Discussion regarding T6 ONLY roof corrosion

[snowy55]

I wonder if it would be better if vw wrapped the ali roof instead of painting it.

It might be better but they don't.

If the roof is aluminium then the corrosion would just be on the surface, with the aluminium oxidising to aluminium oxide which would protect the aluminium from further corrosion. I.e it should never become a structural issue and if it only happened under the rubber seal, would it be an issue?

On bare aluminium, yes the oxide will give a protective layer but the paint bubbles retain moisture and the corrosion just spreads under the paint. This will eventually come out past the seal by which time you will have deep pitting of the surface which if ground out on a panel that is only 3mm will leave it very thin.

Although not structural I find it unacceptable to pay £40k for a vehicle with this fault that has no known cure.

One of the original 4 body shops nominated to carry out this work will no longer do this repair for VW because they, the body shop, have no faith in the VW repair strategy and VW keep questioning the body shops competence.

Some images of how corrosion spreads under paint on aluminium.

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/roof-corrosion-the-latest-updates.9000/page-143

 

[2into1]

If the roof is aluminium then the corrosion would just be on the surface, with the aluminium oxidising to aluminium oxide which would protect the aluminium from further corrosion. I.e it should never become a structural issue and if it only happened under the rubber seal, would it be an issue?

There has been an example here (just one known AFAIK) where the corrosion had caused such damage the main roof had to be replaced, rather than repaired.

 

[pjm-84]

Sorry to hear this but not surprised.

Will be looking under mine next year. Was tempted the other day when I gave the roof a good clean but reframed

Now if someone suggested a mass visit to VAG + Milton Keynes to make our frustration clear I would be happy to attend.

 

[ArunAlec]

Sorry to hear this but not surprised.

Will be looking under mine next year. Was tempted the other day when I gave the roof a good clean but reframed

Now if someone suggested a mass visit to VAG + Milton Keynes to make our frustration clear I would be happy to attend.

A rally outside VW HQ sounds good!

 

[Meoncoast]

Perhaps the factory tour will give owners the chance to ask some questions on production process in their paint shop

 

[Jabberwocky]

Sorry if I missed something but what happened to the Watchdog approach? Surely this story just gained an extra pair of legs?

I like the idea of a mass rally outside VW MK. Tell the press first though!

How about bombarding VW's facebook page? Others have done this about emissions. FB's visitors section is visible and must make pretty unhappy reading for VW. Lots of negative stuff.
Cars: https://www.facebook.com/VolkswagenUK/posts_to_page/
Commercial: https://www.facebook.com/VolkswagenCommercialVehiclesUK/posts_to_page/

 

[larrylamb]

Awful news snowy, It's fair to say I won't be looking to spend thousands swapping for a T6.

 

[Stoneybroke]

All written in the 155page tread .
The edge of the elevating part of the roof , pull off the rubber and clean of the moist/dirt thats collecting in the rubber.( direct visible in the pitures of Snowy here above)
+ The front part of the roof , the part in front of the elevating section above the front seats , specialy the part where the plastic end caps of the Brandruprail are touching the paint.

Granted that the description is in the mega-thread, but some of us are new to Cali's and these problems.
Could I suggest a step-by-step guide (video or photo) at a fixed location on the forum, as I, for one, am a bit unsure about peeling off seals, etc. with such a new vehicle, and perhaps creating other problems...

 

[MattBW]

Most vehicles that have aluminium bodies use a sacrificial anode (or cathode) to prevent this. VW for some reason haven't...

I was talking to a friend at Jaguar landrover who said there are approaches that prevent this. I am guessing VW aren't using them?

 

[Jabberwocky]

I'm just more than a tad nervous about all this new news! I have an Ocean on order, due for building week 4. I wasn't expecting to have to manage VW's incompetence in order to keep my new Cali in good condition.

Should I stay with it or cancel? Very tempted to do the latter.

 

[thehorse]

Must admit I'm feeling the same way. Can't believe this isn't something that couldn't be fixed if VW had the will.

Maybe if they anodised the aluminium before painting that would help.

 

[MattBW]

My friend was saying in one of the new land rovers which are all alum it's a special epoxy coating and an anode which stops the problem. Sounds specialist solution but also sounds wel known and researched.


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[snowy55]

I'm just more than a tad nervous about all this new news! I have an Ocean on order, due for building week 4. I wasn't expecting to have to manage VW's incompetence in order to keep my new Cali in good condition.

Should I stay with it or cancel? Very tempted to do the latter.

We have cancelled our long awaited Beach.

