DAB

[TrevorH]

My dealer warned me off the retrofit kit offered by VW . After a bit of to and fro with VWCS I think we have settled on £300 cash compensation (haven't got it yet....)Not a big amount I know but in all honesty I just want to move on.

Impressed by the new van deal which rather tops this (!)but don't think I would have qualified on what was a demonstrator purchase rather than factory order.

 

[Euge]

Funny how things pan out sometimes.
I was due to drop my van in to SMG Tonbridge today for the missing DAB to be fitted.
I couldn’t make it in the end and then saw the latest two posts in this subject.
I’ll ring them tomorrow, apologise for missing my appointment, then give them the Spanish Inquisition regarding what exactly they are planning to do to rectify it.
I’ll keep you all posted.

 

[Steve39]

TrevorH - agree your situation is slightly different and VW would treat each complaint based on its own merits. Maybe get a quote for a proper retro fit and go back to VW to see if you can squeeze a bit more comp...I spoke to Absolut5 based in Amesbury, Wiltshire, who are Transporter specialists and are highly recommended on the van forums.

For anyone who had a factory order go wrong, I'd seriously suggest going direct to VW with a formal complaint. Not saying everyone will get the same outcome but it can't hurt to try. Just let your dealer know what you're doing and they should be supportive.

 

[Runningsoy]

TrevorH - agree your situation is slightly different and VW would treat each complaint based on its own merits. Maybe get a quote for a proper retro fit and go back to VW to see if you can squeeze a bit more comp...I spoke to Absolut5 based in Amesbury, Wiltshire, who are Transporter specialists and are highly recommended on the van forums.

For anyone who had a factory order go wrong, I'd seriously suggest going direct to VW with a formal complaint. Not saying everyone will get the same outcome but it can't hurt to try. Just let your dealer know what you're doing and they should be supportive.

Steve39, thanks for the advice, it's really appreciated. They have offered to move the autoDAB arial to the rear windshield and pay £750 compensation. What I really don't get is the inconsistency in the solutions offered. Some get a new van, others get widely differing compensation offers.

 

[dale6]

Hi,
I have the same issue with a 67 plate(2018 version). I went to use the DAB and didn't have the option of selecting it.
After speaking to someone at the dealership a week after purchasing it I was told it was a factory mistake but unfortunately it was tough luck that I had one without DAB and no options were available from VW.

The guy even apologised before saying it was tough luck as that comment had been passed to him from a manager.

 

[Euge]

Popped into the dealership today to take a look at the equipment they are proposing to install to rectify no DAB.
It’s the dreaded black box and “see through” aerial. Not exactly see through and although I could probably live with it I don’t really want to accept it if it’s going to affect any potential sale of the van in the future. Judging by the reaction to the equipment on this forum I think it will potentially put certain buyers off.

It was quite a strange conversation I ended up having with the service manager.
On the phone he initially asked me if I had a heated front windscreen and said if I did the aerial and box would need to be fitted on the tailgate window as heated screens can interfere with reception.
When I arrived today he said he’d fit it to the front as I didn’t have a heated screen. When I asked if he could fit it to the rear window given how unsightly it is he said it might not be possible as they might have trouble feeding the cable into the tailgate.
So basically if you have a heated front windscreen they have a way of fitting the equipment to the tailgate but if you don’t have a heated front screen that option suddenly becomes too difficult !
Call me cynical but I’m smelling something there.

I looked at consumer rights law and unless I’m being naive it looks pretty clear to me that VW, or possible the HP company, are in breach of the contract as the goods sold weren’t as advertised.
Although they are offering a “fix” its a cheap alternative and the vehicle still isn’t how it should have been to start with.

Clearly VW are chancing their with this issue.
They are offering a cheap fix alternative expecting most people to take it up. The few that kick up and refuse to accept it get offered compo and in some cases a new van !
As long as the complainers are in the minority VW are still better off financially than they would have been by offering the more expensive but proper fix to everyone from the start.
Love their vans but boy, they really don’t help themselves image wise lol.

 

[T6 CFO]

In other words, those not only on the BB will either take the “bodge” or not even know. Your dealer is not at fault until such time he takes VW’s side and not yours. I reckon I would be refusing the vehicle.

I’m presuming VW know which vehicles were wrongly equipped and that they haven’t been contacting owners to let them know.?

Mike


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Euge]

In other words, those not only on the BB will either take the “bodge” or not even know. Your dealer is not at fault until such time he takes VW’s side and not yours. I reckon I would be refusing the vehicle.

I’m presuming VW know which vehicles were wrongly equipped and that they haven’t been contacting owners to let them know.?

Mike


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

You presume right. I had to bring it to their attention and as far as I’m aware they haven’t been proactive about this by contacting their customers.
Its a bit late for me to refuse the vehicle, I’ve been driving around in it for 5 months, but you never know, they might agree to swap it as they have done for another poster on here.

