Are you still waiting to be called to have your roof corrosion fixed?

[jeannie]

Please would you let me know if you are still waiting and how long you have been waiting to be called to have your roof fixed. If you prefer please PM me. Thanks

 

[ArunAlec]

Please would you let me know if you are still waiting and how long you have been waiting to be called to have your roof fixed. If you prefer please PM me. Thanks

My (now sold ) Cali was put on SMG Cowfold’s list back in 2019, and the only “offer“ of a date was a cancellation at short notice, which I was unable to take up, heard nothing since! Checked with SMG last year and they say I’m still on the list!
However, in the meantime I started using Breeze at Portsmouth who carried out another roof check and got it booked in ….. unfortunately the workshop they used stopped doing Cali roof fixes! Breeze rebooked with a different workshop and offered a date that was months rather than years ahead, I changed the date to the end of this summer (rather than risk not having the Cali over the summer) ……. Now sold the Cali so no longer got the worry of the roof!
I have to say Breeze Portsmouth’s communications has been excellent.

 

[jeannie]

Thank you so much for this info. Can I ask how

My (now sold ) Cali was put on SMG Cowfold’s list back in 2019, and the only “offer“ of a date was a cancellation at short notice, which I was unable to take up, heard nothing since! Checked with SMG last year and they say I’m still on the list!
However, in the meantime I started using Breeze at Portsmouth who carried out another roof check and got it booked in ….. unfortunately the workshop they used stopped doing Cali roof fixes! Breeze rebooked with a different workshop and offered a date that was months rather than years ahead, I changed the date to the end of this summer (rather than risk not having the Cali over the summer) ……. Now sold the Cali so no longer got the worry of the roof!
I have to say Breeze Portsmouth’s communications has been excellent.

you managed to sell with the corrosion? I’m having real difficulty selling mine with it as people are out off though it is a great Cali and onky selling due to hip problem

 

[jeannie]

I’m going to ring Breeze and have a chat. Though miles away from me !!
SMG just recommended I take it to a body shop and have it resprayed.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

I’m going to ring Breeze and have a chat. Though miles away from me !!
SMG just recommended I take it to a body shop and have it resprayed.

Just having it resprayed is cosmetic so will not cure the underyling problem. But if you are selling then its the best option as allows you to get rid of the van quickly. If it gets queried by the buyer you can just tell them that you follwed the recommendation by the VW Dealer ( even better if you have in writing to give them peace of mind.)

Although its funny that a dealer should suggest this rather than having a proper repair carried out; Perhaps this is what they do to any Part-ex vans that they receive and then the new owner will just experience the same issue a few years later.

 

[Azteccamper]

Thank you so much for this info. Can I ask how

you managed to sell with the corrosion? I’m having real difficulty selling mine with it as people are out off though it is a great Cali and onky selling due to hip problem

I bought mine knowing that it was on a list to be repaired. Previous owner give me contact name and details of who was dealing with at dealership. I just rang them to confirm potential dates. Then had the repair done about a year later.
If it helps be prepared to knock a bit off for the ‘inconvenience’. All Cali’s will sell at the right price it’s just that the last 2/3 years have seen us expect more.

 

[jeannie]

I bought mine knowing that it was on a list to be repaired. Previous owner give me contact name and details of who was dealing with at dealership. I just rang them to confirm potential dates. Then had the repair done about a year later.
If it helps be prepared to knock a bit off for the ‘inconvenience’. All Cali’s will sell at the right price it’s just that the last 2/3 years have seen us expect more.

Yes have put open to offers. But nothing yet And out of interest Vw Uk recommended I go to the motoring ombudsman regarding the loss to the value of the vehicle …….: which I am going to do

 

[jeannie]

Yes have put open to offers. But nothing yet And out of interest Vw Uk recommended I go to the motoring ombudsman regarding the loss to the value of the vehicle …….: which I am going to do

Could I ask how much you dropped your price

 

[Ch1pbutty]

29.01.2020 - SMG Flagged roof warranty work during routine service and added van to the list. (No remark made on service invoice / notes, but assured that it was 'logged in the system, sir'.)

