Discussion regarding T6 ONLY roof corrosion

[Cali Phillip]

You don't have the side tape that we had fitted to ours.
If this were mine, I would be proactive and purchase some helicopter take and add it myself.

There is tape around the roof edge except for the front. There are two sections of tape where the front corners meet on the body. One bit is coming off, its going to VW for first service next week.

 

[Loz]

There is tape around the roof edge except for the front. There are two sections of tape where the front corners meet on the body. One bit is coming off, its going to VW for first service next week.

With you now.

 

[Scoobz1]

If I had a new T6 and this is a genuine fix I'd find a recommended specialist to do this with PPF (paint protection film) and rest easy.

https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=paint+protection+film

Lots of info on YT about this too and a favourite of the 'supercar' brigade.

Do what with PPF tape please ? I thought from reading the posts above that is what VW have done since Nov 2016 with all T6s... Unfortunately the link didn't work for me

 

[SusiBus]

PPF tape between rubber seal and elevating roof to isolate aluminium roof from steel insert in the seal.
Tape factory fitted from Jan 2017 l think.
Dealer recall fit for tape addition. Not sure what vehicles are elegible, but I'm sure someone will post with the relevant details.

 

[Scoobz1]

PPF tape between rubber seal and elevating roof to isolate aluminium roof from steel insert in the seal.
Tape factory fitted from Jan 2017 l think.
Dealer recall fit for tape addition. Not sure what vehicles are elegible, but I'm sure someone will post with the relivant details.

Thanks for the info. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't any known or better solution to what VW have done since they started fitting the tape late 2016 / early 2017 - I have a late 2019 Ocean - sounds like there isn't

 

[SusiBus]

Thanks for the info. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't any known or better solution to what VW have done since they started fitting the tape late 2016 / early 2017 - I have a late 2019 Ocean - sounds like there isn't

Apart from a fibre glass roof, that also wouldn't buckle like the aliminium one can!!

 

[WelshGas]

Apart from a fibre glass roof, that also wouldn't buckle like the aliminium one can!!

Fibre Glass has other problems - check out the Marco Polo Forum. Many roofs being replaced because of blistering. We are NOT alone, as they say.

 

[WelshGas]

PPF tape between rubber seal and elevating roof to isolate aluminium roof from steel insert in the seal.
Tape factory fitted from Jan 2017 l think.
Dealer recall fit for tape addition. Not sure what vehicles are elegible, but I'm sure someone will post with the relevant details.

ALL Californias from 2010 with the introduction of the T5.1/facelift California.

 

[Tony hylton]

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 had a 2007 mark polo, it had the same problem,I now have a 2013 california, which I returned under warranty , corrosion problems, very happy with the repairs which cost me nothing

 

[Shadrack]

Hi to all,
Yesterday I decided to check on the condition of the so called roof fix that was applied by a dealer three years back.
Not great I’m sorry to say.
As the tape was applied to the outer edge only? I have discovered a small (very small) amount of corrosion at one point on inner side. Strange that it does look like rust(hard to see)
Also in some areas the tape has not quite reached the bottom edge on the outside, other areas the tape has been peeled back (exposing outer painted surface) whilst the rubber seal was Re applied..

I have just about read this whole thread and cringed at the hassle and time lost by many members on here trying to get things put as they should be.

It is my plan now to try and effect a fix myself, so any help suggestions would be much appreciated from those that have chosen a similar root.

My research so far has identified a anti corrosion tape from Heskins (H3453) It’s designed to stop galvanic corrosion. Comes in at just over a tenner for 25mm x 18m+

This is transparent tape and 25mm would enable it to be folded under to do inner side as well.
This would be after I have removed old tape, cleaned, then rubbed down and applied to any corrosive areas an etching primer.
I am not too sure about any form of grease or sealing in the rubber seal after? (As it would be good to be able to check at a later date)

Please if you have attempted anything like this in the past yourself, it would be good to know result, what went right or what went wrong before I start this winter project.

 

[SusiBus]

It would be rust you could see if it was the metal insert in the rubber seal that was now showing through the rubber seal, perhaps a new rubber seal might be a consideration.

 

[Sheffield10]

FWIW, I used Dow Corning DC4 on my roof seal (dielectric silicone grease), and in nearly 4 years had no corrosion issues despite poorly applied tape and inevitable moisture ingress. It was easy enough to wipe the grease off the roof edge when I wanted to check for corrosion.

 

[Perfectos]

For reference

Avoiding roof corrosion?

The roof is aluminium the top part og the van it bolts to is aluminium so no point the corrosion is caused by the steel strip in the rubber seal rusting and reacting with the aluminium roof Only way is to remove roof seal altogether.

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[Truman]

PPF tape between rubber seal and elevating roof to isolate aluminium roof from steel insert in the seal.
Tape factory fitted from Jan 2017 l think.
Dealer recall fit for tape addition. Not sure what vehicles are elegible, but I'm sure someone will post with the relevant details.

My recent purchase of an Ocean 2015 was recalled by VW. They reported no rust, but I cant actually see if any tape was fitted.

 

[Truman]

My recent purchase of an Ocean 2015 was recalled by VW. They reported no rust, but I cant actually see if any tape was fitted.

Wow just realised how old this thread is......

 

[Jabberwocky]

Tape was fitted by VW from the end of December 2016. So I am not surprised you can't see any tape. Just remember that tape was not fitted to the front of the roof only to the sides and rear. If you do find tape then it almost certainly would have been fitted by a third party.
Hope that helps.

 

[B J G]

Only visible tape on my factory fitted tape is at both rear corners, not visible along the sides.

 

[Jabberwocky]

I used to own a MY17 T6 Ocean that had factory fitted tape on all roof edges except the front. I took delivery of it in Feb 2017. Maybe there were iterations of tape use.

 

[Mr B]

MY17 has the tape applied to the front edge where the roof sits but it's also slowly degraded.

You just need to replace it along that edge - it's just paint protection tape you can get it here for example:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00KR5SGFY/?tag=vwcalifornia-21

 

[Jabberwocky]

3M helicopter tape was/is used by VWCV for this tape application.