16 hours ago, kernowalan said:

Update.

Just received this letter

 

 
Dear Mr Bessell
Speedometer requirements
Department for Transport Great Minster House
33 Horseferry Road London
SW1P 4DR
Tel: 0300 330 3000
Web Site: www.gov.uk/dft
Our Ref: 425483 Your Ref:
20 April 2023
Thank you for your email to the Department for Transport about speedometer requirements. Your enquiry has been passed to the International Vehicle Standards Division as we have responsibility for vehicle construction standards.
All vehicles used on UK roads must meet the requirements laid down in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, as amended (“C&U”). As you have already noted, the provisions for speedometers are contain in regulation 35 of C&U which requires that the speedometer should be capable of indicating speed in both miles per hour and kilometres per hour. I have included a link to a version of regulation 35 for reference: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/regulation/35/made
I understand from the information you have provided, that you may have purchased a vehicle that has a faulty virtual cockpit display which cannot alter the units which the speed is displayed. If there are no means to provide the speed in kilometres per hour, either through a physical dial or digital display, then it is likely to be in contravention of C&U. It can be an offence to sell a vehicle that is in an unroadworthy condition under Section 75 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. If the garage who supplied you with the vehicle is unable to help you, then you may wish to consider contacting your local Trading Standards Office and explain the situation to them, and they may be able to assist.
Yours sincerely
International Vehicle Standards
 

Hooray - the car is illegal after all. 

Who did you contact and how?

 

I would like to also get in touch with them as my car is still not able to switch to KPH.

 

Thank you for this great effort!

e mail came from *****@*****.tld

Postal address is on the letter.

Good luck but I think to resolution is down to you/dealer/skoda using this evidence. Intervention by Dept for Transport is unlikely imho.

Seems I can’t give you the email. Sorry.

Hi All,

 

I realise it’s been a while since someone last posted in here (and the other 42 page thread) but just wondering if any of you that posted more recently got this issue fixed? 

 

Earlier this year I brought an 2020 (70 plate) Approved Used Octavia SE L First Edition and not only does it have the dreaded MPH/KPH fault but also cannot display the ‘Settings’ menu in the middle of the dials on the Virtual Cockpit (VC) and the Clock is missing from the VC too.

 

The car has had all SW updates and VC unit has been switched out for a brand new unit but the issues are still there. 

 

This is despite prior to that the dealer temporarily installing a VC unit from a ‘donor car’ they had on site to diagnose the fault before ordering and fitting a new unit. The ‘donor’ unit DID display the clock and settings menu but they didn’t check the MPH/KPH fault at that time.

 

When I purchased the car I was told it was originally in that dealers showroom as a demo car which ties in with a few others on the other thread. 

 

It’s starting to get frustrating now as I’m regularly being told different things such as the clock in the VC feature wasn’t added until later and “the Speedo will automatically switch to KPH when it knows I’m driving in Europe”. 

 

I’ve highlighted the legislation which specifies the driver must be able to switch between and I’m waiting a reply. 

 

Škoda UK Customer Services (Executive Office) aren’t being overly helpful but I'm still talking to them as well.

 

All really frustrating.  I love the car itself and as a father of two young children that needs a huge boot and comfort for family holidays it’s ideal but these issues and the need to constantly push Škoda to resolve them are really taking the shine off ownership. 

 

So, have many on here managed to get this issue fixed and if so, how? 

Any help or guidance I can get to help me guide Škoda to a resolution would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all. 

@Ate_a_Croissant welcome to the forums.

 

You may have read my experience in the KPH/MPH thread; my 2020 70 plate SE L FE had these issues early on. 
 

After months of diagnosis the VC was replaced and some s/ware updates applied - these gave me the clock in the top centre of the VC and fixed the kph/mph and satnav km/miles issues. I could not and still cannot change the digital speed display between the dials (other than switching to kph when needed). I’m aware later builds have the capability.

 

Your car should be ‘fixable’.
Could you post a photo of the System Information screen. I’ll compare with mine.

Also, I note you’re in Hampshire. Which dealer do you use?

Hi Steve,

 

Thanks for the response.

 

That car has been to Richmond in Portsmouth who did the VC donor swap then fitted the brand new VC unit. Unfortunately the new unit had the same issues so potentially it has something to do with the specific coding to the unit? 
I believe the coding is pulled down using the VIN number but I may be wrong.

 

The car is now back with the original dealer I purchase it from (Heritage Škoda in Yeovil) so I can’t get the system info at the moment.

 

Im reluctant to take the car back until they’ve sorted the issues to trying to gather any evidence or info to help push them along. 

Apologies by the way, I thought I replied to this the other day but apparently the reply didn’t send.

21 hours ago, Ate_a_Croissant said:

Hi Steve,

 

Thanks for the response.

