Hi there

Just registered but i have been following this forum for a while. Just bought a 1.9tdi Roomster, 16 months old. Its running well. Previously owned 1.2 Fabia estate.

I have asked the dealer if they could retro-fit a third centre headrest. They say its not a problem as the parts are available on their system to do this. However they say this will invalidate the warranty for the centre seat. Three questions:

Can this invalidation be correct?

Are they saying this to cover themselves in case they make an error fitting what should be a factory fitted only option?

Have many of you have had this done?

Although i would like it doing, i am worried that the fabric could start to split eventually from the holes cut to accomadate the headrest. Also are the vari-flex seats hard wearing. Another worry is that some moving part would malfunction and i would have pay through the nose to get it fixed as i invalidate the warranty on the seat.

Edited 6 February, 201016 yr by lengster

Hi Lengster, welcome to Briskoda.

I can't help you with the warranty issues, but there was some information about retro-fitting the centre headrest amongst the older Roomy threads.

The thread was entitled "Third Headrest Problem" and started on 16 November 2007.

(One day, I will look up how to insert a "link" to other threads!)

Hi there

Just registered but i have been following this forum for a while. Just bought a 1.9tdi Roomster, 16 months old. Its running well. Previously owned 1.2 Fabia estate.

I have asked the dealer if they could retro-fit a third centre headrest. They say its not a problem as the parts are available on their system to do this. However they say this will invalidate the warranty for the centre seat. Three questions:

Can this invalidation be correct?

Are they saying this to cover themselves in case they make an error fitting what should be a factory fitted only option?

Have many of you have had this done?

Although i would like it doing, i am worried that the fabric could start to split eventually from the holes cut to accomadate the headrest. Also are the vari-flex seats hard wearing. Another worry is that some moving part would malfunction and i would have pay through the nose to get it fixed as i invalidate the warranty on the seat.

I think that was 'my' thread. I bought a pre-reg 1.9Tdi, and insisted on a centre seat with headrest. The dealer couldn't sort a seat with one, so got the parts and a local car upholsterer to fit it to my seat. It's not perfect, but it's sold and fine.

I wouldn't worry about the warranty, as long as you're fairly near the dealer. They are supplying a service which is covered by all the usual consumer protection legislation. They can't get out of that. If anything goes wrong with the seat, it's their responsibility.

Stuart

I think that was 'my' thread. I bought a pre-reg 1.9Tdi, and insisted on a centre seat with headrest. The dealer couldn't sort a seat with one, so got the parts and a local car upholsterer to fit it to my seat. It's not perfect, but it's sold and fine.

I wouldn't worry about the warranty, as long as you're fairly near the dealer. They are supplying a service which is covered by all the usual consumer protection legislation. They can't get out of that. If anything goes wrong with the seat, it's their responsibility.

Stuart

Folks, if it's helpful, I have just completed installation of a 3rd headrest in my R3. During the full conversion to leather I stripped the seats down to bare metal frames. I noticed the frame of the centre rear seat was already equipped with the square tube supports required to mount the (optional) headrest. As my leather kit included a leather cover for the 3rd headrest I assembled my own and used the leather cover.

The parts required from your local Skoda dealer are :

1x 1K0 886 920 47H LH guide/ bush.

1x 1K0 886 920A 47H RH guide/ bush.

1x 5J7 885 914 E Frame.

1x 5J7 885 931 C Foam Core.

PLUS - the correct outer fabric cover from your dealer to suit your existing trim. Consult the dealer with your chassis number for exact identification of the part number you need.

As far as I can tell (from ETKA/ETOS) all Roomster centre rear seat frames are equipped with the square tubes. The guides/ bushes mentioned above simply push into the square tubes on the frame.

Before ordering any parts or cutting material, it's easy to check if your rear seat frame has the square tubes. Simply remove the plastic cupholder moulding (2x torx screws), slide the moulding down - remove, and inspect inside. The square tubes should be visible at the upper corners of the backrest frame.

Making the necessary holes in the fabric is simple enough with care to determine the exact positions, but using a blunt stick (I used a paintbrush handle) pressed up through the square tubes to mark the centre points. Then a sharp blade and even more care to cut round holes about those centres so the bushes cut be inserted. A hole diameter around 23-25mm is about right.

The job finishes the row of rear seats quite nicely.

Thanks for the advice. First time i've done any forum on the net. Good to know theres a wealth of knowledge out there.