Advice needed!

[H2O]

Dear all,

Need some advice with regards to going ahead with a FULL dashboard replacement or not? My Superb elegance is only 2 months old and only today noticed that there is about an 2cm split in the dashboard. It is in the soft touch material under the heater controls, just to the side of the ash tray. Now the dealer has offered to replace the full dashboard but also said that it's (personally) probably not worth getting it done as they never go back in as they would in the factory. 5 hour job so would take the full day. Is he talking sense or is he is trying to avoid the job etc?

I don't want to have a new dashboard that has a magical rattle as that would do my head in, but on the other hand, the car is my pride and joy and it's annoying me that the split is there that should not be there at all. It's out of my eye line but just generally annoys me as I keep looking at it and touching it.

Has anyone had any experience in getting a full replacement dashboard? Any advice would be greatly appreciated as at the moment I have no idea what to do.

Thanks

Andrew

[Too Tall]

Can we get a picture of the gap?

 

Not being able to get it fitted like they do in the factory is an excuse, if you take enough care you can replace every bit of a car's interior without you being able to tell it's been done outside of the factory.

 

Now if they can't be bothered and let the temporary student intern mechanic work on it, and he gets 2.5 Hrs to do it in, yes it will be half-arsed. But such a new car, should not have such a major issue.

[H2O]

The picture does not show it very well but the white shows the size of it.

Edited 19 December, 2014 by H2O

[Danny 57]

Can we get a picture of the gap?

 

Not being able to get it fitted like they do in the factory is an excuse, if you take enough care you can replace every bit of a car's interior without you being able to tell it's been done outside of the factory.

 

Now if they can't be bothered and let the temporary student intern mechanic work on it, and he gets 2.5 Hrs to do it in, yes it will be half-arsed. But such a new car, should not have such a major issue.

I agree get it replaced as the car is only two months old and it is their responsibility to do correctly or they will be coming back to it. They may not like the factory given hours for the job especially if know one there has done it before which means that it will take more than the allotted time in reality.

[100andthirty]

If the dealer doesn't want to replace the dashboard (you're suggesting that the dealer says he can't get it back to "as new"), then perhaps he should replace the car. Trying to get the car replaced is never going to be straightforward and would take a lot of persistence and stress, but perhaps raising the issue might get the dealer focussed on doing whatever the right thing is.

 

I suppose it all depends on why the dashboard has split in the first place. Is it an installation fault or poor manufacture of the dashboard material itself? I am sure I have heard of "invisibly mending" dashboards and a quick google suggested that such things might be possible.

 

Be in no doubt that replacing a dashboard is hard work in a confined space involving a very large number of tightly packed parts and is not something that garage fitters do every day, so you might be that fitter's first, however good and dedicated he (or she) is!

 

All this is a bit of a ramble, but hope it gives you some ideas. Good luck

[H2O]

Dealer was happy to replace but suggested that if it was his car, he would leave it be. I replied but it's only 2 months old. He suggested that fitting a new dashboard in the dealership will never be the same as a factory fit as everything has to come out then back in again.

I have contacted Skoda Uk and discussed the issue with them as well as my concerns. They have said that all workmanship has a warranty behind it so if a rattle does develop it will be sorted. My main concern with the replacement dash is having a unexpected rattle and damaging the car when replacing it as at the moment everything is perfect, well except for the dash. The place where the fault is odd and I was surprised I never noticed it until today. It is out of eye shot and would only ever be noticed if I was bending down looking for it or in the passenger side. Now I know it is there, it's very annoying.

Going to ring the dealer tomorrow to discuss.

Edited 19 December, 2014 by H2O

[JakeBlade]

I'd be tempted to talk the dealer and SUK to go for a smart repair first, then if that doesn't work or you are still unhappy then you reserve your right to hit the nuclear button and get the dash replaced.

Removing a whole dash and refitting a new one in a workshop with workshop tools, and a workshop guide? Never gonna be the same as it all being assembled and fitted in the correct order with bespoke tools on the production line.

Having said all that - does the whole of the dash really need to be replaced? It looks like it might be isolated to one piece only?

Would be good if someone could post a schematic, and then you can identify whereabouts the break is. From where you describe it is, I can't believe that section is all part of one massive one-piece moulded dashboard. So they might just be exaggerating a bit about the extent of the work required.

Edited 19 December, 2014 by JakeBlade

[JakeBlade]

If the damage is where I think it is - red or green circle - then shame on the dealer for claiming that the whole of the dash will need to be removed.

Those pieces would be quite easily replaceable. Fiddly and a bit time consuming? Yes. But I wouldn't expect any squeaks or rattles from that work going forward.

