Garage have recommended getting rid.

[Ninacooke66]

We have a 2007 California with full service history and everytime we have taken it to the local VW garage major work has been required (although nothing has been obviously wrong). We have rarely left with a bill less than 4k. Having had it for 4 years and bought it for 27k it is becoming very costly. We have just dropped it in for an MOT, again no known problems apart from new tyres needed and a service only 2 months ago with all problems reported at the time fixed. The garage have now quoted us for a new exhaust and engine which is apparently essential as it is not running properly. They have quoted us 12k which is just not feasible so have recommended selling it via we buy and car. I have no mechanical knowledge but I'm finding it hard justifying parting with my beloved van for just 10k or spending another 12k on it to get it fixed when as far as I can see it starts fine and has now warning lights on. We use it all the time and I am meant to be living out of it for the next month and then going abroad in it for a few weeks. Does anyone have any advice? I want a second opinion as I'm starting to doubt this Garage's advice however I also want it to retain a full VW service history.

 

[jts46]

What mileage has it done? Have you noticed anything wrong with engine when you drive it?
And welcome.

 

[larrylamb]

I would be looking for a good independant VW garage and drop the local VW main dealer. A full vw service history is not so important when a vehicle gets older.

 

[mrcheesbrough]

Firstly I’m sorry to hear that your Cali has been so costly to run. I can’t imagine what your dealership would manage to find that could cost so much year on year. Personally I’d be looking for recommendations for an independent specialist in your area. The vehicle itself is the same as pretty much every other T5 on the road, it’s only the camper part that would require more specific expertise and even then there is plenty of knowledge out there.

Secondly. Err. You’ve posted this in the T4 section. You may get more T5 related response in the, um, T5 section. The mods can help sort that.


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[Ninacooke66]

Firstly I’m sorry to hear that your Cali has been so costly to run. I can’t imagine what your dealership would manage to find that could cost so much year on year. Personally I’d be looking for recommendations for an independent specialist in your area. The vehicle itself is the same as pretty much every other T5 on the road, it’s only the camper part that would require more specific expertise and even then there is plenty of knowledge out there.

Secondly. Err. You’ve posted this in the T4 section. You may get more T5 related response in the, um, T5 section. The mods can help sort that.


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1st post... does that get me off the hook? Sorry. Hopefully I can be moved to somewhere a more appropriate.

 

[Ninacooke66]

What mileage has it done? Have you noticed anything wrong with engine when you drive it?
And welcome.

It's done 100k and nothing that I have noticed.

 

[mrcheesbrough]

1st post... does that get me off the hook? Sorry. Hopefully I can be moved to somewhere a more appropriate.

Easily done. Even the regulars manage to do the same thing. I’m sure someone can help move it for you.

Regarding your Cali. Don’t lose faith. Change your garage.


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[sapto]

Welcome here

As said above try to find an other garage/opinion.
Maybe it helps mentioning in which area.

Keep my fingers crossed!

 

[calikev]

i would name and shame the garage they are talking rubbish take it somewhere decent and get the mot done. God do they tell everyone thats engine is not running correctly it needs a new one. did you drive it to the garage?

 

[GrannyJen]

1st post... does that get me off the hook? Sorry. Hopefully I can be moved to somewhere a more appropriate.

No problem Nina, I've moved it for you ...

and welcome,

sorry that your first post is an unhappy one. I hope you get is sorted, you will get good advice here ..

 

[westfalia]

The original exhausts are very well made, there may be rust on the back box
but it probably isn't knackered. Mine is 13yrs old and when i got the mot this year
the guy said unless its blown a hole in it then its okay and i was advised to knock
off a few flakes of rust.
Although in the UK when my driveshaft went and JCB Ashford fixed it, they advised that
i needed a new exhaust and that was 4 yrs ago.

What did they say was wrong with the engine?

Don't sell it like it is at the moment without an mot, you'll get nothing for
it and someone will make a nice easy few quid.

 

[Rich20]

I think they are seeing you as a nice way to make a (quite) few a quid. Definitely get a second opinion. Have they said what is wrong with the engine?

 

[Redrick Esq.]

AFAIK the only thing that would normally be picked up on a MOT in regard to the engine is the emissions

If the engine feels to be working/ driving ok without engine management lights all over the dash then at the mileage you have said i would personally assume that there is nothing really wrong with the engine and the Garage in question are having your pants down

Engines are not as complicated as you would imagine and unless crank cases etc have got holes blown in them from inner workings failing catastrophically they can be rebuilt/ repaired

As said earlier in my post the engine management system would be warning you of imminent failure or you would be able to hear / smell a big problem

Is it using lots of oil ?

Exhausts do fail but are not as expensive in real terms as it seems you are being told. A local to me firm will custom make a stainless steel full system for sensible money.

As regards the rest of the MOT things like ball joints tyres etc etc are all relatively cheap fixes but these should have been picked up at service

Sack that garage and find a good indy

 

[Ninacooke66]

i would name and shame the garage they are talking rubbish take it somewhere decent and get the mot done. God do they tell everyone thats engine is not running correctly it needs a new one. did you drive it to the garage?

Yes I drove it to the garage. It's an approved commercial van VW dealership in the east Midlands. I'm wary of saying much more than that really as I would imagine people would know people.

 

[Nolan]

Just to be clear, did it fail the MOT and if so, what was the failure?

I'm not sure I'd worry about a dealer history once a car is over 10 years old, especially as it seems you have doubts about this dealer!

