Decided to change the air-filter on my '05 vRS .. and in the process managed to snap off the rear retaining lug from the top half of the air box. Think it was a combination of working the dark, and trying to get it done quickly.

The air box still feels pretty well sealed and as a temporary solution I've gaffer-taped it to make sure it's not sucking any unfiltered air into the intake.

Felt like a right idiot as it's about the simplest possible DIY job one can imagine ... and especially now that I've found out that you can only buy the air box as a complete unit, for which the Skoda dealer will charge £90. :-(

Anyone got a vRS air box sitting around their garage? (Wanted thread here ...)

You could try your local scrap yards for one. If no luck with them, I'm sure Skospares will have one and it will be cheap. SkoSpares are a specialist dismantling yard for Skoda parts You put a request in for a part, then once they have replied, order by phone.

SkoSpares - Home

The alternative (and probably more expensive) is to do away with the airbox and buy an induction kit.

Cheers Jim. Hadn't come across a specialist Skoda dismantler before, so that's useful.

The idea of an induction kit did cross my mind briefly, but there are many reasons why I don't think that'd be a good idea.

Got a rapid response from SkoSpares which is good, but have to say their email reply was terse to the extreme consisting just of "N/A" ... hmm.

I'd have thought that any VAG 1.8T engine box would fit as they all use the same panel filter and there would be plenty of those in various guises hanging around scrappers.

The part no. 6Q0129607AJ looks to be common to some VW Polo and Seat Ibiza TDIs too ... no mention of any 1.8T models, and the airbox pic on Vagcat for a Golf 1.8T looks quite a bit different.

Taken the plunge and ordered a new air-box from the local VW dealer.

Mightily un-chuffed to be paying £90 for a bit of plastic, but as I rely on the car to take me 500 miles a week I don't want to risk sucking anything nasty into the intake / turbo through a poorly sealed airbox.

Ho hum ...

I would see if there's anyone that can do plastic welding local to you - or a careful epoxy/file job would make sure that it's all good..

Good luck

Baz