Leaking pop tops on 2023 California Oceans

[CaliforniaPhil]

Has anybody tested their 06S bellows, spray hose or rain?

My Cali is in this week, testing and hopefully new bellows. They phoned today and said they are completing the job on Monday.

 

[Deadsquirrel!]

We have a very late 2022 ocean. What’s the best way to test it at home? Just open up the roof and have someone use a hose pipe over the bellows?

Also is there anyone with non 06s bellows that tested thoroughly and it’s not leaking? I.e could it be that ours is ok?

 

[WelshGas]

We have a very late 2022 ocean. What’s the best way to test it at home? Just open up the roof and have someone use a hose pipe over the bellows?

Also is there anyone with non 06s bellows that tested thoroughly and it’s not leaking? I.e could it be that ours is ok?

Test with a spray not a jet of water. At least 30 mins.

 

[CaliforniaPhil]

We have a very late 2022 ocean. What’s the best way to test it at home? Just open up the roof and have someone use a hose pipe over the bellows?

Also is there anyone with non 06s bellows that tested thoroughly and it’s not leaking? I.e could it be that ours is ok?

I found a step ladder with a hose on spray taped to it, good. Somebody posted a picture of their test kit on here but trying to find it in this thread! You are trying to simulate rain, so sort of arcing onto the canvas. It can take a while, you get bored holing the hose. Up to an hour, but if it leaks badly it's about 15 mins . Get it from various angles, most have leaked around the front corners and along the seem under the front half moon bit. Be careful of the vents in the top corner, if you spray those its straight in. As said before on here, keep an eye on water pooling at the front. Your drain holes will only get rid of certain amount of water, depends how much pressure/flow rate you have. If blocked you could get water in the bottom of the bellows.

 

[Sheffield10]

I found a step ladder with a hose on spray taped to it, good. Somebody posted a picture of their test kit on here but trying to find it in this thread! You are trying to simulate rain, so sort of arcing onto the canvas. It can take a while, you get bored holing the hose. Up to an hour, but if it leaks badly it's about 15 mins . Get it from various angles, most have leaked around the front corners and along the seem under the front half moon bit. Be careful of the vents in the top corner, if you spray those its straight in. As said before on here, keep an eye on water pooling at the front. Your drain holes will only get rid of certain amount of water, depends how much pressure/flow rate you have. If blocked you could get water in the bottom of the bellows.

Leaking pop tops on 2023 California Oceans

L Yes let’s hope they don’t leak too….! Not had any issues with mine yet!

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[sbmcd]

So my Aug 2024 Cali with 05S bellows are leaking, first time we've had it out in the rain and I wanted to test in sideways rain which we currently have

My local dealer is John Clark Aberdeen, just wondering if anyone has had any dealings with them with regards to replacement bellows?

Hawco Inverness is my next nearest

View attachment 129315

View attachment 129316

Following as I'm looking at an ex demo from them.

 

[Woodworkingman]

Looking for other peoples' experiences with the new double lined pop top roof (the one that is grey outside / cream inside), and any potential solutions to the problem of leaking though the seams and fabric.

In the last week we've had complaints from customers on all four of our March 2023 Oceans that the new style pop tops have leaked, mostly though the seams in heavy rain or constant drizzle. Each of them has the new double lined lined pop top roof (grey outside / cream inside). It's not a problem that we had with our "old style" 2022 vehicles (the ones with the single grey pop top fabric) - I think it might be an issue with the new design.

I've read on the forums that putting the pop tops through a few wet / dry cycles will sort the issue as the fibres tighten up - has anyone experienced this with the new style pop top?

If not, has anyone tried something like a Nikwax application to improve waterproofness?

Here’s a photo of my bellows when they were leaking on the inside. This was in light to moderate rain. The fabric really absorbs water at the front but at the sides it’s largely sheltered in low wind conditions. You can see this in the photo where the wet material is darker. I wonder if the fabric itself is not wicking the water properly and around the area of that dodgy seam it’s seeping through. When I put the roof down the canvas material felt quite heavy, certainly a lot heavier than when it’s dry. It seems to soak up water a bit like a towel. Does the old fabric soak up water in this way when wet? It looks a shinier material. If the older fabric doesn’t soak up the water in the first place the seam may be irrelevant as the water may never reach it in sufficient quantities.

View attachment 112016

To reduce production costs. Vehicles are designed and manufactured to a price, not a standard.

Took our Ocean which we collected new in November 2023 to our dealer for its oil service. They asked if we had any problems. We told them we had had a couple of leaks in the bellows and they asked whereabouts. When we said left hand front, they said that was where they always leaked and suggested we contact their warranty department. Warranty department said to book it in for a water test which would take a couple of days. Any leak would be photographed and the photos and report would be sent to VW. If VW agreed, a new bellows would be ordered and we could have it fitted at a time to suit us. I booked it in, dropped off the vehicle, 40 mile round trip , my wife collected me, got home, received phone call from dealer which said “ come back and collect your Ocean. Wait until it rains, film the rain, film the leak, photograph the white tag on the front window zip( there is no white tag on ours) , email us these details and we will see what they can do”! I will not name our dealer as they are top notch and as I worked for a different franchise main dealer for 48 years, I know what they are up against with warranty claims but at the moment I feel a bit peed off and am probably backing a loser. That’s a real shame as we really love our Cali. Had I know this was going to happen I would have sprayed it with Aquatex and saved 120 miles worth of fuel.

 

[Woodworkingman]

Has anybody tested their 06S bellows, spray hose or rain?

My Cali is in this week, testing and hopefully new bellows. They phoned today and said they are completing the job on Monday.

Took our Ocean which we collected new in November 2023 to our dealer for its oil service. They asked if we had any problems. We told them we had had a couple of leaks in the bellows and they asked whereabouts. When we said left hand front, they said that was where they always leaked and suggested we contact their warranty department. Warranty department said to book it in for a water test which would take a couple of days. Any leak would be photographed and the photos and report would be sent to VW. If VW agreed, a new bellows would be ordered and we could have it fitted at a time to suit us. I booked it in, dropped off the vehicle, 40 mile round trip , my wife collected me, got home, received phone call from dealer which said “ come back and collect your Ocean. Wait until it rains, film the rain, film the leak, photograph the white tag on the front window zip( there is no white tag on ours) , email us these details and we will see what they can do”! I will not name our dealer as they are top notch and as I worked for a different franchise main dealer for 48 years, I know what they are up against with warranty claims but at the moment I feel a bit peed off and am probably backing a loser. That’s a real shame as we really love our Cali. Had I know this was going to happen I would have sprayed it with Aquatex and saved 120 miles worth of fuel.