 

[T6 CFO]

You presume right. I had to bring it to their attention and as far as I’m aware they haven’t been proactive about this by contacting their customers.
Its a bit late for me to refuse the vehicle, I’ve been driving around in it for 5 months, but you never know, they might agree to swap it as they have done for another poster on here.

Not good. Hopefully they will. Good luck with them.

Mike

 

[WelshGas]

You presume right. I had to bring it to their attention and as far as I’m aware they haven’t been proactive about this by contacting their customers.
Its a bit late for me to refuse the vehicle, I’ve been driving around in it for 5 months, but you never know, they might agree to swap it as they have done for another poster on here.

What I cannot understand is why they cannot fit the standard aerial which is located in the wing mirror?
Or, if for some reason the standard aerial won’t work with the DAB box fit the alternative aerial on the window behind the wardrobe in an Ocean.

 

[s2bear]

What I cannot understand is why they cannot fit the standard aerial which is located in the wing mirror?
Or, if for some reason the standard aerial won’t work with the DAB box fit the alternative aerial on the window behind the wardrobe in an Ocean.

I don’t get this either (been thinking about this). Presumably if your head unit or Aerial developed a fault, VW would simply replace the components. Not offer you some aftermarket gubbins or a replacement vehicle. It’s a little bit odd.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[WelshGas]

I don’t get this either (been thinking about this). Presumably if your head unit or Aerial developed a fault, VW would simply replace the components. Not offer you some aftermarket gubbins or a replacement vehicle. It’s a little bit odd.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

True. Our local garage damaged my Drivers Wing Mirror when fitting new tyres. The FM, DAB and SatNav aerials are in it. They just got a new Drivers mirror and swopped the aerials over.

 

[Steve39]

Euge, it was me who got the option to reorder.

Doesn't sound like you're going to get anywhere via the current communication channel.

When I originally raised the issue with my dealer they were communicating with VW and then back to me. I was offered the same solution and whilst my dealer was really sympathetic they said there was nothing more that they could do.

They suggested I contact VW Customer Services directly. I did that and made a formal complaint based on the fact that to me the DAB is an important feature and that the van was not supplied as advertised.

I went on to add that the suggested solution of an aftermarket non integrated DAB wasn't acceptable on a vehicle costing £50k, that I had made the decision to buy a factory built camper to avoid aftermarket fitting of options (e.g. parking heater), that the AutoDAB would degrade aesthetics and usability of the van, and finally it would affect resale (all UK T6s have DAB as standard not just Californias).

I don't think I made a fuss but I did stick to my guns. I didn't get anywhere close to talking about my rights, just explained I was one unhappy camper (excuse the pun).

I've worked in complaint handling in the past and just because one person gets a particular outcome doesn't mean everyone will. I did raise my concern with the dealer on day 1 of ownership so that might have helped. But I'd been in the van for over 3 months when I lodged the complaint.

It has to be worth a try?

 

[Steve39]

What I cannot understand is why they cannot fit the standard aerial which is located in the wing mirror?
Or, if for some reason the standard aerial won’t work with the DAB box fit the alternative aerial on the window behind the wardrobe in an Ocean.

I was told the vans with missing DAB don't have the aerial in the wing mirror or the DAB module in the head unit, or the wiring between the two. The whole dash has to come off and VW said that the work was too high risk.

Both me and my dealer were amazed by this when you consider the cost/hassle involved in replacing a 6 month old van like mine was.

A well thought of Transport audio specialist were happy to do it.

I didn't really want a new van but their refusal to do a proper retrofit left me no choice. When I picked up the new van yesterday me and the dealer met each other with full on grins because it was so surreal.

 

[s2bear]

Does anyone know if the DAB functionality is embedded in the Head Unit but not enabled or connected to a DAB aerial?

A little bit like CarPlay or voice enhancement not being switched on simply because it wasn’t optioned.

ie if you have the Discover Media system, is the capability there if you add an antenna?

You can see where I’m going with this. A head unit is ‘only’ around £1k if not.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Steve39]

I was told by VW that the head unit doesn't have DAB functionality built in. So there is a DAB module plugged in to the unit and then wired to the DAB specific aerial in the wing mirror.

Makes sense when you consider the head unit is used in all markets but DAB isn't a big thing in all of those markets.

Audio firm I spoke to pretty much confirmed the above.

 

[WelshGas]

I was told the vans with missing DAB don't have the aerial in the wing mirror or the DAB module in the head unit, or the wiring between the two. The whole dash has to come off and VW said that the work was too high risk.

Both me and my dealer were amazed by this when you consider the cost/hassle involved in replacing a 6 month old van like mine was.

A well thought of Transport audio specialist were happy to do it.

I didn't really want a new van but their refusal to do a proper retrofit left me no choice. When I picked up the new van yesterday me and the dealer met each other with full on grins because it was so surreal.

