Discussion regarding T6 ONLY roof corrosion

[WelshGas]

Hi, I'm thinking of buying a secondhand camper, is this corrosion problem only on VW's conversion, Is it the case with third party conversions?
I also have the Cambee conversion on my radar would this still be a problem/

VW may have this cosmetic Galvanic corrosion but at least the seats and roof etc: are properly tested and engineered for safety even in major rollover crashes - as has been shown by at least 1 Forum member.

 

[Kevin Allen]

VW may have this cosmetic Galvanic corrosion but at least the seats and roof etc: are properly tested and engineered for safety even in major rollover crashes - as has been shown by at least 1 Forum member.

I’m aware that there are seats not crash tested and aware there ones that have been, not sure about roofs, I’ll look into that.

 

[iamchucky]

Hi Everyone,
Just had recall done on my roof. Very pleased with results at first sight.
I was shown the tape and the process explained to me before work was carried out.
The tape was manufactured by ‘Tesa’ it was Vw bagged but looked like a small half inch in width.
After the small blisters that had been found near the edge had been dealt with the tape was then fitted and rubber seal replaced.
All in all a very neat job done locally.
The tape pertudes above the rubber but really is neat and is difficult to see. All completed in just a couple of hours or so.
I did notice in the tape kit two shaped pieces of tape which were obviously for two round corners at rear.

I was a little apprehensive as to what it would look like on completion. But after chatting with the technician first and then seeing the results I realise my concerns were unfounded.
The technician really did do a great job in apply the kit.

How good is this solution?... only time will tell I guess.
On my return home it hammered it down with rain and the rubber seal had taken a lot of water and to my eyes it has nowhere to go?.. (unless roof left open for gravity to help).

I will now write to Vw and ask where I stand regards warranty for this repair.

I see this as solution for the symptoms caused rather than a solution to the manufacturing or deign fault.

Fingers crossed.....

Hi Shadrack.

My March 2016 Ocean goes in for MOT in Feb and will have the roof check carried out. I know there's a few bubbles and so keen to understand more about the 'repair' that was done seemingly quite quickly to your van versus the 'take away to a body shop option' - VW seem to be treating the 'quick fix' and the 'full repair' as differently in terms of warranty.

Se below the response I received from VW (I have the extended 5 year warranty on my van)

Dear Sir

I appreciate you have some concerns regarding roof corrosion for your Volkswagen California.

This repair is covered by each vehicle’s three-year paintwork protection warranty, to which the factory has added three years of goodwill. It is not possible to extend this goodwill beyond a vehicle’s sixth year.

If you see any signs of corrosion, we would recommend having your vehicle checked as soon as possible to ensure the repair can be organised in an efficient and timely manner. However, you can have the vehicle checked at any point for corrosion within the first 6 years of the vehicle being registered.

If corrosion is found and repaired, the repair will be covered for three years, regardless of your remaining manufacturer’s warranty period.

The tape method is a recall and would not be considered a repair so will only be covered until the end of your manufacturer’s warranty, which is 5 years in your case.

Did you receive anything back from VW from your letter?

Many thanks

 

[flying banana]

After 18 months of trouble free ownership I noticed this last week. Worth checking yours if you have the protective strip installed from the factory which I think is most T6’s. It’s in with Tonbridge (who have been excellent generally) for warrantee repair. They have advised that it needs to be sent to a body shop. Does anyone know which body shop in the south east has the best reputation for fixing roof issues?
All the best

View attachment 36407

what's that tape for there?
mines done the same, same side funnily enough. I peeled it off and thought no more about it. what type of tape is it ?

 

[Denzilgts]

VW does not ....
The repair does ...
They are apllying a tape arround the edge of the roof and then put the rubber back on so the alu roof and the metal in the rubber seal are not connected.

If they do it right

 

[Shadrack]

Hi Shadrack.

My March 2016 Ocean goes in for MOT in Feb and will have the roof check carried out. I know there's a few bubbles and so keen to understand more about the 'repair' that was done seemingly quite quickly to your van versus the 'take away to a body shop option' - VW seem to be treating the 'quick fix' and the 'full repair' as differently in terms of warranty.

