First week "Is this right?"

[dspuk]

They don’t fold. It isn’t fitted.

Batteries can be a problem if they get too flat. I might be too sensitive on that subject, but as a colliery electrician in my youth and standard leisure batteries having essentially similar characteristics to electric loco trains, I learned the hard way. The van’s system however shouldn’t let them squeeze the last bit so should be ok.

Dealers should do a pre delivery inspection. They told me they do so I assumed they had. If they had, both issues would have flagged up. I’m not being hard on them, just annoyed that they didn’t do it, causing me a day and 70 mile round trip.

I love the van. It would be going back if I didn’t. Just pointed out a couple of faults and curious of others’ experiences, that’s all.

Mirrors. I see that now from the replies. You asked and telling you how ours worked. Hard for me to have known you did not have the switch.

Batteries. Agree. Hopefully they fine. If not they should replace them. Hence my warranty comment.

Ref dealers I never said you were being too hard on them. I said you were expecting too much of them.

Enjoy your van.

 

[lfm]

+1 for the stuck rear heating button. They replaced it under warranty on a brand new ‘22 Ocean.

 

[lfm]

+1 for the stuck rear heating button. They replaced it under warranty on a brand new ‘22 Ocean

 

[ParachuteMan]

I had a try-before-you-buy rental Ocean In early Septembe. No folding mirrors. The dealer said this was noted and had been reported back to VW as a “mis-build”. So it does happen

 

[Californication69]

Maybe needs a light spray with some silicon lubricant .

Good idea, I’ll put some on a Cotten bud and allow it to seep into the crack.
It’s going in for a service soon.
So I’ll ask them to replace it under warranty.

 

[yossarian]

2. I've looked at Ocean spec brochures going back a couple of years and this should have electric folding wing mirrors? They aren't and the control doesn't have the option. (My Tiguan does so I know what I'm looking for....). The data sheet for the factory confirms it a MY23 Ocean so I don't know what happened there. I love the fact that I can check if my Tiguan is locked by glancing back and seeing if the mirrors are in and I assumed I could get this to do it too.

I'd be inclined to put in a warranty claim. The vehicle should be equipped as indicated on the catalog and if not that's VW's problem.

At the very least they should give you some cash for it.

 

[andyinluton]

I'd be inclined to put in a warranty claim. The vehicle should be equipped as indicated on the catalog and if not that's VW's problem.

At the very least they should give you some cash for it.

Why?
Its a secondhand vehicle, the contract is between the buyer & the selling garage, unless there is something in the advert that says it comes with folding mirrors, what's in a brochure produced by a 3rd party (VW) is totally irrelevant.

If it was new order I would agree.

 

[yossarian]

Why?
Its a secondhand vehicle, the contract is between the buyer & the selling garage, unless there is something in the advert that says it comes with folding mirrors, what's in a brochure produced by a 3rd party (VW) is totally irrelevant.

If it was new order I would agree.

If the advert says "2023 Ocean" then the published spec includes folding mirrors doesn't it? It seems a bit odd if you have to inspect every nut and bolt of a vehicle whose only previous owner is a dealer?

 

[Corradobrit]

I would still like to see the controls on the door card and the silk print. Hard to imagine the rotating knob is absent on the door since it controls more than just this function.

 

[yossarian]

I would still like to see the controls on the door card and the silk print. Hard to imagine the rotating knob is absent on the door since it controls more than just this function.

I think VW make a knob with the 8 o' clock position absent.

Edit: my MY22 manual only has the heated folding mirrors described.

 

[andyinluton]

If the advert says "2023 Ocean" then the published spec includes folding mirrors doesn't it? It seems a bit odd if you have to inspect every nut and bolt of a vehicle whose only previous owner is a dealer?

Its a second hand vehicle, not unreasonable to look at it & see what its got before parting with the cash.

I would be more concerned with checking if lane change assist and side protection are fitted as I seem to remember they were linked to component shortages last year. I believe the shortage of door mirrors with the orange warning lights on them was part of the problem, possibly in this case why lower spec mirrors have been fitted.

There have been a few instances of spec discrepancies over recent years - window fly screens, safe lock button, sport mode on the gearbox. All of which meant that a van ordered six months earlier wouldn't match the spec in the brochure on delivery day. If you go back as far as swivelgate & the farce that happened then, you wouldn't buy a VW without checking absolutely everything....

 

[Kayleigh]

I would be more concerned with checking if lane change assist and side protection are fitted as I seem to remember they were linked to component shortages last year. I believe the shortage of door mirrors with the orange warning lights on them was part of the problem, possibly in this case why lower spec mirrors have been fitted.

