Farewell Briskodians - Due to the poor quality of my vehicle headlights and support from Skoda UK I have learned a very expensive lesson and gone back to a properly engineered car - a BMW. Good luck to you all.

Hope all goes well with it. There's a lemon in every marque and it seems you got with one with citrus flavoured lights.

a properly engineered car - a BMW.

Wish I could do the same.

All the best

Wish I could do the same.

All the best

I am soon to do the same

Which BMW?

I already own an M5, but am pxing the Skud for an E46 330i touring auto. It has Xenons which don't bloody shake. I am annoyed really because I liked the idea of a Skoda, but in truth, the reality is quite different. If only I hadn't ordered the Xenons. If anyone wants to give me 18 grand for the car before next Thursday, give me a PM. This car was 24 grand 4 months ago...............

I already own an M5, but am pxing the Skud for an E46 330i touring auto. It has Xenons which don't bloody shake. I am annoyed really because I liked the idea of a Skoda, but in truth, the reality is quite different. If only I hadn't ordered the Xenons. If anyone wants to give me 18 grand for the car before next Thursday, give me a PM. This car was 24 grand 4 months ago...............

Put that in the for sale asap if I were you.

As for owning an M5, very nice

A 5-series Sport (or M5 if I'm feeling silly ) will be sitting on my drive when it's time for the Mondeo to go

Chris

I am soon to do the same

Alright...no need to rub it in :P

Shame really as being properly adjusted the headlamps would probably be ok.

Why don't you make the trip to see Lummox and have them sorted and then Bill SUK or your dealer for the journey?

Skoda area tech rep says this is within spec and there's nothing more to do. They need to raise their game if you ask me. These are no longer cheap cars and if people like me coming from BMW etc are to remain Skoda customers, something needs to change.

ScoobyChris, get an M5 mate. Just be prepared for the running costs. Check out bm3w.co.uk

Not sure I'm totally convinced about the reliability of BMWs myself.

I see about 5 broken down cars a week brought back across the Channel from France.

50% of them are Landrover Discoverys and Range Rovers, but rarely any Freelanders

30% are BMWs with the 3 series being the most common - we brought one in tonight.

We carry less 5's and even less 7's but I would guess it's about in proportion to the numbers sold.

No other make/model of car features noticably.

Never carried any sort of dead Skoda. Could be because they don't sell many or.......

Alan

So apart from the lemon flavoured Xenons, was their anything else really wrong with the car?

I'm thinking of going the other way and getting rid of my E39 and getting an Octavia Vrs or 4x4 diesel or petrol in estate form. I've been well happy with the Fabia we have and figured an Octavia was practical enough but fast enough to replace the BMW.

I've owned two 5 series (E34 525i and E39 528i) and both have been an absolute blast. A bit sluggish low down but fly above 2000 rpm and not a turbo in sight. I bought mine in their autumn years so avoided the rip off main BMW dealers and went to BMW specialists instead.

Actually the only reason I didn't sell the current BMW 6 months ago was the appalling trade in price offered by my local Skoda dealer. All the dealers up here also have the rep of never giving discounts either so I'm probably hanging onto the beamer for a bit longer and seeing what the 2007 Octavias look like.

2007 Octavia is already on the streets. Most easily identified by the red brake calipers.

I've had a couple of E36 BMW's and loved them. People always suck through their teeth and talk about expensive running costs but I didn't find that. Servicing was almost a pleasure as the dealer was always courteous and pleasant unlike some other marques.

Would I have another? Oh yeah!! But I think it should be bourne in mind that the BMW isn't in the same league as the Skoda.

I think it should be bourne in mind that the BMW isn't in the same league as the Skoda.

I think that says it all. If pounds were peanuts I'd have a Porsche 911 !

Most people equate BMW with germany and reliability, alas as posted in another thread my neighbours experience is one of unreliability. In the end she p/exed the car at a massive loss because she couldnt deal with the hassle anymore. Dont forget BMW dont just make cars in Germany anymore, for example the X3 is made in India.

I agree that the leagues are different but there is some overlap between target markets. In my case a sportyish BMW saloon car with RWD has been a hoot. But, in an area with crap weather, 3 growing kids, a growing mortgage, a shrinking wallet and the need for more car space all with the smile factor I think an Octy will do the job nicely.

My headlamps shook like crazy, trips to 3 different dealers made no difference.

A quick trip to Ross's dealer and they were setup properly and adjusted, been AWESOME ever since.

Anyway, good luck with your new car fella

ScoobyChris, get an M5 mate. Just be prepared for the running costs. Check out bm3w.co.uk

I've already found and spoken to a local independent specialist/tuner who offers very reasonable servicing prices and I'm think that it's a car I need to own in my lifetime

Anyone want to buy a baby? 9 months old, never been raced or rallied

Chris

I'm not expecting German cars to be totally reliable. I've had issues with all the BMs and Audis and Mercs we've got / had. Our 911 has a weeping crankshaft seal which is quite common. But it's only done 14000 miles. My TVR has never let me down - work that out. The difference I have found with Skoda v the rest, is that Skodas cannot hide the fact they are built down to a price. BUT, they are not cheap anymore. Also, the Prestige dealers (if you find a good one) seem better informed on what constitutes good customer service.

Headlights and SUK back-up aside, the new Octy DSG 2.0 really is a nice car to drive, just not so nice to own. Coming from an E39 is difficult because I think that is the best car ever made. My favourite car though is my 138000 mile W124 E280 estate. Cost 2 grand and has feelgood factor in spades.

My mate had an E39 M5 - was a great car but as soon as it hit 100k miles BMW won't offer the warranty and when they break they are massive money to fix.

I have an E34 540i which is smooth and fast and fully loaded, but in the real world its no faster point to point than the Octy and it does half as many mpg.

We had one of those 540s. Great car and a proper BMW. Loads of V8 character too. My M5 is only on 44k so some time to go for the warranty issue. However, the warranty is getting very expensive and there is an Excess to pay too. I wonder if its best to keep the 2 grand in my pocket for repairs as they crop up.

Because the 528 is so great to drive and I'm not desparate to sell right now I'll only get rid of it if exactly the right Octy model at the right price comes along. Or when SWMBO tells me too

In some respects I think the E34 may have the edge on the E39 in handling and responsiveness but not smoothness and comfort. Anyhoo, that's for a completely different forum ......................

In the meantime I'm having great fun throwing the fabia around corners in a way that would leave me in a ditch were I in the E39.

I have to say I do envy you M5 owners though, so much torque and horses in one place - shouldn't be allowed!

Not as much as I envy you Octy drivers with halogen headlights!

surely it would make sense to go see a well known and respected mechanic about it before losing 6 grand?