VW California T5 ONLY Roof Corrosion - General Discussion

[Leffeblonde]

Just thought I would update with my experience with roof corrosion, following recent reports of body shops dropping out of the repair commitments. I reported my corrosion (bubbling under the roof seal only) in December 2016 at SMG Tonbridge. In February '17 I was offered a selection of dates for repair throughout the summer. I opted to wait until October when the van would be less in demand for trips away. I am booked into H+L Twickenham.

I have seen reports above that say "Twickenham" (not H+L Twickenham) is no longer doing these repairs so I contaced SMG Tonbridge today who have assured me that they are and my booking still stands. Curious.

 

[Lost Boy]

Just thought I would update with my experience with roof corrosion, following recent reports of body shops dropping out of the repair commitments. I reported my corrosion (bubbling under the roof seal only) in December 2016 at SMG Tonbridge. In February '17 I was offered a selection of dates for repair throughout the summer. I opted to wait until October when the van would be less in demand for trips away. I am booked into H+L Twickenham.

I have seen reports above that say "Twickenham" (not H+L Twickenham) is no longer doing these repairs so I contaced SMG Tonbridge today who have assured me that they are and my booking still stands. Curious.

Just spoken to my dealer who had apparently booked me in for June (not that they'd told me that!), its now rearranged at H&L Twickenham for 18th September. So I'd be interested in seeing any vans that have been repaired there before I let it go!

Thanks

 

[Ajspicer]

Just been told that the repair is back on now the correct primer has been sourced. Apparently the work will be completed and Cali returned to us on Tuesday, so we await the results nervously.

Updates from Jason at heritage have been regular so good customer service, a few freebies thrown in as well, so cannot complain on that front.

I will update with photos in due course.

Andrew.

 

[Colinclared]

Just a quick up date- this is my roof after 3 months. VWVC still haven't sorted it because I refuse to let the van go back to the same body shop. Latest is I need to take it to a local body shop for them to assess it. Seems pretty obvious to me! It's a 2012 van- not one from the 1950's. Be very very careful accepting a repair. I believe the rust starts well under the new roof- you can see they have sanded through the zinc coating and water is getting under and sitting there.

Time to find out what the corrosion warranty covers. It says it covers authorised repairs!

 

[Colinclared]

Just been told that the repair is back on now the correct primer has been sourced. Apparently the work will be completed and Cali returned to us on Tuesday, so we await the results nervously.

Updates from Jason at heritage have been regular so good customer service, a few freebies thrown in as well, so cannot complain on that front.

I will update with photos in due course.

Andrew.

Andrew mine went through Jason at Heritage. It looked great for the first 2 months. See my post below. Keep a very close eye on it.

Colin

 

[Colinclared]

Tony finally rang back this morning after three unsuccessful attempts to contact him. He apologised for the delay and said that VW are snowed under with paint warranty issues, though not necessarily on Californias. He said that he should have news by early next week but that the roof corrosion and flaking paint, as per photo, would both be done at the same time in their own body shop in Bognor. I hope so as it's only a mile from my house!
Has anyone else suffered from flaking paint just above the front number plate or is this likely to be a one-off? (I realise that this should probably be on a separate thread?)

Yes I have on the aluminium and main van body ( see my pic posted above).

 

[RichardP]

Just a quick up date- this is my roof after 3 months. VWVC still haven't sorted it because I refuse to let the van go back to the same body shop. Latest is I need to take it to a local body shop for them to assess it. Seems pretty obvious to me! It's a 2012 van- not one from the 1950's. Be very very careful accepting a repair. I believe the rust starts well under the new roof- you can see they have sanded through the zinc coating and water is getting under and sitting there.

Time to find out what the corrosion warranty covers. It says it covers authorised repairs!
View attachment 20501

That would be astonishingly bad after 3 years, let alone 3 months. There can't be any primer at all on that section of the bodywork. Unbelievable.

 

[snowy55]

Just a quick up date- this is my roof after 3 months. VWVC still haven't sorted it because I refuse to let the van go back to the same body shop. Latest is I need to take it to a local body shop for them to assess it. Seems pretty obvious to me! It's a 2012 van- not one from the 1950's. Be very very careful accepting a repair. I believe the rust starts well under the new roof- you can see they have sanded through the zinc coating and water is getting under and sitting there.

Time to find out what the corrosion warranty covers. It says it covers authorised repairs!
View attachment 20501

Looks like a right bodge job.
Have you got a photo showing whereabouts that area is on the roof?

 

[Lost Boy]

Just a quick up date- this is my roof after 3 months. VWVC still haven't sorted it because I refuse to let the van go back to the same body shop. Latest is I need to take it to a local body shop for them to assess it. Seems pretty obvious to me! It's a 2012 van- not one from the 1950's. Be very very careful accepting a repair. I believe the rust starts well under the new roof- you can see they have sanded through the zinc coating and water is getting under and sitting there.

Time to find out what the corrosion warranty covers. It says it covers authorised repairs!
View attachment 20501

Can you tell us which bodyshop or at least area of the country please?

 

[SusiBus]

Call me a Sad Git, but my life has been dominated by California roof corrosion since 2012. Anyway, even with all this obsessional interest, I can't actually work out where on the California roof this is. Time to retire from the fight I feel, but I can work it out that it's not the aluminium roof part, it's steel, because it's showing signs of rust. Look forward to more info.

 

[Meoncoast]

I can't actually work out where on the California roof this is

me too

 

[ArunAlec]

me too

And me, been out on the drive trying to match up the pic!

