The Columbus arrived and is now in 10 min job having seen the guide online and having the correct parts and tools ready, screw driver and a trim removal tool (slight delay as my screw driver was too thick had to improvise) GPS antenna mounted under top dash just on metal rail behind centre air ducts all is well.

Plug&Play By simply plugging it in all works instantly inc climatic screens etc (haha unlucky to all the poor older model sufferers) only thing I need is the Maxidot nav box ticked in VCDS :(

With thanks to fellow Briskodian EoinM for selling me his 2011 Columbus (LED) upon selling his VRS and Vectra1 for being his salesman of the year (must have been on commission)

Glad it was nice and easy, thinking of doing the same thing and OEM Retrofits have not gotten back to me.

Glad it was nice and easy, thinking of doing the same thing and OEM Retrofits have not gotten back to me.

This is a highly easy one to do especially thanks to this guide http://octavia-vrs.c...2-install-guide But SOD paying (at time when I ordered Oct2010) £1580 for the Columbus and thats them taking the value of the standard Bolero off! CHANCERS!

Yeah no way I'd pay that. I think OEM retrofits want £680 for a second hand unit fitted which is far more tolerable. The Bolero's have sold on ebay for £100-200 in the last few weeks so there is some value to claw back there too.

Yeah no way I'd pay that. I think OEM retrofits want £680 for a second hand unit fitted which is far more tolerable. The Bolero's have sold on ebay for £100-200 in the last few weeks so there is some value to claw back there too.

£680 fitted is about fair from prices ive seen if that includes the trim surround a lil VCDS work to give it full comparability with things like maxidot and climatic etc (if required) and a brew while you wait the 30 min max the job should take.

Watch out on which one you get as there are different versions of the same Columbus with different Firmware and an old one may not have post code search etc on the sat nav element but I think most can be upgraded. Also older ones don't have an LED screen. It is good to know a little about the history of the unit too a old well used one if it dies on you may be a big shame.

I would do it yourself still though!

Thanks for the info. I have already asked them about the firmware level but forgot to check about the actual hardware to see if it was the LED version. If they ever get back to me I'll ask that one.

How difficult was the VCDS stuff to do? I don't own one (hell I don't even own a skoda yet!) but a kind member 5 minutes away has already offered his services.

Will take a look through that guide tonight at work.

More importantly, how does the Columbus navigation compare to things like TomTom? I'm assuming it's got all the speed cameras an stuff but what about lane guidance and all those snazzy bits?

If you order a factory fitted Columbus, then it also includes the wiring for a roof mounted GPS aerial and a second FM/AM aerial in the window. Add in the cost of VCDS (or someone with it) to code it properly for you and a new surround as well as (possibly) a new CAN Gateway (and more coding)...

I take the point about taking the cost of the Bolero off, but these extras are very to retrofit and often integration with Maxidot or MFSW's causes problems.

If I were buying a brand new car, I'd spec the Columbus just for the full factory integration and no hassle (and I'm not into throwing money away lightly...)

And I have retrofitted a Columbus unit myself.

Good to see it went to a good home:)

How difficult was the VCDS stuff to do?

Pretty easy. It was my first job with a new VCDS set up and I had to code the new CAN Gateway as mine was a pre-FL Octavia.

I'm assuming it's got all the speed cameras an stuff but what about lane guidance and all those snazzy bits?

No speed cameras, but these can be added as POI's using third party software (search this forum for more info - I haven't been bothered about this feature).

Does have lane guidance, but not as clear as Tom Tom or others - perfectly functional though.

It's swings and roundabouts really - some 'snazzy features' are there, some aren't. But then third party Sat Nav's don't have 30Gb of music, 7" screen, integrate with Maxidot and parking sensors, etc...

All down to personal preference - but I'm not missing my old sat nav system.

If you order a factory fitted Columbus, then it also includes the wiring for a roof mounted GPS aerial and a second FM/AM aerial in the window. Add in the cost of VCDS (or someone with it) to code it properly for you and a new surround as well as (possibly) a new CAN Gateway (and more coding)...

I take the point about taking the cost of the Bolero off, but these extras are very to retrofit and often integration with Maxidot or MFSW's causes problems.

If I were buying a brand new car, I'd spec the Columbus just for the full factory integration and no hassle (and I'm not into throwing money away lightly...)

