MarkyD

Thank you for the suggestions. i have projector style headlamps from factory and as they are pretty scratched, yellowed etc rather than polish I picked up a new set ( one genuine and one aftermarket )as I expect that to have a good improvement in light clarity with my halogen bulbs. had another awful return home from work in the dark plus bad weather yesterday. I will look into the led projector option. Are you suggesting using a particular headlamp unit more suitable to led or perhaps modify a xenon specific one? Without having one to examine I have read on previous old threads that it was suggested that basically the ones I have ( halogen projectors) were the same as factory xenon with maybe some slight difference in the projector lens but more importantly the levelling motors so that the car ( with the appropriate sensors and coding would control the movement of the lens). There seemed some debate on that so I may get a xenon headlamp unit to take apart. I,m trying to avoid the aftermarket hid. I have all the part numbers and prices for the level sensors and other necessary including that cable set. I have also seen that separate led specific projector lenses are available and the headlight unit can be modified for these. M

If you haven't found its location yet I am sure it is shown in one of the pictures in this Xenon FL retrofit by langers2k

Good morning, Every winter I look at doing a conversion. Maybe finally this year. Currently I am getting a list together for swapping out the headlight units for genuine Xenons . the front and back leveling sensors, range control module and wiring harness etc. I have VCDS and am assuming my Pre facelift L and K would have an option for factory Xenon so should be able to be coded. In the mean time I ordered the unsanctioned London colour HID ebay kit as recommended in the past using this link to have a play. Can anyone who did this confirm this is the right kit as I am concerned the pictures show a CANBUS Canceller black plastic box before the ballast which I understand could be a cause of potential harm to vehicle electronics? I have specified NON CANBUS but message back was to me cryptic. Thank you.

Yes there were 2 different sizes on the front axle ie driver and passenger were different sizes.

Thank you. m

Hello, I was just looking at the mot history of a Mk 2_ superb 4wd and in 2022 it was noted it failed due to different size tyres on the front axle. There is a period of a maximum of 2100 miles between this and the previous mot so assuming the 2021 mot inspection was decent this would be the maximum miles this would have been. What is the likely outcome of this and would there be damage or premature wear to the 4wd components? Thank you M

Hello, It used to be that Gates was recommended but have noticed they don't seem to be held in such high regard these days (anecdotal from USA websites/youtube). What would you recommend? Conti, Ina? Who are the OEM suppliers? Darkside do an genuine VAG kit for £260 whilst Conti and Ina are approximately half that. i will be doing it myself. Thank you

I would like to have a couple of cars likely in the sub £5000 bracket and because No claims Discount would only apply to one and therefore the others would be on zero years contributing to NCD (despite having well over 20 years total NCD), can anyone suggest a good company for either mirroring NCD or any other means of insuring more than one car? Generally insurance for me for 1 car is sub £200 but for another car without NCD would be a separate extra £450. Thank you Mark

i remembered this post regarding the differences in the 1.8 engines https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/2135-how-do-the-4-versions-of-the-18t-engine-fitted-to-the-uk-octavia-differ/ hope it is useful M

I had a Citroen cactus as a hire car for a few weeks whilst I looked for a replacement that was affordable and local enough to go see/get. I was having to do a long detour to avoid the flooded roads. I found a L&K 1.9PD Octavia Mk2 estate 3 hours away and arranged to have it delivered ( after cambelt, service etc done by deale)r as it was cheaper and easier that making another journey with a friend to drive it back. 2 days before the end of the hire period, on a rainy dark morning a pheasant flew straight into the radiator grill whilst I was going 50mph. I stopped and opened the bonnet. The engine bay was full of feathers . The bird had smashed through the plastic grill and pushed the radiator and air con radiator backwards. I have yearly wordwide car hire excess insurance and the car was from local reputable company. however damage repair costs of £1200 took 3 months to receive as they kept asking for more documents, proof, photos etc. I now do 30k miles per year all in 30 mile local journeys at an average speed of less than 40mph. Its nice not to visit the pumps so often and am doing a real 51mpg which considering our terrain is good. I just did my first oil change as I have gone back to fixed service. I have a starter motor to put in tomorrow. I did want another Mk1 4x4 or would have tried a MK2 4x4 1.9PD if I could have found one. Really like the Mk1 4x4 and been a good car for me. M

