Hi all,

I am looking into upgrading / retrofitting the infotainment system on my Skoda Superb Mk3 (3V) to a full MIB3 Columbus setup.

Could someone please share the best OEM part numbers for the MIB3 Columbus main unit (glovebox unit / brain) that supports navigation and Virtual Cockpit mapping?

Also, if there are specific hardware revisions (e.g., Harman unit indices) or common retrofit pitfalls with ODIS / Component Protection / OCF coding that I should be aware of, I'd appreciate your advice!

Thanks in advance!

Du weißt das du eine Ocu High 3 brauchst? Du bekommst eine Funktion Freischaltung nicht legal über odis. CP entfernen geht.

Desweiteren arbeitet MIB3 und Ocu 3 mit Car Ethernet mit dem virtual Cockpit und dem Soundsystem wenn vorhanden. Beides muss Ethernet tauglich sein.

You realize you need an OCU High 3? You cannot legally unlock the function via ODIS. Removing Component Protection is possible.

Furthermore, the MIB3 and OCU 3 use Automotive Ethernet to communicate with the Virtual Cockpit and the sound system (if present). Both must be Ethernet-compatible.

Thanks for the heads up, but to clarify: my car is already a Facelift model, not pre-facelift.

It already runs the newer architecture, so I am just looking to upgrade the current infotainment unit to the top-spec MIB3 Columbus.

Could you please share the recommended OEM part number for the high-end MIB3 Columbus main unit that fits the facelift?

Even so, the feature activation won't work properly, because the data on the server is different.

I know that, I just need the OEM part number. Is it 3V0035816

(or one of its revisions)?

I thought I had H but in an 03/2021-registered car.

From Gemini:

In the Volkswagen Auto Group (VAG) part numbering ecosystem, the single- or double-letter suffixes at the end of a part number indicate hardware revisions, production year updates, or software advancements. [1]

For the 3V0035816 MIB3 navigation head unit, the most common suffix variations found across Skoda models include:

Common Suffix Variations

• No Suffix (3V0035816): The base or initial release variant of the MIB3 High/Columbus system, typically found on early facelift models around late 2019 to mid-2020. [1, 2]

• Suffix A & B (3V0035816A / 3V0035816B): Early revision updates introduced during the 2020–2021 production cycle. [1, 2]

• Suffix D (3V0035816D): A highly common revision introduced around late 2021. It is frequently seen as a factory standard in the 2021–2022 Skoda Kodiaq and Superb. [1, 2]

• Suffix E & H (3V0035816E / 3V0035816H): Mid-generation hardware updates that include factory fixes for early MIB3 software stability issues. [1]

• Suffix K (3V0035816K): A later generation variant (often 2022–2023+ models) heavily used across the compact line, including the Skoda Kamiq, Scala, and Octavia IV. [1]

• Suffix N (3V0035816N): A later revision version variant, sometimes associated with specific component manufacturers (like Joynext instead of Preh/Harman). [1]

What do these differences mean for you?

1. Component Protection: No matter which suffix variation you find, VAG units feature Component Protection. If you swap one into your car, it will remain locked (no sound or disabled menus) until it is programmed and unlocked via official Skoda ODIS software linked to the factory server. [1]

2. Backward Compatibility: Generally, a unit with a newer suffix (e.g., changing from a base unit to a D or K variant) can replace an older unit, provided it is coded properly to match your vehicle's specific layout (such as screen size or sound amplifier type). [1, 2]

Hope that helps. Cairus knows what he's talking about though!

SKODA Superb 3 L&K 2022 Car

Factory 5F Unit: 3V0035816G

When you Patch with USB CP Off & Fec's aktiv., IT Only works Maximum

with Firmware 0332. You also lose all online things of the Unit

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Cairus