Hi everyone. Two issues to raise today with regard to my new Octavia Mk IV manual 1.5TSI Technology estate. But before I do, I have to say the car is a dream to drive and is clearly a major upgrade in terms of quality on the Mk 3. However.......

 

My new car is fitted with LED lights which to my mind are really poor. I do appreciate that I am coming to the car from a Mk3 VRS with Zenons, but I find the new car's lights so poor I am becoming a bit hesitant to go out at night, particularly on unlit country roads.  Sorry, that last bit was a bit of a joke, but seriously they really are not good. Or is it me? I would appreciate views from other Mk IV owners with the same lights. If it is just me I may ask the dealership to take a look at them.

 

The second issue is the damned Auto-hold/electronic handbrake. I really liked the fact that the Mk3 had a traditional handbrake so was a bit put out when I got in the new car and found these electronic thingies. I have driven lots of cars with this set-up before but have always found them a pain, particularly when attempting a hill start. Auto-hold activated, I come to stop on a hill, say at some traffic lights, (praying the car behind doesn't get too close!) and the car holds even with my foot off the footbrake. So far so good. The lights change, I press the accelerator/let out the clutch to move off and the rear of the car groans and moans like mad, resisting any attempt at forward motion until it releases and very very reluctantly moves off. Surely this can't be right? Heaven knows what repeated episodes of this are going to do to the clutch and braking systems and I can feel my blood pressure rising every time I know a hill start is in sight. You can't spend all your time and energy avoiding hills, can you?

 

Again, I would appreciate the views of some other owners.

I have found no problem with the LED lights. In fact after the standard Halogens on my previous Superb. The Superb also had the electronic handbrake so I am use to that. I was a bit wary of Auto Hold to start with and initially used it with a great deal of caution. However it seems to be reliable.

I love the led, came from a 2018 Superb with xenon, leds are better than that.

Hill hold/handbeake works fine on mine, guess its a matter of learning or getting used to it.

Same here, love the LED's, better improvement from my Superb. Also I've mentioned before that the auto hold is one of my favourite things I find it invaluable and it works seamlessly for me.

Always choose the best lights on the options list. And no ptoblems with the auto hold so far.

Thanks for the feedback so far. Just to be clear, does the rear of your cars groan alarmingly before releasing the brakes using auto hold? That’s the bit I find unsettling. It almost feels like the car is very reluctant to let go! If people tell me they don’t experience this sensation and noise I will have to go back to the dealer with the problem.

Definitely, I don't have the issue that you described.

2 hours ago, Broadriding said:

Thanks for the feedback so far. Just to be clear, does the rear of your cars groan alarmingly before releasing the brakes using auto hold? That’s the bit I find unsettling. It almost feels like the car is very reluctant to let go! If people tell me they don’t experience this sensation and noise I will have to go back to the dealer with the problem.

most deffo do not hear these sounds on mine

3 hours ago, Broadriding said:

Thanks for the feedback so far. Just to be clear, does the rear of your cars groan alarmingly before releasing the brakes using auto hold? That’s the bit I find unsettling. It almost feels like the car is very reluctant to let go! If people tell me they don’t experience this sensation and noise I will have to go back to the dealer with the problem.

 

Not at all, sounds like its sticking or something.  My auto hold releases the second I touch the accelerator, the only time it has had any form of noticeable resistance is first thing on a cold morning with the parking brake light still on, even then it didn't groan or anything.  

 

As for the lights I've come from a 2016 Scirocco with standard lights and before that fairly run of the mill/cheaper cars, I find the standard LEDs much much brighter than any I've had and easily on a par with some of my friends more expensive cars.  I'd love to drive one with the upgraded LEDs to see what the difference is but doubt I will get to do that anytime soon.

Re the lights it might be worth getting the alignment checked...   Some dealers seem to set them up to the lower level of the permitted alignment which means they don't have much range (I had an experience with a Honda dealer like this which meant the car was hazardous to drive at night until I had them adjusted properly by someone else)

To be fair I’m with you on the lights. I moved from a 2018 superb with bi-xenon lights and these were so much brighter than these standard led’s. Agreed the lights are a nice white but the light spread is awful. When it went in for the software updates they set them at 4 in the settings. Not sure what others have theirs set at?

