spcdust

When I input my VIN it offers: ECE 2024 CW 45/2023 45/2023 is week 45 year 2023 which is week commencing 6th November 2023. I wonder if OTA updates are more regular than what they put on the web portal?

I recall that there is a daylight-saving option in the date and time settings - I'll check later on but I would expect there to be on a modern "connected" vehicle.

Is that the latest maps database available for manual download as my maps version is 23.12? Likely my map database got an OTA update in January 2024 before my subscription expired.

I would be curious to try it but would prefer a free trial prior to paying £170. Unfortunately no option on the store for a trial. Maybe I’ll message them to see if it’s possible?

Curious - Is the auto headlight dipping effective and reliable? Does it switch between full beam and dipped in good time? Did you need to visit a dealership to fully activate it (that's what it says on the item on Skoda Connect but I wonder if that's just to ensure headlight levels are properly adjusted).

Good idea, as you know the salesman will tell you it has been updated and then you'll get there it won't have been. I have had my 70 plate (January 2021) First Edition since October 2023 and it came without the software update, I got it done at my local Skoda dealership (the original dealership was not local to me) and the difference is night and day. Now very stable and snappy.

if you are traveling to a dealer make sure they have indeed updated the software before collection. They are meant to do this as standard for Skoda Approved Used but they seem to often miss this.

Whilst I can understand the posts about earlier models, just to add the flipside to this, since software version 1941 the software has been stable and solid. Unfortunately, because it took Skoda an inordinate amount of time to get a grip on the software issues this has understandably undermined customer confidence. I have a First Edition SEL 21 plate and the Infotainment system is stable and snappy since I had the Infotainment updated to software version 1941 and also the SOS module firmware updated. I am not sure if this is relevant to the VRS spec but be mindful that in very recent years Skoda did change the standard specifications of the Octavia's over different production periods due to the supply chain issues that all manufacturing experienced over the last 4 years. So something that was part of the standard specification on the 2020/21 model may have been dropped on a 2022 model or not available at all. So I would scrutinise what specs/extras are included on any car you consider purchasing.

Then I feel the passenger mirror won't adjust for reversing as I think it's linked to having an electric driver seat.

If you have electric driver's seat then I believe you should have it. This is relevant for MKIV Octavia. There was a useful post from the other day that may help:

Did you have to pay for the software upgrade in the end or did they do it for free as ultimately it should have been done when you purchased it? Were you having any issues with the SOS module or was that all okay on your car?

Yep, why pay their inflated rates when your own bank will offer a far more competitive interest rate?

its 2 years if you buy it using Skoda finance.

Fair enough😁 They certainly are avoiding replacing them physically now and are relying on the firmware update to sort out the issues. Going back, there were cases of them replacing the SOS module but I assume that's when they hadn't figured out a firmware solution. The ridiculous thing is Skoda Approved Used Car Warranty does not cover software or firmware updates. As the Infotainment software wasn't updated to version 1941 as it should have been when the car was purchased it would give the buyer a lot of leverage to get that done at no charge but not so sure about the SOS module firmware if it wasn't showing signs of not functioning properly at the time of purchase.

They will only replace something if it is required / faulty, not all SOS units are faulty. Also, they now seem to have a firmware update for the ones that were a bit flaky and that seems to have sorted out the issues. My SOS module literally would crash every journey and go offline which then would cause some really weird side issues such as causing my Sat Nav (via CarPlay) to offset the position of the vehicle. They applied the new firmware and now it's pretty rock solid.

You jogged my memory - that's where I found it previously. For Tom J here the images:

They refer to it in the video, I am sure there are other videos that refer to it as well. I bought my Skoda Approved Used Octavia (21 plate) SEL First Edition in October 2023 and it was one of the supposed "benefits". However, like yourself, they hadn't updated the software and it was very flaky to the extent of being unreliable, fortunately, it was also still under the original 3-year manufacturer's warranty so I researched the problems, found a relevant Skoda-issued TPI, which covered some of the issues I was experiencing, and booked it into my local dealership who updated the software to 1941 and also updated the SOS module firmware at no charge. https://www.skoda.co.uk/used-cars/range

Surely, before purchasing the car, these are the sort of things you would research and be aware of? Traffic sign recognition has always been a paid-for option when specifying your car so that really shouldn't be a surprise - it's kind of neat that you can activate it after purchasing. As far as navigation goes, just use CarPlay / Android Auto and your preferred map application. Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze, or for £29.99 annual subscription Tom Tom - all of which are better than Skoda's in-built Sat Nav.

