SKODA LAS610001 Roof Bars

[tigermad]

I have read a few things on the forums about the first batch of Octavia II roofbars denting/marking vehicles. How widespread is this problem? I have been offered a set but there is no reference to say if they are LAS610001A or LAS610001B.

Thanks

[dcrd]

I looked into roof things when i was trying to source the chrome rails which Skoda are hiding from us.

Could the A/B distinction be saloon/estate? Roof rails/none? Metal/Plastic? Lockable/not?

Just some thoughts that went through my head

[jamesmckelvie]

mine say it on the manual I got with the roof bars what the revision number is. Mine are 'B' so not fooked up roof!

[bosnjo]

Originally Posted by tigermad

I have read a few things on the forums about the first batch of Octavia II roofbars denting/marking vehicles. How widespread is this problem? I have been offered a set but there is no reference to say if they are LAS610001A or LAS610001B.

Thanks

Mine has ruined the paint on two of four fixes. Sorted it out with touch-paint and now I know what to be careful about. When fixing, during the screwing in, you have to be careful that metal doesn't touch the body on either side, I mean, hold the whole piece with your hand while screwing and make sure it stays off from the paint on both sides at same distance. I've never damaged the paintwork again after this. The other problem is leaving bars on the car for a long. As I'm dedicated bicycle enduro rider, I need roof bars and bike rack two times a week. So, I've decided just to leave it on. On first heavy rainy day, after half an hour driving on the rain, water started to enter the cabin on all four fixing points and wouldn't stop. I had to park the car and take the rack off, even on heavy rain falling. Problem is that fixing points stay between to sealing rubbers and let water through. Now, I'm expert in putting them on and off.
7 minutes, whole operation done, and getting better.
It has to be twice a week.

[Captain Kirk]

Interesting that you have mentioned this, mine have flaked the paint under each fixing point, and water leaks through the drivers door when fitted. I'm a kayaker and go 2 times a week usually, so not worth the hassel of taking them off/putting them on each time, unless I'm going on a long journey without my boat.
I presumed I had tightened them too much at some point hence the paint coming off!

[tigermad]

Surely there would have been some kind of recall on them if the rain leaked in and paint chipped. I have googled the bars and cant find any info at all. I have read elsewhere that these are Thule aero bars.

[mark antony]

Originally Posted by tigermad

Surely there would have been some kind of recall on them if the rain leaked in and paint chipped. I have googled the bars and cant find any info at all. I have read elsewhere that these are Thule aero bars.

I've also got the Thule aero system and the rear bar doesn't fit no matter how I jiggle the foot with the bar. The rubber foot doesn't align with the 'lip' on the roof and the fixing clip rubs agaist the corner of the roof and has chiped the paint. Problems all around. Water leakage is also a problem

The front bar fixes snuggly though.

Can't be right.

[tigermad]

I deffo need some roof bars for my top box. What could I buy instead that will be better?

[jamesmckelvie]

Originally Posted by Captain Kirk

Interesting that you have mentioned this, mine have flaked the paint under each fixing point, and water leaks through the drivers door when fitted. I'm a kayaker and go 2 times a week usually, so not worth the hassel of taking them off/putting them on each time, unless I'm going on a long journey without my boat.
I presumed I had tightened them too much at some point hence the paint coming off!

Are yours revision A or B ?

[Captain Kirk]

Originally Posted by jamesmckelvie

Are yours revision A or B ?

Not sure to be honest. I dont have the box anymore, is there anyway of finding out from the bars themselves?

[tigermad]

The box for the ones I have been offered just say LAS610001

Does that mean they are probably the revision "A" ones?

[unsponsored]

My booklet that came with the bars have the number las610001b. Havent tried them yet though.

[bosnjo]

Originally Posted by tigermad

I deffo need some roof bars for my top box. What could I buy instead that will be better?

Go for Skoda ones and be careful on mounting them.
Water leaking will be the problem with all of them. It's car, not the bars.
Anyway, you'll have less problems with Skoda ones.

[jamesmckelvie]

wish I bought the estate now after reading all this

[PSM]

I have bought the Thule aero bars for my hatchback and have had no problems fitting them. Both the fron and back fit snuggly and had no problems with the paint either. However, I am not a heavy user (probably use them 10-15 times a year at most). The first time I put them on I found the fronts easy to fit but the rears were a little more tricky.