 

[Ninacooke66]

AFAIK the only thing that would normally be picked up on a MOT in regard to the engine is the emissions

If the engine feels to be working/ driving ok without engine management lights all over the dash then at the mileage you have said i would personally assume that there is nothing really wrong with the engine and the Garage in question are having your pants down

Engines are not as complicated as you would imagine and unless crank cases etc have got holes blown in them from inner workings failing catastrophically they can be rebuilt/ repaired

As said earlier in my post the engine management system would be warning you of imminent failure or you would be able to hear / smell a big problem

Is it using lots of oil ?

Exhausts do fail but are not as expensive in real terms as it seems you are being told. A local to me firm will custom make a stainless steel full system for sensible money.

As regards the rest of the MOT things like ball joints tyres etc etc are all relatively cheap fixes but these should have been picked up at service

Sack that garage and find a good indy

We did seem to be getting through a lot of oil a while back but that seems to have settled (took it the same garage who said there was no problem at that time).

I think they have said the coolant is mixing with the oil but I cant see how that's happening with no obvious signs of a problem (even minor ones or a warning light?). As for the exhaust they have said the first layer is worn through? As I say mechanics are really not my thing (which leaves me wide open to get ripped off so I really should get learning) but I have had much older cars with a lot of problems that have never cost me anything like this van. We are pulling it from the garage today (hopefully after it sails through its MOT) and have it booked in at a local garage to get there thoughts. I naively thought I reputable garage wouldn't be so shady.

 

[GSX1300R]

Surely the dealership you are taking it to can’t just turn round an say”It needs a new engine “ because it’s not running properly. What did they mean by properly? To justify any of this they would need to give you a report of EXACTLY why it wasn’t running properly. Also vehicles rarely need a complete new exhaust system as it would be down to one particular part that’s faulty. If I were you I would google independent garages in your area that specialise in VW vans and look at the feedback from previous customers. Really that’s the only way you will find someone who doesn’t think you have bottomless pockets.

 

[MartG]

VW will always quote expensive parts & labour compared to an independant.

Could be a head gasket fail causing the oil / water contamination, easily checked by a garage looking in oil filler cap or doing a compression test - not too expensive a fix.
The exhaust should still last a while, as said, only being holed or falling off would cause an MOT fail.

 

[Redrick Esq.]

We did seem to be getting through a lot of oil a while back but that seems to have settled (took it the same garage who said there was no problem at that time).

I think they have said the coolant is mixing with the oil but I cant see how that's happening with no obvious signs of a problem (even minor ones or a warning light?). As for the exhaust they have said the first layer is worn through? As I say mechanics are really not my thing (which leaves me wide open to get ripped off so I really should get learning) but I have had much older cars with a lot of problems that have never cost me anything like this van. We are pulling it from the garage today (hopefully after it sails through its MOT) and have it booked in at a local garage to get there thoughts. I naively thought I reputable garage wouldn't be so shady.

If the only problem they are telling you about is that the coolant is mixing with the oil then that suggests that the Head gasket is blown

It isn't a particularly cheap fix but it certainly isnt a new engine or getting rid of it expensive. At worst its a few hours labour plus a cheap part and at the absolute outside getting the head skimmed

Easy to check

Remove the oil filler cap and look at it, if it has white gunky stuff all over it and inside the filler neck then the gasket is shagged

 

[calikev]

it will also be running hot if the head gasket had blown and pressurising as exhaust gasses enter the cooling system

 

[B J G]

An option could be to take out a Warranty, not VW, and carry on using it and if the worst happens you'd have repair cover, after doing as advised previously and getting an independent check over.

 

[AlanC]

As has been said previously, the exhaust will only fail MOT if it is blowing through a hole. The silencers are all double skinned and take years to rot through. My van's (2010) rear box regularly gets an advisory note when MOTed but has not failed the test yet.

If the oil is mixing with the water in the engine, then this is something to worry about. It will not necessarily flag up a warning light.

To be sure, do take the van to another garage and get a second opinion.

Alan

 

[altvic]

Surely the dealership you are taking it to can’t just turn round an say”It needs a new engine “ because it’s not running properly. What did they mean by properly? To justify any of this they would need to give you a report of EXACTLY why it wasn’t running properly. Also vehicles rarely need a complete new exhaust system as it would be down to one particular part that’s faulty. If I were you I would google independent garages in your area that specialise in VW vans and look at the feedback from previous customers. Really that’s the only way you will find someone who doesn’t think you have bottomless pockets.

Perhaps the VW Commercial garage is saying “your van is too old for us to bother with”? Whatever the case the garage is not being honest in their dealings with you imo. Get a second opinion.

 

[GSX1300R]

Perhaps the VW Commercial garage is saying “your van is too old for us to bother with”? Whatever the case the garage is not being honest in their dealings with you imo. Get a second opinion.

You are probably spot on with your assumptions. If you were talking about a 12 year old car then you would probably just scrap it. Garages are not looking at your camper with rose tinted glasses. They are looking realistically. yes second hand vw California’s are worth a fair bit whatever their age as long as they are in good nick. if you could get a GOOD used engine that may well be a better idea than getting a complete new unit. But you would need to know the history and that would probably not be so easy....

 

[GSX1300R]

An option could be to take out a Warranty, not VW, and carry on using it and if the worst happens you'd have repair cover, after doing as advised previously and getting an independent check over.

These warranties have very tight terms and conditions and normally wouldn’t cover replacing the whole engine, BUT it’s always worth looking at anything.