Members may be interested to learn of the following.

I have an Octavia 1.9TDI Estate first registered in Feb 06 with 27k on the clock. Last year, with approx 17K, I noticed a noise from under the bonnet that sounded like a cross between a stainless steel kettle just reaching boiling point ( a hollow resonance) and the sound of a brake pad rubbing against the disk. This was noticeable on motorways in particular and only appeared over 45 mph.

The main dealer couldn't detect it but over the next year and up to now, the noise got progressively louder and louder to the point where it was very intrusive. After insisting that a senior techie came on a drive with me, they agreed that there was a noise and that it was coming from the centre of the engine compartment.

Subsequently, they have replaced the front off-side wheel bearing under warranty and hey presto, all is quiet again. Just shows how a problem in one place sounds like it originates from somewhere entirely different.

But wheel bearing failure at 17K? Worth bearing ( no pun intended) in mind?

Wheel bearings seem to be a common issue on the octy2/golf. That said though, I have done 52k in mine without incident.