SilverBall

My advice would be get it to the dealers and if the mechatronic unit is faulty/failing (flashing gear display seems to indicate mechatronic failure)get on the case with customer services immediately. My mechatronic unit failed at the start of Oct and it took 4 weeks for them to replace it. It seemed that it took over 2 weeks for Skoda to actually authorise the dealer to order the part - then a 7-10 day wait for the part to be built ( down to 5 after many "colourful" 'phone calls, emails to Skoda HQ etc etc) and then a couple of days to fit the d*mn thing.

Hi all, 2 weeks ago ( Sat 1st Oct) I managed to "break" the DSG on my VRS. ( Flashing display - no gears except reverse etc etc). After recovery from London to Bath via Bristol the dealer (Platinum Skoda) plugged various gadgets in and diagnosed a faulty mechtronic unit ( Seen the print out - it does indeed say "MECHTRONIC UNIT FAULTY") This was wed 5th. Since then Skoda technical have requested more dignostic reports which were carried out promptly. So far so good. My problem is that at this point the dealer has still not been authorised to actually replace anything. Apparently there are 2 options - either replace the mechtronic unit ( hand built for my gearbox approx 2 week lead time) or replace the entire gear box. ( dealer reckons he could have one overnight). My concern is that if ( as the dealer and Skoda UK say) they have never had one of these units fail in this way why have they not dropped the gearbox out and sent it to "technical HQ" where someone with experience can pull it apart and play with it to their heart's content instead of relying on a technician with little experience to try and do the work by remote control. Their answer is that the technician is more than capable of carrying out the work. I reply that if that is the case ( and I think it is -the technician seems really clued up on the case) he has diagnosed a faulty mechtronic unit so why not replace it? Their reply - "I can't comment on that". I am starting to get slightly miffed - best case at the moment I MIGHT get my car back ( and get rid of a truely abysmal focus) at the end of next week. That would make it a 3 week wait for a fault that took 2 and a half working days to diagnose am I being unreasonable in thinking that to be unacceptable? And if that is un-acceptable what should I be asking for by way of compensation? Free service? New wheel to replace the one I crunched? Any thoughts appreciated.

You might want to look at this - http://www.zenec.com/en/products/ego/skoda/ze-mc5600/ -sorely tempted myself but in the end I went the OEM route. I think there is a thread dealing with this unit somewhere on here.

Don't know if this will help. My dealer also told me that my bluetooth wouldn't work with all phones. After some research it appears to come down to a nokia / RSAP problem. Some VAG BT units are RSAP only and as such will not work correctely with non RSAP phones. Nokias and Windows phones (other manufacturers seem hit and miss ( they have to pay Nokia a licence )should function correctely (ipnones - I never found out )other phones appear to connect with the headset only protocol ( So hands free "works" but no phonebook synch etc. RSAP can also give functions like texts being displayed in the display. However my phone works fine ( Android - defo not RSAP) so I appear to have a different BT module - this would also suggest from prior experience that my old Nokia phone would need a software patch to properly synch phonebooks. ( On the basis that I have had to this with my last 2 Nokias) If someone can tell me how to find the part number of my module I would be quite happy to let you know.

Did not have a happy time with this dealer. Walked into the showroom on a Saturday afternoon ( admittedly they were busy ) looked around - no demo Fabia VRS - so mooched around a bit more - drooled at the VRS brochure etc. Man in a suit ( the only one not sat at a desk talking to folk)walked past me to talk to a couple who were also looking around ( they came in after me but not by much - no big deal) Another couple walk in and he pounces on them immediately. I hear them say that they are just looking so I try to attract his attention - he takes one look at me and mumbles something about having to talk to one of his staff and excuses himself. 5 mins later I have had enough and walk out of the showroom. Drive to another dealer where I spent my money. I suspect that there may be a moral to this story somewhere.

Bought my new VRS here. Very helpful. Good px price. Reasonable coffee. Marc ( salesman ) applied no pressure and managed to be sensible when talking about extras. ( I can reveal to him now that I would have bought everything given half a chance !) Refreshingly he did not claim to know everything and was not afraid to say so.<- BIG bugbear of mine. Smooth handover. Would recommend to anyone. Will report on after sales and servicing when I can

You could try one of these - bought one today and it is very nearly flush - approx 40mm from flange to tip. Bit pricey but I'm still trying to spend my VAT "refund" before anyone does edit - better post a link http://www.maplin.co.uk/micro-dc-to-usb-adaptor-274029

Somewhere else in the forum I did read of someone having the "discussion" with Skoda customer services direct - who then organised a free one for them - worth a try ?

Are you sure that it is RSAP only. Picked up my new Fabia VRS ( week 1 2011 build) and was told by the dealer that it was compatable with very few phones - I took this to mean that it was a RSAP only model - However after 30 mins outside the pub it had succesfully paired with every phone availiable. On the stregth of that I parked about 12" from carphone warehouse and a nice man paired his HTC desire ( defo not RSAP) with the car. 10 mins later new phone bought Moral of the story - don't believe the dealer ( Skoda themselves are not the greatest either - they had no idea what A2DP was - after 10 mins on the phone we worked out that Bluetooth media streaming was supported !) P>S> IMHO RSAP is a waste of space - it hijacks your SIM so if you use a live sat nav or live data for your sat nav on your phone ( traffic warnings etc) you are stuffed.

Picked up my VRS this a.m. and am still smiling. I traded in my old 07 SE against it. The only downside I have found to the DSG is the getting used to it. 200 miles later I am still knocking the lever into neutral / drive / sport when approaching a junction and the old left leg is doing all sorts of strange things. However I am sure that I will eventually get used to it. ( Others who have it work seem to have worked it out) How anybody can slag off the DSG without actually living with it is beyond me - I do a lot of miles with work and my initial feelings are that I am going to love this car. The bendy hill rising out of Wooton under Edge is a sheer joy in sport mode -the DSG is just so immediate compared with the old 6 speed and not having 3 ton of PD under the bonnet helps. When it comes to light entertainment on a sunday eve J.C is the man. When it comes to buying a car I feel that a good test drive ( and the borrow of a chums A6 with DSG) and a convienient friend in the trade might be of slightly more value.