Buying older used California

[andrew bazeley]

As I have mentioned before, and actually been surprised that I haven’t been corrected, there’s a reasonable case that says the original 5 cylinder 2.5 is the best engine. No belts, just gear driven, no adblue etc. They seem to go on forever.
‘Only’ downsides are the emissions. Mine fails ULEZ for example.
I only mention this as you seem to be looking only just above that age/price.
I love my 2008 174 T5 auto. Owned it since 2009.

I'm with you there, Lambeth Cali. I've had mine since new in 2008, and I've never had a serious problem with the engine. Nor with the roof or bodywork. The only very early problem was with the poor early attempts at earthing the batteries But that was easily fixed, and I think VW had realised by around 2009 that they hadn't quite got it right, and fixed it with a stronger earthing connection.

 

[2into1]

There's a t4 Cali (previous 2.5 engine) on the westy Facebook forum with 690k km on the clock!
I've the T5 130hp bnz engine. Lovely and strong at the minute (125k miles) but I believe it's a bit of a specialist thing to rebuild if they do ever fail. I suppose if you dig hard enough and wait long enough, there is always an achilles heel which gets them in the end.

 

[BikerGran]

I have a 2007 178 (I think) 2.5 auto that I bought 5 years ago, it's low mileage just coming up to 80,000, and people who see it when it's clean have trouble believing it's 14 years old. I Drives like a dream and as yet the only problem I've had is an odd one with the AC fan staying on all the time which cost about £200 to fix - which was paid by the dealers (again not VW) I bought it from. It came with all sorts of extras, black leather seats which look great and just wipe clean, Brandrup carpets which just vacuum clean no matter how much mud gets on them - I love it and plan to keep it till I no longer want a campervan!

 

[ejmoore]

As I have mentioned before, and actually been surprised that I haven’t been corrected, there’s a reasonable case that says the original 5 cylinder 2.5 is the best engine. No belts, just gear driven, no adblue etc. They seem to go on forever.
‘Only’ downsides are the emissions. Mine fails ULEZ for example.
I only mention this as you seem to be looking only just above that age/price.
I love my 2008 174 T5 auto. Owned it since 2009.

Our previous van was a T5 2008 130 2.5 TDI, and it was fine. We had it for seven years, and the only reason we changed it was because we are also in Lambeth, but inside the South Circular, so inside the ULEZ, so needed something Euro 6.

 

[calibusje]

Buying an older Cali makes a huge amount of sense given how the vehicle, and particularly the camping aspects, have stayed very similar over the past 15 years. The only downside I'd say is it being a Euro 5 versus 6 which given the way things are headed on emissions exclusions (especially on the Continent) starts to limit its compete versatility as a multi-purpose vehicle although if you expect to need it to go into cities that's less of an issue.

About how good or less good certain engines are, I can say nothing more than that I read and hear about them; I guess you are all correct; anyway, we have a T4 westfalia 2.4 diesel, indestructible.
I certainly agree with you about the emission standards and the consequences for older diesels. We wanted to renew and upgrade to the california vw itself built, so anything from the first T5 california was good for us. The layout we liked of course, but also the sliding inner table, the folding seats in the tailgate and the outdoor table in the sliding door (+ air conditioning and more horsepower) are attractive upgrades for us. However: the old ones (euro 5) are the next to go when it comes to low emission zones so we looked at the T6. The second-hand prices then (2020) were so high that choosing a new one was cheaper for us. But still expensive enough to use it only as a campervan, so also for commuting and other trips. Out goes the Opel grandland. How is it for now: still the Opel to drive to work because no trace of our new coast yet.

 

[calibusje]

The other thing I like about my 2008 T5 is the interior. Ours has custard coloured alcantara seats with grey leather on the outside. It looks fantastic. I don’t really like cloth seats and the alcantara in the front looks completely new after 14 years. I think I’ve cleaned the rear seats once. Admittedly it’s an almost one owner vehicle (chap before me worked for VW and had it for a year) and quite low mileage but I just love the seats. We‘ve fitted a CarPlay stereo which works great with Siri and Waze. With that I can’t really see any great leap forward in a 2022 model. Plus I think the T5s ‘face‘ is the best!

You are one of the few I hear talking like that about the Alcantara seats; I read a lot more about how difficult they are to keep clean. Whatever it is, they look beautiful, that's for sure.
I presume you travel with it? And eat in it?

 

[jeff]

Had mine from new nearly 14years 50,000 miles only things replaced was o/s driveshaft disc’s and pads all round, main dealer serviced approx every 18 months.
just gone through mot with no advisorys.

 

[pjm-84]

Buy one from somewhere who is aware of the potential issue, adopts shorter oils changes, has the oil tested and can show the information. Similar any modification to deal with the 180 issue may be discussed and advised.

 

[pjm-84]

Aluminium content from the EGR cooler is the recognised cause of the bore wear. Over 30 on the AL figure is potential wear. I've had my oil tested 3x with figures of 72 (5500miles on the oil), 59 (6500miles on the oil), and now 14.

Figure will reduce further as the aluminium is flushed out of the engine.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

You are one of the few I hear talking like that about the Alcantara seats; I read a lot more about how difficult they are to keep clean. Whatever it is, they look beautiful, that's for sure.
I presume you travel with it? And eat in it?

