Someone thought it would be funny to vandalise the centre section of my radiator grille. It appears to have been chopped out - maybe with bolt croppers. The dealer says that according the illustrated parts catalogue, the grille is integral with the front bumper assembly and it all has to be replaced costing £320 ish plus VAT plus cost of painting. I don't want to muck up my insurance by claiming for this if there's a better way but it's an unfunny amount of money to have to pay out.

 

If the dealer is really right, and a query has been sent to Skoda because the parts manager thinks this looks odd too, then it strikes me as being a very short sighted piece of cost-reducing design. Untypical of Skoda I must say - this is my 3rd Octavia.

 

Has anyone got any thoughts about an alternative approach to repair or replacement - other than driving round with a large gap in the middle of the radiator grille?

It may well be that the grille is welded into the bumper, I know some manufactures do it....

Hmmmm, sounds a bit funny to me! given the age of the car i would have assumed it would just pop in and out like the fabia, try looking in the for sale section and see if there are any being sold here or try ebay? i could be speaking **** coz i have Fabia's but it doesn't sound right! (for £100 you could buy the whole bonnet and grill off another one that's being broken in the same colour!) 

 

As for the vandals, what a WA%*$R thats a really vindictive thing to do and sound like they put some thought into it as apposed to mindless vandalism!

Saddens me to here of such mindless vandalism (is there any other kind). I know superskoda sell a replacement vRS grill, so the grill will probably separate from the bumper. The trouble will be to find a 'like for like' grill as the dealer will likely only have one part number for the complete bumper and grill assembly. It might just be an insurance job after all!

Hmmmm, sounds a bit funny to me! given the age of the car i would have assumed it would just pop in and out like the fabia, try looking in the for sale section and see if there are any being sold here or try ebay? i could be speaking **** coz i have Fabia's but it doesn't sound right! (for £100 you could buy the whole bonnet and grill off another one that's being broken in the same colour!)

 

The grille is in the bumper not the bonnet on an O3.

Sorry to hear of damage, is it the grill between bumper and bonnet or the lower bumper grill? I'm sure on superskoda it shows the grill between bumper and bonnet as seperate it was about 70 euros I think? Someone on hear upgraded their elegance to a VRS one. If it's the lower grill, I have no idea I'm afraid.

Thanks to all so far. The Superskoda lead looks interesting. They appear to be close to putting a honeycomb replacement grille on the market sometime in February. Still 150 euros but cheaper than the dealer suggests and also implies that the grill can be replaced independently of the bumper - so maybe things are looking a bit less bleak. Could also be that a temporary fix while I wait for the new kit would be to buy one of their winter protectors.

 

And yes. I'm mystified at what the perps were trying to do. Don't think I've got anyone locally who has taken a dislike to me! Could be that they were trying to get at the bonnet release mechanism but I'm happy to say that it is well enclosed and defeated them.

Was just going to suggest superskoda for the grille then read above.

Which actually make this post a waste of my time....yet I'm still typing it???!!!

All heart!! thanks

Here is a link to the part you need http://vin-online.ru/etka.php?vag=SK&rgn=CZ&mod=OCT&year=2013&kat=753&gr=80700 and shows the grill complete with bumper.

 

If Superskoda get a part out, you will still have to do some sort of surgery to the front of the car.

Thanks to all so far. The Superskoda lead looks interesting. They appear to be close to putting a honeycomb replacement grille on the market sometime in February. Still 150 euros but cheaper than the dealer suggests and also implies that the grill can be replaced independently of the bumper - so maybe things are looking a bit less bleak. Could also be that a temporary fix while I wait for the new kit would be to buy one of their winter protectors.

 

And yes. I'm mystified at what the perps were trying to do. Don't think I've got anyone locally who has taken a dislike to me! Could be that they were trying to get at the bonnet release mechanism but I'm happy to say that it is well enclosed and defeated themSo,

So...... Skoda 1 Scrotes 0 it does sound like that just can't see any reason for cutting into it unless they need a part for theirs! do any of you neighbours have one sitting in the drive? lol

Thanks Dempsek. Same picture that the dealer showed me - only with English descriptions. Yes it could be that the existing - very flimsy - plastic has to be cut out. Looks like a 10 minute job with the wife's kitchen scissors. But I before I go there I will have to check with Superskoda to see what fiendish scheme they have for installing their replacement version securely.