MikeTheThinker

On my recently acquired MY-7 Scout the Xenon headlamps are quite poor. I can't see anything obviously wrong but was wondering if the bulbs (or the HID controllers) fade over time? Also, even though the car has auto-levelling for the lights the top of the beam seems too high. Are the units adjustable?

1. No Waiting / Storm Blue / 2.0 TDi PD / MY09 (Pre-facelift) 2. andyjl1968 / Anthracite Grey / 2.0 TDi PD / MY07 3. Nick_H / Arctic Green / 1.8 TSi / MY11 4. dekka48, / Black Magic,/ 2.0 TDi PD / 2008 5. skodal / Anthracite Grey / 2.0 TDi CR / MY11 / Hopefully September!!! 6. foo / Anthracite / 1.8 TSi / 2009 7. Stuart / Arctic Green / 2.0 TDi PD / May 2010 8. NikNak / Anthracite Grey / 2.0 TDi CR / MY11 / Delivery around August 2010 9. Constant / Brilliant Silver / 2.0 TDi PD / Jan 2008 10. Gaz196 / Black Magic / 1.8 TSi / MY11 Sept 10 11. GGG / Anthracite Grey / 2.0 TDi PD / May 2010 12. Pedro Pete / Anthracite / 2.0 TDi CR / Arriving end Sept? 13. Inego / Brilliant Silver / 2.0 TDi PD/ Jan 10 14. Kumquat / Satin Grey / 2.0 TDi / Nov 2009 15. CEPi / Cappuccino / 1.8 TSi / Apr 2010 16. sparky2 / Satin Grey / 2.0 TDi PD / July 2009 FL 17. Normcall / Red / 1.8 TSi / 2009 18. username taken / Black / 2.0 TDi PD / June 2010 19. RandyAxion / Cappuccino Beige / 2.0 TDi PD / November 2012 (delivered next week) (American in Germany) 20. rkenny / Satin Grey / 2.0 TDi PD / March 08 21. GroundHog / Satin Grey / 2.0 TDi PD / MY08 22. Captain Kremen / Satin Grey / 2.0 TDi PD / 2007 07 23. ralle / Cappuccino / 2.0 TDi PD / 2007 57 24. atkinsong / Candy White / 1.8 TSi / May 2010 25. uscouter / Cappuccino / 2.0 TDi PD / March 2010 26. Eddie Deguello / Anthracite Grey / 2.0 TDi CR / Sept 2010 27. London Les / Satin Grey / 2.0 TDi CR / Wk 33 Sept 2010 / Alcantara / Xenon AFSII / Spare / Silver Rails / MFSW / Maxidot / Curtain Airbags / MDI 28. Scouter2 / Brilliant Silver / 2.0 TDi PD / Apr 2007 29. harrylime / Cappucino Beige / 1.8 TSi / January 2010 30. Mark999 / Dynamic Blue / 2.0 TDi PD / May 2010 31. Magicknight75 / Black Magic / 2.0 TDi PD / Apr 13 / Standard Skoda spec / Full Size Spare 32. Niall / Satin Grey / 2.0 TDi PD / May 07 / All the Scout standard toys / Xenons / MFSW / Maxidot / Curtain Airbags / OEM Bluetooth 33. Jeeves / Anthracite / 2.0 TDi PD / Feb 2010 34. Niall / Satin Grey / 2.0 TDi PD / May 07 / Standard Skoda spec / Full Size Spare 35. Wilkopilko / Brilliant Silver / 2.0 TDi PD / June 2007 36. Utarg / Anthracite Grey / 2.0 TDi CR / Just been told I can pick it up 17th July! / Alcantara / Spare / Maxidot / MDI 37. Finbarsko / Satin Grey / 2.0 TDi PD / 57 38. ScruffyBadger / Brilliant Silver / 2.0 TDi PD / June 2008 39. Unclelatch / Anthracite Grey / 2.0 TDi PD / June 2010 / MFSW / Maxidot 40. BOBW / Cappucino Beige / 1.8 TSi / May 2010 41. Simon