Hi guys and gals, so far I think I've hit a good bargain, hopefully you will be confirming that's true!
After owning an A4 2.5tdi quattro (it was in the garage half of that time and plagued by oil leaks) I had a 2 year break and didn't want to lose my no claims.

I'm hoping this will last me the next 2-4 years while I save up for a .. potentially stupid venture (wood workshop/motorhome ford luton so I can travel, hopefully this doesn't derail the thread haha).
So down to the car!
registered 08/04 as far as I can find in the paper work it was recalled for fuel pump in 2005 and and has had cambelt  and waterpump changed 2015.
I see BJB in the vehicle data in the service schedule, that leads me to believe I've dodged the DMF problem? My brother had a Citroen that had loads of issues down to the particulate filter..
The gearbox doesn't feel as smooth as 

So far I've ordered a new battery, bulbs, wipers, headunit+rev cam and fascia, gear stick cap. I intend to give it an extended service but I'm not as clued up on cars as I'd like to admit and was hoping I could get advice about that.
If my saving is going very well I'd love to stick some nice heated leather seats in (saw a lovely car on here with A3 seats) but any mods I do are probably going to be of the cheaper less impactful variety, maybe replacing the door speakers etc.

So if anyone can share any nuggets of wisdom or resources regarding my model of Octavia and how I can get the best out of it I'd be really appreciative.
Boomshanka.

I should probably finish the random comment half way through  had a few things going on in the middle of writing that post.

The gear box doesn't feel bad but maybe an oil change could improve things?
The clutch has a maybe 1/2" bit of play in the top of the peddle but didn't get any skipping or w.e it's called.. so I think it's got plenty life left in it.
No oil patches discovered after a few nights parked up, MOT history has nothing too scary that I could see, no gunk in the oil cap. I'm running out of things I've checked so if I've missed any big ones please let me know.

Sorry if I don't have all the terminology down, It's only the last few years I've been DIY minded so I'm trying to get stuck into everything and learn as much as possible. Going back to my hopefully not thread derailing workshop motorhome, I'm planning on travelling and would like to be able to fix the van myself if need be so any ideas for resources I can keep at hands or even things like what bits I need to work on it like the torx bits etc.. reminds me, I can get a haynes manual.
 

Edited 16 April, 20197 yr by Shtoned

welcome to briskoda 

 

gearbox oil stick to either genuine vw gear box oil or fuchs titan sintofluid 75w

 

https://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-976-fuchs-titan-sintofluid-fe-sae-75w-synthetic-manual-transmission-oil.aspx

 

if you are new to PD engines - best to use 5w40 / VAG 505.01 spec for annual changes as this gives best protection for the cams

 

 

@Shtoned No bud, it is not a F/L (face lift).

 

And i assume your mention of the DMF (dual mass flywheel) was meant to be DPF (diesel particulate filter).

 

Good luck with it. Mine has been reliable so far, if a bit noisy for my liking.

@Tilt   just a bit off of the mark thanks for pointing that out. 
It is a tad noisy but I was I was expecting that having had a lot of diesels (306 sounded like a tractor)
Any idea if it's worth looking into the noise dampening pads for the bonnet?

^^^ I doubt noise dampening for the bonnet will make much difference, if any.

 

Certainly once moving, road and wind noise will contribute massively to noise inside the car.........

10 hours ago, wiilydog said:

welcome to briskoda 

 

gearbox oil stick to either genuine vw gear box oil or fuchs titan sintofluid 75w

 

https://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-976-fuchs-titan-sintofluid-fe-sae-75w-synthetic-manual-transmission-oil.aspx

 

if you are new to PD engines - best to use 5w40 / VAG 505.01 spec for annual changes as this gives best protection for the cams

 

 

Do not change oil in manual gearboxes under any circumstances! (Unless you need to strip it down for repair).

(FL?)

 

If that is asking if the vehicle is the facelift model then I think the answer is no.

Well known issues with early Octy MkII: (Major)

DMF

TURBO

Power steering racks 

Door control units

 

 

^^^ the only one i have had so far (touch wood, fingers crossed etc etc) is the DMF requiring replacement, and the selling garage paid for that in 2011.

 

I don't do massive miles tho...

3 hours ago, Lyminton said:

Do not change oil in manual gearboxes under any circumstances! (Unless you need to strip it down for repair).

Stupid comment that, It actually does allot of good to change the gearbox oil, as it does break down and becomes less effective with age and millage just like engine oil does, it can also remove some of the metal fillings from the gearbox which can cause rapid wear and make changing gear stiffer and problematic.

 

thats also why there is a drain plug and a top up plug on both the 5 and 6 speed boxes.

13 minutes ago, Ju1ian1001 said:

Stupid comment that, It actually does allot of good to change the gearbox oil, as it does break down and becomes less effective with age and millage just like engine oil does, it can also remove some of the metal fillings from the gearbox which can cause rapid wear and make changing gear stiffer and problematic.

 

thats also why there is a drain plug and a top up plug on both the 5 and 6 speed boxes.

I've heard similar stories in my local pub... 

Best place to go for information that......................the local pub, Lol

1 hour ago, Lyminton said:

I've heard similar stories in my local pub... 

Mine is not a tail from the local pub, but experience having been a mechanic for 22 years (15 years of them as an MOT tester,)simply changing gearbox can and does solve some gearbox issues.

1 hour ago, Ju1ian1001 said:

Mine is not a tail from the local pub, but experience having been a mechanic for 22 years (15 years of them as an MOT tester,)simply changing gearbox can and does solve some gearbox issues.

 

Changing gearbox should solve all gearbox issues one would hope Julian, Lol

 

I know, you meant 'gearbox oil'. 

1 minute ago, Tilt said:

 

Changing gearbox should solve all gearbox issues one would hope Julian, Lol

 

I know, you meant 'gearbox oil'. 

Opps well spotted Tilt, yeah meant gearbox oil.

 

9 hours ago, Lyminton said:

Well known issues with early Octy MkII: (Major)

Door control units

 

I did noticed the window controls on the drivers door being intermittent, I was assuming it was the switches but after you mentioned that it had me thinking whether or not the windows go through that and it would seem they do.
Can this deteriorate into windows opening and alarm problems or have I got some time to fix it when I want?