It would be interesting to compare "basic led headlights" as fitted as standard to the "matrix led headlights" which are are a ridiculously expensive (~£1400) option.

 

I suspect the basic led headlights are not self levelling and don't have washers, so they are restricted to a 2000 lumen max output in the ECE regs. Standard Xenon lights with self levelling etc are 3200 lumens. I expect the matrix leds will be similar or better.

 

For comparison, legal H7 (55w) halogen bulbs have a 1500 lumen output.

 

As for the groaning brake release problem, does the OP have Hill hold? This differs from Autohold in that it holds the brakes on inclines for 1 to 2 secs after the accelerator is applied before releasing. I don't really know much more than that.

Edited 26 December, 20205 yr by xman

2 hours ago, BigPauly37 said:

To be fair I’m with you on the lights. I moved from a 2018 superb with bi-xenon lights and these were so much brighter than these standard led’s. Agreed the lights are a nice white but the light spread is awful. When it went in for the software updates they set them at 4 in the settings. Not sure what others have theirs set at?

As written before I also came from a 2018 Superb with xenon, Octavia 4 led are just as good as the xenon on the Superb.

So get them checked and check if they are leveled down in settings.

We can possible not have such different opinion about the same cars.

36 minutes ago, janmand said:

As written before I also came from a 2018 Superb with xenon, Octavia 4 led are just as good as the xenon on the Superb.

So get them checked and check if they are leveled down in settings.

We can possible not have such different opinion about the same cars.

I did get them checked when it went in. They had it for two days. They adjusted them to setting 4 but in my opinion there is still a void in the light spread

12 hours ago, xman said:

It would be interesting to compare "basic led headlights" as fitted as standard to the "matrix led headlights" which are are a ridiculously expensive (~£1400) option.

 

I suspect the basic led headlights are not self levelling and don't have washers, so they are restricted to a 2000 lumen max output in the ECE regs. Standard Xenon lights with self levelling etc are 3200 lumens. I expect the matrix leds will be similar or better.

 

For comparison, legal H7 (55w) halogen bulbs have a 1500 lumen output.

 

As for the groaning brake release problem, does the OP have Hill hold? This differs from Autohold in that it holds the brakes on inclines for 1 to 2 secs after the accelerator is applied before releasing. I don't really know much more than that.

The standard Octavia 4 LED lights have washers, and in my opinion are very good. Better than the xenon lights on previous (admittedly older) BMWs I’ve had.

Hmmmm, I don’t think much of the dipped beam. I got quite a shock at how dim they seemed when driving first in the dark on a road that I know well.

I struggled initially with the auto hold ‘handbrake’, but know I’ve got used to it I think that it’s great - I never use those two little levers on the centre console and find any other set up fairly old fashioned now. 

The standard LEDs look to be in reflector units which from experience of other cars don't seem to throw light well compared to projector based units. MK3 VRS Bi-xenon has projectors, as does the matrix led on the MK4.

I’m looking forward to collecting my new Octavia SE-L 1.5 tsi in a few weeks and as it’s my first Skoda, I thought I’d sign up here. 

 

I have to say I was slightly concerned to read about the LED headlights being a bit sub par, the car I ordered was already specced and in build. The Matrix lights are a considerable amount more expensive so It’s unlikely I would have opted for them even if I had specced the car from scratch. 
 

My previous experience of LED lights have been from my wife’s 2015 Mini Cooper (I think they may be projector style) the lights are excellent and easily as good as the xenons on my current 2012 BMW 320d

Bad headlights are one of my pet hates and I really hope I’m not going to be disappointed with the standard lights on my new car. I hope someone can offer some reassurance that the lights are of an acceptable standard. I can’t find any reviews online which mention the standard lights. 

 

26 minutes ago, 24Lemons said:

I’m looking forward to collecting my new Octavia SE-L 1.5 tsi in a few weeks and as it’s my first Skoda, I thought I’d sign up here. 

 

I have to say I was slightly concerned to read about the LED headlights being a bit sub par, the car I ordered was already specced and in build. The Matrix lights are a considerable amount more expensive so It’s unlikely I would have opted for them even if I had specced the car from scratch. 
 

