PetrolDave

I guess we must have been lucky then as SWMBOs 1.2 Fabia was bought in 2005 and sold in 2016 with no timing chain related issues.

Not sure I believe a word of that 'explanation' - a radio station having to renew a licence with EVERY car manufacturer? I don't think so Do logo updates work on other VAG models based on the same platform e.g Golf 8, and on other manufacturers cars?

Do you mean only the twin charger version? SWMBO had a 2005 Fabia with a 1.2 3-cylinder normally aspirated engine for 11 years and it never missed a beat.

... in order to force owners to go to VAG dealers? If it was just about data protection then VAG would have implemented a means for independent workshops to access SFD - without having to pay the huge costs of ODIS/FAZIT which are uneconomic for many independents.

Do you mean crunching? If so it sounds like a weak synchromesh on 2nd gear. How many miles/kilometres has your Octavia done?

The hydraulic brake is only held on for a few seconds after the vehicle comes to a halt, for TJA to work it needs the EPB to apply the non-hydraulic rear brakes. Yes the Octavia III does NOT have EPB hence TJA is impossible on an Octavia III, but is possible on the Golf 7 & 7.5 and Octavia IV which DO have EPB.

I also think the EPB is necessary for TJA to work. Why? Because when the vehicle is stationary in a traffic jam TJA needs to be able to apply the 'parking' brake otherwise the car will either creep if left in gear with the clutch engaged or will roll if the clutch is disengaged, and hence needs the EPB.

IMHO that's very bad - service history WAS available until they "updated" the app in December 2020, so to not restore a feature that was working for up to a YEAR is IMHO ridiculous. I've also contacted both Skoda UK and Skoda in Czech and had a similar response that "it's been referred back to the developers".

Remember to connect the charger to the battery positive terminal ans IMPORTANTLY NOT the battery negative terminal but the tag on the body where the negative lead from the battery is connected (this is to avoid confusing the battery management system on the car).

This was quite a common problem a few years ago on Audis - the heated rear screen was used as an antenna as well as a heater. To prevent the interference getting into the radio signal Audi fitted an in-line filter that separated power and radio signal - this filter would fail and produce exactly the symptoms OP describes. IMHO worth checking if this combined heater/antenna arrangement is used on the Mk3 Superb and if it is then I would get the filter replaced.

BIOS updates only happen infrequently (unlike Windows updates which can be one than one per month). Unlike a failed Windows update - which can be recovered from by a (painful) reinstall - a failed BIOS update will often brick the computer, so the best advice IMHO is to only do a BIOS update when absolutely necessary. I've only had to do a BIOS update once in nearly 20 years of PC ownership - when the original BIOS wouldn't support more than 2GB of RAM and a BIOS update added support for up to 16GB of RAM.

I had the direct TPMS system on the Audi I had before my Octavia - after 9 years and 6 sets of tyres (it was an RS4 so it needed new tyres every 10k - 15k miles) it was still working perfectly when I sold the car.

The 1.0, 1.4 and 1.5 TSi engines ALL have a timing belt which Skoda UK recommend should be changed at 5 years. The 2.0 TSi engine has a timing chain.

You're misunderstanding the feature - for mirror dip to work the mirror switch MUST be in the position pointing to the passenger side and only the passenger side mirror will dip (to help you see the kerb). As others have said if you don't have the memory option the mirror will dip but when returning will in most cases NOT return to the same position - this is why I tried this feature and then disabled it as adjusting the mirror most times after selecting reverse was a PITA!

Did you have the mirror switch on the drivers door set to the passenger side mirror?

Duplicate thread - see https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/490076-smart-link-enable/?tab=comments#comment-5503477

The 'key' is a software code that has to be entered into the infotainment unit, not a physical key.

The official maximum height is 100mm on public roads, but some councils are 'not too careful' and have speed bumps in excess of that - plus in private car parks etc. there is no maximum height limit.

Since the aerial has already been replaced it sounds like the GPS receiver in the Columbus is faulty, I would be pressuring the dealer to replace the glove box unit (which is the 'guts' of the Columbus - the screen is just a screen).

No Skoda UK" = Skoda UK, the importer. Dealers, like Marshalls, should follow the recommendations of the importer - but some choose to regularly try to up-sell.

Haynes have recently said that with sales of printed manuals collapsing all future manuals will be digital only. Haynes to cease publishing new Workshop Manuals

When my cars are out of warranty I always take them to a local VAG specialist or independent - no need to pay dealer prices!

First comment is that they are mounted so low that using them would only be legal in fog to use at other times they need to be at least 500mm high- not what you want I'm guessing? IMHO rectangular lights would look better.

Take a look here

Not sure I'd be 100% sure about that branding...