As of today no further news.

...Doubt the work will ever be carried out during our ownership, but we only have light corrosion so can just pass the place in the queue to any future buyer.

 

[jeannie]

29.01.2020 - SMG Flagged roof warranty work during routine service and added van to the list. (No remark made on service invoice / notes, but assured that it was 'logged in the system, sir'.)

As of today no further news.

...Doubt the work will ever be carried out during our ownership, but we only have light corrosion so can just pass the place in the queue to any future buyer.

Thanks for your response. Problem is mine is so visible but reassured by SMG today it is not going to progress to becoming a rust issue…. Just hoping someone sees it’s a great bargain !!

 

[WelshGas]

Thanks for your response. Problem is mine is so visible but reassured by SMG today it is not going to progress to becoming a rust issue…. Just hoping someone sees it’s a great bargain !!

It is Galvanic Corrosion due to the interaction of dissimilar metals. It is not structural in any way but the VW "repair" is quite brutal and some have had significant problems after the repair.
A good independent bodyshop that specialise in classic cars or Land rovers which have similar problems could sort it out, respray and it would probably last 5 to 10 yrs. Some have gone down this pathway and paid £500 or so.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Thanks for your response. Problem is mine is so visible but reassured by SMG today it is not going to progress to becoming a rust issue…. Just hoping someone sees it’s a great bargain !!

SMG are correct, its not rust. Its just as a result of chemical (galvanivc) reaction between Aluminium, steel & the paint. The roof will remain solid / rust free , the paint bubbling is just cosmetic; The cure was to apply double sided tape between the steel / alu surfaces to stop the 2 surfaces from meeting which then prevents the reaction.

It's worth getting it resprayed by a bodyshop as you will attract more buyers & end up with more cash in your pocket.

My opinion is that VW stuggle find find bodyshops willing to carry out the warranty work, as there seems to be a difference of opinion of what is a proper repair. The repair is offerd as a goodwill one off gesture, so VW will want to save costs. Some body shops seem to be concerned that the repair is not sufficient and any comeback will be against the bodyshop which is only carrying out VW instruction.

https://vans.honestjohn.co.uk/van-reviews/volkswagen/california-2010/good/

//
4-1-2018: Report of severe galvanic corrosion between the aluminium front roof panel and the steel structure of a December 2010 California. This was first noticed as blisters appearing at 2 years old and it was registered and reported to the dealer in November 2013, prior to the end of the paint warranty. In 2014 owner received 2 letters stating that a repair was being devised that would 'fully resolve' the corrosion issue. This was confirmed to be a replacement panel insulated from the steel bodywork preventing the galvanic corrosion. Over three years, emails, phone calls and letters ensued with list references, further photographs being required, delays at body shops etc. Finally on 20 November 2017 the van was taken to the body shop to be repaired, just over 4 years from the issue first being raised. The body shop promptly informed owner it was the worst case they had seen. The latest 'fix' from VW was to remove paint and put a patch cover on the roof panel. They had decided to ditch the original panel replacement to save money. Conscientious body shop informed owner they were concerned about doing this. It would just hide the issue and they weren't sure how long it would last. Volkswagen has told them to proceed with the patch. Owner has written to Volkswagen Customer Care (commercial vehicles as the California is regarded as a van) stating that he does not accept this and want the repair originally promised that dealt with the corrosion issue,and not a patch over it. The current T6 now has an aluminium roof panel fully insulated from the body. He has full records of all emails, letters and photographs taken.

//

 

[jeannie]

It is Galvanic Corrosion due to the interaction of dissimilar metals. It is not structural in any way but the VW "repair" is quite brutal and some have had significant problems after the repair.
A good independent bodyshop that specialise in classic cars or Land rovers which have similar problems could sort it out, respray and it would probably last 5 to 10 yrs. Some have gone down this pathway and paid £500 or so.

