Hello all,

Just joined after parting with my BMW, child on the way so I needed something reliable and about £4000K a year cheaper from the VAGroup and tadaaaa Skoda wins.

Anyway I am very pleased with my car and its superb (pardon the pun) ha, but there are niggles which I hope you lot can help me with.

The car is covered by a 12 months dealer warranty but we all know that sometimes those faults are never found. So here is a little list.

1) Front heated seats are not working, I have had both selectors up at full and not a sign of heat from both even after 20 minutes.

2) Rear window lockout button (prevents rear passenger putting window up / down) not working but all the switches on the driver control panel work and all the buttons on the rear doors work.

3) Big vibration from the front end of the car when I brake (any speed), I know the brakes are fairly new on the fronts but I do suspect the previous owner may have been a bit heavy on the brakes before bedding them in for the 1st 300miles and has thus pitted the disks.

4) The speakers are amasingly rubbish and they sound as if they have either blown or there is an amasing amount of rattle in the doors which I doubt, I took the speakers out and retightened the screws and the distortion still persists. Even with Bass and Treble set to zero they still sound distorted and rubbish.

5) Windscreen washer jet passenger side is like having a heavily drunk 70 year old urinating on the window....... Pointless and dribble like, where as the driver side is like a race horse , I can only guess that the jet has given up or there is a small blockage resolved with a teeny tiny pin.

The car has been booked in to a dealer (Griffin Mill Pontypridd) for the above to be looked at but I thought it would be worthwhile asking some owners their advice.

The car has covered 73500 miles with full dealer history (same dealer) and serviced every 10000 miles if not sooner. 1 lady owner and the leather is brand new, appart from the fact she liked a cigarette so every single interior panel and gap needs to be washed, scrubed, deodourised and done again and again to kill the pong.

Appart from the above, I do love my new Skoda.

Many Thanks

PropWarp

1. Fuse blown, or worked loose?

2. Contacts in switch bad.....need cleaning or replaced.

3. Sounds like warped discs, but could be a worn engine mount.

4. Not sure about this. But it's certainly not normal.

5. More than likely a blockage....perhaps some poor screen wash has been used in the past and caused some gumming in the pipe.

The dealer should deal with these issues......Welcome to Skoda ownership!

Hi Brooke23,

Thank you for the quick reply, I shall see what the dealer comes back with and pick and chose your above options

Thanks

PW

No problem.

I could be completely wrong on all counts, but those are the first things I'd check!

Let us know what they find.

Morning,

Right she goes in today, so I shall update you all with is wrong.

I just hope and pray that Skodas approach to customers and service and giving a damn is a far cry from BMWs attitude to its customers.

E.G. Ermmm not our problem sir? but give us £3000 and we may be able to fix it... Maybe!!

Rant over

Also I resolved the washer jet issue. There is a very small plastic piece that was poking out of the nozzle, I pushed that back in and now it like a karcher to the windscreen. Not sure how it had worked its way loose, possibly years of cleaning pushed it out.

Edited 15 February, 201313 yr by PropWarp

The washer nozzles are meant to slide back and forth, they are 'fan jets' and sliding them allows you to adjust the width of the fan or the spread of water.

I assume it was slid all the way forward (towards the windscreen) which reduced the output?

Good luck with the other niggles.

The washer nozzles are meant to slide back and forth, they are 'fan jets' and sliding them allows you to adjust the width of the fan or the spread of water.

I assume it was slid all the way forward (towards the windscreen) which reduced the output?

Good luck with the other niggles.

Interesting didn't know that,

i thought they were set in terms of pattern and you can adjust the height by moving the nozzle up and down?

It suprised me, if anything I thought the nozzle would have been metal and as you say adjustable. I shall try and take it out again later and get a picture of it. Its a teeeeeeeny tiny little thing.

A very good mist if I do say, better than my mother A3 which just squirt 3 jet streams.

Just dropped the car off and what a difference of service you get in comparison to BMW, people that seem to care. Even got a tidy Courtesy Car, Skoda Superb, 3.6 V6. Shifts like a stabbed rat

It suprised me, if anything I thought the nozzle would have been metal and as you say adjustable. I shall try and take it out again later and get a picture of it. Its a teeeeeeeny tiny little thing.

A very good mist if I do say, better than my mother A3 which just squirt 3 jet streams.

Just dropped the car off and what a difference of service you get in comparison to BMW, people that seem to care. Even got a tidy Courtesy Car, Skoda Superb, 3.6 V6. Shifts like a stabbed rat

Welcome mates and a nice motor u have.

Now u have the Superb as a courtesy car, u dont want your Octy back (wayne goes and hide - lol :-)

Anyway.

I just got my 2010 Superb last month and at 70k

It has the same nitty problems as your Octy (distorted speakers, forever wait for heated seats etc etc) - but these are trivial things compared with the enjoyment and smile when we sit in our Skoda s :-)

Keep us posted abt the issues!

