Chinook

Managed to get out for a long drive today. Unlike a couple of days ago, when I ejected the map DVD, it popped out without a fuss, and a message about 'verifying map info' popped up. After a few seconds, that cleared, and everything si working like a dream. Thanks, Skud.

Thanks very much. I'll give it a go, once the snow clears enough to get out and about!

How can I 'persuade' my Columbus to save my V7 maps to the hard drive? The first time I put the V7 disk in, it asked me if I wanted to use the new map data - yes. A few minutes later, it asked me whether I wanted to copy the map info to hard disk - yes again. I waited half an hour or so, and nothing seemed to be happening, so I pressed 'eject'. I got a warning that the data was still being down-loaded, and showed me its progress with a thermometer scale. So I cancelled the eject. 30 mins later, repeated the eject, and saw that the progress was nearly complete, so cancelled the eject again. 30 mins later, pressed eject, and the thermometer showed about a quarter complete, so it seemed to have started again. Over the next hour or so, I checked a few times, and it seemed to be copying, re-starting, copying, restarting etc. So I left it overnight. Now my nav works, but only if the DVD is in. I guess it has removed my original V6 maps, and is now operating from the DVD. Tried re-setting Columbus (<, >, i), re-inserted the DVD, but it still didn't prompt me to download to HD. Suspecting that the original DVD might have been faulty, I burnt a new one, using the lowest possible write speed. No change. Grateful for any expert advice on how to get the maps onto my HD.

Been through the windscreen drama myself, a few weeks ago. After getting a stone chip which turned into a large crack, new windscreen was fitted. I then noticed that the wires to the rain sensor were exposed. I complained and, after much to-ing and fro-ing, AW discovered that the 2011 MY Octavias have a slightly different windscreen. AutoWindscreens called me, very apologetic, with this verdict. They had not realised this, and were ordering a batch of the new style windscreens direct from Skoda. The new style has the mirror/sensor mount slightly higher than the old one, hence if you fit an older style windscreen, the mirror fairing will not reach the roof lining, and leave the wires exposed. As soon as they received the windscreens from Skoda, they promptly and efficiently whipped the wrong one off and fitted the correct one. No exposed wires. I personally have no complaints about AutoWindscreens.

My Octy was supposed to have variable servicing set, according to the service booklet, but it was actually set at fixed. Took it to my dealer, and they reset it to variable.

With any of the phones actively connected, on the MaxiDot go to Phone, Bluetooth, Users. Select the ones you want to delete, press OK, and you will see the Delete option. You can even delete the one currently connected.

Just gone through the same process with my 2 month old Octavia Elegance, also with top tint and rain sensor. Big crack on the windscreen after being hit by a stone, so rang the insurance company. AA fitter arrived and put a new screen in. I was at work at the time and had left my car at home. When I drove off the next morning, I noticed that the rear view mirror was lower than before, and that the wiring between the mirror housing and the roof lining was exposed. I drove to my Skoda agency, and saw that the new Octavias have their mirrors mounted slightly higher than previous models. So, next day, fitter arrives with a second windscreen, saying that this was the latest model they had. It was clearly wrong as well, as the rear view mirror patch was below the tinted area, rather than half into it. He rang head office, who rang Skoda. It would appear that MY2011 Octavias have the mirror mount slighrly higher (having looked at the cars, I could have told them that!). Glass company is now acquiring new windscreens from Skoda, and mine is being re-re-fitted on Tues now. In slower time they will manufacture their own version, as they do with other windscreens.

Potential Solution - I had the same issue in my Octavia. I ended up having to delete my 'profile' for my phone, and set it up again from scratch. The problem is, you can't get access to the profiles unless you have a phone paired and currently active - chicken and egg come to mind here! My workaround was to borrow a friend's phone, and pair that. With it actively connected, I went to the MaxiDot options - Phone, Bluetooth, Profiles. I selected my old profile and deleted it. While you are in that menu, you may as well delete the 'temporary' profile. Then set up your pairing again with your own phone. It should succeed. Good luck.

