leolito

I also have wondered about that, as it seems in different places the "chrome" is actually a different coating, if not a different material altogether. I am part of a project with a MB W126 being restored, and I've noticed the 'chrome' trim on the bumpers and roof contour is actually metal which has been nickel plated, and tremendously resistant to atmospheric and corrosive agents - but if scratched sometimes polish might not save it, and it needs to be re-plated which is, at best, "difficult". The window trims on the doors instead, I've found out are actually anodized and polished aluminum, which became a popular (and cheaper) alternative since the 80's and 90s, but more prone to pitting and fading of the color (it gets "milky", don't know ho to explain it better). Regular cleaning and polishing keeps it at bay, but with time, the sun and so on it degrades irremediably. Now looking at most cars in the market, this seems to be a common application, with the inevitable results. When I was more fully engaged with car (vintage and old audis mostly), I've noticed every subsequent generation will have less robust treatment of the brightwork, B3/C3 models and also C4 to an extent were very good (that's be 80 and 100 for the uninitiated 😜), B5/C5 (say A4 and A6 since the late 90s) suffer more, and if you look at A4s from 2001 onwards the aspect of the trim can be horrible. I have not found yet a way to reliably restore the trim, polishing does not restore it fully and have not seen any other option except replacement. Perhaps on a BRAND NEW piece of trim, coating with a proper lacquer could make the trick, but I have never seen a brand new piece of trim to sacrifice for the cause ... 🤭

Bap, do you know the part numbers for that kit? Approaching 40k km on an unknown car I will put it in the shortlist. This is a job I'd rather do myself, I know how to turn a spanner (I guess is no harder than change an auto box ATF and filter ...). Plus I can count on the marvelous support in here 🥰

I had a few hundred km on the road today and I used the time to play with the ventilated seats ... you really have to be paying lots of attention to hear them ... in any case a great addition. I remember as a teenager toying with the idea using a PC fan installed somewhere and put it in my dad's 405 🤪 Then I read in a magazine Saab put them in the 9000 (I think it was) and I thought they stole my idea 😝

...the dealer branch manager mentioned that if I used the snow foam stuff to clean the car, it would tarnish the chrome strips as it is very caustic. Because this would be due to use of aggressive cleaning chemicals... He was fairly honest in his description of the problem, aggressive/cheap chemicals (typical in the coin-operated self-car wash) do ruin the coating, if you look around at most 'modern' cars around, you might notice the same, regardless of the brand. Also, I think this is not "chrome" at all, but some sort of polished alu and then coated somehow. Old "chrome" can get pitted, but not this way (remember the bumpers of an age ago?). Also convinced salt o whatever it is that they spray in the winter months has the same effect on the shiny bodywork. The same pitting you can spot it in the rims. I suspect a way to avoid this problem for manufacturers is the late proliferation of "matt black" "sport black" "night mode" et similia ...

Finally I found some time to go through this ... you've done amazing stuff on your car, compliments! I took also some notes on things to do sometime on mine as well, when time and commitments will allow. I've done a few full-interior noise treatment/insulation stuff in the past, and it makes a difference, in various degrees. I was curious as to why only the 'bitumen' parts for done without the soft closed cell part, but is interesting to see there is allowance to do that. My last project of that (my P38 RR), once I added, the carpet was a terrible fit, very precise fit from factory with no room to add material. Anyway, for now I will not be disassembling the car ... SWMBO would kill me, after all I promised this was would not be a "project" car 🤪 So things will have to be very much under the radar, a first for me. Thanks for sharing and don't stop tinkering 😝 Question about the vacuum, do the kits adapt to the existing motors or do have to be replaced? I had no time yet to go through the ru links, was thinking to do this when I feel ready to go for it ... maybe sometime in the summer.

Thanks ... I noticed the problem happens when I am doing copy/paste of links in my Excel table/log for the car (a quirk of mine) 🙄

bradecline, what warning you get? Mine besides the chime, also gives a signal in the display like "Warning: engine running!" or something similar. Very bothering ...

You mean a Haldex controller? I have gathered the following to read sometime ... gathered by reading here 🥰🤭 I do not feel ready to this (not now) https://www.dsa-electronic.de/superb-ab-2016/ https://www.vdveer-engineering.nl/index.php/en/shop/controllers/haldex-controller-gen5-0cq-detail https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/487343-dsa-haldex-controller-for-superb-iii-awd/ Sorry I cannot get the formatting right when I am quoting stuff !

