Hi Everyone

I'm new to the site, looks full of info and some interesting and helpful people.

I am looking to purchase a 2006 Octavia VRS this month.

The one I am looking at does not have the following, and I was wondering if OEM versions can be retrofitted and at what price?

Sat Nav (Columbus)

Cruise Control

Front / Rear Parking Sensors

Xenon Headlights (perhaps an aftermarket kit?)

Many Thanks

Sam

Some stuff is easier than others, but generally I would recommend waiting until the car comes up with the spec you want. This will be a much cheaper option. I considered a similar approach when I bought my VRS, but it doesn't make financial sense. I ended up waiting around 3 months until I found the car with the spec I wanted.

Welcome to the forum

All your requirements can be retrofitted.

Theres several options as to who can fit them too.

Some indication on prices are:

1. Sat Nav (Columbus). You should be able to pick a unit up for around £500-£600. Plus fitting costs

2. Cruise Control. Contact Shark Performance or your local Skoda Dealer. Budget for around £200 give or take £50.

3. Front/Rear Parking Sensors. Dont know about prices for front sensors but my local Skoda dealer have quoted £350 to retrofit rear sensors. You can also buy some ranging from £15 upwards and fit them yourself.

4. Xenon Headlights. You would need to go the route of HID's. Retrofitting OEM xenon's would be very expensive. There's a guy on this forum that fits HID's. Do a search and you will find him.

Hello,

Columbus is certainly a DIY retrofit, with just additional coding change done by a helpful Briskoda member with VCDS. You'd require a different trim surround, which are cheap.

A local VAG specialist quoted me £120 for Cruise control to be retrofitted. DIY if you are confident.

Dealer retrofitted rear parking sensors at £150. But can be DIY if you wish.

OEM xenon retrofit would have to include headlight washers and be self levelling, possible but I would imagine costly. Alternatively a HID kit could be fitted for around £50 - £90 depending on which kit you buy. HIDs are definitely a DIY fit.

Hope this helps.

Hello,

Columbus is certainly a DIY retrofit, with just additional coding change done by a helpful Briskoda member with VCDS. You'd require a different trim surround, which are cheap.

A local VAG specialist quoted me £120 for Cruise control to be retrofitted. DIY if you are confident.

Dealer retrofitted rear parking sensors at £150. But can be DIY if you wish.

OEM xenon retrofit would have to include headlight washers and be self levelling, possible but I would imagine costly. Alternatively a HID kit could be fitted for around £50 - £90 depending on which kit you buy. HIDs are definitely a DIY fit.

Hope this helps.

Dealers sometimes have offers on fitting things like cruise control. I've had CC fitted on 3 cars before and managed to get it at £150 from the dealers. I've also paid £250 for the same job from the same dealer so £120 is a bargin price.

Let me know which dealer quoted £150 to retrofit rear parking sensors. I'll book in with them today

Dealers sometimes have offers on fitting things like cruise control. I've had CC fitted on 3 cars before and managed to get it at £150 from the dealers. I've also paid £250 for the same job from the same dealer so £120 is a bargin price.

Let me know which dealer quoted £150 to retrofit rear parking sensors. I'll book in with them today

JKM quoted me for the CC, great price, but just haven't got around to booking it in.

Sparshatts of Fareham did my sensors, but it was at the time of purchase so might have been a goodwill offer. Snapped their hand off.

I cannot recommend enough that you skip attempting to fit HIDs.

There has been a grey area on their legality at best for the past x number of years.

However with the new MOT tests coming into force it could well make them totally illegal - unless you've got autolevellers and washers - cost prohibitive as a retro-fit.

thanks everyone - really helpful.

I've seen CC kits on ebay for £75 - then a recode from the Dealers?

Thank you again

thanks everyone - really helpful.

I've seen CC kits on ebay for £75 - then a recode from the Dealers?

Thank you again

The OE kit can be obtained circa £67 from Skoda. Not sure of the part number. It'd require removal of the airbag, steering wheel and existing indicator stalk. Then fitment of the new one and recode. A point to note is that some early models require an updated steering module, at extra cost.

Can anyone elaborate a bit on the surround which is required to retrofit the Columbus (led unit if that makes a difference)?

Also, is there anyone local to Bournemouth with the programming kit, would rather not go to a dealer for that.

Thanks

I would suggest finding a car with more of the extras that you want as it will be cheaper.

Possibly, however nationwide on autotrader there is not one VRS with the above, in fact, there very very few about atm.

Bear in mind with the Columbus you may also need to replace your Canbus gateway, I'm not sure when the cutoff is for compatibility without changing it.

John