Replacement bellows 2006 T5

[ruia4]

Can anyone advise who else might be able to fit a replacement canvas. Just been quoted £1600+ by the VW centre in Preston!

I can do this job...
If you came to Portugal maybe can save money to vacations and go to United Kingdom with new canvas for less

 

[AlistairC]

Just done this job today. Really not a difficult job and no special tools needed. The first pull is the toughest but once going it is a quick job. 3.5hrs on my own at a very moderate pace. Easier with a scaff tower certainly.
Just needs a ‘SKRAPR’ tool from Lakeland to oust the seal trims fully home and a tube of Sika 521.

 

[OllieCollieCali]

Just done this job today. Really not a difficult job and no special tools needed. The first pull is the toughest but once going it is a quick job. 3.5hrs on my own at a very moderate pace. Easier with a scaff tower certainly.
Just needs a ‘SKRAPR’ tool from Lakeland to oust the seal trims fully home and a tube of Sika 521.

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That looks great!! I had planned to do this myself as well, and after your post ill definately be doing it. Did you buy the bellows direct from VW?

I had planned to replace the bellows in the next few weeks, but there is a lot of talk of the new bellows leaking around the seams at the moment on new vans, and I assume if I buy just the bellows, it will be a set of the new batch of bellows, so just waiting to see if they resolve this first before I go ahead with buying the bellows.

Did you put the sika all of the way around the seals top and bottom? or just set areas?

 

[grainflow]

Just done this job today. Really not a difficult job and no special tools needed. The first pull is the toughest but once going it is a quick job. 3.5hrs on my own at a very moderate pace. Easier with a scaff tower certainly.
Just needs a ‘SKRAPR’ tool from Lakeland to oust the seal trims fully home and a tube of Sika 521.

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That looks like a great job, what was the part number for the grey one you got?

 

[AlistairC]

That looks great!! I had planned to do this myself as well, and after your post ill definately be doing it. Did you buy the bellows direct from VW?

I had planned to replace the bellows in the next few weeks, but there is a lot of talk of the new bellows leaking around the seams at the moment on new vans, and I assume if I buy just the bellows, it will be a set of the new batch of bellows, so just waiting to see if they resolve this first before I go ahead with buying the bellows.

Did you put the sika all of the way around the seals top and bottom? or just set areas?

Sika just on the prescribed joints plus a dot on the upper front corners as those have been seen to pull loose on dealer replacements.

I hear the same re leaking seams - but the old bellows had a couple of nicks and we’re past their best. I don’t like packing away wet canvas so use a Pucer wrap if there is any chance of rain whatsoever so I’m not getting into a flap about that for now. As shown, it’s no more than a 4hr job to replace again so if in 10yrs time they finally make a fully waterproof top I can swap it again!

Part number and cost below. Direct from VW (TPS with an amazing 2.5% discount!!)

Though, if I did it again I think I’d have gone with the blue one!

I hadn’t realised quite how faded the old one was.

 

[OllieCollieCali]

Sika just on the prescribed joints plus a dot on the upper front corners as those have been seen to pull loose on dealer replacements.

I hear the same re leaking seams - but the old bellows had a couple of nicks and we’re past their best. I don’t like packing away wet canvas so use a Pucer wrap if there is any chance of rain whatsoever so I’m not getting into a flap about that for now. As shown, it’s no more than a 4hr job to replace again so if in 10yrs time they finally make a fully waterproof top I can swap it again!

Part number and cost below. Direct from VW (TPS with an amazing 2.5% discount!!)

Though, if I did it again I think I’d have gone with the blue one!

I hadn’t realised quite how faded the old one was.

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Ah excellent! Thankyou! Yes I had read it was just the corners / joints to put the sikaflex
Pretty confident doing it myself, and just waiting a little longer to see about the leaks, but sounds like using some waterproof spray on the seams solves any issues anyway, so might do that as well.
Yes mine have some nicks as well, plus the spline in the front has broken so it doesn't fold in properly any more.

