As title.

The FL Octy is actually fairly minimal exterior changes.

Now if I weren't interested in the rear lights (prefer preFL), rear bumper and wingmirrors (I like FL, but not major change, so can't justify change), ditto Neptunes (although they do look lovely)

So, basically, am I right I could just fit the following to acheive FL forward look:

L/R front wings

FL bumper (+DRL and fog inserts)

FL headlamps (xenon)

FL grill (AFAIK bonnet is identical)

In theory all hard points are identical so "plug and play"

Is this correct? I guess an ETKA comparison preFL/FL could confirm.

Any comments?

Double check that the bonnet is unaltered. 'Cos I looked into swapping the FL grille onto mine and it won't fit without a new bumper!

Not that this proves it, but SuperSkoda state an OEM FL grill will affix to preFL

Skoda Octavia II - grille from the FACELIFT (09-) model - OEM : Skoda Tuning = superskoda.com

Check out these images, the facelift has the same diagonal shut line on centre edge of lights even though preFL sweep down and FL sweeps up. Also check aperture for grill - identical - except FL grill dips lower into new profiled bumper.

You might also want to check out if the mudguard support (it comes up from the subframe in behind the guard) is different or not - my smash repairer was surprised to see it when he put a new guard on mine recently (his first Skoda repair ever).

Also do the FL's have some kind of moveable (sideways for cornering or somesuch) Xenon (HID) lights - would obviously need different sensors/controllers to allow that to happen.

The problem is the depth of the revised grille. Study the images carefully and you will see the new grille is deeper that the old, and would foul the bumper if fitted to a pre-FL car. It's much more rounded at the base than the older grille. Look at the line of the bumper above the number plate holder. It's horizontal on the pre-FL, whereas it curves downwards towards the centre of the grille on the FL car to accomodate the deeper grille.

I notice that the car in the SuperSkoda pic has some additional plastic chromework where the grille meets the bonnet, and this may be to cover up some 'surgery' to the bumper to make it fit. Also worth noting the SuperSkoda car is not a vRS...

That superskoda car, like most things on their site looks like a total and utter dog's dinner. Even with the chrome crap on the bumper, the grille still obviously doesn't fit right on the full size photo.

I guess the replies from gregozedobe and rsbspt are covered by my list of bits which stated that I needed the "FL bumper (+DRL and fog inserts)" as well as grill etc.

The original concern of rsbspt was that I was incorrect in my assumption the bonnet was compatible, and hence not needing to be altered or upgraded "Double check that the bonnet is unaltered". The whole point is to make it look like a Octy 2.5 on the cheap, not a dogs dinner! - so it will have the bumper - as that is a pretty significant change of the FL and also defines the FLvRS by the DRLs.

In terms of cornering lights (AFS), I guess the solution is to disable this option (do not connect) so they just point forward.

Edited 3 August, 200916 yr by VRS195

I can't wait to hear the full price of this, inc having the wings and bumper sprayed.

Just need to find a salvage job in black!

Still cheaper than a new car

Just need to find a salvage job in black!

Still cheaper than a new car

In the short term yes, but all the money you sink into it you won't get back, and I think that it will actually devalue the car when you come to sell it on as it is something unusual and therefore less in demand. Is it worth asking you to think about it carefully?

Yes, you're right, I should just wait for the Superb Combi !

I knew where an FL was front ended, and fancied the rear bumper.

Then I thought about the new VRS bumper, but that looks like too much work to get it to fit - unless someone feels brave.

Surprised superskoda havent done an FL bumper kit....

Yes, you're right, I should just wait for the Superb Combi !

The R36 version!

No, the twin-turbo 3.0 CR TDI with Stop-Start

I can't wait to hear the full price of this, inc having the wings and bumper sprayed.

And also the "blend" spray on both front doors and the A pillar so you don't notice the difference between the two different paint jobs.

The sensible thing would be to wait for an Octy 2.5 to be written off due to a big rear or side hit or rollover that left the front untouched then cannibalize it.