You are correct in that the 7 digit postcode search has not changed. What has changed is the mechansim for downloading this to an SD card. It keeps a record of all of your searches on the PC/Laptop and, when you next plug in your SD card, you press 'Sync' and the SD card is synchronised with your saved PC destinations. You can edit that list on your PC, sync again, and the SD card will be edited as well. So no change to the nav search, but a more swept up method of copying to your SD card. I like to use this system if I know I am going to a particular location before stepping into the car. I find the nav facility in the Columbus somewhat clunky, much easier to select 'New Destination', 'SD Destinations', and pick from my list.

The VW site has upgraded its VW Labs navigation utility. This gives 7 digit postcode search on your PC/laptop, to download to a SD Card, to use in the Columbus system. It can be found Here The new utility sets up an automated sync system for your SD card, and it uses the Google Maps search engine. A much improved system. P.S. When you register, you will need to 'own' a VW. But we do, don't we?

In my Octavia, with factory-fitted Bluetooth, I have had cause to access the Bluetooth menu as well, and discovered a little 'wrinkle'. In mine at least, the Bluetooth menu on the Maxidot is only available when you have a bluetooth phone paired AND currently connected. It drove me batty until I discovered that. However, you should be able to access the Phone menu on Maxidot at any time. If you can't see a Phone menu, I guess you don't have Bluetooth fitted.

As the author of this thread, I am delighted it has sparked such a lively debate! I have read all the posts with interest. My initial post was purely on fuel costs alone and, in this case, I let my head rule my heart and bought a petrol engine. Many people buy 'with their heart', and like, for instance, the relaxed cruising of the diesel, its low rev grunt, and the extra economy. Interesting points about DPF and DMF. These have become real penalties for owning a diesel. But, as one poster said, who knows what problems will befall the Tsi engines 50,000 miles downstream. In the end, each to his own.

My last 3 cars have had diesel engines but, when I came to buy my new Octavia recently, I decided to analyse whether I should do the same again. I looked at it purely from a cost basis, as follows: I compared an Octavia Elegance manual hatchback, with the 1.4 Tsi petrol engine, against one with a 2.0 TDi engine (about the same performance, on paper). Looking at the list prices (without VAT), the diesel would cost me an additional £2664. Purely from the brochure, combined mpg figures were 44.8 for the petrol, and 58.9 for the diesel. Current petrol prices in my area are 116.9p for petrol, and 117.9p for diesel. Number-crunching that lot, I calculated that the fuel cost per mile for the petrol engine was 11.86p, and for the diesel, 9.10p. Therefore the 2.0 TDi costs 2.76p per mile less than the 1.4 Tsi. To recoup the initial extra outlay of £2664, I would need to drive for 96,521 miles! As I only drive about 12-14,000 miles per year, and keep my car for only 3 years, it simply wasn't worth it. I haven't taken into account things like servicing costs, insurance etc, but I think I have proved that, while petrol and diesel fuel prices are so similar, you need to be a high mileage driver to justify buying a diesel these days. At least on paper....

Interesting..... I have a sharks fin aerial (I presume for the Columbus), and attached is a whip aerial (I presume for the radio), around which is twisted some wire (I presume the TMC receiver, or maybe AM, not sure). Anyway, I get very good GPS, FM and AM reception.

The Zenec looks like a serious competitor to the Columbus and, with its Parrot BT kit built in, could be more compatible with more phones than the Columbus. When you add the Canbus integration, it looks a winner. I wish that I had seen this before I specified Columbus and factory-fit BT on my car. I would have gone for a Bolero, with Maxidot and MFSW, replaced the Bolero the Zenec, (then probably sold the Bolero!) and saved a heap of money.

Thanks for your help, guys. I was sure that I had looked into the Bluetooth menu, but I'll check again. Yes, I have only ever paired one phone. But, I had given it a different ID every time I reloaded the software, so that the Skoda BT recognised a different phone each time. I'll be pairing my son's IPhone 4 this weekend, so that should definitely reveal a different user/profile.

Thanks for your help. Managed to pair my phone successfully again this morning. With it paired, I searched through the options and setup menus on Columbus and Maxidot. Cannot for the life of me find a 'Users' or 'Profiles' setting. Anyone else got any ideas? Thanks again.

