A minor inconvenience I know, but as it'll be my first ever 'brand new car' I don't want some muppet in a car park knocking the mirrors off...

My 'Harry Spankers' VRS should arrive early March :yes: and I'm sure I read on here (can't find it now) that someone managed to get the dealer to spec the folding mirrors even though officially it's not an option (in the UK but is in other countries :wonder: ).

Phonecalls to Skoda UK didn't shed any light on any good reason :no: (I could understand if it was a cost option) but as it's standard on some of the other Sporty/Top of the range VAG cars why can't I spec the bloody things???

It's the only thing that's putting me off the Skud (I've had a 2001 Octy tdi since Oct '05 and apart from a MAF it's been faultless), and as the wait is killing me I've lots of time to contemplate my options (Leon FR, Golf GTD, Cayman if I'm silly ).

Anything? Cheers in advance...

I too was a bit frustrated that the vRS could not have them, but if I went for a lower spec engine on the L&K etc then I could.

Others have suggested that part of the reason is that if you could spec all the things you want and tailor the car perfectly why would people consider paying a bit more for a Superb, or even a VW/Audi. Hence sales of the higher margin cars would suffer in the UK. They know you can't easily buy a Europe spec car as the wheel is on the wrong side!

Yep I remember the post where somebody managed to get them, not sure how, but I guess once it is on the system the factory just adds what is on the build sheet.

There was a post on here where someone claims to have badgered their dealer in to ordering them.

I believe you can get them in Ireland (and down under) so they can be had on a RHD car.

Cheers guys, apparently it was KelvinMoon on here who managed it, think I'll pop into Leeds on Saturday and ask, especially as now they come with god awful fake carbon fibre trim have Skoda bought Halfords???

Suppose there's no harm in asking, it's just starting to grate that I can't even give them money for the privilege...

You can't have stereo controls on the steering wheel unless you specify the DSG auto box on the vRS either. Just stoopid!

I tried and failed - which made the fact Kelvinmoon managed to get them all the more frustrating :-)

We ordered more or less at the same time.

My local dealership said no, but would speak to Skoda UK.

They confirmed that no, it couldn't be done.

I spoke to Skoda UK - they confirmed it was not possible.

Once Kelvin and myself had got our vRS'his with folding mirrors, mine without I spoke to Skoda UK once again to complain.

Skoda UK once again siad it wasn't possible - so I had to send them pictures and the chassis number from Kelvin's car before they would admit that his car had got them.

However the Skoda UK person said he didn't know how it had managed to get through production like that as it simply wasn't possible to have folding mirrors on the vRS.

So all I can say is good luck if you want them.

I'd love to get them retro-fitted - it's the one feature I wanted but couldn't get.

Oh and I'm getting around the MFSW issue on manual cars - I've simply ordered myself a vRS MFSW without DSG paddles which I'll get fitted in a week or so time.

I tried and failed - which made the fact Kelvinmoon managed to get them all the more frustrating :-)

We ordered more or less at the same time.

My local dealership said no, but would speak to Skoda UK.

They confirmed that no, it couldn't be done.

I spoke to Skoda UK - they confirmed it was not possible.

Once Kelvin and myself had got our vRS'his with folding mirrors, mine without I spoke to Skoda UK once again to complain.

Skoda UK once again siad it wasn't possible - so I had to send them pictures and the chassis number from Kelvin's car before they would admit that his car had got them.

However the Skoda UK person said he didn't know how it had managed to get through production like that as it simply wasn't possible to have folding mirrors on the vRS.

So all I can say is good luck if you want them.

I'd love to get them retro-fitted - it's the one feature I wanted but couldn't get.

Oh and I'm getting around the MFSW issue on manual cars - I've simply ordered myself a vRS MFSW without DSG paddles which I'll get fitted in a week or so time.

It certainly is physically possible to fit folding mirrors on a VRS, they have them in other RHD markets. Its a purely marketing decision to not allow them to be specified in the UK.

Last year I emailed Skoda UK customer services about this and they said the factory decides what options are available. I emailed Skoda CZ about that and they said SUK decides. Kafka-esque.

Where did Kelvinmoon buy his VRS? Would it not be possible to ask the salesman how he managed to enter this impossible option into the system?

Edited 2 December, 201114 yr by juan27

Answering my own question!

Here's the Kelvinmoon thread:

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/209111-opening-electric-folding-mirrors-with-key-remote/page__p__2472827#entry2472827

and here's the dealership he used:

http://www.citygate.co.uk/skoda

Edited 2 December, 201114 yr by juan27

.....

Oh and I'm getting around the MFSW issue on manual cars - I've simply ordered myself a vRS MFSW without DSG paddles which I'll get fitted in a week or so time.

If you do this, do you get the full functionality of the MFSW, i.e. radio, maxi dot and what's needed for Bluetooth phone control? Also can I ask how much it's costing?

If i go for another vrs as my next car,i'm gonna look into this folding mirror not an option malarky.Its a bit silly really as i'm always one for folding them in when parked.

Maybe i should get my pen and paper and write another letter to Skoda

If you do this, do you get the full functionality of the MFSW, i.e. radio, maxi dot and what's needed for Bluetooth phone control? Also can I ask how much it's costing?

It isn't cheap I'm afraid - but I personally feel it's worth it.

