JamesK

So, an update... the car went in last week. A few hours later I was contacted by the dealer to state all the issues were fixed. Apparently, on the request of Skoda, they performed a reset, and a software update, and that had resolved all the issues. However, I quickly realised that the issues had not been fixed at all. I'm not sure what software was updated as the infotainment system is still showing the same versions. I also wasn't sure if they were testing the car without a user being logged in. As soon as I got the car back I re-connected my Skoda ID, and quickly noticed the issues with climate sync and bluetooth were still present. With regards to the lights they commented that they'd had a few customers complain about the matrix lights. They said they'd checked the alignment and it was fine. My response was that I didn't think it was related to the alignment, it was related to sections of lights being deactivated when it detected oncoming vehicles. They said that "maybe the camera isn't reacting quickly enough'... I've got a notification of an OTA update today as well, so I will see in the morning if that at least fixes the climate sync. On the updates... I told it to start the update when I got home, and then turned off the car. Will it perform the update in the background and have completed it by morning? Or do you need to keep the ignition on for the update to be performed?

I've stopped using it completely now, as it's not fair on other drivers. One of my friends has a Vauxhall with the Intelllux lights, which I believe are effectively the same as Skoda's Matrix system and he's been very impressed and not been flashed at all by oncoming drivers. For me it's frustrating that issues I've reported to the dealer are being treated as issues that have never been reported before, when it's clear many drivers are suffering from the same set of issues that are probably all down to poorly written software.

I got an OTA update as well yesterday. I'm on Hardware H56, Software 1668 and it hasn't fixed any of my issues either. My car goes into dealer next week for the issues to be looked at, and they've said there aren't any outstanding software updates. So I'm not expecting much to happen at this point. Are cars with H56 hardware limited to software 1668?

Here you go...

Hi All, I've had my Octavia since January, and have a few niggles with it, which I've contacted the dealer about. It's a 21 plate, but was built in July 2020. The issues are if I activate the automatic high-beam on the matrix lights it dazzles every oncoming driver. For Bluetooth it doesn't auto-connect to the phone unless I start the car with drivers door open. For the climate controls the SYNC function doesn't get remembered after the car is turned off. As this is all issues that have been discussed here I sent the dealer links to the issues here, along with my own videos of the climate and bluetooth issue: Climate Link Bluetooth Link Matrix Lights Link However, they've come back to say that they've been unable to find any issues relating to my vehicle. As I've sent them videos from the car they know I do have these issues. The software on my car is 1668, and I know some people are on later versions. Are some of the fixes of issues related to specific software/hardware versions on the car? The dealer is having the car for a day in May, and I do get on very well with them, I just don't want it to be a wasted day!

I asked Skoda support about getting Traffic Sign Recognition added to the UK store, and got the following response. Pretty much the response I expected to get.

I picked up an SEL First Edition a few weeks ago, but I haven't seen the Traffic Sign Recognition showing up anywhere in the store. Have you got a screenshot? It's something I wouldn't mind adding.

Many thanks for this John. That looks really neatly done, and as you say, easily removable too. Out of interest what are the pictures like on the rear camera? I'm very tempted to try this route of having a rear camera. As for the crash no-one was physically hurt, but emotionally I was pretty shaken for a while.,, this was on top of all the insurance issues to deal with. Getting a decent valuation for my vRS was a real challenge, but got there in the end.

I found the link from this thread here. The cable arrived yesterday so I'll try it and see if it works out ok in the next few days.

Hi John. Thanks for this. I'd definitely be interested in seeing some pics. Could you also share some pics of the rear camera install? On my Octavia 2 I had the rear camera installed (the one that sticks to the back window). The placement did become annoying as it needed to be placed in the centre of the window below the high level brake light. That along with the higher rear spoiler on the vRS meant I felt it did restrict rear vision a bit. On my Octavia 3 I opted to not bother having the rear camera re-installed.... That being said, I do regret it as I was rear ended in December and the car was written off, so feel I need to look at something for a rear camera. Many Thanks... James

I've had the Nextbase 522GW for a couple of years and it's been great. For my Octavia 2 and 3 it was installed with the Nextbase hardwire kit. However, for the Octavia 4 I'm going to try this lead: Amazon Link This is a lead suggested in another thread, and connects to the USB-C socket behind the rear view mirror. I'll see how it goes. My Dad has had the Nextbase 322GW for a while now and he's been happy with that, it's also slightly cheaper than the 522GW. Both are decent and easy to use.

Hi John@weehappypixie Did you have a chance to take any photos? I'm going to install my Nextbase camera soon, so interested to see what your install looks like.

😂 I'm still the sort of person that hand washes our cars, if I can once a week. I'm sure my wife thinks I'm mad, she's never really understood why I use two buckets! I just don't get the time to polish, etc, these days

Fully agree, as always to get the most out of these products it's really the preparation that's done before product application which is most important. I have asked the dealer *who* would be applying it, just out of interest. But in reality I will try and find a local detailer who could do a better job.

That was my gut feeling, but I thought I'd ask on here in case it was a decent product. I've got a couple of boxes full of various car detailing products. Before having children I got quite into detailing with cleansers, clay bars, polish, wax, etc. Nowadays I don't get the time at all.

Yeah that's my concern with the application. I think they wanted about £400 but I can't remember, so I've just asked them what they quoted. I only remembered as I was going through all the other insurance leaflets they've supplied for GAP insurance, Tyre and Wheel insurance, SMART insurance, etc, etc, etc.

Hi All, I'm due to pick up my 21 plate Octavia next week from the dealer. They've offered to apply "Gen 3 Glasscoat" by PaintSeal Europe... for a price! https://www.gen-3glasscoat.com/ In the past I've been offered products such as Diamondbrite and always declined. However, some of the reviews online suggest this is a much better product, if applied properly. Does anyone here have any experience with having it applied? As the car I'm picking up is black, I'm probably a bit more interested in having something applied that can keeping it looking good for longer!

The insurance company have been somewhat 'difficult' to deal with regarding the valuation. First of all they wanted the list of options, then they wanted the prices, then the list of options had to come from a Skoda dealer. They also wanted me to provide examples of used vehicles that were the same mileage and spec as my car. Given the current used car market, that equivalent car doesn't exist. What I could prove was for what they were offering I could only buy a basic spec vRS with much higher mileage. Anything with a spec approaching mine had far less mileage. It has taken a lot of calls and finally a conversation with the assessor to actually agree some common sense. They have now, finally, offered a settlement value which is fair, and that's all I wanted, but it took a long time to get there.

Thanks for all the info. I’ve got the Nextbase 522GW. For my previous 2 Octavia's I’d had the hardwire kit installed and the installer always used a switched live circuit, so it powered on the camera with the ignition… so I think plugging an adaptor cable in next to the mirror will do the job nicely.

Hi All, I'm due to pick up a 21 plate Octavia in a weeks time. I need to get my Dashcam fitted to the car. Am I better off asking the dealer to install it using the Nextbase hardwire kit, or find a short cable to run from the USB-C socket near the rear view mirror? Many Thanks...

Many thanks for this, it really helps.

Hi All. A few weeks ago my Octavia vRS was unfortunately written off in an accident. I'm now dealing with the insurance on agreeing a valuation of the car. They've asked me to give them a breakdown of the options on the vehicle and their associated costs. My car had quite a few options on it, the service department of my local dealer has sent me the following: Is anyone available to give me an idea on the costs of the extra cost options? Many thanks in advance...