I have a new (well, new to me, 2009 car) Octavia estate in Elegance trim coming in the next couple of days, and have a few questions about compatibility and retrofitting some options:

 

The previous owner misplaced the rear headrests - looking on Ebay, there's a set going, but they are from a 2004 hatchback - is the fitting the same, or do I need to find some from a FL estate?

 

I'd like to replace the stock (Bolero) stereo with an Android unit (or at least Android auto) so I can use Waze and Spotify. Liking the look of the Xtrons PQ80UNV, although it appears I'll need a new fascia for it as the Bolero is a different shape. Will this stereo show the in car functions, e.g. parking sensors, climate control etc? (I understand I might need to get a canbus decoder or something similar for this to work?) I can also get an Octavia reversing camera from Xtrons - will this fit the estate or is it for the hatchback only (I can always email them to ask, but someone on here might have already fitted one).

 

What costs are involved in retrofitting a Maxidot cluster and MFSW - from reading various posts on here, I believe I will need to check which version of the steering controller my car has, as there are 3 versions - lowline, midline and highline, only the highline supports both the MFSW and maxidot? So I should budget for:

 

• Maxidot cluster 
• MFSW
• Steering controller (depending what I already have)
• Coding/changing mileage?

 

I'm relatively handy with a spanner, so can probably fit the parts myself, but would have no idea about the coding - I'm guessing the car would be inoperable after swapping the parts until it is coded, so the only option would be getting someone to come to me to do the coding? Or taking it to someone to do both the fitting & coding? What sort of price would I be looking at for this?

 

Anything else I need to consider? I'm sure I'll have other questions in over the next few weeks

 

Many thanks!

Hmm, can't edit my post :(

 

Forgot to add - with regards the MFSW, there seem to be 2 versions on Ebay - one with 4 buttons each side and one with 2 buttons and a roller each side, which is the correct version, or are they interchangeable?

Hey, How's it going? Would be interesting to know how you got on with the upgrades.

Hi,

 

Funny you should post today. Car has been working flawlessly until now, but I went to take my son to nursery and it wouldn't start :(

 

Hoping just the battery as OBDEleven was showing it as needing to charge and it's reading 11.7v across the terminals, got it on charge atm, but probably need a new one! Got it on charge atm, will plug it back in later to see if that fixes the issue.

 

Changes I've made so far

 

• I got a set of headrests - can confirm the PFL hatch headrests are a perfect fit for a FL estate
• The towbar fitting was bottoming out on occasion when the car was fully loaded - apparently a common problem. I've fitted some of the rubber spring assisters, which seem to have firmed it up significantly, although I haven't had an opportunity to fully test yet.
• I have fitted the Xtrons PQ80UNV - couple of minor niggles:
  • There is barely space for the inline quadlock connection - I ended up having to squeeze it through to the space beside the glovebox so I could actually get the stereo in.
  • The screen doesn't dim anywhere near enough - even with it at the lowest setting it's way too bright when driving at night (I've installed the "Twilight" app which helps a lot here).
• I also fitted the reverse camera - again some minor issues:
  • The camera has fixed grid lines built-in, with no way to disable them. The stereo has dynamic ones which work with the steering wheel. I've got them both enabled, but it would be nice to get rid of the fixed ones.
  • The fitting must be for the PFL or the hatchback, because the screw holes were in completely the wrong place for my estate. Not a massive issue as I was able to drill some in the right place, but just an annoyance.
• I've also made a couple of tweaks using OBDEleven
  • Turned on DRLs
  • Changed the mirrors so they adjust independently
  • Activated dial staging

Liking the car so far - lots of nice little features, like the storage shelf on the load cover, the luggage hooks in the boot, the sliding armrest (& how you can raise it by opening it slightly). Still finding nice little quirks

 

Now I suppose I better go do some battery shopping... :p

A quick google of the battery part no. suggests it's probably the original one! So 12 years isn't bad going tbh, have just ordered a Varta E44

[img]https://i.imgur.com/6H4G6hU.png[/img]

 

New battery fitted, back to working perfectly

This is the camera I used on my FL estate. Perfect fit and the static guide lines can be de-activated as my stereo also has the dynamic lines on it.