My previous experience of LED lights have been from my wife’s 2015 Mini Cooper (I think they may be projector style) the lights are excellent and easily as good as the xenons on my current 2012 BMW 320d

Bad headlights are one of my pet hates and I really hope I’m not going to be disappointed with the standard lights on my new car. I hope someone can offer some reassurance that the lights are of an acceptable standard. I can’t find any reviews online which mention the standard lights. 

 

i have absolutely no issue with mine

Love the LED headlights on mine but I did get the vRS which has the matrix ones. I think the basic headlights are reflector lenses still.

 

Had electronic handbrake and autohold for years now and wouldn't go back. 

I wonder if some of the perceived issues with the standard lights are due to the slightly more ‘harsh’ upper level cut off compared to some non-led lights (seeing that some of the commenters are coming from xenons)? I had the same perception when I got my current (non-Skoda but I’m assuming most of the vag reflector tech is similar) car as there was a straight line cut off at the top, but I soon got used to it. Having said that I’m looking forward to when my vRS arrives to see what the matrix ones are like!!

I drove 4 hours last night, it was dark and rainy. I enjoyed my just stock led’s all the way. They are giving exelent lightoutput.

Had severel cars with xenon and the new Octavias standard leds are better.

If they are such a mess for some, then something is wrong with the car or the persons eyes.

On 24/12/2020 at 19:21, Broadriding said:

Hi everyone. Two issues to raise today with regard to my new Octavia Mk IV manual 1.5TSI Technology estate. But before I do, I have to say the car is a dream to drive and is clearly a major upgrade in terms of quality on the Mk 3. However.......

 

My new car is fitted with LED lights which to my mind are really poor. I do appreciate that I am coming to the car from a Mk3 VRS with Zenons, but I find the new car's lights so poor I am becoming a bit hesitant to go out at night, particularly on unlit country roads.  Sorry, that last bit was a bit of a joke, but seriously they really are not good. Or is it me? I would appreciate views from other Mk IV owners with the same lights. If it is just me I may ask the dealership to take a look at them.

 

The second issue is the damned Auto-hold/electronic handbrake. I really liked the fact that the Mk3 had a traditional handbrake so was a bit put out when I got in the new car and found these electronic thingies. I have driven lots of cars with this set-up before but have always found them a pain, particularly when attempting a hill start. Auto-hold activated, I come to stop on a hill, say at some traffic lights, (praying the car behind doesn't get too close!) and the car holds even with my foot off the footbrake. So far so good. The lights change, I press the accelerator/let out the clutch to move off and the rear of the car groans and moans like mad, resisting any attempt at forward motion until it releases and very very reluctantly moves off. Surely this can't be right? Heaven knows what repeated episodes of this are going to do to the clutch and braking systems and I can feel my blood pressure rising every time I know a hill start is in sight. You can't spend all your time and energy avoiding hills, can you?

 

Again, I would appreciate the views of some other owners.

 

1) I have the standard LED lights. I don't know, for me they look great. My previous cars were a BMW E61 530D with lens and VW Passat B6 2.0TDI also with lens (xenon both) and the LEDs are way way way better. Maybe check your settings on your infotainment system. There is a option to level them up.

 

2) You have an issue with your handbrake mate. My car releases the brake as soon as I let go of the clutch. No hesitations or noises whatsoever. I had that electronic handbrake on the Passat and they work in the same way. Check with your dealer.

At last, an update! The car has been back to the dealers and I am pleased to say that they found faults on both the headlights and the auto hold, the latter with a fault logged in the car's memory. The dealers have been great and very professional. They have replaced the ONS headlight unit completely (manufacturing fault) and have corrected the logged fault on the auto hold. This seems much as it should be now but I will have to wait for a nighttime drive to check on the lights. This may be some way off whilst lockdown persists - I collected the car in the third week in September and have only covered 720 miles so far!

 

Anyway, thanks for the comments and advice.

On 26/12/2020 at 16:44, Matmacka said:

most deffo do not hear these sounds on mine

I hear that sound on auto every time , im thinking the cold really wet weather is binding the brakes