? Corrosion or weld mark

[Milly]

Hi All I wonder if someone with experience of the roof corrosion in front of the pop top could advise on these pics?
Just noticed after cleaning under the pop top today. I have a 2019 ocean T6. Could this simply be a weld mark or something more sinister?
Thanks

 

[westfalia]

To me it looks like the start of the 'roof corrosion'
i.e. paint starting to bubble.

 

[Milly]

That’s what I was afraid of

 

[dspuk]

Corrosion. Should be covered under your paint warranty.

 

[Defender90]

That’s what I was afraid of

I would be very surprised if it is that’s a steel cross brace ,is it soft when pressed? I would also expect the paint to have started to crack and rust stains at that stage

 

[Defender90]

I would be very surprised if it is that’s a steel cross brace ,is it soft when pressed? I would also expect the paint to have started to crack and rust stains at that stage

Sorry I am wrong it’s alloy and it’s all part of the front section

 

[Milly]

I would be very surprised if it is that’s a steel cross brace ,is it soft when pressed? I would also expect the paint to have started to crack and rust stains at that stage

No feels firm just slightly bobbly
Haven’t removed the rubber strip ? May give a better view

 

[Milly]

Corrosion. Should be covered under your paint warranty.

That’s good to know thanks

 

[Richard16]

I have similar marking on my 2017 T6, now identified as corrosion by the main dealer paint shop. After weeks seeking authorisation from the warranty folks, it’s been booked in for repair………..in November 2024‍ It seems the number of recognised & approved workshops have reduced & the remainders have lengthy backlogs. The VW obligation to deal with remedial works is registered against the van, whether I sell-on or not, so I’m relaxed if v unimpressed.

 

[Milly]

I have similar marking on my 2017 T6, now identified as corrosion by the main dealer paint shop. After weeks seeking authorisation from the warranty folks, it’s been booked in for repair………..in November 2024‍ It seems the number of recognised & approved workshops have reduced & the remainders have lengthy backlogs. The VW obligation to deal with remedial works is registered against the van, whether I sell-on or not, so I’m relaxed if v unimpressed.

Thanks that helps I am travelling to the main dealer for an initial look on Monday
so will report on outcome
2024 sounds ridiculous ! Surely best to sort out when first recognised

 

[Ch1pbutty]

2024 sounds ridiculous ! Surely best to sort out when first recognised

Welcome to VW World!

Ours has been on the waiting list for 3 years now. So will probably just end up eventually selling the van with the roof as it is & transfer the place in the queue to the next buyer. If you read through the forum you will see that the quality of the roof corrosion repairs is not always great, and it’s hard to get remedial issues sorted if they do a bad job partly due to the fact the VW do not pay the third party repairer the market rate for the repair…hence why many body shops will no longer deal with VW for the roof repair, which in turn results in a long wait.

 

[Milly]

Welcome to VW World!

Ours has been on the waiting list for 3 years now. So will probably just end up eventually selling the van with the roof as it is & transfer the place in the queue to the next buyer. If you read through the forum you will see that the quality of the roof corrosion repairs is not always great, and it’s hard to get remedial issues sorted if they do a bad job partly due to the fact the VW do not pay the third party repairer the market rate for the repair…hence why many body shops will no longer deal with VW for the roof repair, which in turn results in a long wait.

Oh dear
How has yours deteriorated in the interim?
Any pictures showing the development
Sounds like an inherent problem sadly
Thanks for the heads up

 

[Milly]

Well
popped over to van centre in Liverpool today and the photos plus report heading off to VW for authorisation.
Looks like we are inexorably heading for the waiting list….
Thanks for all the advice / guidance from everyone

 

[Hawthorn37]

It seems a crazy state of affairs to have a long wait to fix a rust issue which degrades as time passes! So best of luck, and please update this thread with the VW feedback.

 

[Milly]

Hi All
Quick update after 6 months!
After photos taken in October and phone calls to the dealer with no reply/callback- I have a date booked for remedial work under the warranty towards the end of May.
Any other experiences of the repair on the bodywork front of the opening roof?
I still find it odd the bubbling up is coming up under the paint as there is no obvious way for water ingress under that area
Thanks All

 

[WelshGas]

Hi All
Quick update after 6 months!
After photos taken in October and phone calls to the dealer with no reply/callback- I have a date booked for remedial work under the warranty towards the end of May.
Any other experiences of the repair on the bodywork front of the opening roof?
I still find it odd the bubbling up is coming up under the paint as there is no obvious way for water ingress under that area
Thanks All

This is not , as many people say, corrosion as in Rust.
This is Galvanic Corrosion, a chemical reaction between dissimilar metals, in this case the Aluminium Alloy and steel . It is cosmetic not structural.
Frequently the repair is worse than the problem.
If that was my vehicle I would scrape away the blister, rub down. A few coats of zinc rich primer rub down between each coat. Filler primer. Rub down and repeat if necessary then top coat and clear coat.
Even if it comes back in a few years, repeat as necessary. The VW repair including the plastic cap is very problematic.

 

[KGCali]

Hi All
Quick update after 6 months!
After photos taken in October and phone calls to the dealer with no reply/callback- I have a date booked for remedial work under the warranty towards the end of May.
Any other experiences of the repair on the bodywork front of the opening roof?
I still find it odd the bubbling up is coming up under the paint as there is no obvious way for water ingress under that area
Thanks All

Don't accept the plastic cowl solution if VW offer it as it will only lead to cracked sealant and water leaks in future years. Ensure VW are going to just repair and respray that area otherwise walk away and get it fix by a professional that knows how to deal with aluminium corrosion.

 

[Milly]

Thanks
The corrosion is on the ?steel body work side rather than the elevating Aluminium roof edge which seemed to be more unusual
Will certainly get a run down of the proposed work before saying yes

 

[Milly]

This is not , as many people say, corrosion as in Rust.
This is Galvanic Corrosion, a chemical reaction between dissimilar metals, in this case the Aluminium Alloy and steel . It is cosmetic not structural.
Frequently the repair is worse than the problem.
If that was my vehicle I would scrape away the blister, rub down. A few coats of zinc rich primer rub down between each coat. Filler primer. Rub down and repeat if necessary then top coat and clear coat.
Even if it comes back in a few years, repeat as necessary. The VW repair including the plastic cap is very problematic.

I think what has been described so far is pretty much what you suggest ie rubbing down to bare metal and painting up from the primer coat.

 

[KGCali]

Thanks
The corrosion is on the ?steel body work side rather than the elevating Aluminium roof edge which seemed to be more unusual
Will certainly get a run down of the proposed work before saying yes

The front cowl section is aluminium on the California.

 

[Defender90]

I think what has been described so far is pretty much what you suggest ie rubbing down to bare metal and painting up from the primer coat.

Hi if I was you I would leave it for now just monitor it going forward if it spreads then do as Welsh gas says ,it is alloy that section not steel

 

[Milly]

Thanks all that helps
On balance I will prob let them repair under warranty as VW will wash their hands if I refuse to go ahead but decline the plastic option if offered
Very useful to know re the aluminium area concerned and so useful we have so many experts in the group!