Hi everyone,

After weeks of scouring ebay and autotrader I have finally replaced my car with an Octavia.

Its a 51 plate elegance TDI in green, very smart looking. It's done 180,000 miles and was a cat c. It's been owned by the same doctor since new by the looks of the service history, every stamp in the book (x19) from a skoda main dealer.

I've been told the turbo has been replaced and nearly 2k spent on it this year, £1300 on a service and cambelt change with some other bits, £250 on new glow plugs and £550 on rebuilding the front suspension because of a shuddering under braking.

The car drives like a dream and goes like a rocket so I hope I've bought a good one.

Next step is to remove the standard casette player and 6disc and replace with something a bit more modern.

I'm also looking to get hold of VAGCOM for future use as my dad has an A3 1.8t sport as well.

I'm sure I'll be scouring the forums for info as I go.

Welcome along to the club!

First tip - when changing the headunit you will need to get an antenna booster doohickey or the signal on all of stations will be poor...

Other than that, sounds like you've bought a well minded car, so happy motoring!

Thanks, I'm loving the technical terms!

Is it not possible to power up the standard booster somehow? Also, how do you release the head unit? Is it a special tool?

I believe the antenna draws its power from the standard hu internally. Aftermrkets don't, thus the need for a booster.

Not sure about the removal as the standard one was gone from mine wen I bought it. Probably just a normal iso puller set though, either single clip or double bar.

Pop off the urround and you'll see pretty quick what's what

once you have done the head unit, speaker upgrade wouldn't go a miss. Pioneer do a good replacement

Welcome!

Hi and welcome to Briskoda

Sent from my Galaxy S5

head unit comes out with 2 flat blades (one either side) I used a junior hacksaw blade snapped in half when i removed mine or you can go to most motoring shops and buy the normal tools.

 

Most of the aftermarket head units will require a wiring loom adapter (plenty available) and a couple of the wires swapped (permanent and ignition live)

and don't forget to disconnect the k-line otherwise you might go frying the dealers (and potentially your own) vag-com/vcds.

 

Welcome along, 180,000 miles - just about run in.  :clap:

Edited 14 October, 201411 yr by mbames

I've just fitted my Sony hesd unit, it has interchangeable lives so that should solve the memory issue anf I've disconnected the blue wire. I found that this wire received 12v from the loom all the time, it made me wonder if the battery drain issue that some have is because the blue wire is left connected so can drain through the HU's internals?

Also I tested the aerial connector for a power supply for the signal booster but no voltage was present. Does this mean I don't have the booster as the reception is reasonable?

the standard head unit contained the power to the aerial, so a booster will be needed - pick one up in halfords.

its basically and extender plug with with a power wire that comes from it, plug it into the ISO connector, job done.

without a booster, local / strong signals from stations will be okay, but weaker stations wont be picked up very well,

and AM stations will have nothing at all picked up by the new head unit.

This is the sort of thing you need

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/vw-aerial-booster

 

blue wire from the HU is the "aerial power", so on old cars with electric aerials it made the aerial go up/down, and on modern cars VAG cars it with aftermarket HUs we use it to power the power injector to get power to the amplifier in the aerial base.

I looked at the autoleads site and it didn't list the aerial power adapter for my model, however i always go with experience over t'internet so I ordered one anyway. I fitted it this morning and it made a massive difference to an already ok reception! Top marks to the forum, wooden spoon to autoleads. Thanks peeps!

glad to help out