The dealer is definitely getting confused, which doesn't fill you with confidence! When I got my Octavia Estate SEL First Edition, 21 plate, in October 2023 it had an older software version and, along with a whole host of other issues, the car refused to let me complete the process of becoming the Primary User - I think it just said "Please Wait" and never got to the stage of using the two key fobs to finalise the process. It's a known issue, this attached TPI might be useful to go armed to the dealer as it mentions not being able to become the "Master User". Once they installed software version 1941, plus updated the SOS module firmware, it's been a huge improvement - the difference is night and day. I think it's best to be very firm and specific with dealers what the issues are and what you expect them to do - I go as far as printing out a document with a list of issues, any relevant additional information such as relevant TPI, and I leave one in the car so the workshop cannot miss it and hand one in with the keys. If you need the infotainment system updating don't let them fob you off that they can't do it and it only comes OTYA - they can. It might be worth having a read through these topics to see if there is any relevant information: TPI_2065556-10png5d4f06e59cfc0299d190c193b46a2866png (875×3775).pdf

Very frustrating. Just double checking, you’ve done the whole pressing buttons on both the key fobs in the car to confirm you are the Primary User?

You don't need to verify vehicle ownership with the dealer just to become the primary user - that can all be done by the user using the two car keys etc. However, you do have to verify your identity at the dealer to enable features, such as remote locking, which are not automatically enabled for the primary user.

The software version will change once the update is successfully installed. It is always a bit of a mystery when any of the Skoda OTA updates is received as to whether it has been installed or not or what it even was as no update history is recorded, which would be very handy, so you’re not sure what has installed unless you catch the notification at the time.

I think the whole history of VAG / Skoda not being able to provide a stable platform for the Octavia Mk4 over an extended period has rocked many users confidence. On the face of it, version 1941 and associated firmware updates do seem to be much more solid and stable but trust has seriously been tested, and when owners hear that there might be another "major" update on the horizon rather than being happy it kind of fills them with dread.

Possibly, but there does seem to be a fair amount of module firmware updates that exist as separate installs. End of November 2023, under the manufacturer warranty, due to multiple issues I had the Infotainment software updated to 1941 and also the SOS module firmware updated - this was shown as two separate jobs on the "invoice/works schedule". Whilst the SOS module issues greatly improved there were a few hiccups and come January I went back to the dealer to say the SOS module fix had not been completely successful. Annoyingly the original manufacturer's warranty had just expired and the dealer said they would have to do any subsequent fix as a chargeable job - something I thought unreasonable as the original fix was not completely successful but this was a Skoda UK issue rather than the dealer being difficult. Separate story but I took this up with Skoda UK who after a lot of back and forth they agreed to cover the dealer charge by way of a goodwill payment direct to me. It was mid-February, by the time the dealer could fit me in, and lo and behold there was yet another new firmware update now available for my SOS module which they applied (there have been quite a few over the short lifetime of the Mk4). Seems Skoda is constantly issuing firmware updates for critical systems control units and these are not necessarily part of the OTA updates but require dealer intervention - which of course they can charge you for. I would argue that Skoda would likely avoid OTA updates for critical systems due to the variation of specific parts used during the manufacturing cycle of the car and also the risk of "bricking" a part preventing the safe operation of the vehicle.

Indeed, the whole set up really feels like a house of cards. You might have the latest Infotainment software version installed but if a specific module that handles, for example, the SOS system, cruise control, parking sensors, engine management (the list goes on) is “faulty” then it becomes a paid for update. The dealers seem to just apply updates on a wing and a prayer hoping it fixes a reported problem without really understanding how the whole software / firmware eco system works together.