Fabia bonnet lifter is GO!

[devonutopia]

Right - Mine's on....

More details to follow, but it work's an absolute treat. Smooth action, progressive, and easy to use.

Like I say, pictures and video to follow, but probably not until after the weekend.

Price is still undetermined, but is looking to be about to be around the £45 mark. This will be for the following:

• Brand new Fabia Gas Strut, identical to boot strut
• 2 New Ball-studs and new nuts & washers to secure to bracket & bonnet mount
• 1 custom made bracket, painted matt black as standard (options for others)
• 10/13mm spanner combo tool + Torx fitting - All thats needed to fit
• Full set of destructions, I mean instructions.

A little bit more research needed into the 100% completed design, so it won't be available to buy for about a week. However, the video of my installation, and pics will be on here by the end of the day. Mine's painted in matt silver, and will probably leave it as that - It matches the paintwork in the engine bay quite well.

Tom - You can calm down now mate - not long now.

[devonutopia]

A little sneak preview. This is in its "hanging" position, where neither gravity is great enough to shut it, and the lifter isn't strong enough to push it right up.

[texasjohn]

Nice, useful mod there. Coolio

[devonutopia]

Thanks mate. Just edited the video and now have a stonking 2 minute video with a great soundtrack behind it, timed to perfection totally by accident. Might leave it until later on in the weekend to make the video public though.

[Goochie]

perhaps you should do an Octavia one too There may still be some people alive who diddnt get theirs from the group buy

[devonutopia]

Originally Posted by Goochie

perhaps you should do an Octavia one too There may still be some people alive who diddnt get theirs from the group buy

You never know this bracket might work in the same way, but somehow I think not. Anyone who wants to bring me down a Mk1 Octy to try, is more than welcome.

Decided not to use the video I did first as it was a little cheesy with its musical timing, and also,you saw my "legal" numberplate a couple of times. Am just hosting a smaller vid using snippets, and shall link to it "directly"

[devonutopia]

OK, here's a link to the video - It shows it hanging briefly and then two slow rises to its maximum extension. The video doesn't show it shut, but believe me it closes. I just drove home with it fitted,

[niallyp]

very snazzy, its beyond belief why they aint a a standard fitment... im deffo interested

[devonutopia]

Originally Posted by niallyp

very snazzy, its beyond belief why they aint a a standard fitment... im deffo interested

Not standard because there's nothing to bolt them to. Its a weird chassis/engine bay design, and one which the designers obviously never contemplated using a lifter system. The bracket uses a forceful, solid base for the butt of the lifter and the original strut mount on the bonnet provides an adequate securing position for the top.

[ChrisRs]

The video is spooky. That bonnet lifting up and down like that!
You'll be after an engine cover now Jason!!

[Bigw2069]

Originally Posted by devonutopia

Not standard because there's nothing to bolt them to. Its a weird chassis/engine bay design, and one which the designers obviously never contemplated using a lifter system. The bracket uses a forceful, solid base for the butt of the lifter and the original strut mount on the bonnet provides an adequate securing position for the top.

Im sure after designing a car, they could have just coped with designing a wee bracket to put a lifter in,
probably be more down to cost and keeping the gap between skoda and the rest of VAG.
Looks good though Jason, good work now you just need to nip into town centre and hope some charv whips the Rest of the fabia badge off your bonnet since they already got the IA

[CzechPlease]

When it's fully open is the bonnet at the same angle as when using the original strut? Looks great

[beedie]

so much for waiting till after the weekend. you're just far to eager to show it off.
how many are they making will it be made to order?
Count Me in!
Why is it a \GB's come along at once?
Scott

[devonutopia]

Originally Posted by CzechPlease

When it's fully open is the bonnet at the same angle as when using the original strut? Looks great

It is ever so slightly lower than with the strut in - not much, but a bit lower. Hopefully the video indicates how high this is. The buying will be kicking off soon, but as I don't know a price yet I can't say any more. I think they want to make a couple more brackets to get the workmanship spot on (I got the trial and error one which works very well anyway )

It will not be a group buy in the traditional sense, as long as the demand is there, Briskoda will just get a better price than anyone else, especially Ebay.

It's looking around £45 at the moment though, with all the labour that goes into making each bracket - I suspect any p&p has not been factored into that. I reckon it will end up at £50 for everything, bracket, new lifter,ball studs and all the tools & instructions to fit it. (posted)

[MissPiggy]

jase-did any of your nieghbours see you out there opening and closing the bonnet? they must think your more nuts than they originally thought!!!

[devonutopia]

I was in an industrial unit area, so no.

[devonutopia]

Couple more pics. Hope to hear from the Company tomorrow with a price. I assume they're still doing a little bit of research and costing up exercises.

[Alan M]

Count me in, i hate manual bonnet struts. It always seems to be windy when i want to do something in the engine bay...

[devonutopia]

OK, they got back to me today and have been told that £47 all-in, i.e everything needed to fit and make this work, P&P, etc IS the price for it. There will be optional extras like colour-coded painted bracket, or colour coded lifter butt - but I prefer it in the normal black anyway.

I will get proper details first and then start a new thread elsewhere in the group buys section.

[WW_VRS]

Cheers, sounds good