dear all,

I have a 1.6fsi classic and want to fit rear parking sensors, my local garage is having problems gettting the kits to fit. I would rather go for the strip version which is hidden than have badly colour coded ones drilled into the bumper. my dad was originally going to do it for me and get a kit from ebay but he has been too ill to be able to do it, and as I am clueless here, would rather someone else take the strain.

I am based in tipton on the edge of dudley, anyone know or reccomend anyone that could do it around this area at all please.

I have seen some services online that will do it on the spot but I gather the vw wiring looms can be a challege so have turned to this forum advice please.

cheers

brummie10

It will be very cost prohibitive to try and fit a genuine Skoda set-up to the car.

However, don't be put off by the eBay kits, there are a few good quality kits out there. A lot of sellers will colour code the sensors to the exact paint code to match your car and also provide the hole saw to cut the exact size hole needed.

The electric's simply attach to the reverse lights and the beeper is mounted somewhere in the boot. To do the job properly will require the rear bumper and some internal trim to be removed but it isn't difficult.

Rather than use your local garage I would be tempted to find an auto-electrician who is more likely to have retrofit parking sensors to cars before.

Either way if you want to employ someone to do it for you then even if you supply the sensors/kit it will cost you at least another £100 in labour charges.

Well worth it though, I'd be lost without parking sensors.

Yeah one of these kits will be ideal (and it comes with the cutting tool Silver mentions). The positions for the sensors are already pre-marked on the inside of the rear bumper too, so you don't need to measure anything up. Any competent auto-elec will be able to sort it for you if you don't feel confident attempting it yourself.

I have one fitted in my car (was done before I bought it) and other than the fact you don't get the display on the headunit (which is largely redundant when reversing anyway) and you have a small speaker hidden somewhere there's no practical difference to the factory install.

I have one fitted in my car (was done before I bought it) and other than the fact you don't get the display on the headunit (which is largely redundant when reversing anyway) and you have a small speaker hidden somewhere there's no practical difference to the factory install.

If you've retro-fitted Columbus or Bolero, then beeping is all you get anyway :(

Even if you have retro fitted a bolero or Columbus and if you have the original sensors from Skoda .. You can get them displayed on the HU if you just put an updated parking sensor module.

As for the OP .. The problem with retrofitting the oem sensors more than the cost is routing the wires and getting the holes in the bumper just right ... Due to their size.

Go for aftermarket ones from someone who sells the entire kit ... So you don't have to faff about looking for individual parts

many thanks for the replies, the car electrician my local garage use, who are very good by the way ( they only use specialists for certain areas like the failed injetcor controller I had on my focus diesel), is having problems getting the kits for the stickky ones like these

http://www.parkingdynamics.co.uk/

from his suppliers, my garage are a little reticent to drill the bumper in case they look rubbish and would rather that I went for the strip non visible versions, and in a way I am as well, anyone tried these fitted on an octavia and how did you get on, they seem to work as well as the drilled versions from what other forums are saying, anything to watch out for, do they actually work ??

cheers

brummie

If the strip sensors were better than the normal sensors then all the manufacturers would be fitting them.

As they aren't I can only assume that they aren't as good.

......or not as cheap. If the "holey" kind are significantly cheaper then they'll go with the lower cost version if it's being fitted as standard. An "invisible" one would be a premium option, probably on Porsche and Audi first..........if at all.

I'd want to see it in action a lot more for real, as opposed to a bunch of cartoons.

Plus, whilst "there's no drilling" there'll be a lot of needing to take the bumper off instead.

I think I read somewhere that the hidden strip sensor was prone to false readings when it rained, due to the water droplets sitting on the bumper.

......or not as cheap. If the "holey" kind are significantly cheaper then they'll go with the lower cost version if it's being fitted as standard. An "invisible" one would be a premium option, probably on Porsche and Audi first..........if at all.

Mercedes are renowned for introducing innovation to the S-Class, often irrespective of cost.

If the strip type design offered any real advantage we would have seen it used by mainstream manufactureres by now.

As a retrofit though then it may be a viable solution...

One area that I thought would have benefitted from some real innovation is clearing the windscreen of rainwater. Rubber strips on the end of a motorised arm seems a bit archaic now!

One area that I thought would have benefitted from some real innovation is clearing the windscreen of rainwater. Rubber strips on the end of a motorised arm seems a bit archaic now!

Easier to get the butler to do it

I could supply and fit them for you for £60, if they need specific colour coding (silver or black is usually ok) that would be £12 extra.

heres the ones I did on my Octy which was about 20 mins old when I fitted them :-)

That's a cracking price mate and a good job on yours

many thanks for the thoughts as xpower in my area will pm and see where to go from there cheers all

brummie

Were you not able to use the markings on the rear of the bumper for the spacing, or did you not need to remove the bumper?

The outer sensors are are little further inboard compared to the factory fit ones...

Were you not able to use the markings on the rear of the bumper for the spacing, or did you not need to remove the bumper?

The outer sensors are are little further inboard compared to the factory fit ones...

I didn't remove the bumper, the only reason I didn't space them out a little more on the edges is the curvature of the bumper, the sensors are flat and I wasn't sure I could go any further whilst maintaining the flush fit.

They work perfect though :-)

Are they coded to your head unit too?

Are they coded to your head unit too?

No they are independant, they just beep no display on the bolero.

The genuine Skoda retrofit kits are Cobra Parkmaster kits anyhow and I find out of the many I have fitted to be the best. Very easy to fit and set up, also easy to paint and are supplied with the correct masking rings so you don't paint the inside ring of the sensor.

The genuine Skoda retrofit kits are Cobra Parkmaster kits anyhow and I find out of the many I have fitted to be the best. Very easy to fit and set up, also easy to paint and are supplied with the correct masking rings so you don't paint the inside ring of the sensor.

£70 on eBay...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Cobra-Reversing-Parking-Sensor-0258-Park-Master-/251008841160?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item3a714af5c8

Found the, cheaper than that too, last set I bought I got for £40.

I bought the Cobra A0358 kit to fit to my car. These are the latest flush-fit version sensors.

http://www.cobravehiclesecurity.co.uk/products/parking-aids/park-master-a0356358359-17mm-flush-mount-sensors.aspx

Hadn't seen the new ones, nearly identical to the Fabia II accessory kit.