Hi

 

After placing the order for my octavia vrs with free amundsen i am regretting it. my dealer has told me it is too late to upgrade to columbus.

 

Has anyone had columbus retrofitted by a dealer? if so at what cost?

 

 

Unless you car has actually been scheduled for a build day you should be able to modify the order.

Especially for only a headunit change, I don't think this will affect eh factory process much.

 

You only ordered a few weeks ago right?

 

I don't think a retrofit is too difficult for a dealer but I'm sure it will be much more than the 1500gbp cost at build time..

Unless you car has actually been scheduled for a build day you should be able to modify the order.

Especially for only a headunit change, I don't think this will affect eh factory process much.

 

You only ordered a few weeks ago right?

 

I don't think a retrofit is too difficult for a dealer but I'm sure it will be much more than the 1500gbp cost at build time..

 

Hi

 

I tried to add columbus, and KESSY and was told by the dealer that because my order is 4 weeks from build it is too late to amend the order.

Unless you car has actually been scheduled for a build day you should be able to modify the order.

Especially for only a headunit change, I don't think this will affect eh factory process much.

 

You only ordered a few weeks ago right?

 

I don't think a retrofit is too difficult for a dealer but I'm sure it will be much more than the 1500gbp cost at build time..

UK Dealers will not retrofit Columbus - there isn't an upgrade path in the UK.

There's a company who (in association with Audi) will remove the component protection and retrofit higher end head units / infotainment systems. No doubt they would do the same with Skoda if required. Assuming of course that Skoda are willing to remove the component protection like Audi do, for a considerable/reasonable fee. I can't recall who the company are, but I remember reading their website a year or so ago.

There is more to it than just removing the component protection - that is the first step.

 

If the car didn't come from the factory with navigation as standard it will lock the maps out.

I know. My point is that it is possible with Audi, so it should be possible with Skoda. However, it's certainly a better option to have the car spec from the factory rather than trying to address the retrofitting minefield.

Additional data needs loading to the CAN Gateway for one, similar to enabling Drive Select (if your car didn't come with it).

 

There is also software licensing (SWaP code) to overcome.

 

Dealers can do this, but it needs authorising by the factory, and as far as I know there is not a mechanism in place yet to charge for the additional options and then the factory enable them against your VIN, so that a dealer can then enable a retrofit that has software licensing implications.

 

I would have thought that at the moment the demand isn't there to justify developing and enabling a mechanism for retrofits.

Wouldn't you fe better off going to a car ice cimpany and getting a better and cheaper alternative (Pioneer etc) fitted instead?

Wouldn't you fe better off going to a car ice cimpany and getting a better and cheaper alternative (Pioneer etc) fitted instead?

Where would you fit it though? And what about all the car settings etc. that go through infotainment?

Where would you fit it though? And what about all the car settings etc. that go through infotainment?

My bro-in-law reckons his work have a mk3 scout with a kenwood satnav in it but this originally had a Columbus but they didn't like the nav (manager that had it said it wasnt precise enough for field work they do). Not sure whether skoda did it or aftermarket but He reckons it runs all the 'modes' and option settings etc and the mfsw - I'm yet to see the car in the flesh though so will wait until then to believe him - as apparently it's also up for sale!

A mk3 Scout up for sale already - it must be about 4 months old!

My bro-in-law reckons his work have a mk3 scout with a kenwood satnav in it but this originally had a Columbus but they didn't like the nav (manager that had it said it wasnt precise enough for field work they do). Not sure whether skoda did it or aftermarket but He reckons it runs all the 'modes' and option settings etc and the mfsw - I'm yet to see the car in the flesh though so will wait until then to believe him - as apparently it's also up for sale!

There's a kenwood dab multimedia unit in the acessories brochure

There's a kenwood dab multimedia unit in the acessories brochure

 

Ah thanks Brian, that could well explain it as gather it was installed early days or from new!

I'd guess retrofit in the dealers. I'd guess the company doesn't have the Columbus either as they would get a quick sale on one of those

UK dealers wont retrofit, skoda UK generally dont like retrofitting and will more than likely stop the dealer from doing it

There's a kenwood dab multimedia unit in the acessories brochure

 

I found the Kenwood unit from the brochure, it is not for Octavia III. It is probably one piece unit and Octy III has two piece unit.

Edited 3 May, 201511 yr by Grumpy Finn

The cd/sd section will probably become redundant

I wanted the Columbus, but again like the OP found it was too late to amend the order, so just have a normal Bolero radio.

 

With hindsight, I think it was the right choice because £1500 is a lot to pay for a Sat Nav system, that you can't install Scamera locations into easily and with most smartphones now having Google maps or a downloadable 3rd party Sat Nav application, which can have Scamera locations installed or even PND's such as Garmin or TomTom being relatively cheap at £50 for a basic UK/IRE only one to £300 for a world-wide one which again you can install Scamera locations on.

 

The only thing you have to be careful with is if you intend to drive in France or Switzerland, where it's illegal to have Scamera warnings enabled, although you can get around the French ban, as they can be configured as "Danger Zones".

 

Just remember paying out the extra £1500 on a Columbus, won't get you any extra when it comes to trade in time.