 

That car has been to Richmond in Portsmouth who did the VC donor swap then fitted the brand new VC unit. Unfortunately the new unit had the same issues so potentially it has something to do with the specific coding to the unit? 
I believe the coding is pulled down using the VIN number but I may be wrong.

 

The car is now back with the original dealer I purchase it from (Heritage Škoda in Yeovil) so I can’t get the system info at the moment.

 

Im reluctant to take the car back until they’ve sorted the issues to trying to gather any evidence or info to help push them along. 

 

Frustrating, but wise to insist they get it sorted be getting the car back. I have been using Meadens in Brockenhurst - they've been excellent, and incredibly supportive in the early days when Škoda UK and 'the factory' were involved.

 

I'll attach a photo of my System Info in case it's of some help

 

21 hours ago, Ate_a_Croissant said:

Apologies by the way, I thought I replied to this the other day but apparently the reply didn’t send.

 

No worries. I was travelling anyway, many hours on the road in the last couple of days.

 

 

Thanks again Steve.

We spoke with Heritage today who stated the MPH to KPH issue has now been resolved. We’ve asked them to supply a video before we accept the car back. 
 

Unfortunately the lack of trip settings and lack of clock in the VC still remain. They have taken the firm stance that these were not features of the car at the time it was manufactured/registered so I don’t feel there is much else I can do. 
 

Still feeling frustrated but I suppose there are more important things to worry about in life?

 

Thank you again. I really appreciate the support and if you have any further info that might help me argue the case around the trip data/clock that would be great but don’t worry if not.

 

Good the hear the MPH/KPH issue is resolved, though again wise to ask for a video to demonstrate it.

 

As for the clock and trip data, at least it is (should) be available on the main Infotainment Screen; there are several ways to configure the displays, and multiple screens can be set up to swipe between.

When the VC was replaced in mine (over three years ago now!) I seem to recall the dealer saying the car configuration had to be updated at the Škoda servers end of things before the software could be fully updated. I may be that Richmond didn't do that hence you're not getting the clock. Perhaps worth asking the question.

 

When I saw the VC in newer cars with additional functionality I felt a bit miffed, thinking I want that too - but then it dawned on me it's just like any technology based system. I just installed iOS 18 on my iPhone but some of the new features don't work 'cos my phone is 2 years old 🙄 - but life goes on...

 

Hope you get the car back OK and grow to love it as much as I do mine. 

Thanks Steve. Hopefully getting the video emailed through tomorrow so will see.

 

I can definitely live without the clock but the trip data would be handy to have occasionally so I’ll ask the question about updating the car configuration at the Škoda servers end - that’s not something they’ve ever mentioned though the details always were a little sketchy, even when the Master Tech called me.

 

Other than these few bits I do love the car. It does everything I need it to do. The boot is immense and Škoda have done well with all the little extras like the umbrella in the door and wireless CarPlay etc.

Think my favourite thing is the radar cruise staying on when you change gear - on our previous car as soon as you touched the clutch the cruise disengaged - little things aye! 

 

Thanks again for all the comments and info - and all your posts on the other 42 page thread, which helped me push for a resolution. Fingers crossed! Will report back once the cars back in my possession

Hi,

Sorry for replying to an old thread, I'm having the problem of not bee able to change the speedometer from MPH to KPH.

 

My car is a 70 reg but I've only had it a few months, when I first got it, it had to go back for a software update to fix not been able to set the primary user. it went from 1893 to 1941.

 

Does anyone know if a further software update would fix this or would the VC unit need changing too ?

 

I've seen ona tiktok video someone has a speed option in there unit settings that changes the speedometer but I don't have it.

 

Thanks

 

I had this issue on a 70 plate SEL First Edition which I brought from a main dealer second hand. I was the second owner but it was an ex showroom car so a few features were missing. 
They only put effort into sorting it when I pointed out it was a legal requirement and took them a while to do it after a couple of unsuccessful attempts! 
Somewhere on here is the Uk and European legislation which will force their hand but bottom line, has to be done by a main dealer and it’s not a simple software update - needs specific coding.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/regulation/35
 

Basically, law says you need an analogue dial with mph and kph both displayed or a ‘button’ enabling the driver to switch it. 

Yes, it can be fixed - my car was one of the first in UK to get the fix. As @Ate_a_Croissant mentions, it has to be done by a main dealer and it's a legal requirement to display both or switch between them.

 

What is frustrating is that Škoda are not proactively fixing these early build cars.

Completely agree with @SteveTheElder.

 

Also, prepare yourself for them to tell you they’ve never seen this before and that neither have the factory! 
Don’t let them fob you off. My car is an example of one that can be fixed and if you send me a PM I’ll happily provide my reg so you can use it as an example. Least I can do to pay it forward as Steve kindly helped me when I was in your position @JakRyan.

Mine was eventually sorted by Richmond Skoda in Portsmouth btw.

Thank you for the advice, I'll go back to the dealer and post back here how I get on.