Cobb / Cappuccino Beige / 2.0 TDi CR / Fully optioned apart from MDI and Satnav 42. AuScout / Satin Grey / 2.0 TDi PD / Oct 2008 43. royskie / Red / 2.0 TDi PD / November 2007 44. Bill Blake / Rosso Brunello / 2.0 TDi / Jan 2010 45. downes martin / Rosso Brunello / 2.0 TDi CR / MY 2011 46. Monnae / Corrida Red / 1.8 TSi / MY 2011 47. silver1011 / Black Magic / 2.0 TDi PD / August 2008 / Xenon's 48. billycann / Candy White / 2.0 TDi PD / Dec 09 (facelift) / Raised Boot Floor / Spare Wheel. Really wish I'd remembered Xenon's and Maxidot! 49. Lasseson / Black Magic / 2.0 TDi CR / Delivery Dec 2010 50. Scout60 / Grey Anthracite / 2.0 TDi / 60 Plate 51. Essm / Silver / 2.0 TDi / Nov 2008 / Lots of extras / OEM Bluetooth 52. krimat t/ Cappucino Beige / 2.0 TDi CR / Delivery Dec 2010 53. Fin69 / Anthracite Grey / 2.0 TDi PD / July 2010 54. Snala / Brilliant Silver / 2.0 TDi CR / NZ spec / MDI / Hill Hold / LED DRL's / Oct 2010 55. Thorfinn / Corrida Red / 2.0 TDi CR / October 2010 56. Badgersport / Candy White / 2.0 TDi CR / October 2010 / Polished Proteus Wheels 57. eenymac / Anthracite / 1.8 TSi / March 2010 58. Scuderria / Cappuccino Beige / 1.8 TSi / MY11 (expected in March) 59. Jawsnpaws / Satin Grey Metallic / 2.0 TDi PD / April 2008 60. lard-ajc / Anthracite / 2.0 TDi PD / June 2008 61. Carpus / Anthracite / 1.8 TSi / Sept 2010 62. egide / Satin Grey Metallic / 2.0 TDi PD / May 2008 63. JJBS3 / Rosso Brunello / 2.0 TDi PD / Jan 2010 (Remapped at REVO, much better!) 64. Greenie58 / Brilliant Silver / 2.0 TDi PD / July 07 65. Browny / Black Magic / 2.0 TDi CR / On order... 66. Slimboyfat303 / Silver / 1.8 TSi / 2011 67. az12d / Cappuchino Biege / 2.0 TDi / 59 Plate / Awaiting new one in Feb 11 68. 6nations / White / 2.0 TDi / Arrived June 2010 69. Scoutel / Cappuccino / 1.8 TSi / January 2011 70. London_Jock / Pacific Blue / 2.0 TDi CR / Ordered Dec 10 / Expected build May 11 71. 27motorhead / Cappuccino / 2.0 TDi / March 2008 / Bought from Marlborough Skoda in August 2008 / Ex-Sales Managers car 72. Fatlip / Anthracite / 2.0 TDi / 1st Feb 2011 / Yipee! After 7 months wait! 73. alannfrost / Safari / 2.0 TDi / DSG / Arriving early June 2011 74. Speedy_Gonzales / Anthracite / 1.8 TSi / Ordered 06/02/11 delivered 15/06/11 / Polished Proteus Alloys / Multi Function Steering Wheel / Maxidot / Spare Wheel 75. Trenca / Candy White / 2.0 TDi PD / FL February 2011 / Xenon's / Folding Mirrors / Towbar 76. Scout Master / Rosso Brunello / 1.8 TSi / Most extras ordered except Sat Nav / Ordered Aug 10 / Delivery 1st March 11 (hopefully). 77. Cullenator / Cappucino Metallic / 1.8 TSi / Black Leather Interior / June 2010 78. scousemouse / Black Magic / 1.8 TSi / Arriving June 2011 79. m1cvt / White / 2.0 TDi PD / March 2010 80. Placey / Black Magic / 2.0 TDi / Mar 08 / Soon getting a new one the same in April... 