Folks,

Never owned a Skoda before so any advice appreciated...

Been to see a 10-plate T FSI DSG vRS this afternoon, and it has the bolero head unit fitted. It also has an AUX socket in the armrest.

However, I need to know if it's possible to attach my iPod up to the Bolero in a manner that will allow me to select playlists, forward through tracks etc along with charging the ipod while the iPod is safely tucked away somewhere.

The salesman was a bit vague, mentioning something about a £100 cable that goes into the back of the head unit.

It also appears to have maxidot fitted (there is the large white plan-view of the car in the middle of the instrument panel above the steering wheel which I assume is what maxidot is) but the car doesn't have parking sensors.

Dealer said they can retro-fit the rear sensors for £250 (inc. colour-coding the sensors) but that the retro-fitted sensors don't integrate with the maxidot display. Can someone explain this to me more fully, in terms of what warning will the car give me instead (I assume just an audible signal that increases in frequency as I get nearer an object) and will it REALLY make any difference not integrating with maxidot display?

Lastly, car has no mudflaps fitted - what do people recommend for mudflaps for a vRS (I seem to recall reading somewhere that the proper Skoda mudflaps don't fit a vRS?)

Many thanks for anny advice given

Andy

Sounds like the guy was talking about MDI being fitted, not sure how much it cost aftermarket though.

Sounds like the guy was talking about MDI being fitted, not sure how much it cost aftermarket though.

Personal choice but for me the SD card is the way forward!

Personal choice but for me the SD card is the way forward!

+1

Yes, the car should have Maxidot as it comes as standard on DSG equipped vRS's.

The standard mudflaps will fit the vRS but do need some gentle encouragement, often with a hairdryer, plenty of threads on here to be found with a quick search.

I don't have the Bolero or Maxidot on my Octavia, but when reversing my radio (Steam MP3) shows a diagram of the car and the distance to the detected object. To be honest when reversing the last thing I do is look at the radio, I much prefer to listen to the audible warning and watch where I am going so I don't think you'll miss it in Maxidot.

£250 fitted and colour coded is well worth it, I won't have another car without rear PDC again.

Personal choice but for me the SD card is the way forward!

indeed I've found that at times the ipod does not show the track name playing but gets stuck on the previous track. The SD does not seem to do this.

But if the OP wants to keep everything standard and use the ipod then I'm guessing the MDI is the way to go.

Many thanks for the advice so far guys, but what is MDI and what is involved in fitting it?

Hullo Andy long time no speak, i see we are both in the hunt for a decent car lol.

Many thanks for the advice so far guys, but what is MDI and what is involved in fitting it?

The MDI interface involves a box of tricks in the glovebox that talks to the Bolero and allows full control of the iPod or USB device. You plug different cables into the MDI depending on what you want to use. For this to be retrofitted by a dealer would involve more than £100 of parts. I think the retrofit kit is around £160, but some dealers tell you can't be retrofitted (which isn't true). So you'd need the interface itself, the loom from the box to the headunit, and the right cable for your device.

Oh, and on the PDC retrofit is sounds like he's suggesting a 3rd party fitting kit. It would be possible for them to fit the proper Skoda kit, including the Bolero visual display. I'd expect this would come to more than the £250 quoted though, so if the audio-only notification is sufficient for you, take him up on his offer. In either case, it's a well worthwhile option on the Octavia and rear visibility isn't the best. I certainly wouldn't have one without them (on my 2nd now).

Hope this helps.

Steve

A bit more info...

Example screenshot, in iPod mode:

Retrofit kit, from eBay. This one shows the glovebox installation of it

The MDI interface involves a box of tricks in the glovebox that talks to the Bolero and allows full control of the iPod or USB device. You plug different cables into the MDI depending on what you want to use. For this to be retrofitted by a dealer would involve more than £100 of parts. I think the retrofit kit is around £160, but some dealers tell you can't be retrofitted (which isn't true). So you'd need the interface itself, the loom from the box to the headunit, and the right cable for your device.