 

[WelshGas]

I could be wrong, but I think that is a conversion, carried out by a VW approved converter who buy base vehicles from VW that retain a full VW warranty for 3 years or so following conversion. Because that is a steel roof. Badly prepared and undercoated.
The roof, elevating I presume, doesn't have the same seal that my roof has.

 

[SusiBus]

I think you're right it must be a conversion definitely not a California otherwise it wouldn't have common or garden rust, it would be it's rarer corrosion brother, the galvanic variety.

If it was repaired at a VW approved bodyshop I would think it would have 12 months paintwork warranty. I can understanding VW insisting it goes to the original repairer, otherwise they would have to pay another repairer for remedial work. Likewise I can understand your reluctant to let it go back to anyone that did such a poor job in the first instance. I sense a little battle ahead of you.

Being picky and keep this thread on subject, it is for California T5 ONLY roof corrosion, it could be misleading to people thinking this could have anything to do with the California corrosion issue.

 

[leightonjthomas]

Tony finally rang back this morning after three unsuccessful attempts to contact him. He apologised for the delay and said that VW are snowed under with paint warranty issues, though not necessarily on Californias. He said that he should have news by early next week but that the roof corrosion and flaking paint, as per photo, would both be done at the same time in their own body shop in Bognor. I hope so as it's only a mile from my house!
Has anyone else suffered from flaking paint just above the front number plate or is this likely to be a one-off? (I realise that this should probably be on a separate thread?)

Surprise, surprise! He did not ring me, as promised, last week. I tried to chase up today but he's on holiday this week and nobody else can deal with it. It is now six weeks since my initial contact: one visit and six calls from me; one reluctant call from them (Breeze). No further forward at all. Par for the course?

 

[Jabberwocky]

I thought vw had a 10 yr warranty against corrosion?

Its 12 years and covers against rusting through from the inside.

 

[alstevens]

Have another few months left on the warranty - last time in the dealer took photos of the usual blistering and 'sent them off to VW.' ... do people get some kind of recognition in writing or just trust the dealer to sort it out ????

cheers,

al

 

[snowy55]

Have another few months left on the warranty - last time in the dealer took photos of the usual blistering and 'sent them off to VW.' ... do people get some kind of recognition in writing or just trust the dealer to sort it out ????

cheers,

al

Don't trust the dealer.
Make sure you get something in writing from the dealer or VWCS.

 

[Ajspicer]

Off to Bristol Heritage at 6pm to collect our SE following the 3 year and 4 month wait for roof repair!

Photos to follow later this evening.

Wish us luck!

 

[Meoncoast]

Wish us luck!

Good luck

 

[Jabberwocky]

Off to Bristol Heritage at 6pm to collect our SE following the 3 year and 4 month wait for roof repair!

Photos to follow later this evening.

Wish us luck!

All the best - fingers and toes crossed!

 

[Ajspicer]

Collected our T5 this evening along with another customer who was having theirs done at the same time.

At first glance the repair looks very good, although I have not had a chance to take a look in any detail.

The new front panel cover appears to fit very well with a consistent gap above the windscreen.

New rubber seals have been fitted across the front and around the perimeter of the pop up roof. Not sure if the pop up roof seal has been glued in place.

The only disappointing bit I have spotted is some grubby finger marks next to the control panel on the head lining fabric. This will be sorted and made as good as new according to Jason at Heritage.

I should take this opportunity to mention that since Jason took over the job of managing the roof repairs, his customer service has been great, he provided us with a loan T6 Ocean and kept us updated regularly without being chased both before the Cali went in for repair and for the 18 days it was away being sorted.

I should also mention that Heritage excelled with a good will gesture whilst it was in for repair.

If your Cali is booked through Heritage, I think you can relax knowing that their sub contractors (S J Curtis) will do a good job.

I will take a closer look tomorrow and update with any faults.

Andrew.

 

[Custardtart]

On mine, I found the fit along the front by the windscreen was good but it does sit higher and wider than the original at the rear. I guess this is because it sits over the original at the back.

It also bows up a bit in the middle at the back - so is higher in the middle than towards the edges which looks a bit odd if you see it.

On the plus side - it's noticeably quieter on the motorway - I guess because of the above.

 

[Daisymaisy]

Hello,

Only my second post as we bought our SE a few months ago and are getting it booked in for roof repair. I notice some people are being given another SE/ocean whilst being repaired. We have contacted our local garage and they said they will not give a replacement camper but we will be given a replacement car. Is this now standard? We do use in camping mode on a regular basis!!

Thanks in advance

 

[Nick G]

Hello,

Only my second post as we bought our SE a few months ago and are getting it booked in for roof repair. I notice some people are being given another SE/ocean whilst being repaired. We have contacted our local garage and they said they will not give a replacement camper but we will be given a replacement car. Is this now standard? We do use in camping mode on a regular basis!!

Thanks in advance

My 2012 180 was registered for repair last February and back then I was assured that I would get another Cali to use while mine is away. Fast forward a year and since the 'new' (supposed to be quicker but isn't) repair method has been adopted I am now told I will not get a Cali loan vehicle. I will get a van of some sort as my repair is being dealt with by SMG Croydon who are commercial vehicles. Not ideal but I guess I could do a few 'man with a van' jobs!
After having my van booked for repair in Crewe and then Twickenham (both apparently not doing these repairs anymore....or are they?) its off to a body shop in Reading early June. I won't hold my breath.
Met a couple last week on the C&CC site in Hayfield Derbyshire last week with a 2013 and no sign of the dreaded corrosion. Cant be many out there without it.