Octavia Mk II Greenline estate 2009

Hi all,

 

This will be my first question on the forum since this is a sort of an emergency; one of those little things that happen but you can't live without fixing straight away, especially with the wife and children being there and needing to access and use the tailgate safely, without it falling on one of their heads or any curious tiny fingers.

 

I did some research and check the forum but could not get a final answer. Basically the question is "what to get"... without having to pay a premium.

 

Lots of stuff on ebay going for £15-20 a PAIR, but I don't want to go for the absolute cheapest just because it's cheap. I want a function and longevity.

I read somewhere that people recommend using the Seat Exeo struts but I couldn't find more info: do you mean original OEM made by Seat ones? And why that model in particular? are those stronger for some reason?

When I hit the tailgate button in the keyfob, I would like to see the tailgate open up all the way on its own if that is even possible.

I read someone mentioned you could add some "springs" but I found no info on what springs (strength and dimensions or source) to get.

 

So I hope someone can give me a definitive answer regarding the quality of what is around, which ones to get that are strong enough to pop the thing up all the way, and if I would need to add springs, then what springs to get.

And why.

Best regards,

 

Octavia Mk II Greenline estate 2009

No response. Let's try another way:

is this a good brand?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GAS-TAILGATE-STRUTS-BOOT-HOLDER-LIFTER-PAIR-SKODA-OCTAVIA-ESTATE-MK2-2004-2013/111885791221?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

Not everyone vouches for it. They say magnetti marelli parts fail relatively quick.

 

Another option is SGS which is a bit more expensive but 3rd party manufacturer. I would like to know what is best, and if I want to add springs, what to get.

Best bet is just to read the following thread, it's got everything the site knows on it.

 

 

I'd probably look at the original struts, find the part number and buy a new set of identical genuine struts... If the originals have lasted 9 years then hopefully the replacements will too.

 

People have tried the auto boot opening but many have had issues during winter, the thread blackspaven posted will have more info.

many thanks guys. On my way to going through that thread now.

Okay that was a lot of reading. I did not get my answer there as the entire thread is about the springs (it answers the question of springs well), but not the strut brand. I gather towards the end what knowledge is known and therefore will not expect much more. The real answer lies in the NM power rating in the strut.

 

The only question I will keep posed here is: is there anything known about any makes or brands being "better" or known quick fails, e.g. SGS, Magnetti, or generic ebay stuff?

 

I will eventually get something in the £20-30 range a pair based on what I can find regarding NM rating and add "red" 51 springs. I generally live and move around a relatively flat area so I expect the popping up to work in the places where I need it to.

 

Many thanks for answering so far. 

google sgs derby they do a range of struts I had a pair for my yeti some years ago, think the cost was around £35 delivered, every bit as good as oem!

You must have missed or skim read over it as I definitely posted on there the nm for the standard estate and a couple of cars which are slightly stronger yet share the same dimensions to fit based on a spreadsheet I got sent direct from Bilstein. Think it was the Exeo estate and Laguna MkIII from memory, but it's in there somewhere, just ony one person's tried it. Easy to buy new ones which will work each time, the standard estate ones are good for that all year round, you need to find which ones which will work after a few years; the standard shocks fail over time. If you want the spreadsheet to look for yourself, send me your email.

 

EIther way, you're gonna need springs as well to overcome initial tension, there's absolutely no way of getting around that. They won't go from compressed to open without them.

Edited 24 May, 20188 yr by blackspaven

7 hours ago, blackspaven said:

You must have missed or skim read over it as I definitely posted on there the nm for the standard estate and a couple of cars which are slightly stronger yet share the same dimensions to fit based on a spreadsheet I got sent direct from Bilstein. Think it was the Exeo estate and Laguna MkIII from memory, but it's in there somewhere, just ony one person's tried it. Easy to buy new ones which will work each time, the standard estate ones are good for that all year round, you need to find which ones which will work after a few years; the standard shocks fail over time. If you want the spreadsheet to look for yourself, send me your email.

 

EIther way, you're gonna need springs as well to overcome initial tension, there's absolutely no way of getting around that. They won't go from compressed to open without them.

 

I haven't missed that. Like I said, it boils down to looking up the NM power rating of what you're buying. I could see that the Exeo model is a definite fit, but I thought the Laguna III was mentioned in the midst of a discussion about possibilities for the hatchback, not the estate. yeah it got a bit confusing for me towards the last few pages as there was a revival of interest in the hatchback and it was, what, 4am? but I got the gist of it.

 

All of that answers what one would need to get for the function to work. My question here was regarding brand because I was specifically asking about longevity. I don't want to keep buying these parts over the years. Hence why I want to know if there is a recommended brand regarding quality and long-term performance.

 

Is there a model out there which one can re-gas or maintain (e.g. replace gaskets or O-rings) out of the box by design (without a mod) and keep them running for more years rather than replace altogether? I noticed there are some kits or "mods" to re-pressurise some struts but dimensions seem crucial. My guess is 'not really'.