And Skoda dealer compared with BMW!

PS: which BM did u have?

PPS: i had the pre-FL 120d and the trim rubber rubbing dash squeeks nearly made me to go for the cliff jump! Eeek!

Nice courtesy car!

I got an Ibiza FR 1.6 TDI. Hated it!

Got a couple of niggles on mine that need sorting.

Handbrake slide cover thing has broken and also still got a squeeking on start-up (been in for this once and they re-greased the starter that fixed it for a short time).

Phil

Speakers on my L&K are amazingly **** too!!! I did build a box with 6x9's and 2 x 8" subs that replaced the load cover and an amp that fitted where the multichanger is for my old occy. But I am trying to ween the gary boy out of me so its sitting in the garage.

Most other things work OK though.

Hi Chan110,

Only a few little niggles but nothing as soul destroying as the BMW had.

I may leave my car with Skoda for ever, I think my car for their £28K Superb is a fair swap haha

I shall certainly keep you all posted on the issues.

I had a 2004 320d ES, which was as comfortable as falling down a set of council flat concrete stairs. But alas she has gone to blow a turbo or let the swirl flap depart this world via the inlet manifold and die on the M4 in a black cloud of burning oil and diesel for the next unfortunate owner. I think in a space of 3 years I spent near enough £8000 in servicing and repairs, it loved the taste of brakes and rear tyres. Not only that but BMW believe that a pricing sheet from the distant planet Leonus Deferium is useable on earth. How on earth can an oil service cost £187.40.... Beyond. The squeeks and squeels from the dash and door seals were unreal, there was a moment on beachy head that I thought shall I let this car meet its doom at the jaggered rocks below or shall I just let it live.................. I wish I pushed it off. The handbrake was as much use as a butter alternative to glue. Wishbones every 8000miles cost £197.00 EACH. I can go on but either way I am already much happier in my Skoda. I think BMW have certainly lost their way. Mother had BMWs since the 70s in all guises inc 3.0CSL, she now refuses to buy any more as they arent what they used to be, she now hustles around in an A3 Sline blackedition 1.8T, and RS6 Avant. The built quality and service is unmatched.

Heated seats should be pretty quick and if set on 5 you should a very warm bum within 3-5 mins.

I would check the fuse and if its not that check there is a feed to the switch.

Speakers on my L&K are amazingly **** too!!! I did build a box with 6x9's and 2 x 8" subs that replaced the load cover and an amp that fitted where the multichanger is for my old occy. But I am trying to ween the gary boy out of me so its sitting in the garage.

Most other things work OK though.

I think it is going to be a case of trial and error with upgrading the speakers. I was shocked because they are Blaupunkt and I thought they would have had a bit of thump in them rather than sounding like they have blown. I dont think Skoda will cover "in-car entertainment" in the warranty so I may call the dealer I got the car from and see if we can come to some sort of arrangement if I go to an Audio Specialist.... What do you guys think??

BTW thanks for you replies, very helpfull. Thank you again.

Mines nearly 10 years old so a bit late me thinks....

I had a 2004 320d ES, which was as comfortable as falling down a set of council flat concrete stairs. But alas she has gone to blow a turbo or let the swirl flap depart this world via the inlet manifold and die on the M4 in a black cloud of burning oil and diesel for the next unfortunate owner. I think in a space of 3 years I spent near enough £8000 in servicing and repairs.

Snap. Here is my 2002 E46 320d SE.

I also suffered the swirl flap failure. My BMW did a very good job of eating it and kindly shared it's meal with several other very expensive components such as the turbo and cat.

After lots and lots of perseverence BMW UK paid half. It still cost me £3.5K. From that day on I vowed never to touch another BMW.

I now own two Skoda's :love:

Many will preach that the E46 was the last of the best. Well I think ok yes but it was also to begining of what BMW would become and now is..... A SHAMBLES.

My EGR valve gave up one day and I paid near enough £1000 for BMW tech to say "i still dunno", the only reason I found it was the EGR valve is because when I decided to lift the bonnet, a very small vacume pipe leading into the Diaphragm was not connected..... This wasnt the case a week prior just before it was serviced. BMW UK didnt embrace responsibilty so I complained and I am still awaiting a reply today and I had to fork out £300 for an EGR valve and a silicone hose that lead from the intercooler to the valve which also blew because of the extreme pressure leading to the valve. Many odd noises coming from the turbo and oil all over the engine bay.

So enraged I even told a couple just about to purchase a shiny brand new BMW to think again, they asked why and I explained away......... From what I heard on their departure from the dealer they went to Cardiff Audi .

Question, did your BMW doors squeel and blower fan squeel when you accelerated? handbrake (What handbrake) and fron end make alot of knocking even after much repair?

Haha, your pain makes the extemely unpleasant experience I had with BMW a little easier to accept now!

