Hi all

just looking for some input here.

I've a sept 2008 skoda octavia 1.9td . I'm leaving it into the dealer for it's first service and was wanting to get front fog lamps fitted as I didn't do this at time of purchase. I was told by the sales guy I could get them fitted at a later date.

13 months later I've now been told they are not cost effective to fit and they would cost approx £2000 as a new wiring loom has to be fitted etc?

Is this nonsense?

Would really like some answers from anyone who knows?

After spending £ 15+k on a brand new car would they have charged me an extra 2 thousand at purchase time if I had of wanted them fitted at that time? Bit rich from the dealer I think. Thanks jc

The quote sounds more or less like a hidden beg for a no.

I searched the german forum but found no quote there. Something like > 400 Euro but no detailed fingures. It seems that the wiring does not contain all necessary cables. It is not just a plug and play job.

Do you have something in written about what the dealer promised you? He didnt lie with "Its possible..."

Firstly I would ask the more experienced members on here what is required to fit them

Then go to a scrappy's and get everything you need you could make it easier by getting a front bumper with them already fitted you may even get lucky and get the right colour to, then the wiring loom and the light switch

I would guess that fitted by a dealer will involve a new front bumper, spraying, fitting, wiring loom, new switch gear and fitting so yes £2k is probably a fair estimate. As mentioned you may be able to bodge something together yourself or buy aftermarket lamps on brackets. Depends how much you want fogs and wether you want an OEM look, or rally slag :P

Rally slag with a pair or bar of cibie oscar all the way

Rally slag with a pair or bar of cibie oscar all the way

Sounds good to me , I'm a Lucas 20/20 man my self !!

Well this is the thing. The bumpers are already colour co-ordinated with the car and there are two blanks for the OEM fog lamps. These pop out and reveal screw mounts for the lamps....

So let say I walk into the dealer and ask hey can you fit an OEM blue tooth set? would they say oooooh beyond our capabilities...

This simple experience will make me think twice about buying another Skoda.

Any other car i've had in the past. Fitting optional extras at a later date was no problem.

Over to you Skoda UK Ltd ..... not a good customer experience at all.

I wouldn't have thought a new bumper would be necessary, the Ambiente has blanks where the fog lights usually sit. You will however need a new light switch for a kick off to facilitate front and rear fog light activation.

A factory order for something will always be much cheaper as its just a case of fitting wiring loom 'X' rather than loom 'Y' as the car trundles along the production line.

Some options are a doddle to fit at the dealer level and some are more difficult as you are working around a fully built car rather than a half built one in the factory.

at this thread. it's not thier fault you didn't get fog lights when you ordered it... buy some fit them then get an auto electrician to wire them up.. simple

I think it's a simple case of them not wanting to do the job and not being sure on what's involved. They price it way over the top knowing you'd never pay.

Although for the MK5 Golf, I'd say there is a very good chance this 35 Euro kit would handle the wiring side of things. Then you just need the light switch the lamps and maybe some housings for them.

KUFATEC GmbH - Fog Light Wiring - Harness - VW Golf 5

I think it's a simple case of them not wanting to do the job and not being sure on what's involved. They price it way over the top knowing you'd never pay.

Although for the MK5 Golf, I'd say there is a very good chance this 35 Euro kit would handle the wiring side of things. Then you just need the light switch the lamps and maybe some housings for them.

KUFATEC GmbH - Fog Light Wiring - Harness - VW Golf 5

Am I right in saying the lighting controller/central electrics unit is generic and its just a case of simply plugging in the new loom?

at this thread. it's not thier fault you didn't get fog lights when you ordered it... buy some fit them then get an auto electrician to wire them up.. simple

With an answer like that here lies the problem.

Today's cars are so heavily reliant on computer technology, it not just a simple matter of wiring them in, the cars on-board systems need to be told that "component XXX" has been fitted & you want it made operational.

How many posts do you see here with it needs to be activated by VAG-COM/VCDS, loads.

It's best to get things done properly as by bodging it can be seriously bad the cars health, your health & wealth.

With an answer like that here lies the problem.