What a load of b******s. I’m sorry but I would have thought it would have been easier to just replace the Head Unit and run an extra aerial lead to the wing mirror to the aerial.
Maybe if VW trained their “ technicians “ properly it wouldn’t be so “ high risk “.
Numerous people on the T5/T6 forums have been retrofitting cruise control, heated or folding mirrors, reversing cameras etc:.
If all these vehicles were sold with the DAB specification then they should be refitted with the OEM system and if VW won’t do it then they should pay someone like Hazzydayz, who specialise in OEM retrofits, to do it.

 

[Steve39]

What a load of b******s. I’m sorry but I would have thought it would have been easier to just replace the Head Unit and run an extra aerial lead to the wing mirror to the aerial.
Maybe if VW trained their “ technicians “ properly it wouldn’t be so “ high risk “.
Numerous people on the T5/T6 forums have been retrofitting cruise control, heated or folding mirrors, reversing cameras etc:.
If all these vehicles were sold with the DAB specification then they should be refitted with the OEM system and if VW won’t do it then they should pay someone like Hazzydayz, who specialise in OEM retrofits, to do it.

I agree. Total b******s. Can you imagine trying to stay calm when someone is telling you this over the phone. Not easy.

What's even worse is I told them I'd be happy to get a specialist to do it if they paid for it but they refused to offer more than £250 cash. No way I was paying out of my own pocket.

 

[Euge]

Not good. Hopefully they will. Good luck with them.

Mike

Thanks Mike

 

[Euge]

Thanks Mike

Euge, it was me who got the option to reorder.

Doesn't sound like you're going to get anywhere via the current communication channel.

When I originally raised the issue with my dealer they were communicating with VW and then back to me. I was offered the same solution and whilst my dealer was really sympathetic they said there was nothing more that they could do.

They suggested I contact VW Customer Services directly. I did that and made a formal complaint based on the fact that to me the DAB is an important feature and that the van was not supplied as advertised.

I went on to add that the suggested solution of an aftermarket non integrated DAB wasn't acceptable on a vehicle costing £50k, that I had made the decision to buy a factory built camper to avoid aftermarket fitting of options (e.g. parking heater), that the AutoDAB would degrade aesthetics and usability of the van, and finally it would affect resale (all UK T6s have DAB as standard not just Californias).

I don't think I made a fuss but I did stick to my guns. I didn't get anywhere close to talking about my rights, just explained I was one unhappy camper (excuse the pun).

I've worked in complaint handling in the past and just because one person gets a particular outcome doesn't mean everyone will. I did raise my concern with the dealer on day 1 of ownership so that might have helped. But I'd been in the van for over 3 months when I lodged the complaint.

It has to be worth a try?

Thanks for the advice Steve.
I contacted customer care today and they are getting back to me.
Totally get what you say about not assuming I’ll get a new van, but given they are clearly in breach of the original contract I’ll be expecting them to deal with this properly.
I’m not exactly sure what I’d settle for at this stage, it’s a hard one to quantify.
At the very least I’d want the equipment to be fitted to the rear screen, which the dealer has admitted is possible, but said he couldn’t sanction unless I had a heated front screen.
I suppose I’ll just have to see what they offer and take it from there.

 

[Wongo]

I find all this bizarre, i’m not affected. I do know Jason at Absolut5 great service and really knowledgable.

 

[Steve39]

Good luck Euge (and others) hope you get it sorted. Let us know how you get on.

 

[OGII]

Thanks for the advice Steve.
I contacted customer care today and they are getting back to me.
Totally get what you say about not assuming I’ll get a new van, but given they are clearly in breach of the original contract I’ll be expecting them to deal with this properly.
I’m not exactly sure what I’d settle for at this stage, it’s a hard one to quantify.
At the very least I’d want the equipment to be fitted to the rear screen, which the dealer has admitted is possible, but said he couldn’t sanction unless I had a heated front screen.
I suppose I’ll just have to see what they offer and take it from there.

I'm in same situation. Offer of the AutoDAB retrofit thing. It would be ok if I had a second hand Corsa and was desperate for DAB. Scratch that, even then I'd buy a proper din fitting DAB head unit.

I'm struggling to think of a suitable analogy. Who buys a California with discovery head unit with app connect etc only to then be happy with an ugly £70 add on? May as well buy a panel van and get a 3rd party to convert it badly with as many mismatched parts as I can find. Lets keep up the pressure on VWCS for their factory foul ups.

 

[Steve39]

I'm in same situation. Offer of the AutoDAB retrofit thing. It would be ok if I had a second hand Corsa and was desperate for DAB. Scratch that, even then I'd buy a proper din fitting DAB head unit.

I'm struggling to think of a suitable analogy. Who buys a California with discovery head unit with app connect etc only to then be happy with an ugly £70 add on? May as well buy a panel van and get a 3rd party to convert it badly with as many mismatched parts as I can find. Lets keep up the pressure on VWCS for their factory foul ups.

My thoughts (and my arguement to VWCS) exactly. Good luck with VWCS, they did seem pretty reasonable when I articulated it that way to them.

 

[phillme]

happened to me also ... nice new van