Back to Factory - A bit of an obsession!

[RetroRed5]

Evening all,

So I just purchased a low-mileage T6 California Ocean (MY20) and I love it!!

It is in good all-round condition, with the usual signs of general wear and tear; the Cali is perfectly great and really doesn't need any work doing to it; however, I'm finding that I am becoming obsessed with trying to get it back to "as new" condition (inside and out), literally as if it just rolled out of the factory last week.

Don't get me wrong, I'm thoroughly enjoying the process, the hunting for parts, seeing the improvements take shape, but I was wondering if anybody else suffers with a similar condition?

I've owned the Cali for less than two weeks and the list of jobs, fixes and improvements is growing by the day; so aside from being interested to know if anyone else is like me, does anyone have any tips/tricks (or websites) to help with the process?

On a similar note, both myself and the Mrs are finding ourselves constantly on the lookout for accessories/gadgets to make Cali life better; I'm sure we will end up with more stuff than we will actually need or use, but again, the process of researching and acquiring all the bits and bobs is great.

Cheers

 

[JohnCalifornia]

I was the same when I got mine. I got all minor scratches professionally buffed out on the body work and apart from a blxxdy good clean the van was as good as it could be given age and mileage. You have to remember it’s a used vehicle and a few years old so it’s not going to be 100% factory fresh. Once you have used it a few times to do what it’s designed to do you will be a bit less obsessed with been factory fresh. One thing that really anoyed me was the state of the California step lights. Very scratched and looked horrible. I’ve replaced 1 for a brand new one and will probably change the other 2 this year. You will buy things you don’t need for the foreseeable future like I have done. You don’t realize you don’t need them until you have been camping a few times and you don’t use them. Things I use all the time are:
Outside windscreen and side window cover (mines made by rainbow and is great)
Awning room, not used every time but good to have and doesn’t take up too much room
Air fryer (if you have electric hook up)
Apple car play dongle. I’m assuming yours is wired like mine? This dongle makes it wireless and was £16 from eBay .
Collapsible water bottle
Ground sheet, stops mud getting in the van
I’m sure there are other things but these spring to mind.

 

[RetroRed5]

I was the same when I got mine. I got all minor scratches professionally buffed out on the body work and apart from a blxxdy good clean the van was as good as it could be given age and mileage. You have to remember it’s a used vehicle and a few years old so it’s not going to be 100% factory fresh. Once you have used it a few times to do what it’s designed to do you will be a bit less obsessed with been factory fresh. One thing that really anoyed me was the state of the California step lights. Very scratched and looked horrible. I’ve replaced 1 for a brand new one and will probably change the other 2 this year. You will buy things you don’t need for the foreseeable future like I have done. You don’t realize you don’t need them until you have been camping a few times and you don’t use them. Things I use all the time are:
Outside windscreen and side window cover (mines made by rainbow and is great)
Awning room, not used every time but good to have and doesn’t take up too much room
Air fryer (if you have electric hook up)
Apple car play dongle. I’m assuming yours is wired like mine? This dongle makes it wireless and was £16 from eBay .
Collapsible water bottle
Ground sheet, stops mud getting in the van
I’m sure there are other things but these spring to mind.

Cheers John, at least I'm not on my own with this obsession which is good to know; and like you say, I'm sure it will calm a bit once I get into the swing of things

So far, here is what I've had done...

• Inspection service - it has a full VW service history (and only 18k miles), but since it's "new" to me, I thought I'd get this done.
• Installed Scorpion S5 tracker
• Installed Ghost II Immobiliser
• Installed dashcam
• Added chrome VW side bars
• Added VW mud flaps front and rear
• Added VW side wind deflectors
• Replaced the gloss black storage box that goes around the gear lever (mine has a scratch I couldn't buff out so I got a new one from VW)
• Removed the Dynaudio speaker on top of the dash and replaced with a new VW storage box with lid
• Replaced bench drawer clips that hold awning winder
• Replaced wiper blades
• Replaced batteries in both keys
• Replaced all rear cupboard and kitchen unit shelf clips
• Replaced rear shower head and the holder it is stored in
• Replaced kitchen bowl with a new one from VW
• Replaced kitchen drawer cutlery tray with a new one from VW
• Replaced all 3 step lights (those with the California lettering); like yours, mine must have been kicked a thousand times because they are looking pretty bad.
• Replaced the grey bellows for new red bellows (from VW)

Here is what else I'm waiting to arrive from VW...