Se below the response I received from VW (I have the extended 5 year warranty on my van)

Dear Sir

I appreciate you have some concerns regarding roof corrosion for your Volkswagen California.

This repair is covered by each vehicle’s three-year paintwork protection warranty, to which the factory has added three years of goodwill. It is not possible to extend this goodwill beyond a vehicle’s sixth year.

If you see any signs of corrosion, we would recommend having your vehicle checked as soon as possible to ensure the repair can be organised in an efficient and timely manner. However, you can have the vehicle checked at any point for corrosion within the first 6 years of the vehicle being registered.

If corrosion is found and repaired, the repair will be covered for three years, regardless of your remaining manufacturer’s warranty period.

The tape method is a recall and would not be considered a repair so will only be covered until the end of your manufacturer’s warranty, which is 5 years in your case.

Did you receive anything back from VW from your letter?

Many thanks

Hi Chucky
I received no letter or anything referring to warranty. I think what it states in your letter is down to interpretation and which side of the fence you are on. Customer or Vw.
In my case my interpretation is they carried out a repair and also carried out the recall instruction. In my thinking terms, they carried out a bodge to hopefully take you past any warranty deadline. I too have the extended warranty which again I guess could be interpreted in different ways as to what the extension covers.
For my part I will be inspecting the ‘bodge’ regularly and as soon as I see the blistering returning (as it surely will) I will be back onto Vw whether within the extended warranty or past it. WV have put their hands up to a manufacturing fault. Their so called recall or fix, whatever they want to call it is very iffy. To rub the paint bubbles back and apply a primer only, then stick a bit of tape over in my view is and can only be seen as a temporary solution.
Hopefully any future return of paint issues will be dealt with by VW in a way agreeable alround to all parties without having to escalate further.

 

[Steve Gray]

I am starting this thread so T6 owners and potential T6 owners are made aware that the T6 is subject to roof corrosion.



Here are 3 photos taken underneath the seal on the raising section of the roof on a May 2016 T6 California Beach taken today after our first trip away in her. .

Our much loved 2014 California SE was unsuccessfully repaired twice, the blistering quickly returned and it was booked in for a 3rd repair. We just could not bring ourselves to go through this all again and we made the difficult decision to part exchange it for the 2016 T6 Beach, thinking the problem had been cured. But obviously not!



So, our 2014 SE has it (three times), a loan 2015 SE had it and now our 2016 has it - the roof issue is still the same.

Remember folks when your warranty is up you're paying for your own repairs.



So yet again, we can either look forward to going to the dealers to register a fourth warranty claim for roof corrosion and then to go on a never ending list for an ineffectual repair but instead we are going to return the vehicle first thing in the morning and demand our money back! (See Consumer Right's Act 2015).



We have also cancelled the new T6 Beach we ordered on the 26th March, 2016 which is yet to be built!!!



Another VW will never darken our driveway again.

I am starting this thread so T6 owners and potential T6 owners are made aware that the T6 is subject to roof corrosion.



Here are 3 photos taken underneath the seal on the raising section of the roof on a May 2016 T6 California Beach taken today after our first trip away in her. .

Our much loved 2014 California SE was unsuccessfully repaired twice, the blistering quickly returned and it was booked in for a 3rd repair. We just could not bring ourselves to go through this all again and we made the difficult decision to part exchange it for the 2016 T6 Beach, thinking the problem had been cured. But obviously not!



So, our 2014 SE has it (three times), a loan 2015 SE had it and now our 2016 has it - the roof issue is still the same.

Remember folks when your warranty is up you're paying for your own repairs.



So yet again, we can either look forward to going to the dealers to register a fourth warranty claim for roof corrosion and then to go on a never ending list for an ineffectual repair but instead we are going to return the vehicle first thing in the morning and demand our money back! (See Consumer Right's Act 2015).



We have also cancelled the new T6 Beach we ordered on the 26th March, 2016 which is yet to be built!!!



Another VW will never darken our driveway again.

Hi
All new Calis have heli tape fitted as standard under the rubber to produce a barrier between the seal and paintwork. Looking at your pictures it appears your beach does not have any fitted, this is probably why you have the problem. All new Cali’s 2017/18 onwards have heli tape fitted.