Oh, and on the PDC retrofit is sounds like he's suggesting a 3rd party fitting kit. It would be possible for them to fit the proper Skoda kit, including the Bolero visual display. I'd expect this would come to more than the £250 quoted though, so if the audio-only notification is sufficient for you, take him up on his offer. In either case, it's a well worthwhile option on the Octavia and rear visibility isn't the best. I certainly wouldn't have one without them (on my 2nd now).

Hope this helps.

Steve

Audible notification is fine, as thats what I have in my current car (Focus). The beeps become closer together when you get closer to an object - I assume the Skoda would be the same?

Mmm, MDI is defenitely worth discussing with the dealer then, REALLY need to be able to control the ipod without touching it. Many thanks for you advice Steve!

Hello as well Graham, aye it's been a while, might get you out to 'detail' the new car (if I get it).

Hello as well Graham, aye it's been a while, might get you out to 'detail' the new car (if I get it).

Aye just gimme a shout mate i will be well practiced lol oh and have thee best sealant for it

www.customdetailers.co.uk contact details are all on there mate.

Audible notification is fine, as thats what I have in my current car (Focus). The beeps become closer together when you get closer to an object - I assume the Skoda would be the same?

Mmm, MDI is defenitely worth discussing with the dealer then, REALLY need to be able to control the ipod without touching it. Many thanks for you advice Steve!

Yes, the Skoda system goes to a constant beep when there is a foot of space.

MDI: really does depend on the dealer, as to what they'll tell you is possible! Would imagine the fitted price by a dealer who's willing/able to do it would be around £250.

Steve

I retrofitted MDI to mine, here's the prices from earlier last year and the step by steps - http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/169642-mdi-retrofit-howto/

£250?! I bought my vRS in October and the dealer retrofitted the PDC for £150...

£250?! I bought my vRS in October and the dealer retrofitted the PDC for £150...

PDC / MDI, both make noise through the stereo but different things :-)

I retrofitted MDI to mine, here's the prices from earlier last year and the step by steps - http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/169642-mdi-retrofit-howto/

Yea, after I made the posts on this thread I googles skoda mdi and the 2nd or 3rd result was your thread - certainly gives me an idea of whats involved but not something I would tackle

on my own. Good thread though, which I have bookmarked for future reference.

I am going to email the dealer asking for a price for supplying and installing the MDI and if it's too expensive I might buy the kit off of eBay and get someone local to fit it for me, perhaps the car audio installers down in Bathgate.

Would I be correct in assuming that 2nd-hand Octavias are fairly rare with MDI already fitted?

PDC / MDI, both make noise through the stereo but different things :-)

OP posted: 'Dealer said they can retro-fit the rear sensors for £250 (inc. colour-coding the sensors) but that the retro-fitted sensors don't integrate with the maxidot display.'

the parking sensors display on the bolero radio, and i only use a sd card for my mp3's it works great.

Is that a retro-fit kit though Mark, or does the factory-fit PDC show on the Bolero?

Oh, and while I am here, does £17,995 sound about right for a May 2010 TFSi vRS Hatchback (DSG) in white with bluetooth and full leather?

Drivethedeal is showing a brand new one for a shade over £18.5k so £18K for an 8-month old one SEEMS slightly expensive to me.

Thoughts?

Oh, and while I am here, does £17,995 sound about right for a May 2010 TFSi vRS Hatchback (DSG) in white with bluetooth and full leather?

Drivethedeal is showing a brand new one for a shade over £18.5k so £18K for an 8-month old one SEEMS slightly expensive to me.

Thoughts?

It's not out of the ballpark figures, I think it would be a fair price to put on the window sticker but I think it'd go for maybe £500 less than that. It's hard to say though because there's such a waiting list for new cars, the ones available right now are worth more.

Exactly as Mute says. That seems pricey compared with new prices available at the moment. But then again you order now and wait what, 8 months? So there's going to be a premium on something you can go straight in and purchase.

And on the earlier question, re PDC - you'll only get the Bolero display with the proper Skoda kit, as it comes with a module that will interface directly with the Bolero to show up the required information. That obviously won't be possible with a 3rd party kit.

Steve