• New offside rear internal panel that goes from the C-pillar back to the tailgate (the existing one has a little bit of damage at the front and a few scuffs in the rear)
• Lower offside B-pillar trim (scuffed by turning the drivers seat)

I'm also doing the following...

• There are 8 minor stone chips/scuffs/scratches on the body work; it's going into a body shop to have all this repaired.
• I'm taking the white "Disc" wheels off my Caravelle Gen Six, having them fully refurbished and putting on the Cali along with new centre chrome hub caps, new bolts and new locking wheel nuts

Once all the above is done, it's going in for a full detailing and ceramic coating.

Other things I'm considering are...

• Replace instrument cluster with a digital dash (they do look very cool, similar to the T6.1).
• Upgrading the head-unit to a floating style such as an Alpine 9 (or similar); much as I like the standard head unit, I'm finding it a little harder to read clearly these days on the sat nav, so a bigger screen will help. I also want one with SatNav built-in, not just a media receiver.
• Replace speakers for something better quality (especially since I've removed the main speaker from the DynAudio system my Cali came with).
• New sliding table
• New glass lid for the hob
• VW detachable tow-bar (for a bike rack)
• Rear tailgate spoiler
• VB Air Suspension (for the self-levelling function)

I've also just got the VW "All-in" service and warranty package, so I'm covered now for at least the next 2 years.

All of the above is before we get to other improvements such as storage, mats, carpets, screen covers and other gadgets and accessories.

For your info, my profile picture is "not" my current California; this one used to be mine, but I sold it less than I year after I bought it brand new with fewer than 1000 miles on clock - terrible mistake!! The profile picture is there until I get my new Cali looking just the same

Like I said, obsessed

Cheers

 

[JohnCalifornia]

Wow you have been busy…..my gloss black storage cover has a scratch on it too. How much was it if you don’t mind me asking and was it easy to replace. I have the all in one cover at the moment and am toying with the idea of renewing again. How much was that if you don’t mind me asking? I paid £800 2 years ago I think

 

[pchmlk]

I can’t see how you can square away that level of perfection with a vehicle you go camping in.

 

[JohnCalifornia]

Ah I didn’t realize you had a Cali before. I should have realized with your amount of posts. It sounds like you certainly know what your doing with all jobs done so far.

 

[RetroRed5]

Wow you have been busy…..my gloss black storage cover has a scratch on it too. How much was it if you don’t mind me asking and was it easy to replace. I have the all in one cover at the moment and am toying with the idea of renewing again. How much was that if you don’t mind me asking? I paid £800 2 years ago I think

For the gloss black storage that goes around the gear lever, I purchased a genuine VW part from a parts supplier on eBay, I paid £155.88.

If you search for the following on eBay you will find it...

VW TRANSPORTER T6 Dash Center Panel With Stowage RHD 7E6858189Q041 NEW GENUINE

I did end-up paying a bit more than this though because it was shipped from Europe and so there was VAT and duty to pay when it arrived.

I've removed/replaced bits of dash trim before and so I was going to do it myself, but since the Cali is currently at VW getting a bunch of other stuff done, I asked them to do it for me.

I think it is pretty simple though, the only tricky part is removing the 12v socket; this can be made easy with a special tool to help you remove it, go on Amazon and search for...

BGS 9203 | Cigarette Lighter Release Tool for VAG

Other than that, just the usual plastic trim removal tools and a screwdriver is all you need.

When you say "I have the all in one cover at the moment", what part you do mean exactly?

 

[RetroRed5]

Ah I didn’t realize you had a Cali before. I should have realized with your amount of posts. It sounds like you certainly know what your doing with all jobs done so far.

I have had two Cali's, but I didn't own the last one for long unfortunately; wanted one for 25 years, ordered a fully-loaded 4MOTION one back in 2018, waited about 11 months for delivery in 2019; slept in it twice and it was a nightmare for my bad back so I fell out with it and sold within a year, that was a huge mistake that I've regretted ever since.

I've since had 3 more T6's, two of which were the Red/White Generation Six special edition (still got one of the Gen6's) and now I've just got a red/white Cali back 2 weeks ago.

