Can they be switched off?

I would imagine so although not with a switch, it would be something more drastic.

Fronts have a switch on them.

Ant ideas how much more drastic?

Well you'd be looking to disable them.

Possibly with VAG-COM, maybe remove a fuse of maybe disconnect the control unit.

Thought that might be the case, its just that the car i have ordered (pick up next week ) comes with them as it was the closest i could get to the spec i wanted without having to wait for ages and i think they are gonna annoy me more than be of any use.

I may change my mind once i use them a bit, although i have been parking for 13 years without any problems so dont feel i am about to start to not be able to park.....hmmmm although my wife will be driving it too?????????? lol

I find them really handy, me like you had been driving for years before getting the octy and parking sensors. They make the whole act of parking so much easier, as the back of the octy is awkward to see clearly whats going on.

I got the rear packing sensors, find them extremely useful and regret not getting the fronts.

I thought the things would really annoy me but have to say they may have saved me from a very low level but solid rock that I hadn't seen. I quite like them now.

I would try them for a while before you turn them off, never know you might get to like them.

I thought the things would really annoy me but have to say they may have saved me from a very low level but solid rock that I hadn't seen. I quite like them now.

I would try them for a while before you turn them off, never know you might get to like them.

I didn't have them fitted to mine, and didn't see the rock either. Result: large dent in bottom of rear bumper, fortunately not too visible, so my pride wasn't hurt too much. Then a couple of weeks ago, I managed to clip a low wall and this time it was quite visible.

Car is now in the garage for a new rear bumper...and I've asked them to fit the parking sensors.

I have had my Octy estate for just over a month now. Before I got it I really wasn't sure whether the parking sensors and rain-sensing wipers would be anything other than a headache - but have to say that I find both very useful. Even though the estate has better rear vision than the hatchback, it is still quite easy to overlook items such as small trees and bollards which are below the line of sight. I too would try them before you dismiss them as an irritation!!

I think they are great but a bit pessimistic. When they tell you to stop, you still have about a foot or more. But better than them being too optimistic!

One little-mentioned problem though. After you get used to having them, and get in a car without them, beware! You might wait for the beep but clonk the lamp post first!!!

I ordered parking sensors on my car, and am really glad I did. The back of the Octy II is surprisingly hard to judge (I thought the Mk I was bad enough) as its quite high. Makes parking in tight spots (a common problem where I live) a lot easier.

I find them very useful.

Occasional misreadings.

I was reversing down a very steep drive on to the road and suddenly the sensors started. I could see nothing through the rear screen so I decided to get out of the car and look at the back. Drive was so steep that the road itself was being detected. Reversed out OK.

Foliage. My drive has fir trees on one side, the sensors insist on going off even though I am running parallel and am a reasonable distance from them. Similar with other foliage.

Despite these foibles I would not be without them.

My wife however hates them.

One little-mentioned problem though. After you get used to having them, and get in a car without them, beware! You might wait for the beep but clonk the lamp post first!!!

Very true, I've had a couple of close calls in SWMBO's Audi.

I think they are great but a bit pessimistic. When they tell you to stop, you still have about a foot or more. But better than them being too optimistic!

One little-mentioned problem though. After you get used to having them, and get in a car without them, beware! You might wait for the beep but clonk the lamp post first!!!

if you do go back another couple of inches after it indicates stop, then you find the hatchback can't open if you're parked up to a wall e.g. on a multi-storey car park.

I have been amazed that rear parking sensors remain on the options list for so many "prestige" cars - Audis, Toyota RAV 4s etc. - I find them so useful, especially when reversing into really tight parking spaces, it's no longer a guess where the my car ends and the one behind me starts!

I agree. I wouldn't be without them now that I have got used to them. You can switch them off though - the switch is at the bottom of the centre console , on the right-hand side marked 'P', next to the 'ASR Off' switch.

A former boss had the parking sensors on a BMW X5 and still managed to hit something - he hadn't realised the top of a skip would be closer to the car than the bottom where the sensors were pinging!!!

I had them installed on the Golf when I bought it and am even more pessimistic than they are!!!

I agree. I wouldn't be without them now that I have got used to them. You can switch them off though - the switch is at the bottom of the centre console , on the right-hand side marked 'P', next to the 'ASR Off' switch.

So i can switch them of if i want too!

Only the front ones IIRC.

Rears come on with reverse, fronts come on only when you press the switch.

Only the front ones IIRC.

Rears come on with reverse, fronts come on only when you press the switch.

Aha so you cant switch em off! Someone else had said that. I am growing on the idea now though after all the glowing posts here.

Rears come on with reverse, fronts come on only when you press the switch.

Both F + R come on with reverse, and as best I know both come on when you press the switch too (although I've only ever pressed the button when heading forward into a space).

I have only the rears and there is no option to turn them off with a switch.

If you get the fronts the switch is there to turn them on so you can use them when parking forward. I have no idea if this affects the rears, but I wouldn't have thought it would.

I guess only way to confirm is to go down the dealers and try a car with them (New L&K?).