 

[Marc Oldman]

Hi folks,

So at its service this week my dealer (Robinsons, in Norwich) informed me my 2016 Ocean has the much talked about roof corrosion issue. They talked me through the various possible outcomes before they discovered it (1. Roof will be corrosion free so will be sealed; 2. Roof will be slightly corroded & it’ll be fixed in our own bodyshop 3. Roof corrosion more severe than we can deal with, so will need to be repaired by a specialist).

They concluded mine was a 3. They further shared that there were only 5x such specialist approved bodyshops in the UK and hence the wait was pretty long - say 6 to 9 months. And once in, I should expect to be without it for 3 weeks. Whilst on one hand that’s all a bit of a pain, at least it gets the job done and done properly.

I have to say, I’m pretty happy with the service. Their sales team were hugely helpful before I bought my van - only for me to then buy one elsewhere, and the service experience has thus for also been top class (communicative, knowledgeable, interested, friendly etc).

Two reasons for my post really. Firstly, to big up Robinsons in Norwich - I know there’s a lot of chatter about good vs. less good dealerships - so it’s nice to be able to share a positive experience. Secondly, to ask of any other T6 owners who’ve had this work done whether there’s anything else I should ask / consider / log / etc at this stage in the process.

Thanks in advance

 

[Meoncoast]

I should expect to be without it for 3 weeks.

I am in the scenario "2" so only a couple of days without our van.
I do find it interesting that the time wanted for the repair of your T6 as our T5 had the old type original repair process for roof edge repair and removal of the front cap and replacement with collection from home and new loan Cali for the process of the repair which was 2 weeks door to door. Are you being offered a load Cali?

 

[Marc Oldman]

They’ve said they’ll loan me a vehicle. TBH, I’d rather have a regular car than another Cali as I’ll book it in out of season anyway. And using a loan Cali won’t be like using my own...

 

[kaf2546]

Just had 2016 Ocean (no tape) checked as part of recall and said no corrosion. I'm one of those that doesn't want to double check but I'll look myself near end of 3 years warranty this August. Did I read correctly that they have added 3 years goodwill to this? Tbh I am glad they are not mucking about with the roof yet...

As an aside I think if the aluminium roof were polished and anodised (coloured if required) it would look good if it was a factory option and any pitting or lacquer bubbling would be hardly noticeable. Probably too expensive to do though.

Sent from my moto g(6) play using Tapatalk

 

[ArunAlec]

Just had 2016 Ocean (no tape) checked as part of recall and said no corrosion. I'm one of those that doesn't want to double check but I'll look myself near end of 3 years warranty this August. Did I read correctly that they have added 3 years goodwill to this? Tbh I am glad they are not mucking about with the roof yet...

As an aside I think if the aluminium roof were polished and anodised (coloured if required) it would look good if it was a factory option and any pitting or lacquer bubbling would be hardly noticeable. Probably too expensive to do though.

Sent from my moto g(6) play using Tapatalk

The 6 year warranty was goodwill gesture for the T5. It covered the lifting section and the front panel above the windscreen.

 

[Pips Dad]

Hi
All new Calis have heli tape fitted as standard under the rubber to produce a barrier between the seal and paintwork. Looking at your pictures it appears your beach does not have any fitted, this is probably why you have the problem. All new Cali’s 2017/18 onwards have heli tape fitted.

The bubbles appear to be coming from inside the double skin so don’t see how fitting some sot of tape barrier will do anything apart from hold in the moisture.
Could it be condensation within the double skin and bi metallic corrosion if different metals are used on the roof edge. i.e. aluminium and steel?

 

[Bramco]

Could it be condensation within the double skin and bi metallic corrosion if different metals are used on the roof edge. i.e. aluminium and steel?

That's it in one - there are a LOTS of posts about this and it is worth scanning through some of them to get a feel for the issues.

Once upon a time (about 18 months ago) someone produced a document on the state of play with respect to the elevating roof corrosion - it wasn't perfect but it did a good job of setting out what was what.

Given things have moved on since then with the workshop recall and the manufacturing solution it's probably time it was updated to help new members to get up to speed quickly. And no I'm not offering to do it.