This is really useful information. Thankyou

 

[jeannie]

SMG are correct, its not rust. Its just as a result of chemical (galvanivc) reaction between Aluminium, steel & the paint. The roof will remain solid / rust free , the paint bubbling is just cosmetic; The cure was to apply double sided tape between the steel / alu surfaces to stop the 2 surfaces from meeting which then prevents the reaction.

It's worth getting it resprayed by a bodyshop as you will attract more buyers & end up with more cash in your pocket.

My opinion is that VW stuggle find find bodyshops willing to carry out the warranty work, as there seems to be a difference of opinion of what is a proper repair. The repair is offerd as a goodwill one off gesture, so VW will want to save costs. Some body shops seem to be concerned that the repair is not sufficient and any comeback will be against the bodyshop which is only carrying out VW instruction.

https://vans.honestjohn.co.uk/van-reviews/volkswagen/california-2010/good/

//
4-1-2018: Report of severe galvanic corrosion between the aluminium front roof panel and the steel structure of a December 2010 California. This was first noticed as blisters appearing at 2 years old and it was registered and reported to the dealer in November 2013, prior to the end of the paint warranty. In 2014 owner received 2 letters stating that a repair was being devised that would 'fully resolve' the corrosion issue. This was confirmed to be a replacement panel insulated from the steel bodywork preventing the galvanic corrosion. Over three years, emails, phone calls and letters ensued with list references, further photographs being required, delays at body shops etc. Finally on 20 November 2017 the van was taken to the body shop to be repaired, just over 4 years from the issue first being raised. The body shop promptly informed owner it was the worst case they had seen. The latest 'fix' from VW was to remove paint and put a patch cover on the roof panel. They had decided to ditch the original panel replacement to save money. Conscientious body shop informed owner they were concerned about doing this. It would just hide the issue and they weren't sure how long it would last. Volkswagen has told them to proceed with the patch. Owner has written to Volkswagen Customer Care (commercial vehicles as the California is regarded as a van) stating that he does not accept this and want the repair originally promised that dealt with the corrosion issue,and not a patch over it. The current T6 now has an aluminium roof panel fully insulated from the body. He has full records of all emails, letters and photographs taken.

//

VW UK totally disinterested in the case this thy they just told me to go to the motor ombudsman. Just got an email today from them saying that as it’s a ‘recall’ problem they could not help but referred me to driver vehicle standards agency. I’m also trying small claims court. All this is just distraction for me as desperately need to sell the Cali asap as can’t drive due to hip problem and need to buy DSG

 

[ArunAlec]

Thank you so much for this info. Can I ask how

you managed to sell with the corrosion? I’m having real difficulty selling mine with it as people are out off though it is a great Cali and onky selling due to hip problem

I traded mine in for a Westfalia . I passed over all the details of the Breeze booking so hopefully the new owner will be able to contact them and pick up my slot. The corrosion on mine was barely noticeable so it was primarily the lifting section seal that I would have been keen to get sorted. I really would not have wanted the front cap touched given the ”cutting and covering” fix. Probably I’d have gone to a classic car restorer who had experience of aluminium panels.
The chap that I’ve been dealing with at Portsmouth is Kyle Bluff, Warranty Executive .

 

[jeannie]

Thank you for this. So the dealer did not quibble about the part exchange when you discussed the roof corrosion?

 

[ArunAlec]

Thank you for this. So the dealer did not quibble about the part exchange when you discussed the roof corrosion?

No, but as I say the corrosion was barely noticeable, so would not need any work before it was sold on.

 

[SusiBus]

It is Galvanic Corrosion due to the interaction of dissimilar metals. It is not structural in any way but the VW "repair" is quite brutal and some have had significant problems after the repair.
A good independent bodyshop that specialise in classic cars or Land rovers which have similar problems could sort it out, respray and it would probably last 5 to 10 yrs. Some have gone down this pathway and paid £500 or so.

I think this is good advice, especially if you will be selling in the near future. Even if it is a keeper, it's worth moving on because of the stress it can cause.
A workshop with experience of dealing with aluminium bodywork on classic cars would be my choice.