Be prepared for a lot of frusration and anger but also a lot of pleasure from what is the best camper van out there, if only Vw would treat their customers with a bit of respect and consideration.

There seems to be an " Emperors new clothes" type reaction to what is going on with these Cali roofs , I'm sure a phycology expert would be able tell us what going on.

 

[Bramco]

Don't cancel - if you've decided to buy then stick with it. This doesn't happen to every single vehicle and Snowy's experience is probably at the extreme end of what can happen. Snowy - you have our sympathies and I fully understand your decisions (will we expect to hear an MP review any time soon?)

We have a 2014 vehicle from after they reckoned they've sorted the problem and no issues so far - madly touching wood here....

The Cali is a brilliant vehicle - just read some of Granny Jen's posts.

 

[Jabberwocky]

We have cancelled our long awaited Beach.

Be prepared for a lot of frusration and anger but also a lot of pleasure from what is the best camper van out there, if only Vw would treat their customers with a bit of respect and consideration.

There seems to be an " Emperors new clothes" type reaction to what is going on with these Cali roofs , I'm sure a phycology expert would be able tell us what going on.

I am so close to a cancel. I'm just off to see how much extra a MB MP will cost me.

 

[snowy55]

Must admit I'm feeling the same way. Can't believe this isn't something that couldn't be fixed if VW had the will.

Maybe if they anodised the aluminium before painting that would help.

They've been making the roofs for 8 ish years and not made any progress either with the factory paint work or the repair process so I don't think things will change any time soon.
We had a PVWI (google it) inspection on our roof and he said the design was flawed and any repair was a "sticking plaster" covering the problem.

 

[Grey one]

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.

Really keen to know how your dealer reacted especially as i am due to collect one next week! Just spoke to VWCS and they stated they were unaware of such an issue on the T6. Not surprising as large organisations take a long time to react! They were also unable to state what changes were made between T5 and T6 to prevent such corrosion and they suggested i ask the dealer! Have you had any contact with VWCS as your photographic evidence is quite startling?

 

[Jabberwocky]

Yes, @snowy55 you have all my sympathy believe me.

@Bramco I have read lots over the last five months of waiting! And yes some of @GrannyJen 's posts have truly inspired me, even got me all emotional at times too. Wish I could use words like that!!

I'm a bit OCD when it comes to the state of my cars and I am not sure I could cope with all the stress and angst that I would go through if the roof problem happened to me. That said I have been so excited over the prospect of owning a Cali and now that it is so close, then to have Snowy's news, well........I am in such a quandary.

 

[Bramco]

I'm a bit OCD when it comes to the state of my cars

And we're different - it's only a bit of tin with a motor when all's said and done. Washing and polishing simply removes the grime that protects the paintwork....... Although having said that ours does need a bit of a wipe over some time soon it's looking pretty grimy at the moment.

Which all makes me wonder if things might not be exacerbated by where our precious vans are stored and how rigorous we are with keeping them spotless. Might be worth a vote?

 

[RoB5urf]

Will VW refund the deposit if cancelled?

 

[Jabberwocky]

Will VW refund the deposit if cancelled?

Unlikely, but if I got to the point of cancellation I would consider it to be the price of peace of mind

 

[RoB5urf]

I'm at code 10 - not sure if that makes a difference, probably not

Thing is, I'm totally sold on the life style opportunities offered by the Cali. I can't imagine doing it in anything else

 

[WelshGas]

Most vehicles that have aluminium bodies use a sacrificial anode (or cathode) to prevent this. VW for some reason haven't...

I was talking to a friend at Jaguar landrover who said there are approaches that prevent this. I am guessing VW aren't using them?

Jaguar/Landrover never used them in 47 years of Defender production either.

 

[WelshGas]

Don't cancel - if you've decided to buy then stick with it. This doesn't happen to every single vehicle and Snowy's experience is probably at the extreme end of what can happen. Snowy - you have our sympathies and I fully understand your decisions (will we expect to hear an MP review any time soon?)

We have a 2014 vehicle from after they reckoned they've sorted the problem and no issues so far - madly touching wood here....

The Cali is a brilliant vehicle - just read some of Granny Jen's posts.

Same here.

 

[Jabberwocky]

I'm at code 10 - not sure if that makes a difference, probably not

Thing is, I'm totally sold on the life style opportunities offered by the Cali. I can't imagine doing it in anything else

I'm guessing you are right. Don't forget your contract is not with VW but one of their dealers and you would be bound to the terms and condition of that business not VW.