Yes its where we spend all our holidays. Our kids from babies to now 8 and 11. Its done about 55k miles, all on holiday. The front seats are honestly like new. The rear ones are a little more worn on the bases in particular next to the fridge where people sit and tend to swivel back and forth.
We camp mainly abroad in Summer and enjoy being outside the van, preferring to cook and eat outside too. Last summer we stayed in the UK, it rained a lot and so we were in it a lot more. A different experience altogether.
I suppose I should take a picture of these seats!

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Our previous van was a T5 2008 130 2.5 TDI, and it was fine. We had it for seven years, and the only reason we changed it was because we are also in Lambeth, but inside the South Circular, so inside the ULEZ, so needed something Euro 6.

Oh we live about 100 metres inside ULEZ. It will add £25 to our holidays. It will add £12 to a day out if we go in the van. We'll use our car a bit more. I still agree with ULEZ.

 

[Mrb08]

So I have found a 180 bitd one for sale through a main dealer that will come with at least 12 month warranty, and I am able to extend to 3 years for a relatively low price, would anyone really consider it a good option.

 

[pjm-84]

Mileage? EGR cooler version?

 

[Mrb08]

Mileage? EGR cooler version?

2012 12plate van, 56000, not sure would need to check

 

[Cali Phillip]

Our previous van was a T5 2008 130 2.5 TDI, and it was fine. We had it for seven years, and the only reason we changed it was because we are also in Lambeth, but inside the South Circular, so inside the ULEZ, so needed something Euro 6.

Seeing ULEZ becoming more common is why my first Cali was EU6 but the 2.5TDI is a brilliant engine as were many EU4 engines like the 1.9PD 100 I had in the last Skoda I owned.
Much less complex.

 

[Red wine lover]

I have a fantastic 2008 callie 2.5 TDI..power, goes like a dream, BUT according to the DVLA it is a diesel car and the road fund tax is extortionate. Tried talking to VW and it seems this one model is as stated. If instead we paid an extra 5p per litre we might actually pay less.
Also, now the clean air zones are likely to come into force there will be more restrictions. However according to the govt. Website for CAZ we are a van, confused.com.
But I love my van and even had hand controls fitted to make driving simpler in the future.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

I have a fantastic 2008 callie 2.5 TDI..power, goes like a dream, BUT according to the DVLA it is a diesel car and the road fund tax is extortionate. Tried talking to VW and it seems this one model is as stated. If instead we paid an extra 5p per litre we might actually pay less.
Also, now the clean air zones are likely to come into force there will be more restrictions. However according to the govt. Website for CAZ we are a van, confused.com.
But I love my van and even had hand controls fitted to make driving simpler in the future.

We changed our 2008 to PLG (passenger light goods I think) which makes it about £300. Not sure if you are still allowed to do that. I had to fill out a form and go to an office in North London. Maybe a DVLA office, it was 13 years ago.

 

[Red wine lover]

We changed our 2008 to PLG (passenger light goods I think) which makes it about £300. Not sure if you are still allowed to do that. I had to fill out a form and go to an office in North London. Maybe a DVLA office, it was 13 years ago.

Tried, both with VW and dvla, it's a big engine van, automatic, not had much luck unfortunately.

 

[willwander]

So I have found a 180 bitd one for sale through a main dealer that will come with at least 12 month warranty, and I am able to extend to 3 years for a relatively low price, would anyone really consider it a good option.

Depends what year.

 

[66tim99]

So I have found a 180 bitd one for sale through a main dealer that will come with at least 12 month warranty, and I am able to extend to 3 years for a relatively low price, would anyone really consider it a good option.

If you go for it, 2 years warranty for a relatively low price is a no-brainer

 

[calibusje]

Yes its where we spend all our holidays. Our kids from babies to now 8 and 11. Its done about 55k miles, all on holiday. The front seats are honestly like new. The rear ones are a little more worn on the bases in particular next to the fridge where people sit and tend to swivel back and forth.
We camp mainly abroad in Summer and enjoy being outside the van, preferring to cook and eat outside too. Last summer we stayed in the UK, it rained a lot and so we were in it a lot more. A different experience altogether.
I suppose I should take a picture of these seats!

I think so, you must have the best preserved Alcantara seats and the most beautiful

 

[Lambeth Cali]

I think so, you must have the best preserved Alcantara seats and the most beautiful

The darker areas are just the nap of the alcantara which is very suede like.

Small mark on back seat base.

 

[calibusje]

View attachment 88971
The darker areas are just the nap of the alcantara which is very suede like.
View attachment 88972View attachment 88973
Small mark on back seat base.

It's a very nice combination indeed!

 

[jeff]

I have a fantastic 2008 callie 2.5 TDI..power, goes like a dream, BUT according to the DVLA it is a diesel car and the road fund tax is extortionate. Tried talking to VW and it seems this one model is as stated. If instead we paid an extra 5p per litre we might actually pay less.
Also, now the clean air zones are likely to come into force there will be more restrictions. However according to the govt. Website for CAZ we are a van, confused.com.
But I love my van and even had hand controls fitted to make driving simpler in the future.

Yes we changed ours to PLG about 6 months after first registration.

 

[pjm-84]

EGR cooler. If still unbranded - walk away. If its an A (doubt it) walk way - If its an C or D, walk away as its been changed to try and deal with the issue.

Same milage as mine, but mine is a 2015 on a C cooler. Cooler now emulated and blanked. Hence the lowering aluminum content