hi,

a skoda dealer reckons an octavia vrs estate doesn't have a wiring loom (???) and is therefore a huge job to fit a tow bar? hence the £400 charge for a fixed tow ball tow bar

indespension uk, who i've used to fit tow bars before reckon that's b****x and can fit the same tow bar for £190. he said the tow bar is wired to the back lights, which is what i've done in the past when fitting tow bars.

can anyone clarify if the dealer is talking rubbish?

paul

Absolute rollicks!!!!!

I had a fixed towbar fitted to my vrs in May 06 for £150.00 - they had to take the tiniest nick out of the bumper. Only issue was it would bottom out if the boot was laden and you went over speed bumps.

Find another dealer who knows what they are at.

it can be wired to the back lights but you'd need to use a can bus relay to do it, there about £20 so i imagine it would be quite possible to do it for £190.

just as a note though, you cant wire straight off the lamps like you can in older cars

thanks for that. where do i buy the bus?

The quotes you are getting from Skoda will be for the proper Skoda equipment and using genuine accessories, such as this -

?koda Accessories

The fitting is quite extensive however you would be confident that it was designed to interface correctly with your car. This may give you an idea of the work involved -

Octavia-vRS.com - Octavia II Estate Towbar Install

So in short, yes you can get cheaper but cheap isn't always best.

They were probabley quoting for a genuine wiring kit which is a bit of a mission

to fit and is intergrated into the multipex system, having your socket scotch locked to the rear lights, is a poor way to fit it, you will miss out on the functions of a factory kit:- integrated bulb warning,13 pin plug much neater,alarm function "when the car is locked if you un plug the alarm goes of",the esp will help with trailer control ,fog and reverse lights .

Well I had a Brink fixed towbar with twin electrics fitted to my vRS Estate in 2007 (and the same to my new vRS hatch). Cost just under £400.

Both were fitted by a local independant fitter, arranged by our dealer prior to collection. No one mentioned the lack of a wiring loom! The old vRS towed for around 5000 miles with no problems, powering caravan road lights, fridge, battery charger and ALKO ATC stability system with no problems. We will tow with the newbie for the first time this weekend but a quick hook up to the caravan on the driveway showed all to be well.

is this a mk1 vrs? as mine towbar went straight on and i had the proper loom to go onto the back lights so no scotch locks here! worked great no issues at all- also had kit for 7s socket and relays. all lying in garage if you are after one.thanks