An update:- Incident occurred on second day of heavy rain. The back roads to work just before light. Going up a hill probably 20mph there was a slight dip before the road rose again. Just looked like normal wet road in that split second then care felt like hit a sponge wall and a brown wave of water up over the bonnet and onto the windscreen. engine still going and if I had got it into reverse quick enough may have pulled out backwards (never liked the push down gearstick to get into reverse). Car started to float I could feel the wheels losing traction and I was washed sidewards into deeper water and engine cuts out. Pushed to open the door but some resistance so decide to open window in case electrics fail. decide to climb out onto roof in the rain .Its very slippy. Its just getting light so retrieve phone from car get back on roof and ring friend to pull me out. No reply so ring autoaid who take an age locating my position. They advise me to ring emergency services so ask for fire brigade (who do a lot of flood rescue type stuff in the area0. Its light no and I can see a hedgebank about a metre away that I could probably jump onto. Unfortunately it is a huge mound of brambles for at least 10m in any direction. I am wearing shorts so decide not to get shredded. Water looks murky and smells slightly with a thin film of silt on top. Several cars come either end of the water. One even looks keen to give the crossing a go but I wave them away. Farmer arrives in massive pickup and drives straight into the middle throws me a rope and I slide down the bonnet and reach under the water to tie onto towing eye. I get towed out the other side just as the fire brigade arrive. There is an audi parked up by the side of the road. The owner arrives and he pops his bonnet and gets out his sodden air filter at the same time I do mine. turns out he nipped out for a paper the previous night and had a similar experience to me. said he pulled the car out with a rope on his own with spectators walking away. Garage arrive and put car on lorry and we retrace the road back home . As we are leaving the council arrive and start to unblock drain/gully wearing waders. The roads back are now seriously flooded requiring detour by recovery lorry. Hired a car for work and afternoon/evening caring role. Next day drop oil and change filters etc. suck water from inside cylinders. remove all air intakes and dry. Car fires up and runs. Change oil again. Take out all carpet and underlay. Put dehumidifier in car and got it nice and dry. work and caring means it stood on the drive a while and I got it on and off the ramp stands yesterday. It started up straight away and with another oil change have progressively reved it but not taked for a drive yet. some hint of burning oil but not major. Initially would like to keep and as done over 150k miles would another put engine/turbo in. alas no time spare so probably put in for sale section. Lots of good bits on it and I have lots to go on.

Can i ask where you got your replacement turbo from ? Thank you M

Stratguy https://www.ebay.de/itm/VW-Audi-Seat-Skoda-Austauschmotor-1-8-TSI-1-8-TFSI-Motor-uberholt-Stufe-1/183228693376?fits=Year%3A2010|Model%3ASuperb+II+Kombi|Type%3A1.8+TSI|Platform%3A3T5|Make%3ASkoda&hash=item2aa947fb80:g:FO8AAOSw1~JZN4xx Did you get a reply as to what has been done to prevent future excess oil use? Thank you M

I am assuming the car is a write off after having to make a swift exit onto the roof via the window. Water covered seat squab inside. I had gradually got the car driving well by replacing parts over the last 7 years with updated ones as they failed so better brakes, anti roll bars, steering rack, Bilstein rear suspension,stainless exhaust and most of the bushes replaced with polybushes. I would have another one as it suited my needs well but probably they are too long in the tooth to start again unless I come across a sound, well sorted estate. The question now is what to replace it with which I may be asking in other parts of the forum. M

Smileyman. I bought the Bridgestone A005 before any reviews because I needed new tyres and they were available for a good price. I had several sets of the previous A001 5 years ago then Crossclimate then several sets of Nokian Weatherproof. The new Auto Bild All season test 2018 puts the A005 first for wet and dry beating the previous winner the Crossclimate. It looks that snow running is rated worse than the Weatherproof and even the Crossclimate. However my main requirements are for good stopping on wet muddy roads and resistance to aquaplaning with standing water collected on nearside of road and run off from fields across roads. I really liked the Nokian Weatherproof and also found them totally reassuring in the last snow and icy conditions however wanted better wet braking so looks like I am giving up some snow ability for dry and wet ability. I have a set of the Goodyear 4 season2 if we have snow. First impressions over 600 miles are very good against aquaplaning, good grip on muddy slippy roads but a bit more noisy than the Weatherproofs. M