And I have retrofitted a Columbus unit myself.

The antenna on roof for factory fit is to me ugly looking very square :( I have no MFSW as Mr Skoda says not unless you get DSG FUBAR! (and I didn't want DSG) real bug that to me! I have full functionality and should have no battery drain dramas being as its a 2011 unit in a 2011 car climatic screens all come up on it etc I just need the maxidot nav box ticked in VCDS then its 110 complete for me.

Good to see it went to a good home:)

Much appreciated now all you need to do is get that Mk1 VRS and live the VRS dream once again!

I never had a battery drain issue with it in mine.

Much appreciated now all you need to do is get that Mk1 VRS and live the VRS dream once again!

We'll see. Payment was a nice bonus though and eased the pain! My heads been turned by another weekend toy today...

Edited 22 March, 201214 yr by EoinM

I never had a battery drain issue with it in mine.

Some older cars need an updated can gateway I think to stop it happening. A newer car with a newer Columbus seems to bypass all those lil issues people had and amount of coding required :sun:

Well I would never pay the money skoda want for them and pity people that do.

I bought mine off a fellow member and fitted like fubar did in about 10 mins. Everything worked apart from maxi dot integration. 5 mins on vcds and a tick box checked it was fully operational.

All I need is a local member willing to help..... Any one in the Netherlands with VCDS? lol

Do you need a trim even if you are swapping from a Bolero and if so what is the part number for the new black carbon surround?

What is the going rate for Columbus + bluetooth?

Do you need a trim even if you are swapping from a Bolero and if so what is the part number for the new black carbon surround?

What is the going rate for Columbus + bluetooth?

Yes unless you have a superb, where the bolero is the same shape as the columbus

I'll add checking the CAN to my list of bits to check before I order a unit just to see if I need a new one or if it needs to be upgraded.

It's only 18 months old though so hopefully I shouldn't have any issues.

Do you need a trim even if you are swapping from a Bolero and if so what is the part number for the new black carbon surround?

What is the going rate for Columbus + bluetooth?

Mine wasnt black my car is 2011 it was the brushed alloy one so I don't know the part number for black one. The Bolero is bigger than the Columbus.

I'll add checking the CAN to my list of bits to check before I order a unit just to see if I need a new one or if it needs to be upgraded.

It's only 18 months old though so hopefully I shouldn't have any issues.

should be fine I think for all FL models but don't quote me on it I did read up a lot on here over last year on the matter.

Luckily mine came with a Columbus when i bought it from the dealers (ex- demo). Unluckily its only got the first part of the post code search function. Although that can be upgraded I beleive.

Best bit of the Columbus Sat Nav: "Stay on this road Long Time!" and "Turn off NOW!" . I really must try to get a japanese/korean voice on it and those instructions wil be just fantastic

Plug&Play By simply plugging it in all works instantly inc climatic screens etc (haha unlucky to all the poor older model sufferers) only thing I need is the Maxidot nav box ticked in VCDS :(

Yes, it's really difficult to look at the display by the controls. Plug&Play by simply plugging it in all works instantly inc. Maxidot nav box (haha unlucky to all the poor newer model sufferers who have to turn it in with VCDS). :p

Pretty easy. It was my first job with a new VCDS set up and I had to code the new CAN Gateway as mine was a pre-FL Octavia.

No speed cameras, but these can be added as POI's using third party software (search this forum for more info - I haven't been bothered about this feature).

Does have lane guidance, but not as clear as Tom Tom or others - perfectly functional though.

It's swings and roundabouts really - some 'snazzy features' are there, some aren't. But then third party Sat Nav's don't have 30Gb of music, 7" screen, integrate with Maxidot and parking sensors, etc...

All down to personal preference - but I'm not missing my old sat nav system.

Thanks for the impressions!

should be fine I think for all FL models but don't quote me on it I did read up a lot on here over last year on the matter.

Too late, quoted and history shall record that you are either right or wrong :p

Will have a hunt around see what I can find.

Thanks for the impressions!

Too late, quoted and history shall record that you are either right or wrong :p

Will have a hunt around see what I can find.

Id just got for it with a newer Columbus LED one and see what happens cross any other bridges when you come to them. All reading I did on here ref it seemed to say for an FL an older radio you prob have to have a bit of coding done to get it to work with climatic etc but for newer ones plug&play.