81. Zippy / Steel Grey / 1.8 TSi / Due August 2011 82. theptyboy / Black 83. stevo1 / Brilliant Silver / 2.0 TDi PD / Nov 2007 84. steviehg / Aqua Blue / 2.0 TDi CR / Sunroof / VBF / Maxidot / Ordered 16/11/2010, Last update 29 weeks 85. rosswm / Brilliant Silver / 2.0 TDi / July 2007 86. mlp / Anthracite Grey / 2.0 TDi CR / May 2011 87. scoutabout / Storm Blue / 1.8 TSi / May 2011 88. Uncle Bulgaria / Cappuchino / 2.0 TDi CR / DSG / May 2011 89. Anddenton / Anthracite Grey / 2.0 TDi PD / May 2008 / Maxidot / Multi Function SW / Xenon HID's / Columbus SN / Bluetooth / MDI / Headlight Brows / LED DRL's / Blue LED Interior Lights / De-chromed Badge-less Grill 90. Jasper13 / Brilliant Silver / 2.0 TDi CR / DSG / Polished Proteus Alloys / June 2011 / Had to wait 6 months but love it now its here! 91. Tonyp5a / Anthracite / 2.0 TDi CR / Polished Proteus Alloys / July 2011 92. sandal farm / Red / 2.0 TDi / Polished Proteus Alloys / July 2011 / Ordered Nov 2010 93. Carabus901 / Black / 2.0 TDi / Polished Proteus Alloys / Jul 11 / Ordered Dec 10 94. Turboscout / Black / 1.8 TSi / July 2011 95. biker123 / Red / 2.0 TDi / 2008 96. Octapuss / Aqua Blue / 2.0 TDi CR / DSG / June 2011 97. scoutdave / Storm Blue / 1.8 TSi / 2010 (owned from Aug 2011) 98. lamlash / Satin Grey / 2.0 TDi CR / Oct 2011 / No Extras 99. jpgb / Safari / 2.0 TDi CR / DSG / 2011 100. diesel steve / 2.0 TDi / Rosso Brunello Red / June 10 101. stringbean / Rosso Brunello Red / 2.0 TDi CR / December 2011 / Maxidot / MFSW / Xenon's / LED DRL / Curtain Airbags / Spare Wheel / Polished Proteus Alloys 102. Scoutmaster / Aqua Blue / 2.0 TDi PD / June 2010 (owned from new) / Sat Nav / OEM Bluetooth / Maxidot / MFSW Xenon's / Alcantara / Electric Seats / Curtain Airbags / Full-size spare / Raised Boot Floor / Shark Remap 103. indianinorge / Corrida Red / 2.0 TDi CR / MY 2012 / Webasto / Amundsen Sat Nav / DAB / Delivered for Christmas 🙂 Can't take the smile off my face! 104. Locheil / Silver / 2.0 TDi / May 2007 / (2nd Owner, 63K miles, FSH etc.) / Xenon's / Curtain Airbags 105. smurfster / 2.0 TDi / May 2007 / 104K miles 106. Samwise / Dark Metallic Green / 2.0 TDi / July 2008 / 41K miles 107. rz67 / Satin Grey / 1.8 TSi / October 2011 108. Scuff / Rosso Brunello / 2.0 TDi / Oct 2010 (2nd owner / 12K miles) 109. Tattster / Brilliant Silver / 2.0 TDi / June 2008 110. DoggieScout / Safari / 1.8 TSi / Sept 2011 (ordered March 2011) 111. Danrock101 / Grey / 2.0 TDi PD / 57 Plate 112. Shooter / Anthracite Grey / 2.0 TDi / Xenon's / Sat Nav / Leather / Heated Seats 113. Dr Dom / Black Magic / 2.0 TDi PD / 57 Plate 114. You pies / Athracite Grey / 2.0 TDi CR / Sept 2010 / Shark remap, fantastic drive now 115. Scoutfox / Cappucino Metallic / 1.8 TSi / Feb 2010 116. Howardian1 / Brilliant