And thanks for the compliment, but I don't really know what I'm doing to be honest, and these days, I generally pay for the experts to get work done rather than doing it myself (although I do tinker a little bit).

So in spite of having 2 Cali's, I still really a total newbie

 

[RetroRed5]

I can’t see how you can square away that level of perfection with a vehicle you go camping in.

hehe, like I said, I'm a bit obsessed

 

[JohnCalifornia]

For the gloss black storage that goes around the gear lever, I purchased a genuine VW part from a parts supplier on eBay, I paid £155.88.

If you search for the following on eBay you will find it...

VW TRANSPORTER T6 Dash Center Panel With Stowage RHD 7E6858189Q041 NEW GENUINE

I did end-up paying a bit more than this though because it was shipped from Europe and so there was VAT and duty to pay when it arrived.

I've removed/replaced bits of dash trim before and so I was going to do it myself, but since the Cali is currently at VW getting a bunch of other stuff done, I asked them to do it for me.

I think it is pretty simple though, the only tricky part is removing the 12v socket; this can be made easy with a special tool to help you remove it, go on Amazon and search for...

BGS 9203 | Cigarette Lighter Release Tool for VAG

Other than that, just the usual plastic trim removal tools and a screwdriver is all you need.

When you say "I have the all in one cover at the moment", what part you do mean exactly?

I have the 2 year all in policy, 2 years warranty, roadside assist, 2 services and 2 MOTs. It expires June this year but I can do for another 2 as long as I renew while the other is still active (so I’m told by the dealer in Leeds)

 

[RetroRed5]

I have the 2 year all in policy, 2 years warranty, roadside assist, 2 services and 2 MOTs. It expires June this year but I can do for another 2 as long as I renew while the other is still active (so I’m told by the dealer in Leeds)

Yes the "All-in" package is a pretty good deal

It seems that you are in just like me, you've had your Cali a while and you are considering replacing the gloss black storage thingy because of a scratch, just like me; most folks I think, would just live with it

 

[JohnCalifornia]

So you have 2 Calis? Are you keeping one as a collectors item or something?

 

[RetroRed5]

So you have 2 Calis? Are you keeping one as a collectors item or something?

Hehe, no, just the one.

The last sentence in my earlier post should have probably read as "So in spite of having had 2 Cali's...".

Although I do currently have two Candy White over Cherry Red T6's; one is a Caravelle Generation Six, the other is the Cali, but once I've got most of the improvements done to the Cali, the Gen Six will be going up for sale.

 

[JohnCalifornia]

Ah…….

 

[andyinluton]

You will buy things you don’t need for the foreseeable future like I have done. You don’t realize you don’t need them until you have been camping a few times and you don’t use them. Things I use all the time are:
Outside windscreen and side window cover (mines made by rainbow and is great)
Awning room, not used every time but good to have and doesn’t take up too much room
Air fryer (if you have electric hook up)
Apple car play dongle. I’m assuming yours is wired like mine? This dongle makes it wireless and was £16 from eBay .
Collapsible water bottle
Ground sheet, stops mud getting in the van
I’m sure there are other things but these spring to mind.

Everybody's requirements are different - I've managed 11 years without any of the above.

I do however use mats on the doorsteps - stops them scratching & keeps some of the dirt out, Brandrup seat covers just so I don't get paranoid about the upholstery getting dirty, a big rubber mat over the wooden floor in the middle when using the van for work along with the 3 piece fitted rubber mat set up front and carpets in the boot to stop rattles & scratches.

 

[RetroRed5]

Everybody's requirements are different - I've managed 11 years without any of the above.

I do however use mats on the doorsteps - stops them scratching & keeps some of the dirt out, Brandrup seat covers just so I don't get paranoid about the upholstery getting dirty, a big rubber mat over the wooden floor in the middle when using the van for work along with the 3 piece fitted rubber mat set up front and carpets in the boot to stop rattles & scratches.

I've just ordered some of the step maps, they are a great idea

Given I'm a little OCD about the Cali looking like new, I'd sort of like to use seat covers to keep them all spotless and clean, but I do really like the look of the standard Artvelours seats, so I'll be keeping my uncovered and just deal with any spills as and when they happen.