[tigermad]

I think I will give these second hand ones a go. I will just be careful when I put them on. I will only be using them for camping 2-3 times a year.

[Captain Kirk]

Just had a look, and mine are the revision A bars. Do you think I'd have any luck with trying to get it sorted through a dealer?

Edit: Just phoned Skoda customer services, and they are going to look into it. Not too hopeful as they will probably put it down to user error, but thought I may as well try.

[uncle bulgaria]

Originally Posted by Captain Kirk

Just had a look, and mine are the revision A bars. Do you think I'd have any luck with trying to get it sorted through a dealer?

Edit: Just phoned Skoda customer services, and they are going to look into it. Not too hopeful as they will probably put it down to user error, but thought I may as well try.

I've got the A version & just had a chat with our local Dealer. Their parts guy has usually been spot on & he has said there is nothing official form Skoda on this, however he's going to check up on it.

He said that revisions are sometimes made because the process can be made simpler or the parts be made cheaper or tehy are provided by a different manufacturer, not just if there is a defect.

Has anyone got anything "formal" stating there is a problem with the design or manufacture of the earlier versions, or has anyone had their's swaped or replaced by a dealer? This would be very helpful in clearing up this issue.

[Captain Kirk]

Skoda customer services got back to me and said the best advice they could give is to get a touch up pen. No problems noted as far as they can tell.

[uncle bulgaria]

Originally Posted by Captain Kirk

Skoda customer services got back to me and said the best advice they could give is to get a touch up pen. No problems noted as far as they can tell.

I had a similar response, the Parts manager from our local dealers call me this afternoon to say that he had called Skoda "Technical" & Skoda "Frontline" and both had told him that there were no reports of altering the design because of problems. He said they told him that as far as they were aware the "revision" of the part number was because of a change of manaufacturer.

[meskodasgone]

Just bought some genuine Skoda LAS610001B's new from dealer. When I ordered them he said "ah, the one's with the revised torque wrench!" - which seems to indicate people were overtightening the previous versions.

They came within a couple of days, went on like a dream in minutes and were cheaper than the Thule's. I guess they are rebranded Thules as really nice quality aero design. So far, so good.

Not taken 'em off yet, so the roof may be ruined but doubt it as no problems with fitting!

[jamesmckelvie]

Originally Posted by meskodasgone

Just bought some genuine Skoda LAS610001B's new from dealer. When I ordered them he said "ah, the one's with the revised torque wrench!" - which seems to indicate people were overtightening the previous versions.

They came within a couple of days, went on like a dream in minutes and were cheaper than the Thule's. I guess they are rebranded Thules as really nice quality aero design. So far, so good.

Not taken 'em off yet, so the roof may be ruined but doubt it as no problems with fitting!

Let us know the roof situation once you take them off hopefully no damage, did you clean the roof first where the roofbars rest against it?

Cheers

[bigjim73]

Have a look at Atera roof bars, OK I have an estate, but they are a fantastic build and quality (German), much better than the Thule or Skoda alternative in terms of fitment and ease of use.
I've just done Center Parcs with the obligatory 4 bikes on the roof (on Atera bike racks) and the whole of the motorway was at 70(ish), bars didn't budge, move, creak (if you have roof bars you'll know what I mean), and when I got home 5 minutes and I had it all removed from the car.

[meskodasgone]

Since the post on 6th August, I've now had the bars on for nearly 2 weeks and something really strange has started happening. The car alarm keeps going off! If i press the button near the drivers seat before locking the doors, it doesn't happen. I've had a couple of drips of water in the car where the roof rack fits in the door rubbers but nothing major. Any ideas, please?

In answer to James' question, I didn't clean the roof first when i fitted them and I'm just about to take them off so if there are any horrors to report - watch this space!

[meskodasgone]

The good news is that having taken off the bars having had them on for a while now is that there's absolutely no bodywork damage or scratching. When they were on there was no creaking as reported elsewhere. The alarm problem stopped once the heavy rain of a couple of weeks ago got a bit lighter.

They came off as easily as they went on and I found them really good.