Roof Corrosion 2024 - been waiting 12 years

[Rozzie50]

Hi,

I bought my 2012 T5.1 in 2012. I attended the 2013 first California Meet where I was informed that I had roof corrosion by Suzy who was organizing a poll of those who had corrosion. Mine was very mild. I got in touch with VW, was put on a waiting list. Received an acknowledgment letter about a year later. I have been trying to find the company but haven’t had any response.

A couple of years ago I got a call from my (then local) dealership. Saying they had space for my roof corrosion repair. When I called back, they said sorry they had made a mistake.

Fast forward to now…. The corrosion has finally become more of a problem and is now bubbling away.

My question is… who should I contact? Has anyone else had to wait this long? Is my procrastination going to be my downfall?

Any help will be gratefully received.

Roz

 

[ArunAlec]

Hi,

I bought my 2012 T5.1 in 2012. I attended the 2013 first California Meet where I was informed that I had roof corrosion by Suzy who was organizing a poll of those who had corrosion. Mine was very mild. I got in touch with VW, was put on a waiting list. Received an acknowledgment letter about a year later. I have been trying to find the company but haven’t had any response.

A couple of years ago I got a call from my (then local) dealership. Saying they had space for my roof corrosion repair. When I called back, they said sorry they had made a mistake.

Fast forward to now…. The corrosion has finally become more of a problem and is now bubbling away.

My question is… who should I contact? Has anyone else had to wait this long? Is my procrastination going to be my downfall?

Any help will be gratefully received.

Roz

First contact should be to the dealer that you had the “mistaken” booking, to ask the status of your repair. If the process is still the same it’s the dealer who manage the work and outsource to an appropriate body shop.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Hi,

I bought my 2012 T5.1 in 2012. I attended the 2013 first California Meet where I was informed that I had roof corrosion by Suzy who was organizing a poll of those who had corrosion. Mine was very mild. I got in touch with VW, was put on a waiting list. Received an acknowledgment letter about a year later. I have been trying to find the company but haven’t had any response.

A couple of years ago I got a call from my (then local) dealership. Saying they had space for my roof corrosion repair. When I called back, they said sorry they had made a mistake.

Fast forward to now…. The corrosion has finally become more of a problem and is now bubbling away.

My question is… who should I contact? Has anyone else had to wait this long? Is my procrastination going to be my downfall?

Any help will be gratefully received.

Roz

Go down the DIY option if you want it done, but would suggest that you do it just before selling to create the illusion that it’s a perfect van to the new buyer.

We were in the waiting list with SMG Cowfold for 5 years, since sold the van. My understanding is that VW do not pay the repair shops enough to do the repair, so they have all withdrawn their services and now focus on their own business. You need a dedicated booth for alu repairs, otherwise you get cross contamination from steel repairs and the galvanic corrosion will occur again.

The Alu roof is the Calis Achilles heel, the corrosion will kick in on all models eventually. Even the ones with blue-peter double sided sticky tape. GRP roof does not suffer from this problem.

 

[WelshGas]

GRP roof does not suffer from this problem.

No, they suffer other problems as experienced by Marco Polo owners.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

No, they suffer other problems as experienced by Marco Polo owners.

Have owned 3 x GRP roofs in the past fitted to VW vans without any issues - all 20yrs old when we sold. Current 9 year old VW van has a GRP roof with no issues….

(…+ have never owned a Marco Polo.)

 

[WelshGas]

Have owned 3 x GRP roofs in the past fitted to VW vans without any issues - all 20yrs old when we sold. Current 9 year old VW van has a GRP roof with no issues….

(…+ have never owned a Marco Polo.)

And I have a California that is 10 yrs old with no evidence of roof corrosion on any part of the roof.
The fact that you have had no problems doesn’t mean others haven’t. Just saying

 

[Max-Felix]

Is it absolutely certain now then that any older (or even newer) Cali will no longer have *any* chance of repair by VW or agents therof?

Just got a 2012 Cali that is suffering the usual roof cap galvanic corrosion/flaking/peeling etc.

 

[WelshGas]

Is it absolutely certain now then that any older (or even newer) Cali will no longer have *any* chance of repair by VW or agents therof?

Just got a 2012 Cali that is suffering the usual roof cap galvanic corrosion/flaking/peeling etc.

Unless it was reported and logged within , I believe 6 yrs of first registration, then NO VW repair.
If it was logged then the Dealership and VW U.K. should be contacted for an update.

 

[Max-Felix]

Thanks WG, I’ll contact them to see what they (or the system) say.

 

[Max-Felix]

Than WG, I’ll contact them to see what they (or the system) say?

 

[WelshGas]

Thanks WG, I’ll contact them to see what they (or the system) say.

To be honest, with some of the horror stories regarding the VW repair process, removing corrosion areas and fitting a plastic cap which often leaks etc: I wouldn't bother.
A good body shop who specialise in repairing/ restoring old vehicles with aluminium body panels could treat, apply a high zinc base and respray without these problems. Some members have paid £400-600 for this.