Today's cars are so heavily reliant on computer technology, it not just a simple matter of wiring them in, the cars on-board systems need to be told that "component XXX" has been fitted & you want it made operational.

How many posts do you see here with it needs to be activated by VAG-COM/VCDS, loads.

It's best to get things done properly as by bodging it can be seriously bad the cars health, your health & wealth.

thanks shirlock, it would be simple to wire them up to the main lighting feed in the fuse box fused via a switch, you could use one of the blanks in the dash.. easy far cheaper than swapping out the central electrics unit

Yes the Central Elec units will mostly be the same - Probably a 1K part number.

A friend bought a similar kit for an A3 which was quite a simple job.

I wouldnt be using that dealer again!

thanks shirlock, it would be simple to wire them up to the main lighting feed in the fuse box fused via a switch, you could use one of the blanks in the dash.. easy far cheaper than swapping out the central electrics unit

Then zap the electronics and wind up with a massive bill.

Personally, I detest them they're not much cop all they seem to do is give me a splitting head ache because their glare just reflects of the mist/fog!

I drive something at upto 100mph with one headlight that can focus upto ½ a mile & when I drive in fog at those speeds I get a headache.:thumbdwn:

Sorry to say this,but why would you bother? I've never found that on any car that I've owned that the OEM front foglights were any use at all.

Having said that,cosmetically most cars do LOOK better with lights than blanking plates.

Rubbish. Drive in Thick Fog (and I mean properly thick!) or in a heavy blizzard, at night. Once with and then without. Then tell me they're useless.

Niall

Rubbish. Drive in Thick Fog (and I mean properly thick!) or in a heavy blizzard, at night. Once with and then without. Then tell me they're useless.

Niall

I don't agree,but even if I did,how many times in five years would you meet such conditions?....and when they exist most sensible people would avoid driving in them except in dire emergency.

And since I've driven over 500k miles I have encountered such conditions,perhaps I've been unlucky and all the foglights I've tried were poor examples.

(I would put the dipped headlights on the lowest setting though)

I drive something at upto 100mph with one headlight that can focus upto ½ a mile & when I drive in fog at those speeds I get a headache.:thumbdwn:

So you drive at up to 100 MPH in the fog?? (that's how i read your comment anyway) well if it's clear enough to be reaching those sorts of speeds then it's either not very foggy - so you don't need fog lights on anyway or you are a nutter. :confused:

The whole point of front fog lights is that when the fog is really really thick then you can drop to sidelights to remove the glare from the headlights and put the fogs on so you can be seen.

They are low enough not to reflect back into your eyes and also light the road ahead enough to let you progress slowly.

Having driven through fog so thick that even with yellowed headlights specifically designed for fog, the visibility was a lot better on fog lights and sides I certainly appreciate them.

The whole point of front fog lights is that when the fog is really really thick then you can drop to sidelights to remove the glare from the headlights and put the fogs on so you can be seen.

They are low enough not to reflect back into your eyes and also light the road ahead enough to let you progress slowly.

Having driven through fog so thick that even with yellowed headlights specifically designed for fog, the visibility was a lot better on fog lights and sides I certainly appreciate them.

I

I would concede that with some poorly defined dipped headlight beams you will improve your visibility in very thick fog (the sort that it's dangerous to be out in anyway) with certain low fogs and sidelights,BUT have you considered the effect on some one coming the other way?...without headlights they see you dangerously late.

Iwith certain low fogs and sidelights,BUT have you considered the effect on some one coming the other way?...without headlights they see you dangerously late.

Can't agree with you on that someone driving on sidelights and front fogs is not hard to see and it must look cool as well as sooo many people seem to do it - in broad daylight when it is not foggy

So, a the loom from VRStu's post, a new switch (£80 odd from a dealer?) and complete fog lamp units, so in the region of £400 all in, maybe less if you source the switch and lamp units from a scrapper.

So you drive at up to 100 MPH in the fog?? (that's how i read your comment anyway) well if it's clear enough to be reaching those sorts of speeds then it's either not very foggy - so you don't need fog lights on anyway or you are a nutter. :confused:

I thought that would get you going!

When I'm doing that I have a little bit more than 200hp on tap, it's more like 8,000hp...