Hi all,

 

I took the plunge after my neighbour drove into my old car and wrote it off and bought a Skoda Octavia MK3 and couldn't be more pleased with it!

 

When I was in the dealers showroom I saw that you could get an aftermarket Kenwood DNX-520DAB radio for Skoda. Knowing someone at Kenwood I got a hold of the newer DNX-525DAB and was just about to install it when he told me it might not work as the new Octavia has a different system and the CD Changer in the glove box is the 'brain' and the front control plate with the screen is just that and it wouldn't work.

He could get me the Kenwood satnav update but couldn't say for sure that the DNX-525 would work.

 

I have been looking around and there are lots of aftermarket models that say they will fit Skoda Oct Mk3 - most are these Chinese/Japanese mass produced Android types.

 

Aside from these there is very little that says it will work.

 

Is there a reason for this? Will the DNX-525DAB genuinely not work and have Skoda done something with this new MIB setup to prevent a 'plug n play' aftermarket stereo going in? Or would this fit?

 

 

Having a look around further I saw that I could get:

-THIS FACIA PLATE- 

 

and then just plug in a double DIN unit, the Kenwood equivalent being:

-DDX7015BT-

 

and put a bit of vinyl over the hole left by removing the CD unit/brain. Install video is here:

-VIDEO-

 

I wanted to see if anyone else was having any ideas, issues etc the same as me, and am more than happy to report back on here with my results, but i surely cant be alone in this? I bought my car used for a great price so obviously it wasn't specc'd to how I would have chosen (no MFSW) but that's moot really.

 

So as I don't need to worry about lack of steering wheel controls, would I lose the ability to see the other features on screen such as Tyre Pressure system etc (all the car specific features)?

Edited 28 November, 201510 yr by BoboBaron

I don't know why I can no longer edit the above - the stereo is this on -- DNX7150DAB-- the rest would be the same.

I don't know why I can no longer edit the above

 

You need to be a Freedom member to be able to edit previous posts.

That's just one of the benefits though!

This is the kenwood unit for mk3,http://www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk/car/oem/skoda/GVN-MIB1/ but I suspect it just adds nav to the brain on the radio.

Yeah that's the sat nav upgrade, that's all it is. You install a black box and it just gives you the GARMIN features. Not quite what I am looking for...

I dont think you can change from a Skoda head unit, as a lot of car functions are controlled from it e.g. TPMS, locking, climate control preferences etc etc.

What unit do you have now? Bolero?

If your mate can get the Garmin nav upgrade cheap, wouldn't that be good enough?

Zenec used to do good vw units which kept all the original vehicle functionality but there is no unit for the octavia 3 as yet

My reason for wanting to upgrade is the poor sound from the audio system but not found any real way to accomplish it yet

Speaker upgrades can be a good starting point.

I have the Bolero at the moment and just want to have a better quality head unit that has more functions to it, not just basic DAB, bluetooth etc. 

After-market head units are so advanced now and the stock ones supplied are incredibly basic it doesn't make sense. It all seems ridiculous that you cant customise this part of your car.

 

If it doesn't work out with the facia plate and bits from Connect2 then I guess I would have to keep the Bolero and go for the only option of the Kenwood Sat Nav upgrade.

'Incredibly basic' is a bit unfair.

I think for the price point, the Octavia head units are good, and have features most people need.

The Garmin nav upgrade for the Bolero is a cheap way to get integrated nav.

You'll struggle to find a new car that doesn't have some systems running through the head unit.

But let us know how you get on, as others might want to do this.

Edited 29 November, 201510 yr by glosrich

No news about DNX-525 DAB on skoda Octavia 3?