Silver (tho' rarely clean enough to tell) / 2.0 TDi PD / June 2008 / Private Plate / Proteus rims in summer / Spitzberg rims in winter / Leather & Alcantara / MFSW / Maxidot / Xenon's / Sat Nav / Brink Towbar 117. BigLad01 / Beige / 2.0 TDi PD / Jan 2008 118. mountainandsea / Brilliant Silver / 2.0 TDi CR / 2012 / Maxidot / Xenon's / Columbus / Full Size Spare 119. Paddypaws / Black Magic / 2.0 TDI CR / Apr 2013 / Spare Wheel 120. Andy_G7KNA / Anthracite Grey / 2.0 CR TDi / Manual / Apr 2011 / Used purchase (May 2013) / Xenon's / Folding Mirrors / Maxidot / Electric Seat / Full Size Spare / False Boot Floor / Dog Guard / Curtain Airbags 121. parisbun / Brilliant Silver / 2.0 TDi CR / October 2010 122. lmf / Cappucino / 2.0 TDi PD / MY 2008 123 raincloud / Black Magic / 2.0 TDi CR / Sept 2010 / 60 Plate 124 marekczek / Silver / 2.0 TDi PD / 2007 December / Pre-facelift / Xenon's / Leather Seats / Heated Seats / Parking Sensors 125. ScoutDMC / Red / 1.8TSi / October 2010 126. Fiko / Black Magic / 2.0 TDi CR / MY 2011 / First reg. 11/2010 / LHD 127. Mondorich / Dark Blue / 2.0 TDi PD / August 2007 MY08 / Added RCDD310 DAB Nice! 128. AndyGScout / Anthracite / 1.8 TSi / March 2013 129. RainbowFire / Satin Grey / 2.0 TDi PD / May 2007 / MFSW / Maxidot / Xenon's / Towbar / Auto Tailgate Lift / RNS510 plus RVC / LED Footwell Lights / Puddle Lights / Number Plate Lights / Front Side Lights / Interior Lights / 30 Byte CECM / AF Gateway / Front & Rear Cameras / Heko Wind Deflectors / 2013 Centre Caps & Badges / BRISKODA sticker in rear window! Traded for a18 plate 1.5 Golf eco thingy estate. - Gone, but not forgotten. 130. nidgep / Brilliant Silver / 2.0 TDi PD / Mar 2008 131. MarshallTractor / Storm Blue / 2.0 TDi PD / July 2007 / OEM MFSW / Auto Lights / Xenon's / Light Protectors / Rain Sensor / Towbar 132. Pete / Silver / 2.0 TDi PD / 04/2007 / Auto Lights / Xenon's / Rain Sensor / Towbar / Columbus / Full Size Spare 133. Bengas / Anthracite Grey / 2.0 TDi PD / Oct 10 / RNS 510 134. Sax0ndale / Grey (Blue) / 2.0 FSi / Nov 08 135. Jdukvrs / Race Blue / 2.0 FSi vRS / Feb 2007 136. AjeMan / Grey / 2.0 TDi PD / 08 Plate 137. Redscout / Red / 1.8 TSi / 09 plate 138. thesparky / Dark Blue / 2.0 TDi CR / Dec 11 (61) 139. Hendred / Capuccino / 2.0 TDi / 57 Plate 140. FrankieKitt / Brilliant Silver / 2.0 TDi CR / March 2013 141. zar / Silver Grey / 2.0 TDi CR / 2010 142. hawkwind / Silver / 2.0 TDi PD / 58 plate 143. Sydney / Black / 2.0 TDi PD / Sept 2007 144. northturton / Anthracite / 1.8 TSi / 2010 (10) 145. Marge / Storm Blue / 2.0 TDi PD / 2008 MY (58) 146. Innes / Black Magic / 2.0 TDi PD / 2009 (09) 147. Britbusdriver / Storm Blue / 2.0 TDi / 2007(57) / Xenons (good) / Rain Sensor (bad) / maxidot / MFSW / Bolero & Bluetooth / Variable Boot Floor 148. LV11 / Safari / 