if you need one in an emergency I would imagine its easier to get a replacement. In terms of increases in comfort or grip its minimal and to answer your question, it barely gives any extra protection over a 225. If you want to check speedo error try willtheyfit.com, looking at it it says there will be less than half a MPH decrease at 30mph due to a slightly bigger circumference (meaning you'll be going under the shown speed) on a 235 over a 225, its so marginal it wont make a difference.