It would be very helpful if one of the mods or owners of the website could take this on and pin it so that it is very visible.

PS Have VW silenced VWGuru? Haven't seen many posts recently and they were going to come back on an aspect of the workshop recall but never did... Been nobbled by VW central I guess....

 

[Volkywagen]

That's it in one - there are a LOTS of posts about this and it is worth scanning through some of them to get a feel for the issues.

Once upon a time (about 18 months ago) someone produced a document on the state of play with respect to the elevating roof corrosion - it wasn't perfect but it did a good job of setting out what was what.

Given things have moved on since then with the workshop recall and the manufacturing solution it's probably time it was updated to help new members to get up to speed quickly. And no I'm not offering to do it.

It would be very helpful if one of the mods or owners of the website could take this on and pin it so that it is very visible.

PS Have VW silenced VWGuru? Haven't seen many posts recently and they were going to come back on an aspect of the workshop recall but never did... Been nobbled by VW central I guess....

Do you think he’s been busted

Edit; or she

 

[ArunAlec]

Do you think he’s been busted

Edit; or she

Punishment duty ..... oil changes?

 

[Volkywagen]

Punishment duty ..... oil changes?

Parts I think

 

[Jabberwocky]

That's it in one - there are a LOTS of posts about this and it is worth scanning through some of them to get a feel for the issues.

Once upon a time (about 18 months ago) someone produced a document on the state of play with respect to the elevating roof corrosion - it wasn't perfect but it did a good job of setting out what was what.

Given things have moved on since then with the workshop recall and the manufacturing solution it's probably time it was updated to help new members to get up to speed quickly. And no I'm not offering to do it.

It would be very helpful if one of the mods or owners of the website could take this on and pin it so that it is very visible.

PS Have VW silenced VWGuru? Haven't seen many posts recently and they were going to come back on an aspect of the workshop recall but never did... Been nobbled by VW central I guess....

VW Guru is still active on this forum. Why don't you contact him directly if you want an update. He is not a VIP member therefore no access to PM facility.

 

[kaf2546]

The 6 year warranty was goodwill gesture for the T5. It covered the lifting section and the front panel above the windscreen.

Ah ok thanks, the earlier post from Shadrack refers to a letter which seemed to state that this applied to T6 re the roof, I'll discuss with VW later in year.

 

[Jabberwocky]

The 6 year warranty was goodwill gesture for the T5. It covered the lifting section and the front panel above the windscreen.

If my memory serves me well the letter did not state "T5" it just refers to "California". I will try and dig out the letter and confirm.

EDIT: There are two letters I have seen. One refers to the front panel only and one relates to the to the elevating roof (but with ref to the front panel). Both letters offer the extended warranty. Neither of them refer to T5's specifically, just "California".

 

[ArunAlec]

If my memory serves me well the letter did not state "T5" it just refers to "California". I will try and dig out the letter and confirm.

EDIT: There are two letters I have seen. One refers to the front panel only and one relates to the to the elevating roof (but with ref to the front panel). Both letters offer the extended warranty. Neither of them refer to T5's specifically, just "California".

I have had a look at the letter dated June 2014 and agree that there is no reference to T5, so hopefully the extension of warranty would be applied both retrospectively from June 2014 and for post June 2014 models.

 

[ArunAlec]

The 6 year warranty was goodwill gesture for the T5. It covered the lifting section and the front panel above the windscreen.

I stand corrected, the letter does not specify "T5" so hopefully will include vans manufactured after the letter was written (June 2014).

 

[sbmcd]

It would be nice to think VW would apply the six year goodwill warranty to the T6 roof issue but I suspect that VW have initiated the "recall" for the tape addition to avoid that.

 

[Jabberwocky]

It would be nice to think VW would apply the six year goodwill warranty to the T6 roof issue but I suspect that VW have initiated the "recall" for the tape addition to avoid that.

Hmmm....you could well be correct but it would be an interesting challenge non the less!

 

[Pips Dad]

Will this affect my 4 month old Ocean? I wonder? Do I have to start peeling back the rubber seal?
Still can’t see how applying sticky tape stops what looks like from the photos I’ve seen, internal corrosion coming through.