2.0 TDI / DSG / Apr 2011 / every option except Columbus SN and phone prep 149. verysideways / Silver / 1.8 TSi / Jan 2010 150. pie2211 / Diamond Silver / 2.0 TDi / 2008 MY (57) 151. MantaDave / Brilliant Silver/ 2.0 TDI PD / 09 152. johnarlis7 / white / 1.8 tsi / 2010 153. NicNac / Anthracite Grey / 2.0 TDi / 2008 (58) 154. claudiu2s / Storm Blue /2.0 TDi CR / 2011 155. jimbomk2 / Sahara Beige Metallic / 2.0 TDi CR / 2011 156. Gordy873 / Polaris Silver / 2.0 TDI CR / now 175bhp / 2011 157. pw1969 / Artic Blue / 1.8 TSI / 2010 158. Seedy Jay / Arctic Blue / 2.0 TDI CR / 2011 159. Sean.Mulcahy / Grey / 2.0 TDI CR / 2012 160. cardaft / Anthracite Grey with Red Leather / 2.0 TDi / 2007 161. eyelash / Black / 2.0 TSI / 2008 162. Pumpkin_PL / Cappuccino / 2.0 TDI PD / MY10 163. Mustang86 / Anthracite Grey / 2.0 TDI CR / 2010 164. jetkarcsi / Grafite Silver / 2.0 TDI CR / 2013.05 165. twostrokemick / Blue / 2.0 PD BMM / 2008 166. drewdt3 / Blue / 2.0 TDI CR / Jan 2012 167. mick562008 / Anthracite Grey / 2.0 TDI PD / 2010 FL 168. drewdt3 / Storm Blue / 2.0 TDI CR / 2012 169. Jimbo / Anthracite Grey / 2.0 TDI / 2012 170. BushcraftChris / Candy White / 2.0 TDI CR / 2012 / Powder coated wheels (the way forward!) / Parrot CK3000 / Bolero / Full size spare / Low boot floor / Curtain Airbags / Rain Sensor / Cruise Control / But no passenger handle above glovebox 171. Dansidi / Black / 1.8 TSI / 2011 172. assettt / Red / 1.8 TSI / 2009 173. Bexlee / Black / 2.0 CR / 2013 174. JJBS3 / Meteor Grey / 1.8 TSI / 2009 175. KarlTDiCombi / Satin Grey Met / 2.0 TDI PD / MY07 176. Mattybrooks / Cappuccino / 2.0 TDI PD / 2008 58 177. Tintinandcharlie/ Silver/ 2.0 tdi 140pd bmm/2007 07 178. Bingoronnie /Anthracite Grey / 2.0 TDI / 2012 179. 59p / Candy White / 2.0 TDI CR Estate / Dec 2009 180. philingle / Silver / 2.0 TDI / Sept 2008 181. cpt_kremin / White / 2.0 TDI Manual / MY2011 182. Vee.Dubster / Black Magic / 2.0 TDI CR Manual / September 2011 183. Maker_of_Things / Silver/ 2.0 TDI Manual / Feb 2009 / 3rd owner as of April 2019 / 132000 miles / drivers seatbelt warning light on, tiny oil leak at rocker cover somewhere / full of north Wales farm yard! 184. kris_kristofferson / Diamond Silver Metallic / 2.0 TDI Manual / June 2007 / 3rd owner as of July 2019 / 157000 miles 185. MattM / Green / 2.0 TDI / 2011 186. Purdydog / White /2.0 TDI CR / 2011 187. ibgarrow / Grey / 1.8 TFSI / Oct 2011 / 145,000 188. Fourpot/ anthracite/2.0 TDI PD/ Jan 2008/ 158,000 miles 189. ScoutDoc / Black Magic / 2.0 TDI PD/ 2009 190. Audiphile / Blue Metallic / 2.0 TDI PD / 2010 / 136K - engine rebuilt at 130K new DMF & clutch, discs, former Vets car - just about got rid of the farm smell 191. StickyMicky / Satin Grey Metallic (light blue) / 2.0 tdi PD manual mapped to 180 / MY07 / 150k / usual toys / towbar

