Hi all .. I'm Dariusz  ... just purchased a 2016 Skoda Octavia Mk3 vRS TDI (picking i up next saturday). The car is accident damaged (was looking for one in such state), as a project car to fix on my YouTube channel. I joined this forum to hopefully access the vast knowledge and experience with these cars that you as users and members of this forum have, with time I hope as I go through fixing the damage I'll be able to give back and provide info and feedback to others.

 

Anyway just wanted to say a quick hello ... hope to share info and just banter with ya at some point in time in the near future ...

Welcome.

 

https://search.briskoda.net/

Will be your best friend for specific hunts.

 

What the youtube channel?

 

Always good to know how some panel or another might be bolted/fitted. Odd how modern cars are more modular than ever, but so much harder to do anything on... or are they?

Thanks ColinD for the search link. Will surely use it very often. Finding it hard to find good info on the very 3 Octavia. Facing the daunting task of the dashboard replacement due to blown airbags. Any info from anyone very very welcome. 

 

My channel is 4 Wheel Builds (https://YouTube.com/c/4wheelbuilds). Still in the making and hope to improve the content and delivery as time goes on. Constructive feedback also welcome. 

 

Cheers Dariusz 

I did the same job a little over a year ago on a Yeti which is virtually identical.

 

I understand where you are coming from when you say that its daunting but other than finding the last couple of hidden fixings that I had missed it came out very easily and the airbag replacement & re-assembly with a remanufactured dash (invisible repair of the ruptured deployment section) was very very easy.

 

I seem to recall that it was easier to refit the passenger airbag after the dash was put in place as it obstructed its fitment, to do so easily meant extending the wires to it which was no big deal because the replacement one came with the connector in place and the loom cut so I had to solder them together anyway.

 

I got a really good deal on a reconditioned dashboard, the 3 airbags and connectors and a pair of exchange seatbelts with the pyrotechnics replaced, the lot for £570 cash, the seller was from Poland and the dash had been repaired there and all the parts came from there, as it was a RHD dashboard the vehicle would have gone to your country for breaking and then all the parts sent back to the UK for resale.

 

You are in the right place to do the repair and it is actually a very easy job once its behind you, I would do another one without hesitation, and were I a younger man could do it with my eyes closed, as it was I was blind in one eye after surgery a couple of weeks before and had to keep swapping from distance to reading glasses and needed good lighting to work up in the depths, I was really handicapped doing that job compared to when I was younger but got it done and would do it again.

 

The repaired dash looked like new, you could not see the repair from any angle in the brightest sunlight, it had been retextured by a spray process but all the air vents etc clipped into place without any problem, a year later it looks just as good.

 

I also had to have the crash data removed from the airbag control module and it reset, that was £30 and was delivered back to me within 36 hours.

 

It was one of the most enjoyable salvage rebuilds that I have ever done and I take this opportunity to thank @StickyMicky once again for having viewed the wreck for me allowing me to buy it sight unseen, he did not miss a thing!

Edited 8 January, 20215 yr by J.R.

Dariusz, please post some photographs of the car in its damaged state.

Hi gents ...

 

Sure here are some pics of the damage. I'll get more detailed ones once the disassembly starts. For now I know I need a new bonnet/hood (depends where you are in the world) :), right fender, fender liner, front bumper, right head lamp, right fog light, grill, front support, rebar, radiator set, fan ans shroud, dashboard, 3 front airbags (passenger, driver, driver knee), windshield. Probably a set a other bits and pieces of trim that are not currently obvious or visible. A fun project all in al. Let me know what you guys think. 

 

By the way if anyone has access to a mk3 Octavia workshop manual I'd be happy to obtain the front measurements to be able to check if there is any damage to the frame/aprons which needs to be pulled out.

 

The project for me is not an urgent one, still got my day job to do and 2 other cars to drive ...

 

Cheers ..

Oh yes! That would have been too much temptation for me!

 

I see a vehicle like that, one that I would not have been looking for or lusting after, I see a satisfying repair and become overcome with desire.

 

It has kept me amused, done me no harm and made me money with vehicles, unfortunately I have the same weakness with women and I usually end up paying a heavy price

 

Its a shame about the windscreen though, I dont mind stuff that I can do myself on the cheap without counting the hours but when you have to sub something out and pay the normal price your efforts dont add value.

Check the operation of the seatbelts, I think you will need the pyrotechnic charges replacing, they usually deploy when the 3 dashboard airbags do.

Indeed mate. I saw this vRS and immediately thought I want it for a channel project, as I just sold my 2018 Subaru BRZ tS. As always though approach the purchase with a cool head and was able to get a good deal on it, so here it is. Looking forward to fixing it up and driving it. I do want to do as much myself as possible, within limits. Am no mechanic or panel beater, more of an IT guy

 

I did my wife's Yeti, dashboard replacement a few years ago and as you say the seat belts also needed to be replaced. Here in Poland these are usually sold in a package, ie: dash, 3 x airbags and 2 front seat belts. Just got myself a copy of the service manual for the dash replacement, am still looking for the front frame measurement outline so once the car damaged components are stripped I can measure the frame up to check if it needs to go onto a frame. If you'd have access to such info I'd sure appreciate it.