You need three items, best supplier I can find is skodateile

The Steering Wheel itself - Leather, 3-spoke vRS, MFSW without DSG paddles:

http://www.skodateile.cz/index.php?pg=product∏=356&menu=

A new highline steering controller:

http://www.skodateile.cz/index.php?pg=product∏=232&menu=%C5%A0koda%7COctavia%20II%28A5%29%20facelift

A new wiring loom:

http://www.skodateile.cz/index.php?pg=product∏=71&menu=%C5%A0koda%7COctavia%20II%28A5%29

These are all the physical pieces you need - the airbag can be moved from your existing steering wheel to your new one.

Along with physical fitting you will need to get some coding done - so you'll need someone with VCDS.

Personally I don't yet have VCDS and I'm not happy doing the physical installation, so I'm speaking with Rob @ Shark Performance who has quoted me £99 for labor and coding - which I find acceptable.

The steering wheel I've listed above is the one I've got. It has radio controls as well as phone controls.

Once coded all of these buttons/functions will work - it will be a fully functioning MFSW, no different to the one you can get factory fitted for the DSG version, except the wheel I've listed and purchased doesn't have the DSG paddles.

II don't know the fully delivered prices on the controller and wiring loom as Shark are providing those for me as well.

The steering wheel itself was around £175 delivered.

If i go for another vrs as my next car,i'm gonna look into this folding mirror not an option malarky.Its a bit silly really as i'm always one for folding them in when parked.

Maybe i should get my pen and paper and write another letter to Skoda

Feel free and if you get a different answer to me then please let me know who you spoke to!

Skoda UK made it quite clear to me that Kelvin's was a mistake, should never have been accepted as an order and should never have been built!

So hats off to him - he's got a rarity there.

Feel free and if you get a different answer to me then please let me know who you spoke to!

Skoda UK made it quite clear to me that Kelvin's was a mistake, should never have been accepted as an order and should never have been built!

So hats off to him - he's got a rarity there.

It seems fairly unlikely that Skoda UK vet every order...

Unless they've changed their IT systems to actually prevent UK dealers entering this configuration, or threatened them with a fate worse than death if there's a repetition it seems to me it can "happen" again.

It would be interesting to see what response a new buyer would get from Citygate Skoda (where Kelvinmoon bought his) if they went in with a request for folding mirrors on a new VRS? Especially if it was a dealbreaking issue.

And Allams Skoda just posted on here in the last few days that its still possibly possible.......

Its sheer madness that a €181 option in the ROI is not available in the UK especially when we can see that its available on www.skoda.ie.

I would really love to get the "real" justification for this from Skoda. I know people bang on on here about the Volkswagen group worrying about Skoda taking sales from the more "premier" group brands but on that basis why sell the L&K at all? And why is Ireland any different?

Edited 3 December, 201114 yr by juan27

My uncle aften taunts me other his folding mirrors on his L&K!

It would be a useful option to have or to retro fit, though it would appear its not possible without alot of work.

cant imagine it being a difficult retrofit TBH, I would imagine they would just need to be plugged in, the loom is prob already there, and then be enabled via VCDS

Is the start of this thread somewhere else, sounds interesting!

However the Skoda UK person said he didn't know how it had managed to get through production like that as it simply wasn't possible to have folding mirrors on the vRS.

that's far from the truth! in NZ (RHD), the vRS comes standard with electric folding mirrors, and so does Ireland (RHD?).

its not a production limitation, its a "market" limitation.

its a pity that we can't spec that option.

cant imagine it being a difficult retrofit TBH, I would imagine they would just need to be plugged in, the loom is prob already there, and then be enabled via VCDS

Surely it would be more complicated than that, don't the folding mirrors contain some sort of electric motor?

that's far from the truth! in NZ (RHD), the vRS comes standard with electric folding mirrors, and so does Ireland (RHD?).

its not a production limitation, its a "market" limitation.

its a pity that we can't spec that option.

It IS true with regards the vRS in the UK.

Quoting what is and isn't available in other markets is not really worth arguing about.

The Skoda UK person was quite correct when he told me that the vRS cannot come with folding mirrors because I live in the UK and it was a UK spec car I was ordering.

Surely it would be more complicated than that, don't the folding mirrors contain some sort of electric motor?

I was told by two dealerships and Skoda UK (again) that there was a lot to retro-fitting.

When I complained to Skoda bout the lack of folding mirrors when I knew somebody with a vRS and the mirrors they told me they would look into the option of retro-fitting.

The person I eventually spoke with over the phone listed a lot of different parts required and when it simply wasn't cost-effective to do.

I was told by two dealerships and Skoda UK (again) that there was a lot to retro-fitting.

When I complained to Skoda bout the lack of folding mirrors when I knew somebody with a vRS and the mirrors they told me they would look into the option of retro-fitting.

The person I eventually spoke with over the phone listed a lot of different parts required and when it simply wasn't cost-effective to do.

There's been a few threads on here about this and it does sound much more complicated (and expensive) than you'd think to retrofit.

I still think that if the buyer is willing to talk to a few dealers armed with the info on here, making the folding mirrors an absolute dealbreaker that they can be got.

Getting them from your local dealer or the dealer offering the best price may be more problematic...

Edited 6 December, 201114 yr by juan27