Evening all. I have just purchased an original Skoda MFD to fit into my 2003 Octavia vRS. I currently have the symphony cd head unit with standard 6disk boot changer. I realise I will need to replace the roof aerial and was wondering which one I need. Does the superb GPS base unit fit the Octavia? Or is there one designed to fit the Octavia? Also is the cable likely to be there or do I need that too? I'm guessing (hoping) that the unit will plug straight in and work??

Help

Phil

I am looking into fitting an MFD myself so have done a little research.

I understand that you need a GPS antenna which plugs straight in the back of the nav unit and can be run up under the dash into the corner of the front screen.

An adaptor is required to connect into your existing plug.

A search on ebay should find you both items.

Would be interested to know how much you paid and where from for the MFD?

Best of luck, let us kow how you get on installing:thumbup:

Thank's for that info! I bought the unit from eBay. They seem to come up fairly regularly and sell from between £200 and £350ish from what I have seen.

I will have a look for the adaptor on ebay. Any ideas what it might be called? (how stupid do I feel asking that!?)

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Phil.

this person is selling all the bits you will need

ebay item no170045476321

I have no link to this person and have not dealt with them,they are merely the first people i found searching for mfd cable

I fitted a mfd in my 52 vrs took about 1.5 hrs ,biggest job is removing dash panels to make running cables easier

The cabling you'll need is called a plug and play loom.

I fitted one to a Fabia yesterday, simple excpet for the lack of room in the dash for the cabling.

Small GPS antenna can be hidden under the dash, take a look at my Octavia site for an MFD2 install which has a pic of an under dash install.

If you want a combined roof mounted GPS/cellular/radio antenna I have a spare one available. Its the type with the removable mast section NOT folding type. I think the part number is 1U0 035 505 B, will check when I get home at weekend.

Excelent, thanks to all! I'm glad all seems fairly straight forward!

SimonJ, I am interested in the antenna. I currently have a standard radio only type with folding mast, are the two interchangable? If they are, please name your price.

Phil

Something to be aware of when buying one -

The one I fitted yesterday for my Dad was a VW unit. It came coded for a VW with DSP. This meant that when we plugged it in it gave the impression of no sound coming from the speakers. The way around this was to code it for 4 Passive Speakers using VAG-COM. It also had to be coded for a CD changer and amplified antenna base. Simple to do but a lot of head scratching at first and no good if you don't have access to VAG-COM.

Thanks for the warning Stu. I don't have vagcom unfortionatly although it's something I would like to look into when funds allow. If I find I need it I will see if there is anyone in my area willing to help in exchange for some beer tokens

Would someone who is familiar with vagcom know/be able to work out how to set it up? Thanks again, Phil.

Phil

It's really easy to do you just need the codes -

The coding is in the format xxxxx so I'm guessing for your car but I would say

00 - Generic Car Body

4 - 4 Passive Loudspeakers

0 - No DSP

3 - Remote Powered Antenna & CD Changer (This is increased to 7 if you have MaxiDot or similar)

So that would give you a coding of 00403 for controller 56 (Radio)

Excelent. Many thanks Stu. I would have probably been sitting in the garage sulking for a few weeks without your help! lol.

Phil.

No problem, glad I am able to help.

Looking for £35 plus postage for the antenna. I think the cables are interchangable.

Does this MFD unit control the standard fit CD changer?

Yes it does Martin.

Simon, I have sent you a PM.

You'll need a CD changer to play CD's as the MFD doesn't.

Yes it does Martin.

Simon, I have sent you a PM.

Very Cool... So as I already have the CD Changer, I'll just need an MFD and the plug and play wiring kit from Ebay.

Having look at Ebay, I'm guessing it's the MFD1 for the MK1 Octavia and the MFD2 is for the MK2 Octavia, correct?

Note to self: Why the hell are you even thinking about this when you've just made an offer on a house...

Yeah the Octy1's need the MFD and Octy2's need MFD2. I got my MFD and wiring kit from ebay although I plan to use a propper skoda replacement roof antenna.

Note to self: Why the hell are you even thinking about this when you've just made an offer on a house...

It's a slippery slope Martin!!

My plug and play loom arrived and it has a switch on it... Am I right in thinking that the switch is there so that the GALA wire can be broken to allow the screen to be used as a TV whilst in motion? If this is the case, will removing the switch and joining the wire together mean that the mfd functions as it should? I'm not interested in the TV feature.

That's the one Phil.

When I did my dads we were going to do away with the switch as he feels the same but ended up putting it in the glove box near the cooler ****(Fabia).

Thanks once again Stu. Not sure what I would have done without your input on this subject!

I'm going to scrap the switch partly because I have no need for it and partly to save on space as it seems limited enough as it is!

Cheers,

Phil.

Here's how we did it -

I started making a guide with the help of Jon who's just done one -

Octavia-vRS.com - MFD Install Guide

If you have any tips or improvments let me know.