Its not possible for the MK3 units due to component protection. It can be done for the units in the Mk2 but not the latest units they are completely different.

Component protection can be removed (or bypassed) by the main dealers with authorisation from Skoda factory, but as it's not something they generally do on a day to day basis it's still fairly unknown. If a customer wants a DAB upgrade through the main dealers then it will be possible, although expensive compared to speccing it at the build stage.

I Was meaning no third party has been able to bypass it yet, skoda generally dont like retrofitting and can be quite unhelpful with regards to it. If skoda did offer a retro fit it would probably be a brand new unit at retail price with associated labour costs, they wouldnt fit a unit you sourced yourself.

Its not possible for the MK3 units due to component protection. It can be done for the units in the Mk2 but not the latest units they are completely different.

Well, I have picked up my car now. It works perfectly. Only odd thing is that it starts up with the VRS logo, and my car is not a VRS. According to the man who installed it, the units are having their protection removed in Poland and then somehow locked. He told me that not even Skoda can 'see' the unit now when I go there for service.

They must have cracked the component protection then, good news for people that may want retro fitted units.

Yeah, I suppose many aftermarket companies soon will be able to retrofit the units.

He just done it to another Octavia previous, but that was only with the Swing radio, and then a bit more cables and fittings are required. Mine was with Bolero, so it was an easy swap. The only thing he struggled a bit with was the coding. Mine was the first with Canton that he have done, and at first there was no sound. It took him some phone calls to get some help with it.

Well, I have picked up my car now. It works perfectly. Only odd thing is that it starts up with the VRS logo, and my car is not a VRS. According to the man who installed it, the units are having their protection removed in Poland and then somehow locked. He told me that not even Skoda can 'see' the unit now when I go there for service.

 

Sounds like it came out of a VRS. The eastern european guys don't half know how to fiddle with stuff eh...

 

How much did they charge you for the install complete?

Sounds like it came out of a VRS. The eastern european guys don't half know how to fiddle with stuff eh...

 

How much did they charge you for the install complete?

Well, it works fine.

It's not cheap though. DKK 15,000 for the Columbus and DKK 2,000 for the DAB upgrade. The total equals about GBP 1,665.

The price for DAB is about the same as the list price at the dealers when ordering a new car, but the Columbus is about half price due to the ridiculously high valuebased taxation on cars in Denmark. Almost no one in the Octavia segment orders their cars with navigation or leather interior.

Yep, I'd forgotten about the tax situation. New cars are very expensive, and if you can save half the price of the Columbus by having it aftermarket fitted, then it's a good saving.

I see that might be your Octavia on Cartrends facebook page?

Was it a MIB1 or 2 you got fitted?

Yep, I'd forgotten about the tax situation. New cars are very expensive, and if you can save half the price of the Columbus by having it aftermarket fitted, then it's a good saving.

I see that might be your Octavia on Cartrends facebook page?

No, but I saw that he have posted pictures of the Octavia he fitted with Columbus just before mine. The other car had the Swing-radio, so it needed quite a few more parts than mine.

Was it a MIB1 or 2 you got fitted?

I think it is a MIB1.