So Mike, what do I need to do?

I met up with some Skoda folk today and someone had a Chinese unit, he said it just plugged in and works.

£170 and it shows Air Con etc, etc

 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301749373685?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I loved the Columbus for the Hard Drive but could live with SD card for music.

Cheers

Russ

I am unsure of where the CAN Gateway is located in the Octavia - I think behind the dash, above the pedals. I do have a new CAN Gateway from China, I can change this and code this in too. It is a 7N0 907 530AN. Made in Czech Republic 26.11.13 SJ8

As far as I'm concerned there is only one option. Change the can gateway and get a newer Columbus -- you have already said you loved the unit. Many of us have tried aftermarket head units, some have found them OK, others like myself have found them horrendous and not worth the box they arrive in.

 

You say that a Skoda owner has told you that his aftermarket unit works well and was plug and play -- remember one important thing. There are many different types of aftermarket head unit. Some will be compatible, others, although advertised as such, will not be compatible and will not integrate as they say, and you really are playing head-unit-roulette as to whether the unit you buy will be one of the ones that works.

 

Your best bet would be to get in touch with Rustynuts, he always has a couple of good units for sale. Good genuine units which will go in the car without any issues, a Briskoda member who knows his stuff selling them and genuine backup should anything go wrong. He has a fabulous reputation for his honesty and knowledge on here, and I for one would rather buy from him than buy some cheaper aftermarket copy from ebay,

 

Mike

Cheers Mike.

 

As you say, the gateway will need to be checked and replaced if necessary when fitting a newer Columbus unit. Might have been done already, but no way to tell until it's checked.

 

As it happens I've been in contact with the buyer already about the issue with his old unit.

Hi all, the trouble is now, Rustynuts has no units in just yet and is waiting and Mike you have worried me.

The trouble is I don't know what the Gateway is. I just want a unit that will work.

If someone can sell me one and check it all works that would be great. If I buy one and then need to go to someone else and then they say, sorry this is the wrong unit for your car, etc, etc.

I was going to pay up to £180 to get the old one repaired so I thought £160 for a Chinese unit???

Any way, I think I will wait for Rustynuts?

Thank you, Mr Worried 

Worst case scenario, you need to replace the gateway and have it coded to suit your car. Then you buy any Columbus you like, install it, and code that to your car as well. And that's really all there is to it. If you can find someone local with VCDS to do a scan, you'll know exactly what you have and what you need to do.

 

The seller on this thread has already said he has a Can gateway, and will code it for you, and I presume he'll be happy to install it while you're there, if your car actually needs it. I'd say that's the easiest solution for you at the moment, as he has everything you'll possibly need, is selling it, and offering free installation and coding.

Worst case scenario, you need to replace the gateway and have it coded to suit your car. Then you buy any Columbus you like, install it, and code that to your car as well. And that's really all there is to it. If you can find someone local with VCDS to do a scan, you'll know exactly what you have and what you need to do.

 

The seller on this thread has already said he has a Can gateway, and will code it for you, and I presume he'll be happy to install it while you're there, if your car actually needs it. I'd say that's the easiest solution for you at the moment, as he has everything you'll possibly need, is selling it, and offering free installation and coding.

 

Yes as said above, happy to install and fit. The Gateway did cost me £20 from eBay so would just need that covered. Can fit the Gateway in and code (if needed)

 

If Mike wants to find you another Gateway and unit, I am happy for you to proceed through him too

 

Regards,

OK, there is a local meeting coming up, so I will ask around to see if someone can scan my car.

The car is going to be scanned on the 17th at the Hungry Horse meeting.

where about's on south notts are 

 

PM me if you prefer i am near bingham with a vcds if you want a scan quicker 

LAST PRICE DROP - LOWERED TO £475

Crazy times, why has this not sold

 

If i didn't have one in my car I would have snapped this up ages ago

 

great price

Out of genuine interest what are the benefits of this over my Bolero head unit I have which already has SD slot and bluetooth? 

You get a dvd drive which plays mp3 formats etc. you get sat nav, you get an internal hard drive with about 18Gb of space for music. And your Bolero doesn't have Bluetooth, that's fitted to the car and accessed by the Bolero (and also the RNS510).

Can the harddrive be easily upgraded for a larger capacity?

Not easily, but it's possible. The hard drive has 3 partitions on it (32Gb total on this particular unit) split into music, maps, and Points Of Interest. If you disassemble the unit and fit a larger hard drive, then you need to reinstall the units firmware to repartition the drive correctly. then reinstall the maps. It's possible. but I've not yet managed to fill 18Gb hard drive with music and listen to it all.

LAST PRICE DROP - LOWERED TO £475

 

If its still for sale ill take it 

If its still for sale ill take it 

Sold to drbig, Payment received! Will post tomorrow for delivery on Thursday!