Actually, now I think about it, I don’t recall my Ocean (built May 23) having lane change assist. It certainly never provided any kind of assistance ever.
It had the orange warning lights on the mirrors though. What a brilliant safety feature they are!
So yes, definitely worth checking all the features it ‘should’ have.

 

[andyinluton]

Actually, now I think about it, I don’t recall my Ocean (built May 23) having lane change assist. It certainly never provided any kind of assistance ever.
It had the orange warning lights on the mirrors though. What a brilliant safety feature they are!
So yes, definitely worth checking all the features it ‘should’ have.

The lights on the mirror are the lane change assist, warns you if there is something in your blind spot or approaching fast on the side you are indicating to move to.

 

[Kayleigh]

The lights on the mirror are the lane change assist, warns you if there is something in your blind spot or approaching fast on the side you are indicating to move to.

Doh!! I was expecting it to change lanes for me and keep it in lane.

 

[Musket]

Thanks for all the replies.

It seems the sticking button in the rear aircon controller is a manufacturer fault. The one the dealer replaced it with looks identical but I’ve been assured is modified.

The salesman did say it hadn’t got folding mirrors although he didn’t infer it should, rather that another showroom model had. As an ex demonstrator, I bought a second hand vehicle so can’t really complain.

A pre delivery check of a product sold to you is of every reasonable item unless told otherwise. As an ex CEO of a group of manufacturing companies, I can speak from legal experience. That neither the rear aircon controller nor the habitation heater was checked isn’t good enough. (The habitation heater check would have found the leisure batteries fault code tha needed clearing.) That said, it was an observation of quality of service rather than precipitating further action on my part. There’s three VW van centres closer than the supplying dealer. One of which shares the site with the dealer who services my Tiguan. They will get my custom, as they would even if the supplying dealer was up to the mark.

Again, thanks so much for all the comments.

We’ve just had our first night away in it, in a pub car park. Chuffed to bits!

 

[NickiandDoraCandyCopper]

Last week, we collected our California Ocean. It is an ex demonstrator, sold by the VW dealer, first registered May 2023, and according to paperwork from the factory left in the vehicle, built February 2023. It's got a few factory extras such as towbar and wooden floor and we are very happy with our new toy. It has 700 miles on the clock and quite a saving from new.

Two things that I would be discussing in the pub with seasoned owners;

1. When we collected it, a couple of things sneaked through their pre deliver check that shouldn't have, necessitating a trip back the other day.

a). The rear aircon / temperature buttons and display had a stuck button (increase temp) that meant we got a bit hot on the way home. I released it with a credit card prised in it (the whole thing then worked till you pressed that button again) and they replaced it whilst I waited. Very happy in that regard. Blessed if I know how that got through inspection but hey ho.

They said this happens a lot, this sticking button that doesn't spring back. Does it? I have done a search here but doesn't seem that common. They reckon VW have a revised assembly that they fitted.

b. As a demonstrator, of course the leisure batteries were basically flat. WIth 2 1/2 year warranty, that in itself doesn't bother me but.... As I have a Tiguan with We Connect (actually the new VW app...) I registered it easily and quickly added it and it reported a fault (second battery low, how it reported it) but once I'd got home and connected EHU for a while, this cleared.

However, when testing out the features, the fridge worked OK but the heater didn't, kept saying please wait then telling me the heater was faulty. When they had it back, they said the fault hadn't cleared really and the system was still showing low second battery hence wouldn't use the heater. They cleared the fault and all was ok. Presumably, faults that clear on the app health check don't necessarily clear on the vehicle..... Looks like an OBD2 fault clearer might get some hammer in the future?

2. I've looked at Ocean spec brochures going back a couple of years and this should have electric folding wing mirrors? They aren't and the control doesn't have the option. (My Tiguan does so I know what I'm looking for....). The data sheet for the factory confirms it a MY23 Ocean so I don't know what happened there. I love the fact that I can check if my Tiguan is locked by glancing back and seeing if the mirrors are in and I assumed I could get this to do it too.

Despite all that, I'm happy. I am still in the "hand it back" period and I'm not going to. It's just that handing over £70K, you want perfection. I have no issue with things going wrong, it happens. But faults on there when I collected it that weren't pointed out to me is below what I expect. Both faults would have flagged up if their pre delivery check was merely plug it in and ask it how it is feeling.

I've yet to buy a car without something on the snag list. Just curious as to how common my snag list is with other owners.

Hi there, nope! Our new Cali Ocean (2021) is perfect. Took time to get used to the “heat immediately” vs “heat continuously” but that was our issue not the Cali’s! No sticking buttons - she’s a joy!

 

[Anthony1]

I would have thought electric mirrors were standard on the Ocean. I had to spec it on a EU spec Coast and I usually actuate them by rotating the the knob on the door to 8 o'clock. What do your's do when you rotate the knob?