 

[Jaka Rovan]

Hi guys!

We have a 2005 Cali and I replaced the hydraulic mechanism with the manual one last year, due to being fed up with constant issues with the hydraulics (best decission ever, btw.).
As part of the conversion, I had to remove the side ''springs'' on the canvas, to be able to fold the canvas and lock the roof mechanism.

Now, I would like to replace the canvas as well and was wondering which canvas to order. I guess the ''Beach'' version for the manual roof should be compatible with the locking mechanism, right?

But is the shape and size of the canvas the same as for the hydraulic one and would therefore fit the roof of my ''originally hydraulic'' Cali?

Many thanks for any reliable information!
Best, Jaka

 

[OllieCollieCali]

Hi again all,
It appears that the bellows issues may finally be over, and they are about 95% leak free, im happy to apply aquatex to cure any minor seam leak.

So I was looking to purchase 05S replacement bellows and fit myself. I have contacted TPS, but they have said they are unable to help me or even tell me a price because my vehicle registration isnt for a genuine california. (It was originally a caravelle, and professionally converted by a previous owner)

Is TPS the best place to buy replacement bellows from? Maybe I need to use someone elses vehicle registration to be able to order them? or is there anywhere else I can buy from? im assuming main dealers will be more expensive, and want to fir themselves. Someone suggested the club shop so I have emailed to enquire.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Perfectos]

Hi again all,
It appears that the bellows issues may finally be over, and they are about 95% leak free, im happy to apply aquatex to cure any minor seam leak.

So I was looking to purchase 05S replacement bellows and fit myself. I have contacted TPS, but they have said they are unable to help me or even tell me a price because my vehicle registration isnt for a genuine california. (It was originally a caravelle, and professionally converted by a previous owner)

Is TPS the best place to buy replacement bellows from? Maybe I need to use someone elses vehicle registration to be able to order them? or is there anywhere else I can buy from? im assuming main dealers will be more expensive, and want to fir themselves. Someone suggested the club shop so I have emailed to enquire.

Thanks in advance!

Hi Ollie

Try these

https://www.lllparts.co.uk/

They have exploded diagrams on their website , which you can use to find all the part numbers, variants and prices etc.

They sell to the public

 

[AlistairC]

As much as I hate to say it, I’d lean towards main dealer.

TPS prices are barely any better than dealer unless you have an account which shows a regular spend to put you in their ‘privileged customer status’! And even then, discount is pretty rubbish.

To make matters worse, TPS have zero understanding of californias and bellows issues. If you talk to them about 04s or 05s they get very confused and start talking about suffix’s that haven’t changed.

I’d also be careful with anyone mail order unless they’re willing to guarantee they’ll not ship out anything without a manuf date you’re happy with.

Good luck!

 

[OllieCollieCali]

Ah thankyou! Ill have a look at LLParts, but unless I know the latest part number (which im not sure has changed from the 03/4S versions) it will be hard to guarantee one of the latest leak free versions rather than older versions.
Ill contact Breeze VW locally as well and see what they can do

Thankyou!!

 

[WelshGas]

Ah thankyou! Ill have a look at LLParts, but unless I know the latest part number (which im not sure has changed from the 03/4S versions) it will be hard to guarantee one of the latest leak free versions rather than older versions.
Ill contact Breeze VW locally as well and see what they can do

Thankyou!!

When you say your vehicle is a conversion based on a Caravelle it has a genuine California hydraulic or manual roof?

 

[OllieCollieCali]

When you say your vehicle is a conversion based on a Caravelle it has a genuine California hydraulic or manual roof?

yes it has a genuine California Hydraulic roof.

The club shop is able to supply the bellows for £905, which could be the easiest option to make sure i get one of the latest models.
Kernow conversions also quoted £995 for them to supply and fit new bellows, but they are quite a way from me, but for the small extra amount I could be tempted to have a long weekend away for them to save me the hassle.