I did not use the 'return/trade' option, also because of logistic complications, I'd rather a straight sell. 400eu is a fantastic price, my compliments! I found the bill from Gendan in 03/15 and it was 307gbp ... wow Will address this when the new lead comes. Correct indeed, noise is more an issue of the quality and age of the rubber. But I was also wondering about the ride quality ... the "sportiest" I ever had was 235/45-17 on an old A6 Avant, so 235/40-19 is pretty intense. Will see for all-season tires, but historically my geographical position warrants dedicated winter tires, while a but more complex (and costlier) arrangement, it pays off by the added level of safety it provides. I made the switch years ago and would not go back, at least for an all-year runner. So my plan is to get some 17s and use them as winter, and will compare with the current (old) ones 🙂

Is not what what I have done "to" my Superb today, but what I have done "for" it ... I took a deep breath, cough up what is due, and got a new HEX-V2 from Gendan, to take over my old HEX-CAN which became .... obsolete, it seems. Will bundle it up with my old trusty Dell laptop that is also due for replacement, and try to sell the combo to another happy user. I am taking it easy ... after all, this is my first "non project" car in many years 🙂 However, next in line: mudflaps

I am also interested in the result. I remember seeing some old topics on that ... but more info, the better! https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/497571-matrix-light-on-superb-3/ https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/457554-let-there-be-light-160w-led-bar/page/2/

Good to know about the two bar, I would have not imagine 😁 Yes I know during freezing weather is not good to have the folding mirrors option 'active', lest to risk a motor burnt, and coat the door seals with silicon spray to prevent them "gluing" to the metal, but the hitch ... ok. I also agree on the mudflaps, maybe I am too old fashioned but I think they should be standard in all cars. Pity they are not so nice as once it was ... seeing a nice old Landie with those huge "flags" or some other classic vehicle or that era brings me always a smile. I am actually procrastinating in the subject as I have them in a bag ready to mount (was courtesy of the dealer when I got the car, they were top notch actually).

Nice review! I have also noticed, as numbskull correctly mentioned, that tires make a dramatic difference in the noise level, especially in cars where other aspects are well "covered". Being used to 'louder' cars, I seldom noticed this ... now I am almost obsessed 🤭 Mine came with Bridgestones which, besides being huge 19s, seem also at the end of their life with almost 40k km and ~3yrs., and they are quite present at speed. For now they will do, but for their replacement will look carefully at the noise level. I am actually inclined to 'downsize' as well.

I add myself also here ... car is brilliant. Made a round-trip of south east europe of 3200km only two days after getting the car delivered and I actually started learning the ropes as I went 🙂 And fairly economical as well, returned an average of 12/13 km/lt (say, 7 to 8 l/100km), considering not exactly economy run speeds ... There is still loads more to go .. but so far all good. I was shocked and horrified to learn it had its first 'service' done at 30K km ... modern engines oh well. I booked it for a check regardless, while I need to select a 'new' VCDS from Gendan, mine which I got from them 10 years ago became outdated (like most things, alas, I am still struggling without CDs 🤪). Will continue reading and reading ....

Here is me as well ... 2021 Kombi 280 L&K, Quartz Grey with Beige, close to 40K km. Photos on the pic thread.

Here she is, to add to the list 🥰 (I cannot make the order I want yet, sorry)

Hello all, I have finally found a way and decided to join this great community. How? Well, I've crossed paths with Skodas (and Briskoda) a few times, but it was always a temporary affair (say having for three months a Superb II TDI Kombi as a part-trade car) or something that never materialized (like lusting for a Octavia II FL Scout TDI when it came out), or just looking for info. Well, after a long time thinking how to upgrade my transport needs to the XXI century, the change (and upgrade) is in the form of a fairly recent Superb III 280 FL Kombi, of which I am more than satisfied. Car is brilliant 🙂 And getting myself in here was the next step, and especially after I scoured some relevant topics over the last weeks to acquire information to make the (I hope) most adequate choice ... And who would I be? Well, long story, but approaching the half-century, and after a few whirls here and there life has thrown me in the Balkans, where I am residing in Bulgaria for around two decades now. And for now, is okay. And why a Skoda? Because is among the most reasonable and balanced brands out there, a great jack of all trades, right what I need and want in this moment in life. And what have I left behind to get here? Well, this car will have a difficult task ... has large shoes to fill, starting by the fact is the first time in a loong time I buy something I can "use" and not actually "rebuild". Will be glad to talk it over in future posts. Now I go to bother in the specific areas and learn how to post pictures ... Thanks again!