Awning seam

[sapto]

I do not want to panic but... is this the beginning of goodby awning?!

I contacted the garage but they didn‘t seem to be aware of the issue and wanted to sell me new one....not happy...

 

[calikev]

It’s on its way out that is I’m afraid

 

[WelshGas]

I do not want to panic but... is this the beginning of goodby awning?!
I contacted the garage but they didn‘t seem to be aware of the issue and wanted to sell me new one....not happy...

If you're Avatar information is correct then I can see why the Dealership is not interested after 14 years . How long do you think it should last?

 

[sapto]

If you're Avatar information is correct then I can see why the Dealership is not interested after 14 years . How long do you think it should last?

Oh you‘re right! Sorry! Forgot to updated
Replaced mine in February/March 2016 from grey to black (Although that still means almost out of warrenty - 2 years).

 

[WelshGas]

Oh you‘re right! Sorry! Forgot to updated
Replaced mine in February/March 2016 from grey to black (Although that still means almost out of warrenty - 2 years).

That's good to know.
Personally I think the Awning seam looks OK. On mine it seems as if the material is folded over and glued.
Despite the number of Posts in this thread the number of actual failures is not that great compared to the Forum membership.
Also, VW do not make the Awnings. They are bought in by VW from Thule/Omnistore. The makers bear the cost of any replacements, not VW.

 

[Loz]

Bring it to Swindon, they'll prob do it while you wait, its only 2 bolts. Just call them and they'll prob just order one in for you

Just picked mine up and they have replace the complete unit which is great, so no seam

Only minor down side is that I was hoping when they said they were replacing the whole thing, it was going to be more like the 2018 one, which sits closer to the van and had a rubber strip covering the gap. So I'm now guessing the 2018 one just uses different mounting brackets and comes with a rubber strip........... I'll pop in to TPS at some point

So I phoned them, and yes they are far more proactive than Heritage, got an earlier appointment by a week and all can be done the same day

Not sure what you mean about the gap as I have no gap on ours...

 

[T3OMF]

This is the gap I was taking about

 

[calikev]

Your missing the rain strip

 

[T3OMF]

Your missing the rain strip

Where can I get one of these bad boys from?? VW or from the club?

 

[calikev]

we can order you one if yu like or if your vw dealer is local . 7H7-067-793

 

[Loz]

This is the gap I was taking about

View attachment 35875

Why have you got the silver brackets, they are supposed to be black with the black awning?

 

[T3OMF]

Why have you got the silver brackets, they are supposed to be black with the black awning?

Our van was Swindon's first demo Cali, so they were on the van when we brought it

 

[Iron Van]

Our van was Swindon's first demo Cali, so they were on the van when we brought it

If they replaced it under warranty, have they just forgotten to put the rain strip back on? Worth asking before you buy one and fit it yourself, I would have thought.

 

[westfalia]

If you're Avatar information is correct then I can see why the Dealership is not interested after 14 years . How long do you think it should last?

Forever ???
If the material had been one piece it might have stood a chance.
Mine is still doing good after 12yrs although it looks like it could
be a slightly stronger weld on the joint.

 

[WelshGas]

They can last a very long time. But would you consider a Warranty claim at 12 years? It wasn't made clear that the awning, itself, was just 2 years old.

 

[westfalia]

But would you consider a Warranty claim at 12 years?

I´d have a try .
I think there was a takeover or some merger with the company Thule
and the ´bean counters´ came in.
ha´p´orth of tar springs t mind.

 

[sapto]

Forever ???
If the material had been one piece it might have stood a chance.
Mine is still doing good after 12yrs although it looks like it could
be a slightly stronger weld on the joint.View attachment 35913

I‘d better kept the old one
Hope yours last for a couple more years!

 

[Alform]

Mine has split , this is what it looks like underneath

The glue melted , I have duck taped the top until it gets looked at.

 

[Shadrack]

Ours has just gone when we were out in Le Mans at the Classique in 32C heat. Just replaced under warranty with an entirely new unit. I have just checked and the new one does not have a seam. Hurrah!View attachment 35846

Ditto...
My entire unit was replaced today by the dealer under warranty. Again, all one piece and now with no seam.
This does appear to be a known issue, probably a bad batch. My cali is also around two years old.

 

[calikev]

I don’t know why they change the whole lot and not just the fabric

 

[Shadrack]

I don’t know why they change the whole lot and not just the fabric

I guess that Thule are picking up the tab....

 

[Iron Van]

So will there be a huge amount of used cassettes for sale, or will they refurbish them and put them on new vans?

 

[calikev]

So will there be a huge amount of used cassettes for sale, or will they refurbish them and put them on new vans?

They will probably all be just scrapped

 

[SimonB]

I don't like to be the possible bearer of bad news, but the 'new' one piece awnings also seem to have a dislike of hot weather.

The week before last ours was developing a ripple effect up the centre of the awning as though it was now too wide for the cassette as it was rolled back in and had to be 'squashed' a bit to fit. The warden at the C&CC who is a VW enthusiast spotted it. With the fall in temp in the last few days and a bit of rain the ripple has almost vanished again.

 

[sapto]

I‘d better kept the old one
Hope yours last for a couple more years!

Just read a thread about this issue on the German Caliboard... there it seemed the awnings fittet around 2016 are only glued and 2 pieces whereas the newer T6 ones are again one piece.
https://www.caliboard.de/topic/11135-markise-defekt-hilfe/?page=14