** Important News: New Vehicle Registrations on Hold

[SLHT6PEARL]

Just catching up with this thread as we’re in the canaries for Xmas. Just before we came away our beatle broke down we towed it to my friends garage it showed dpf valve faulty, it’s a 2012 140 derv which had the emission upgrade from the 1st scandal. I took it to VW who service it and carried out the upgrade armed with the information that my friend had passed on to me about other vws that had failed dpf valves after the update,a £900 job,the repair was carried out foc and trust me if it goes again it’ll be going back we intend to keep the car for a few years yet for our daughter to use. The reason I’m keeping an eye on this thread is that our car never performed as well after the upgrade it was obviously responsible for the dpf problems and I was under the impression that the upgrade was compulsory,it’s not, If there’s a recall on my Cali it won’t be going for it. I’ll be watching the situation carefully I hope this post helps other people if they get involved in a similar situation I’m not sure if any other Calis have had the same problem or if they had to have the upgrade. Ps all that aside I know it not going to stop my love for my bus and the adventure it’s going to bring in 2018. HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL.

 

[B J G]

I should have added - this index is mentioned in a feature about diesel emissions on the BBC website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/how_toxic_is_your_car_exhaust

Good read, if nothing else it confirms how complicated the pollution issue has now become and how much biased or simply misleading information there is.

 

[SLHT6PEARL]

Apologies! I’m getting my egr and my dpf mixed up! Please insert egr on my post from earlier, I think my brains gone on a separate holiday without me.

 

[El Greco]

Just catching up with this thread as we’re in the canaries for Xmas. Just before we came away our beatle broke down we towed it to my friends garage it showed dpf valve faulty, it’s a 2012 140 derv which had the emission upgrade from the 1st scandal. I took it to VW who service it and carried out the upgrade armed with the information that my friend had passed on to me about other vws that had failed dpf valves after the update,a £900 job,the repair was carried out foc and trust me if it goes again it’ll be going back we intend to keep the car for a few years yet for our daughter to use. The reason I’m keeping an eye on this thread is that our car never performed as well after the upgrade it was obviously responsible for the dpf problems and I was under the impression that the upgrade was compulsory,it’s not, If there’s a recall on my Cali it won’t be going for it. I’ll be watching the situation carefully I hope this post helps other people if they get involved in a similar situation I’m not sure if any other Calis have had the same problem or if they had to have the upgrade. Ps all that aside I know it not going to stop my love for my bus and the adventure it’s going to bring in 2018. HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL.

Similarly, I was pressured to have the update on my 2009 Passat but declined after refusal by VW to offer a written undertaking that it would cover the costs of any problems associated with the emission components, fuel consumption or engine power output. I will not risk the reliability or performance of the car to satisfy VWs negligence.

When it comes to the Cali, I will not be in a hurry to make a decision if an update is offered for a similar reason even if I still have another 3 years of warranty remaining.

 

[thehorse]

I wonder how easy it will in practice be to opt out of this update. Every time it goes for a service you'd have to specifically request the software is not updated and I suspect if there are other non emission related updates you'd miss out on these.

 

[WelshGas]

Also Emissions Tax Band May be changed.

 

[Meoncoast]

I wonder how easy it will in practice be to opt out of this update. Every time it goes for a service you'd have to specifically request the software is not updated and I suspect if there are other non emission related updates you'd miss out on these.

And say goodbye to any warranty cover ?

 

[C&R Sussex]

I wonder how easy it will in practice be to opt out of this update. Every time it goes for a service you'd have to specifically request the software is not updated and I suspect if there are other non emission related updates you'd miss out on these.

I agree for software/warranty reasons it would not be easy to "opt out"
We, like others in this thread, have vans sitting at the dealers and I would suggest that once VW have a "fix" then we will have to accept them with the update.
What concerns us is that if the "fix" affects the performance and fuel consumption will we have any comeback with VW if we are not happy?
Our new van is 150bhp DSG whereas our previous cali was a 174 T5 Auto and it was probably the best long distance cruising car we have ever had. We are going to be very upset if this one does not match up.
However, we think that once the reg ban is removed the decision will be either accept the vehicle or ask for our deposit back and look for a used one.
We would be very interested in the opinions of the others whose vans are ready for delivery

 

[Ocean Spirit]

If you decide to accept, your deposit went on a 150ps with quoted mpg figures.if that changes for the worse and there is no offer of compensation then the decision is really tough. My T6 arrrived just before all this broke and if a software fix is required that doesn't meet what I bought then I like many others will have been mis-sold.
VW will need to do something

 

[Digger]

If you decide to accept, your deposit went on a 150ps with quoted mpg figures.if that changes for the worse and there is no offer of compensation then the decision is really tough. My T6 arrrived just before all this broke and if a software fix is required that doesn't meet what I bought then I like many others will have been mis-sold.
VW will need to do something

I think all manufacturers have a disclaimer regarding mpg. Every vehicle sold including Tesla's never match quoted figures.

 

[Richard Brown]

I am sure I have seen this topic embedded within another thread. I was destined to take charge of a new 204 Ocean in Jan ... ready for March registration

However I received an email yesterday from my dealer and an attached letter from VW Commercial division stating that my vehicle delivery was being suspended. ( Early Jan).
I am assuming this relates to the emissions requirements and the fact that VW are being squeaky clean.
(See statement from VW below). I am sure there will be a number of expected buyers receiving similar notifications. I do have a number questions relating to this :-

1. How long will it take to fix the issue ?
2. Will this change the engine specification . i.e power output / fuel consumption etc
3. Change in warranty or potential cost of extending.

