My roof repair has started...

Californiaman · Jul 28, 2014

My lovely Reflex Silver 2010 got swapped today for a lovely new, new blue one. It wasn't nice watching it leave on a flat bed truck but the chap from the AA was sympathetic!

Anyone wondering about the differences? Not many...

Raggedroy · Jul 28, 2014

Which repair centre is it going to?

Californiaman · Jul 28, 2014

AB Crush..

smgcowfoldparts · Jul 29, 2014

Let me know how the repair goes.

From what I have been told they are an exceptional outfit and there shouldn't be any issues at all.

Cheers

Stu · Jul 29, 2014

Mine is with them at the moment, I am expecting to get the call to say it is finished anytime soon.

Raggedroy · Jul 29, 2014

Stu said:
Mine is with them at the moment, I am expecting to get the call to say it is finished anytime soon.

Is the repair for the front panel only or both the main roof and the front panel?

Stu · Jul 29, 2014

Yes, both parts for me.

Californiaman · Jul 29, 2014

Not sure what bits will be replaced on mine. I got an email today from them quoting for a small repair to a scratch and small ding in the rear offside quarter panel. Sadly, they want to replace the entire panel and paint that and the sliding door to ensure it matches. It really is a minor scratch and the ding was there when we collected it(!) so I don't want to go ahead with that level of intrusion for such a small amount of damage. I have great confidence in AB Crush doing a great job but I worry more that someone will bash it in a carpark on my first outing after the repair!

They said the repair on mine is going well so I hope to hear more (and have asked for details) in the near future.

Interestingly, the company that installed my tracker rang me about my van moving before it even left my company car park! They phoned me again today to warn me that the battery had been disconnected! Impressed..

Gregc · Jul 29, 2014

Hi Californiaman, can I ask which tracker you chose?

Californiaman · Jul 29, 2014

PM sent..

Gregc · Jul 29, 2014

Californiaman said:
PM sent..

Thanks.

Californiaman · Jul 30, 2014

I've spoken to AB Crush again today. They have stripped the roof and have noticed that I also have corrosion on the main elevating panel where the rubber strip meets the aluminium. This is apparently caused by metal clips in the rubber. The repair is to rub the paint down around the edge, seal it with an improved under seal and repaint it. A second warranty claim has been raised and processed to deal with this (thanks, Alex + SMG)

The front panel is being replaced completely and again will be stripped back, under coated properly, painted and refitted.

The chaps at AB Crush are also dealing with a couple of kinks I put into the roof by lowering it with something still up top as well as a bend in the side where I lowered it onto one of the little rubber grommets that fell out of the scissor mechanism - at a very reasonable cost.

Martin · Jul 30, 2014

Mark,

We were aware of the metal clip within the rubber seal causing this corrosion, but what are they doing about it ? Are they just putting the same seal back on with the same metal within it?

Stu · Jul 30, 2014

That's it Martin, there is no official repair from VW it's just AB Crush using their knowledge and experience to carry out the repair.

Mine was also corroded (as I think will be most people's when they check) and they have rubbed it back for repainting.

Californiaman · Jul 30, 2014

As I said above, the chap I spoke to today seemed confident that their approach to undercoat application should resolve the problem. Time will tell I guess..

Californiaman · Aug 11, 2014

Silver van is back and the blue van has gone on to the next repairee.. I have only had a brief look but AB Crush appear to have done a smashing job. Considering how invasive the surgery has been, you would hardly know - very impressive. They kindly left a couple of pots of touch up paint, which must have been used for something but I don't know what.

The new bellows look, well, like new. The only difference appears to be in the front folding hinge. I can't tell exactly what the difference is but the folding mechanism feels a little bit more complicated that the old one.

Looking forward to going away but it won't be for a couple of weeks 8-(

Raggedroy · Aug 23, 2014

Californiaman said:
Silver van is back and the blue van has gone on to the next repairee.. I have only had a brief look but AB Crush appear to have done a smashing job. Considering how invasive the surgery has been, you would hardly know - very impressive. They kindly left a couple of pots of touch up paint, which must have been used for something but I don't know what.

The new bellows look, well, like new. The only difference appears to be in the front folding hinge. I can't tell exactly what the difference is but the folding mechanism feels a little bit more complicated that the old one.

Looking forward to going away but it won't be for a couple of weeks 8-(

I have just seen the parts list for the roof corrosion repair, I didn't notice anything that related to new bellows. Could it be that they are only replaced if the original are damaged as they are removed?