12 O'clock on mine

 

[jason.oneill4]

Last week, we collected our California Ocean. It is an ex demonstrator, sold by the VW dealer, first registered May 2023, and according to paperwork from the factory left in the vehicle, built February 2023. It's got a few factory extras such as towbar and wooden floor and we are very happy with our new toy. It has 700 miles on the clock and quite a saving from new.

Two things that I would be discussing in the pub with seasoned owners;

1. When we collected it, a couple of things sneaked through their pre deliver check that shouldn't have, necessitating a trip back the other day.

a). The rear aircon / temperature buttons and display had a stuck button (increase temp) that meant we got a bit hot on the way home. I released it with a credit card prised in it (the whole thing then worked till you pressed that button again) and they replaced it whilst I waited. Very happy in that regard. Blessed if I know how that got through inspection but hey ho.

They said this happens a lot, this sticking button that doesn't spring back. Does it? I have done a search here but doesn't seem that common. They reckon VW have a revised assembly that they fitted.

b. As a demonstrator, of course the leisure batteries were basically flat. WIth 2 1/2 year warranty, that in itself doesn't bother me but.... As I have a Tiguan with We Connect (actually the new VW app...) I registered it easily and quickly added it and it reported a fault (second battery low, how it reported it) but once I'd got home and connected EHU for a while, this cleared.

However, when testing out the features, the fridge worked OK but the heater didn't, kept saying please wait then telling me the heater was faulty. When they had it back, they said the fault hadn't cleared really and the system was still showing low second battery hence wouldn't use the heater. They cleared the fault and all was ok. Presumably, faults that clear on the app health check don't necessarily clear on the vehicle..... Looks like an OBD2 fault clearer might get some hammer in the future?

2. I've looked at Ocean spec brochures going back a couple of years and this should have electric folding wing mirrors? They aren't and the control doesn't have the option. (My Tiguan does so I know what I'm looking for....). The data sheet for the factory confirms it a MY23 Ocean so I don't know what happened there. I love the fact that I can check if my Tiguan is locked by glancing back and seeing if the mirrors are in and I assumed I could get this to do it too.

Despite all that, I'm happy. I am still in the "hand it back" period and I'm not going to. It's just that handing over £70K, you want perfection. I have no issue with things going wrong, it happens. But faults on there when I collected it that weren't pointed out to me is below what I expect. Both faults would have flagged up if their pre delivery check was merely plug it in and ask it how it is feeling.

I've yet to buy a car without something on the snag list. Just curious as to how common my snag list is with other owners.

Sadly - what you are experiencing is what we have come to expect from VW. You can work through the gremlins but it takes time, patience and perseverance…

 

[VincentVan]

Thanks for all the replies.

It seems the sticking button in the rear aircon controller is a manufacturer fault. The one the dealer replaced it with looks identical but I’ve been assured is modified.

The salesman did say it hadn’t got folding mirrors although he didn’t infer it should, rather that another showroom model had. As an ex demonstrator, I bought a second hand vehicle so can’t really complain.

A pre delivery check of a product sold to you is of every reasonable item unless told otherwise. As an ex CEO of a group of manufacturing companies, I can speak from legal experience. That neither the rear aircon controller nor the habitation heater was checked isn’t good enough. (The habitation heater check would have found the leisure batteries fault code tha needed clearing.) That said, it was an observation of quality of service rather than precipitating further action on my part. There’s three VW van centres closer than the supplying dealer. One of which shares the site with the dealer who services my Tiguan. They will get my custom, as they would even if the supplying dealer was up to the mark.

Again, thanks so much for all the comments.

We’ve just had our first night away in it, in a pub car park. Chuffed to bits!

I like your pragmatic approach; sounds like the perfect balance of getting things done but not becoming too wound up about them in the process. Glad to hear you enjoyed your first night away.

I have found the folding mirrors to be very useful because it’s a wide vehicle. I expect you can have them fitted.

It’s a pity there doesn’t seem to be an independent VW California specialist to help with habitation issues.

 

[WelshGas]

Thanks for all the replies.

It seems the sticking button in the rear aircon controller is a manufacturer fault. The one the dealer replaced it with looks identical but I’ve been assured is modified.

The salesman did say it hadn’t got folding mirrors although he didn’t infer it should, rather that another showroom model had. As an ex demonstrator, I bought a second hand vehicle so can’t really complain.