I am sure there are many other questions relating to this including should or can you reject your order on the above basis and change for another spec ?

From VW

Thank you for your recent order.
The Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand has identified a conformity of production issue
with respect to T6 models with diesel engines and passenger car registration (known as ‘M1
registration’).

We anticipate that the issue will soon be resolved via a technical measure, and we plan to
implement that measure in your vehicle before it is delivered to you.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has already informed the German Federal Motor Transport

Authority (the KBA), the relevant regulator for this vehicle, about the situation. Conformity of
production issues occur from time to time within the automotive industry. The Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand has taken the precaution of suspending delivery of new vehicles with corresponding diesel engines up until a technical solution has been implemented.

The vehicle you ordered is among the models affected by this measure.We would like to sincerely apologise for any potential delay as a result of this issue. If you require replacement mobility, we would ask you to contact 0800 093 0151 so that this can be discussed.

 

[Ocean Spirit]

I think all manufacturers have a disclaimer regarding mpg. Every vehicle sold including Tesla's never match quoted figures.

You may be right but would that disclaimer hold out if they change the spec and capability after purchase?
Via some kind of recall?

 

[Sad]

While I've not read the whole thread, I expect you'll find your answers in here:

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/important-news-new-vehicle-registrations-on-hold.22236/

 

[audio2]

Does your California have the dsg gearbox? I was told my 204 with dsg has a build week 4 21/1/2018 2 days ago on the chat line.

 

[Bellcrew]

You may be right but would that disclaimer hold out if they change the spec and capability after purchase?
Via some kind of recall?

In this months issue of MMM there is a test of the Bilbo Celex, petrol version. Whilst there is no mention of the tax situation either in the test or on the converters web site it is likely that their vehicles are registered as vans and not M1 passenger cars.
So the £40,000+ tax hike and the 2018 band increase for diesel vehicles do not apply, a massive commercial advantage that has no logical explanation, curious hey.

 

[WelshGas]

In this months issue of MMM there is a test of the Bilbo Celex, petrol version. Whilst there is no mention of the tax situation either in the test or on the converters web site it is likely that their vehicles are registered as vans and not M1 passenger cars.
So the £40,000+ tax hike and the 2018 band increase for diesel vehicles do not apply, a massive commercial advantage that has no logical explanation, curious hey.

However, if registered as a “Commercial Vehicle” only then they have to abide by different speed limits on certain roads unless they conform fully to the DVLA definition of a - Motorhome/Motorcaravan - and have the Body Type changed on the V5c.
Also very few, if any, of these vehicles have a 3 year warranty covering both the Base Vehicle and the Conversion.

 

[Bellcrew]

However, if registered as a “Commercial Vehicle” only then they have to abide by different speed limits on certain roads unless they conform fully to the DVLA definition of a - Motorhome/Motorcaravan - and have the Body Type changed on the V5c.
Also very few, if any, of these vehicles have a 3 year warranty covering both the Base Vehicle and the Conversion.

Why would they not register as Motorhome/Motorcaravans?
Most people given the choice would probably go for the California but the tax situation is becoming completely absurd.
It would seem that only the Marco Polo/California have to pay these imposts, the rest of the industry continues to be exempt for no logical reason.
The conformity issue stopping registration of course only applies to this limited range of vehicles.

 

[CampervanTime]

I don't want to sound at all pompous but is the road tax difference between a van (£240) and a cali (£450 for years 2-5, plus one off bigger rate for year 1) really going to sway the decision ?

£210 / yr is not really a big deal in the cost of buying/running a £60k vehicle... 2 and a half tanks of fuel?

 

[Bellcrew]

I don't want to sound at all pompous but is the road tax difference between a van (£240) and a cali (£450 for years 2-5, plus one off bigger rate for year 1) really going to sway the decision ?

£210 / yr is not really a big deal in the cost of buying/running a £60k vehicle... 2 and a half tanks of fuel?

Duty first year band J £800, band K £1200.
I paid £185 in October 2016.
A good number of free tanks of fuel/camp site nights.

 

[Gasgas]

Call me cynical, but I reckon VW cv have hit their annual registration target and don’t want to go over it.

 

[Sad]

While I've not read the whole thread, I expect you'll find your answers in here:

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/important-news-new-vehicle-registrations-on-hold.22236/

Have I gone mad or was there some merging of threads that makes my post look ridiculous!

 

[Roger Boeken]

It's just been withdrawn on the VW website for each passenger grade (M1) Transporter-based model. Whether this is permanent though is anyone's guess, hence just a "could" at this stage.

Is this a UK thing ? I tried the configurator in Belgium and all models still available ..

 

[B J G]

Is this a UK thing ? I tried the configurator in Belgium and all models still available ..

Configuring isn't the issue it's at the point of delivery/purchase that your ordered Cali can be sat at the Dealer's but cannot be registered and driven home.

 

[thehorse]

Have I gone mad or was there some merging of threads that makes my post look ridiculous!

Yep!

Around the same time my post about the tailgate dropping was also merged into an older post on the subject so my post was totally out of context and made me look a bit of a bozo.

 

[jts46]

Trouble is that lots of bozo's on this forum