Hi,

I'm new to the forum, hopefully looking to buy a new Octavia vRS 2.0 TDI CR before the end of the month.

I'm intending to have Columbus sat-nav factory fitted, so I should also get the maxi-dot trip computer.

As far as I understand, you can't have factory fit Bluetooth on the manual transmission vRS in the UK for some reason. I'm having the dealer double-check right now but everything I read here confirms what it says in the brochure.

This is particularly weird as it's definitely available in both Germany and Ireland, so it's definitely not a left-hand/right hand drive issue.

The dealer suggested the BlueConnect option to me, but I have now read here that it's really not worth having for the money, as it doesn't integrate with touchscreen sat-nav, doesn't give terribly good audio quality, and occasionally falls out. Which makes £245 list price (and £100 fitting, list) seem particularly galling.

I don't particularly want a removable Parrot Bluetooth as I've already got a Motorola visor clip-on thing which works OK but is a pain as I always forget to charge it.

Alternatives appear to be having the VAG standard or a Fiscon unit retrofitted- kits appear to be available on eBay and from several on-line ICE installers.

However, I don't fancy trying to do the install myself. I know several people have said it only takes 20 minutes or so, but looking at the instructions on http://www.octavia-vrs.com/ it seems to require removing far too many trim panels for routing the wiring loom and making up new wiring adapters for me to feel comfortable doing it myself. Personally it looks like the sort of thing that would take me most of a Sunday afternoon to do, and I'd still manage to scratch the dash trim somewhere.

Also, I wasn't intending to buy a VAG-com cable to actually code it myself, and I'm not sure the dealer can or would do it for me.

Can anyone recommend somebody reasonably local (I'm in Berkshire) to supply and fit either the Fiscon or the original VAG Bluetooth unit?

Which of the two Bluetooth units would people here recommend? The Fiscon unit isn't standard equipment, but supports a larger range of phones, I guess. Does it work with the latest version of the Columbus/RNS510 sat-nav?

.

Edited 20 February, 201016 yr by dirkenstein

Yes the Fiscon will work fine with the Columbus. I've ordered one for my Vrs when it turns up. It really is easy to fit yourself though, I've fitted a few for friends and will be fitting mine when the car arrives.

It really is easy to fit yourself though, I've fitted a few for friends and will be fitting mine when the car arrives.

Do you know where I can find the fitting instructions before purchasing one? I'm trying to work out if it can be installed without removing as many trim panels as the factory-fit unit. If it's as much work as retrofitting the factory fit units I'd prefer to get somebody else to do it.

Edited 21 February, 201016 yr by dirkenstein

Shoud be on the Fiscon website I imagine.

Shoud be on the Fiscon website I imagine.

Yup, it's there and surprisingly un-detailed, except it does remind you that you need to run the cable up the a-pillar out of the way of any curtain airbags, and to not mount the microphone in the factory-fit location in the overhead light.

Where do you normally place the actual fiscon unit- under the front seat like the VAG standard one?

I got my VAG group bluetooth unit from VRS-Stu, and got the chaps at Unit 18 to fit mine. Damn good job Alastair did for me as well. Northampton's not too far from Berkshire (I'm Slough based and only took just over an hour).

Martin