 

https://m.de.aliexpress.com/item/32867335459.html?trace=wwwdetail2mobilesitedetail&spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.40694c4d2lxkng

Edited 12 May, 20215 yr by Phil-E

Thanks - I'll take a look. The one I have is for the numberplate light fitting, so this might be a better option (more central). Looks like it has the same connections so I shouldn't need to change any of the existing wiring

On 11/05/2021 at 12:19, Haggisking said:

A quick google of the battery part no. suggests it's probably the original one! So 12 years isn't bad going tbh, have just ordered a Varta E44

Whoa! Never had a battery last more than 3 to 5 years, let alone the one which came from the factory.

It's likely that the battery was replaced with an OE battery so the part number matches.

On 11/05/2021 at 11:17, Haggisking said:

Hi,

 

Funny you should post today. Car has been working flawlessly until now, but I went to take my son to nursery and it wouldn't start :(

 

Hoping just the battery as OBDEleven was showing it as needing to charge and it's reading 11.7v across the terminals, got it on charge atm, but probably need a new one! Got it on charge atm, will plug it back in later to see if that fixes the issue.

 

Changes I've made so far

 

• I got a set of headrests - can confirm the PFL hatch headrests are a perfect fit for a FL estate
• The towbar fitting was bottoming out on occasion when the car was fully loaded - apparently a common problem. I've fitted some of the rubber spring assisters, which seem to have firmed it up significantly, although I haven't had an opportunity to fully test yet.
• I have fitted the Xtrons PQ80UNV - couple of minor niggles:
  • There is barely space for the inline quadlock connection - I ended up having to squeeze it through to the space beside the glovebox so I could actually get the stereo in.
  • The screen doesn't dim anywhere near enough - even with it at the lowest setting it's way too bright when driving at night (I've installed the "Twilight" app which helps a lot here).
• I also fitted the reverse camera - again some minor issues:
  • The camera has fixed grid lines built-in, with no way to disable them. The stereo has dynamic ones which work with the steering wheel. I've got them both enabled, but it would be nice to get rid of the fixed ones.
  • The fitting must be for the PFL or the hatchback, because the screw holes were in completely the wrong place for my estate. Not a massive issue as I was able to drill some in the right place, but just an annoyance.
• I've also made a couple of tweaks using OBDEleven
  • Turned on DRLs
  • Changed the mirrors so they adjust independently
  • Activated dial staging

Liking the car so far - lots of nice little features, like the storage shelf on the load cover, the luggage hooks in the boot, the sliding armrest (& how you can raise it by opening it slightly). Still finding nice little quirks

 

Now I suppose I better go do some battery shopping... :p

 

That's good to know! Thanks for the update.

 

Take a look at one of my posts on here, I had to solder the number plate bulb in parallel to the LED from the reverse camera to get the 'Light out' can bus error to go away.
Since yours is a 2009 as well, I don't think we can disable this error with VCDS.

7 minutes ago, AnirudhAppala said:

 

That's good to know! Thanks for the update.

 

Take a look at one of my posts on here, I had to solder the number plate bulb in parallel to the LED from the reverse camera to get the 'Light out' can bus error to go away.
Since yours is a 2009 as well, I don't think we can disable this error with VCDS.

 

It's only the bulb holder which is replaced on mine, rather than a replacing with an LED bulb, so no CANBUS error.

 

The negative terminal of the battery is stamped with 1509 (week 15, 2009), so highly likely it wss the original!

32 minutes ago, Haggisking said:

 

It's only the bulb holder which is replaced on mine, rather than a replacing with an LED bulb, so no CANBUS error.

 

The negative terminal of the battery is stamped with 1509 (week 15, 2009), so highly likely it wss the original!

 

Oh my! This is amazing.

Also, can you share a link / pictures of the camera you installed? Unable to visualize it.

This is what I got https://www.ebay.ie/itm/182652044382?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

Yes it's this one here:

 

https://xtrons.co.uk/skoda-octavia-reversing-camera-camskot01,

 

As mentioned though, unfortunately the screw holes don't line up properly, so maybe better going for the boot opening one as linked by @Phil-E above - here is mine installed atm:

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/PSrdv9HuHqEJFG287

 

Edited 12 May, 20215 yr by Haggisking

Yeah I found the boot switch mounted cameras a bit neater and more OEM.

 

As you say it's also then central.