Retrofit parking sensors

Chat about your 2018+ AW/BZ model Polos here!
Post Reply
Andy Beats
Bling Bling Diamond Member
Posts: 2012
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 1:12 pm
Drives: Nissan Leaf 40KW (and Polo United)
Location: aberdeen

Retrofit parking sensors

Post by Andy Beats »

Daughter one is looking at an AW Beats Polo, she loved mine and has been driving long enough that we can trust here with an upgrade from her Seat Mii now.
Anyway, all the nice nearly-new Beats available locally are devoid of parking sensors, which we would class as absolutely essential.
What should we expect to pay to have the dealer fit them, make sure we're not being ripped off.
User avatar
iichel
Bling Bling Diamond Member
Posts: 6361
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 2:14 pm
Drives: Polo 6R 2.0 TDI, Passat B8 2.0 TSI
Location: http://mypassat.nl/

Re: Retrofit parking sensors

Post by iichel »

in labour about three hours, materials about 500. so should not be over 1000 pounds
Andy Beats
Bling Bling Diamond Member
Posts: 2012
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 1:12 pm
Drives: Nissan Leaf 40KW (and Polo United)
Location: aberdeen

Re: Retrofit parking sensors

Post by Andy Beats »

iichel wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 12:35 pm in labour about three hours, materials about 500. so should not be over 1000 pounds
Blimey.....that's a lot of money..... :shock:
Might rule out the Polo, I can get her a new Seat Ibiza FR for the same money as the nearly new Polo, and Seat will fit sensors for free.
SRGTD
Bling Bling Diamond Member
Posts: 3508
Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2015 9:40 pm
Drives: 2020 AW Polo GTI+, Pure White.
Location: UK

Re: Retrofit parking sensors

Post by SRGTD »

It costs £350 if you spec it as a factory fit option at time of ordering a new Polo, so a retro fit is likely to cost around twice that amount or even more depending on where you get it fitted. There are specialist firms who carry out retro fits of OEM equipment to VAG cars, so you could try doing a Google search on ‘retrofit parking sensors VW Polo’ which will give you an idea of the range of prices and if there’s a company that does VAG retro fits near to you.

Some companies might do non OEM installations where the bumper mounted sensors aren’t the flush fitting OEM sensors, the sensors might not be painted and they may be audible only (i.e. no park pilot image on the infotainment screen) and possibly only rear sensors. I’d always go for OEM as an aftermarket non OEM installation without full OEM functionality might put some prospective buyers off when the time comes to sell the car.
User avatar
iichel
Bling Bling Diamond Member
Posts: 6361
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 2:14 pm
Drives: Polo 6R 2.0 TDI, Passat B8 2.0 TSI
Location: http://mypassat.nl/

Re: Retrofit parking sensors

Post by iichel »

Retro-fitting rarely pays off, especially if done by an expensive workshop like a dealership. My hours are about half the price of a dealership and I work with used parts, where possible and allowable. That makes retrofitting much more interesting
Andy Beats
Bling Bling Diamond Member
Posts: 2012
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 1:12 pm
Drives: Nissan Leaf 40KW (and Polo United)
Location: aberdeen

Re: Retrofit parking sensors

Post by Andy Beats »

The dealer has emailed me saying £200
Whether this is a discounted offer to try and make me take the car, don't know (or care) :D
It's on PCP so resale isn't an issue and audible only would be fine.
User avatar
iichel
Bling Bling Diamond Member
Posts: 6361
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 2:14 pm
Drives: Polo 6R 2.0 TDI, Passat B8 2.0 TSI
Location: http://mypassat.nl/

Re: Retrofit parking sensors

Post by iichel »

original OPS should also come up on the display. it's definitely a very good discount. i'm assuming it's only rear sensors. perhaps you can negotiate fronts too :wink:
RUM4MO
Bling Bling Diamond Member
Posts: 5859
Joined: Sat Dec 30, 2006 9:12 pm
Drives: B8 S4 & 6R/6C1 1.2TSI 110
Location: Mid Lothian

Re: Retrofit parking sensors

Post by RUM4MO »

I let others offer their advice before I chipped in, so I'd think that all VW Group dealerships in UK will supply and fit what was a Cobra branded kit, but it will not interface with the car's Ifotainment at all. Currently it is branded as Vodaphone and if the better version is selected, the actual fitting to the bumpers looks like factory fit. Each "end" will have its own buzzer to alter the driver, will I suppose is the most important part of the system, having OPS is certainly a bonus.

These Vodaphone kits have been designed I think in a way that requires a minimum of knowledge and time, so ideal for a dealership to able to fit correctly!

As iichel says, the labour costs to retrofit as per factory will be crazy, I retrofitted front sensors and so OPS to my 2011 Audi S4 a few years ago, buying used parts where sensible and buying new cables and genuine VW Group sensors, and the cost of all the parts came to just under £400 in the middle of 2017. In addition to these costs, I also had to buy some cable building tools, extra cable(2 sizes) and a proper set of punches to cut holes in the front bumper, which added in around another £150, but that suited me as it was for my car and it ended up being exactly the same as if the installation had been factory fitted. I seem to remember that at that time, these Cobra kits cost under £100 before fitting charges - Vodaphone had not taken over that product at that time.
Andy Beats
Bling Bling Diamond Member
Posts: 2012
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 1:12 pm
Drives: Nissan Leaf 40KW (and Polo United)
Location: aberdeen

Re: Retrofit parking sensors

Post by Andy Beats »

iichel wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 3:15 pm perhaps you can negotiate fronts too :wink:
Nah, no need for them.
Post Reply