(Picture borrowed from the internet btw).

Edited 19 December, 2014 by JakeBlade

[H2O]

Yes. That the place Jake. I thought that but was quite surprised when They said a whole new dashboard as individual parts cannot be repair or replaced.

Green circle

Edited 19 December, 2014 by H2O

[JakeBlade]

Time for me to eat humble pie. What a silly design: http://www.partsbase.org/skoda/superb-sup-eu-2013-85720-dashboard-fittings-cellphone-holder/

[H2O]

Time for me to eat humble pie. What a silly design: http://www.partsbase.org/skoda/superb-sup-eu-2013-85720-dashboard-fittings-cellphone-holder/

Aye - new dashboard. :-(

Seems a lot to change for such a small area.

[Too Tall]

I have contacted Skoda Uk and discussed the issue with them as well as my concerns. They have said that all workmanship has a warranty behind it so if a rattle does develop it will be sorted

 

Well there you have it. I'd say book the car in sometime after the holidays, make sure you get a free courtesy car in it's place, and for the next 1 year and 8 months (?) of the warranty period, keep a keen eye for any rattles.

[Danny 57]

Three year warranty in UK.

[WaveyDavey]

I'm not sure what I'm looking for in the original picture. Is it the gap along the bottom of the sides where the gap is? If so mine has gaps both sides and I think each one I looked at was similar when I was buying the car and very noticeable with the ivory interior.

[H2O]

The damage is actually in the dashboard material.

In the picture that I posted above the damaged can be seen from the whit mark near the top. Apologies as I know the photo is not great.

[Brockysuperb]

Don't know where you are H2O, but firms like this specialise:http://www.trimtechnique.co.uk/index.php/services/dash-plastic-repair/. You could suggest to the garage and Skoda that they pay and throw in a case of champagne. They'll still be saving, it'll be quicker, result will be similar (ie no more marks) but most of all, you will not take the risk of causing secondary issues by such a large replacement.

[JakeBlade]

^ I'm with Brocky ^

It would have to be some sort of VAG approved repair firm though, I guess.

Although, I'd just negotiate that if you're not happy with the repair then you reserve your right to get the dash replaced.

[H2O]

Based in Newcastle Brocky.

Thanks guys. Very grateful for all the advice. Im going to talk to dealer about the option to repair it first etc so will see what they say.

[andyvee]

I had a dashboard removed and refitted in a 6mth old Octavia 3 and it was never the same afterwards. Lots of little marks on various trim, A pillar trims had huge gaps and rattles after a few days. It went back a few times to have things sorted and various bits of trim replaced at the dealers expense as they had broken retaining clips etc.

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[Guest]

I had to have a complete dashboard replaced 2 Superbs ago car was a few weeks old and was recalled, due to the partial cut out for the passenger air bag not deep enough, appears a test at factory found a faulty batch. Job took well less than a day and it was impossible to see any difference in fitting, no rattles, it did have one before none after, no dirty marks or damage.The complete dashboard was replaced as I had used ultraviolet markers in places where no way to clean off.  I have had 4 Superbs from this dealer and all work has always been done.  It just shows the difference between dealers I have a good one

[FLAPPERJACK7]

Can't see a problem here. Have it replaced under warranty. When I replace a dashboard I road test after and any squeak's or rattle's are sorted before it is handed back to the customer. I have replaced many and so have my colleagues maybe we don't have replacement issues because we have all been working with Vag for over 20 year's. Take it too a dealership with old bugger's like me working there. Can't put a price on experience.

[numskull]

I had a dashboard removed and refitted in a 6mth old Octavia 3 and it was never the same afterwards. Lots of little marks on various trim, A pillar trims had huge gaps and rattles after a few days. It went back a few times to have things sorted and various bits of trim replaced at the dealers expense as they had broken retaining clips etc.

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Agree. Unless they take real time and trouble, I have no doubt a load of the other items they'll have to remove - air vents, trims etc. - will get marked and damaged in the process, plus the internal items that have to be refitted won't be to factory standard.  Frankly, I too think you'd be better with a smart repair as suggested by Brockysuperb. 

[silver1011]

The quality of the removal and insertion of a new dash will vary massively by dealer, even by technician.

 

It's a big and fiddly job which is quite time consuming and complicated with lots of difficult to reach fixings, wires, clips etc. etc.

 

If the dealer is advising against it I'd be worried, it means they'd rather not do the job which wouldn't inspire confidence in their ability.

 

Still, the car isn't right. Get it done and check, double check and triple check before driving the car home. Any rattles or creaks then take it straight back.