Nice piccies, George!

Thanks for the info. Have to buy the light units first

Our experience is a lot less exotic than most contributors here; I've replaced all the bulbs in our home and my folks' house (except the kitchen spots and they're next) with either 6w B22 standard bulbs or 3w bayonet B22 or E14 candles. I bought these from Poundland for the price of (you guessed) £1 each and so far (after a year or so) we've had no failures. I know it's early days when you consider the supposed 25-year life for LEDs but it's a good and cheap - if not especially sexy - start. FYI a note on the packaging of the B22 standard bulb quotes "average life = 15,000 hours" and "switching cycles = 7,500". If the bulb was only switched on and off once a day that would give 3,250 days or about 9 years so we'll have to see if they outlast me

re: jump leads. Interesting to see the red car's headlights both appear to be still lit.

And another. Saved logins don't seem to be working for me. I've stayed with FireFox as much as anything for the addons - blocking adverts, managing Java scripts etc. - but I'd be interested to know if such are available in other browsers these days?

Our old mk1 Octy (2003 1.9tdi) now with our daughter has just had a problem where the garage couldn't remove one of the front wheels as it was seized to the hub - result, remove and replace hub and wheel 😞 Would a smear of something like Copperslip or perhaps graphite grease between the mating face of hub+wheel help mitigate the problem? Is there a better way?

Might be worth soaking them (immersing them) in paraffin or diesel for a couple of days.

Apologies for the "Z4". I'm not a Deutsche Auto mavin. As regards the 'whole Wookie' debate, I'd have thought attempting to part out the Wookie would have met with greater resistance that trying to fit same into the vehicle ...

You would never fit a Wookie in your Z4 ...

MY2007 Octavia 2.0tdi Scout BMM engine, misfiring on one pot. Has had (some time ago) a BlueFin remap to 180bhp. Scan shows no errors except for the one below - which I can't decipher 😞 Thursday,20,August,2020,18:30:28:31985 VCDS -- Windows Based VAG/VAS Emulator Running on Windows 7 x64 VCDS Version: 20.4.2.0 (x64) Data version: 20200730 DS317.0 www.Ross-Tech.com VIN: TMBKE61Zxxxxxxxxx License Plate: WM07 ULB Mileage: 244490km-151919mi Repair Order: post-reset scan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chassis Type: 1Z (1K0) Scan: 01 03 08 09 15 16 17 19 22 25 42 44 46 52 55 56 62 72 76 01-Engine -- Status: Malfunction 0010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Address 01: Engine Labels: 03G-906-021-BMM.clb Part No SW: 03G 906 021 MD HW: 03G 906 021 AB Component: R4 2,0L EDC G000SG 9095 Revision: --H07--- Serial number: SKZ7Z0G4111960 Coding: 0000172 Shop #: WSC 66565 257 00032 VCID: 6DD5346074ED0FEEC8-8038 1 Fault Found: 005712 - Powertrain Data Bus P1650 - 000 - Missing Message from Instrument Cluster Freeze Frame: Fault Status: 01100000 Fault Priority: 3 Fault Frequency: 114 Reset counter: 255 Mileage: 243183 km Time Indication: 0 Date: 2000.00.00 Time: 00:55:44 Freeze Frame: RPM: 0 /min Speed: 0.0 km/h Load: 0.0 % Voltage: 12.39 V Bin. Bits: 00101100 Bin. Bits: 00000000 (no units): 0.0 Readiness: 0 0 0 0 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Staying near Hawick for a week with family and need an oil change garage - ideally a "whilst you wait" service. Any recommendations, please?