A pre delivery check of a product sold to you is of every reasonable item unless told otherwise. As an ex CEO of a group of manufacturing companies, I can speak from legal experience. That neither the rear aircon controller nor the habitation heater was checked isn’t good enough. (The habitation heater check would have found the leisure batteries fault code tha needed clearing.) That said, it was an observation of quality of service rather than precipitating further action on my part. There’s three VW van centres closer than the supplying dealer. One of which shares the site with the dealer who services my Tiguan. They will get my custom, as they would even if the supplying dealer was up to the mark.

Again, thanks so much for all the comments.

We’ve just had our first night away in it, in a pub car park. Chuffed to bits!

I like your pragmatic approach; sounds like the perfect balance of getting things done but not becoming too wound up about them in the process. Glad to hear you enjoyed your first night away.

I have found the folding mirrors to be very useful because it’s a wide vehicle. I expect you can have them fitted.

It’s a pity there doesn’t seem to be an independent VW California specialist to help with habitation issues.

You can retrofit. £1250 + VAT

GENUINE VW T6.1 ELECTRIC FOLDING MIRRORS - SUPPLY AND FIT

We are pleased to offer the Genuine Volkswagen folding wing mirrors for the VW Transporter T6 and T6.1 Vans. This installation includes the

www.hazzydayz.com

 

[Campervanpup21]

Last week, we collected our California Ocean. It is an ex demonstrator, sold by the VW dealer, first registered May 2023, and according to paperwork from the factory left in the vehicle, built February 2023. It's got a few factory extras such as towbar and wooden floor and we are very happy with our new toy. It has 700 miles on the clock and quite a saving from new.

Two things that I would be discussing in the pub with seasoned owners;

1. When we collected it, a couple of things sneaked through their pre deliver check that shouldn't have, necessitating a trip back the other day.

a). The rear aircon / temperature buttons and display had a stuck button (increase temp) that meant we got a bit hot on the way home. I released it with a credit card prised in it (the whole thing then worked till you pressed that button again) and they replaced it whilst I waited. Very happy in that regard. Blessed if I know how that got through inspection but hey ho.

They said this happens a lot, this sticking button that doesn't spring back. Does it? I have done a search here but doesn't seem that common. They reckon VW have a revised assembly that they fitted.

b. As a demonstrator, of course the leisure batteries were basically flat. WIth 2 1/2 year warranty, that in itself doesn't bother me but.... As I have a Tiguan with We Connect (actually the new VW app...) I registered it easily and quickly added it and it reported a fault (second battery low, how it reported it) but once I'd got home and connected EHU for a while, this cleared.

However, when testing out the features, the fridge worked OK but the heater didn't, kept saying please wait then telling me the heater was faulty. When they had it back, they said the fault hadn't cleared really and the system was still showing low second battery hence wouldn't use the heater. They cleared the fault and all was ok. Presumably, faults that clear on the app health check don't necessarily clear on the vehicle..... Looks like an OBD2 fault clearer might get some hammer in the future?

2. I've looked at Ocean spec brochures going back a couple of years and this should have electric folding wing mirrors? They aren't and the control doesn't have the option. (My Tiguan does so I know what I'm looking for....). The data sheet for the factory confirms it a MY23 Ocean so I don't know what happened there. I love the fact that I can check if my Tiguan is locked by glancing back and seeing if the mirrors are in and I assumed I could get this to do it too.

Despite all that, I'm happy. I am still in the "hand it back" period and I'm not going to. It's just that handing over £70K, you want perfection. I have no issue with things going wrong, it happens. But faults on there when I collected it that weren't pointed out to me is below what I expect. Both faults would have flagged up if their pre delivery check was merely plug it in and ask it how it is feeling.

I've yet to buy a car without something on the snag list. Just curious as to how common my snag list is with other owners.

Press and long hold on lock button for folding mirrors. Seems to take around 7-10 seconds for ours. Good luck!

 

[Musket]

Press and long hold on lock button for folding mirrors. Seems to take around 7-10 seconds for ours. Good luck!

Thanks but no, it doesn’t actually have them, as I said. The selector switch doesn’t have that position (I have a Tiguan, I’m familiar with how it should be.)

It’s plain, not fitted.

 

[Campervanpup21]

Thanks but no, it doesn’t actually have them, as I said. The selector switch doesn’t have that position (I have a Tiguan, I’m familiar with how it should be.)

It’s plain, not fitted.

Hi Musket, I don’t have a selector switch. To fold them in I use a long hold on the lock button of the key fob?

 

[ArunAlec]

The overall vehicle width reduction is minimal with mirrors folded, so I wouldn’t be too bothered about not having them. The only function they seem to serve is to empty the rain water that collects in them!

 

[Corradobrit]

The overall vehicle width reduction is minimal with mirrors folded, so I wouldn’t be too bothered about not having them. The only function they seem to serve is to empty the rain water that collects in them!

That little bit is the only way I can get my Cali into the garage. Every little helps.