And also, in anybody's experience, do third party struts come any weaker?

 

For example, I'm looking at a Febi Bilstein costing about £45 a pair, and has a power rating of 510NM (for Seat Exeo)

and also a no-brand set costing £22 a pair, claimed for Seat Exeo, with no power rating stated.

 

Should I expect the same power rating since it's for the same model (has to life the same gate), or is it likely they won't perform the same?

It's hard to say.

 

Just as an example, Skoda use about 4 different struts on the hatchback MK2 Octavia depending on equipment and model. Yet many aftermarket companies will just produce a single strut to cover all variants. It's impossible to say whether they've chosen the strongest/weakest or a compromise...

 

Have you got a quote for genuine struts yet? Pretty sure mine were in the £40-£50 range.

I haven't looked at the genuine parts, no. I was under the impression hey will be £40 each or so, so was a bit worrying.

 

I'm budget-wary because there are several other things I still need to do to the car. This just happened suddenly and now has to take priority.

Try dropping parts@briskoda.net an email with your reg or VIN number.

 

Mike is normally pretty quick at replying and I've bought quite a few bits through him now

Thanks a lot. I will do that now.

Got the quote from Briskoda and it's a bit too much for struts: nearly £80. Back to the search engines. :(

 

Anybody has a negative experience with the cheaper stuff on ebay who can confirm that they don't really last?

Or any real-life-experience-based advice regarding the branded one: Febi Bilstein, Magnetti Morelli, Stabilus, or SGS? or any others?

Edited 4 June, 20188 yr by KingRoach

Although on a different car I have fitted Magnetti Morelli hatch struts in the past and are still as good as new a couple of years later.

Just taken my struts off. Only one of them has failed but will change both (and fit the ones from my Citroen C3 1.4 SX 2002, which are shorter but could hold the tailgate up. I hit my head a few times already XD)

 

I discovered that the fittings on mine say "Stabilus". There is no brand on the cylinder. There you go ladies and gentlement, we have a brand for the record.

Is this chosen by Skoda, or has the previous owner changed them?

More likely these are the ones fitted by Skoda. Most car makers will outsource the manufacture of components.

Likely to be half a dozen or more different makes of struts on octys even within just a few years!

Just ordered a pair of Febi Blistein for the Seat Exeo (490mm, 510NM). Skoda's own are 492mm, I think, so getting 2mm shorter. It's funny how shops claim to be doing sales or offers and whatnot but it always boils down to costing the same. I got the pair for £30 posted on offer. They were also £30 posted without an offer from another shop. Bleh.

 

When they arrive I'll see how effective the ejecting force is, and based on that, I will decide on ordering the springs to give that initial push. Let's hope it ends quick I need to move on to my 2nd, 3rd and 4th questions lol

I don't know if you have seen the recent pics on one of the VRS Facebook groups of someone who had fitted stronger struts to his estate so that the boot would pop open and upon pressing the boot unlock on the keyfob it opened with such force that when it was fully opened the shock of it stopping caused the rear window to shatter. Just something to be aware of. 

17 hours ago, KingRoach said:

Just ordered a pair of Febi Blistein for the Seat Exeo (490mm, 510NM). Skoda's own are 492mm, I think, so getting 2mm shorter. It's funny how shops claim to be doing sales or offers and whatnot but it always boils down to costing the same. I got the pair for £30 posted on offer. They were also £30 posted without an offer from another shop. Bleh.

 

When they arrive I'll see how effective the ejecting force is, and based on that, I will decide on ordering the springs to give that initial push. Let's hope it ends quick I need to move on to my 2nd, 3rd and 4th questions lol

 

Ooh, let us know how you get on with those! I'd put my mortgage that you'll still need springs as I put in a second hand pair of Peugeot ones which were the exact same size as the Octy ones but stronger and they still needed them. In fact they were even stronger than the Exeo one's you've just bought... and the windscreen stayed intact, it just sprung up with too much oomph and looked a bit daft when it almost bounced at the top!

 

Another spec you need to be aware of when ordering struts is the diameter of the piston rod as the springs need to fit over them, but you should be absolutely fine with exeo ones. Some of them are huge thick things.

Edited 7 June, 20188 yr by blackspaven

13 hours ago, dilksie said:

I don't know if you have seen the recent pics on one of the VRS Facebook groups of someone who had fitted stronger struts to his estate so that the boot would pop open and upon pressing the boot unlock on the keyfob it opened with such force that when it was fully opened the shock of it stopping caused the rear window to shatter. Just something to be aware of. 

 

Thanks for the heads up. I followed advice from the other thread linked to above. There seems to be a consensus that 510nm ejecting force is just about right for this kind of job. I came across 700nm gas springs and was almost tempted to try, lol

 

@blackspaven yeah I'm aware of the thickness spec, but like you said, I trusted the "exeo" marking on the listing.

I'll let you all know how it goes. I'm getting the struts alone first, springs later. I know for sure the struts alone won't push the gate all the way up but I want to feel them alone for a while first.