No issues with the fan or doors but I did suffer the same issues with the front wishbones. I once had the tyres changed and the fitter called me over to show me the "huge" movement as he rocked the front wheels back and forth.

I also suffered with the handbrake, it always rusted on, even if just left overnight. Many a time I had to whack the calipers with a hammer in an attempt to free them! Luckily mine was an auto so I just stopped using the handbrake.

All four electric window actuators failed and the brake light switch melted. It's a shame really as I liked the car. It's actually over in Australia now. The young lad who bought it off me took it over with him when he emigrated.

Once you get these little niggles sorted on the Octavia you won't look back, I haven't!

Ive just got the car back from the dealer.

Window switch (stop the rear windows going down) - may not be covered by a warranty

Heated Seats - may not be covered by a warranty

Speakers - Not coverered by a warranty (as I suspected)

Juddering when braking - May not be covered as it could be the brakes

They want to plug the car in to a Diognostic Computer so they can give me deffinate answers. Shall I contact the dealer I got the car from?

Any body had any dealings with David Ian Skoda in Morecambe. They seem really good and helpfull and willing, I just dont want to be fleeced with a one off bad car, especialy now I have a child on the way :(

Something else to add. The car was sold to me with those issues. Nothing seemed apparent on the test drive. And being an "approved used" Skoda you would believe that the above items would not be an issue nore exist??

Pardon my ignorance but surely big brands such as vehicles in the VAGroup would use the "approved used" slogan as the car is in great condition and is in 100% working order. I see the "Approved Used" and my mind says ahhh its been looked after, well maintained and all works and works well.

:( Slowly getting disheartened :'(

I would say you should go back to the dealer you purchased from.

It's sold with heated seats and you weren't told they didn't work.

The speakers are a similar story. They should work properly and you weren't told they didn't.

And the same with the switch.

The brakes should have been in a servicible condition when purchased. If it's just general wear on them then they may not do anything but if there's a serious/obvious fault with them then they may.

Phil

This boils my blood.

This is why you pay a premium by buying an approved used car direclty from the manufacturers approved used car scheme from an approved franchised Skoda dealer.

Each and every one of those issues is covered by their warranty.

Skoda also have a 30 day / 1,000 mile exchange policy.

http://www.skoda.co.uk/gbr/usedcars/usedcaradvantages/Pages/default.aspx

Go back to the dealer and ask them why none of these issues were identified by their multi-point vehcile inspection.

Dodgy brakes? Are they serious? They've thrown some soapy water on it, blathered on a bit of tyre black and bunged it out on their forecourt.

Ring Skoda UK on 08457 745745 (option 4) and tell them one of their dealers is taking the ****!

Thanks Philje123,

Very good point, it did state that it had heated seats in the add and the swtiches are certainly there for it.

I dont mind taking a wack on the brakes, I know I will bed them in properly and they will be top notch, i dont expect that to be covered but good will etc etc. They do cause rather agressive wheel vibration and osulating. Its more than obvious, its the elephant in the corner.

Something else to add. The car was sold to me with those issues. Nothing seemed apparent on the test drive.

If you bought the car privately then this would be the case.

But you bought it from a dealer....a retail sale is completely different from a legal point of view....you have rights!

It's bad enough that they let the car be sold with those faults, they absolutely have to put it right. If they don't you have a statuary right to reject the car as well as the already mentioned Skoda 30 day/1000 mile exchange policy.

In my experience, unfortunately being a Skoda approved used car is no guarantee of it being a decent car. A while ago I viewed an approved used Octavia (2005 model with 42,000 miles) at the dealer.....It had almost certainly been clocked in the first 3 years of it's life. Absolutely no documented evidence of any servicing having been carried out in the first three years of life, and major wear on the door handles.....but the MOT's all tallied.

When I pointed this out, they still tried to sell it to me, but I walked. They took it off the website after that and probably auctioned it.

The signs were pretty clear, but they had not bothered to even look through the documentation before putting it on their forecourt.

Edited 15 February, 201313 yr by booke23

+1 for Phil / Prop / Brooke

The very reason we pay ripped off prices from dealer is and

ONLY reason "piece of mind when something goes wrong".

The warranty is hard to pursue since there will be many exclusions.

But with a few days (at most a few weeks) u should be able to demand

any faults u find even AFTER u taken the car - to be fixed ...within reason.

So trivial things like dents /scrapes / low tread tyres u might not

be abled to demand to b fixed (but yes u can before u parted your money :-)

But non working electric seats / windows u can.

Take it back and demand to be fixed else threaten to ask money back for

car not as describe / exchange /refund without quibble policy and go somewhereelse to buy.

But bear in mind in some small print thy will charge u small admin fee + usage whilst in your possession.

Dealer are dealers - some are very good (Lexus) some abysmal.

Even one skoda dealership can differ massively in price and serviving with another ...