Describing your expected usage of the car would be a good starting place; runabout / commute / long or short distance / rough annual mileage / passengers or solo / what you expect to carry in your luggage space ...

I can see using a magnet to induce magnetism in a sump plug but would the strength of the induced field be enough for the job? Alternatively, any recommendations on a supplier of 'proper' magnetic sump plugs?

We all make stupid mistakes; the wise amongst us learn from them.

I'd say a key point is whether this information was disclosed pre-sale or not?

I suggest you ask for top book, citing the clean condition of the vehicle and its rarity. Make them do the work of bidding you down and remember you can always say no to their offer, which will increase their costs (more time and admin) thus encourage them to come to a settlement. Be firm but reasonable. Also, you should be offered a replacement vehicle at their cost whilst your claim is being sorted out.

You can get an idea of the market value with a free valuation from Parkers here. Another route is via Autotrader.

Ouch! Just be glad you weren't in it at the time ...

Thank you gentlefolk. In the cold light of morning I shall sally forth (why does Sally never go fifth?) duly armed with my dentist's mirror (he's not using it ATM coz of lockdown) and one of those new-fangled electric candle LED things to see what I shall see!

Just a bog-standard 1.9tdi - 105bhp. Mind you, it's a nice example and was very well looked after in its earlier life. I offered my wife the choice of the 1,9tdi (blue) or the 2.0tdi 4x4 (grey) and she chose the 1,9 "because it's smoother". I'm not arguing There's so much one could say here, but for once in my life I'll refrain

I understand there were two different filters fitted to Octy2 weasels so of course there are two different filters available. Motor factors can't determine which from the car reg number, referring enquiries to the part number on the fitted filter. Therein lies the rub (thanks Hamlet). I can't see a part number from the top of the filter housing and don't want to take it off just to find out which filter I need to then reassemble it to go and buy the right filter to come back and dismantle it to fit the filter ... you get the idea. So, is there any better way to determine the correct filter? When I asked at the motor factors they showed me the two filters they stock - one long one and one short one. Is it that easy? it's either a long filter housing or a short one?

"The more things change, the more they stay the same" Well. almost. Heaving thoroughly enjoyed my 18+months ownership of a grey (anthracite) Octy2 2.0 tdi 4x4 estate, during which time I have looked with some interest at the Scout addons, I landed on another Octy2 2.0 tdi 4x4 estate (thanks Colin) which is in need of a bit of fettling but not too much. But it's a Scout! It needs a rear wheel bearing (includes hub with ABS sensor so a bit wincy on price) to be sorted Thursday, has a slightly ticky tappet (may need a camshaft at some point but easy enough) and comes with a full towbar already fitted. Oh, and it's also (officially) grey (metallic blue to you). It got a new battery today as the existing one was a bit feeble. The drive is a revelation. My prior Octy2 is no slug (140bhp) and handles well but the Scout does it all so much easier. Maybe it's the 17" wheels (vs 15s)? The car is immaculate, and a credit to its previous owner who had it from new. My grey one was functionally excellent but had suffered some peripheral tuning to every panel thanks to the previous owner's spouse. Hmmm. Most of it was touch-in paint but I have a spare rear bumper to fit as it's a bit "tuned" in places. Our daughter and son-in-law have decided to add the grey car to their existing Octy 1 estate (also from me) so it's staying in the family. I guess you can tell I'm pleased Oh, and the Scout has been chipped to 180bhp. Anyone know where I can get some "FQ" letters in Skoda script for the tailgate badge?

That sounds like a very poorly bearing and not far off from collapse. What's puzzling me is you're hearing the noise without the wheel turning?