Having a few problems with my factory-fitted bluetooth. I have a Win Mobile phone and have changed phone software a few times over the last few days. I suspect that I have got a number of profiles stored in the car BT system, and I believe that this is confusing the pairing process. Question - Does anyone know if the Skoda BT (very latest) system can be re-booted? This would clear out the old pairings and I can start from scratch. I am loathe to pull the fuse (if there is one!) in case it screws up the canbus coding. On my Columbus, I have selected Setup, Phone, Restore to Factory Settings, but that hasn't cleared out the old pairings. I have asked Skoda whether old pairings can be deleted. I certainly can't find such an option on my Maxidot. Still waiting for an answer. Thanks.

Similar situation to Boilerman, with a brand new Elegance. My phone is a windows mobile device and connects through the Hands Free Protocol rather than RSAP, so there should be no phones which will not pair with the latest MY2011 Bluetooth. As to the presets, I picked up a tip on another thread. When setting the presets, don't pick them from your phone book, but enter them manually. This seems to be much more reliable.

Had my new Octavia for a week now, and for the first 4 days, bluetooth integration with my mobile was fine. My phone is a Windows Mobile, T-Mobile Compact V (also known as a Touch Diamond 2 or HTC Topaz). Car fit is Columbus, with Skoda Advanced Bluetooth option. According to the handbook, this operates with RSAP and HFP. 3 days ago, the pairing stopped working. Thinking it was my phone software, I reloaded the stock T-Mobile WM 6.5 ROM back into it, re-paired, and all was OK for a couple of days. Then it too stopped pairning. I have reloaded my original phone software, but have an impasse. The symptoms are - When I search for a phone, it finds my Compact V, and offers me the 16 digit code. I enter that into my phone, and the phone then says 'Connected to Skoda_BT'. But the Maxidot then says 'pairing not possible', and I end up with no phone functionality in the car. The phone says it is connected, but the Maxidot says 'No paired phone found'. The Columbus shows no phone. I have a suspicion that there are a number of profiles stored in the car BT system, and that my changing the software has caused some sort of mismatch. Does anyone know if I can delete the existing BT profiles, to start from scratch? I have searched through the Maxidot options to no avail and, on the Columbus, I have restored the 'phone' element to factory settings. Any help would be greatly appreciated, otherwise it is a trek back to the dealer for help.

Experiences seem to vary greatly. I ordered my car on 22 May. Within two weeks I was given a build date of Week 33 (9-15 Aug). Rang the dealer during Week 32, and he said that everything was on track, and it was indeed built the next week. Car arrived in UK during Week 35, and reached my dealer on the 30 Aug and I could have picked it up on 1 Sep, but I left it until the 4th. So, 15 weeks from order to delivery. I guess I was lucky.

I have an Elegance on order, and I specified Columbus and factory-fitted bluetooth. I went through the pros and cons of Columbus v TomTom and, on paper, it is hard to justify the expense of the Columbus. But, I am getting the car (and the Columbus) VAT free. As I am saving so much money, I reckoned I could afford to splash out on the Columbus. It is built-in, no wires or ugly mounts, has a 30 Mb hard drive music system (therefore no IPOD and wires draped around), and is fully integrated with the maxi dot display, both for nav and for music. Expensive but, in this VAT free climate, worth it in my opinion.

I have been looking into this RSAP issue on other forums, and I have picked up another couple of 'angles'. Firstly, RSAP completely disables your mobile phone, and the Columbus/Bolero unit does all of the work, merely remotely using the Sim card in your phone. One of the downsides is that it disables the data reception on your mobile, as this aspect is not covered in the car head units. So, while RSAP gives you total control over contacts, calls in and out records, SMS etc etc, you will stop receiving emails, weather updates and other data services on your mobile while you are connected to the car. This might not suit everyone. Secondly, someone came up with an innovative work around - buy a cheapo PAYG Nokia, and link that you your car and, indeed, keep it in the car. When you enter your car, set your normal mobile to forward your calls to the cheapo Nokia, which will be fully integrated into RSAP! Job done! Great for inbound calls, but potentially expensive for outbound ones.

I ordered my Octavia Elegance Hatchback 1.4 TSi, with Columbus and Bluetooth, on 22 May. Dealer tells me I have a Build Week 32, delivery some 3 weeks after that So should get it before the end of August. I guess it depends on which model you go for.