Roof Corrosion

[Cameron1960]

So after 2.5 years of waiting our Cali is entually having the roof corrosion problem addressed. She’s been in 3 weeks and it’s estimated we will get her back in another 2 weeks. As a courtesy vehicle we’ve been given (via VW UK) a Skoda Superb, supplied by Eurocar. Persistent is the key word

 

[Captain Sensible]

So after 2.5 years of waiting our Cali is entually having the roof corrosion problem addressed. She’s been in 3 weeks and it’s estimated we will get her back in another 2 weeks. As a courtesy vehicle we’ve been given (via VW UK) a Skoda Superb, supplied by Eurocar. Persistent is the key word

How old is your Cali Cameron?

 

[Clark]

How old is your Cali Cameron?

2015 SE DSG if the profile details are correct.

 

[Cameron1960]

Registered June 2015

 

[WelshGas]

Registered June 2015

Where was the Corrosion?

 

[Cameron1960]

It was on the main body of the van (not the pop up roof), mainly just above the front windscreen on both both sides (above both the near side and offside front pillars). There was also some corrosion in the middle section as well.

 

[WelshGas]

It was on the main body of the van (not the pop up roof), mainly just above the front windscreen on both both sides (above both the near side and offside front pillars). There was also some corrosion in the middle section as well.

Interesting as the alloy mix was supposed to have been changed, to avoid this Galvanic Corrosion, for Model Year 2015, so from mid 2014 onwards. My Dec 2014 has no Corrosion on that panel or the Elevating Roof despite never having been garaged since taking delivery in 2014.

 

[Cameron1960]

I’m just glad it’s all sorted!!

 

[clarinetbcn]

I’m just glad it’s all sorted!!

Mine is a 2014 and had corrosion on the front above the windshield as well. VW cuts out the middle of the front cap and puts a plastic cover over the whole thing. The corrosion continues, but you can't see it. This has been VW's most recent fix, since the front cap is actually part of a structural piece which continues down the side of the roof on both sides to reenforce the roof once the top of the van is cut off. They stopped replacing it because they decided it was too expensive, so decided to cover it up and let the corrosion continue. This is the sort of business decision that has destroyed VW's reputation as a quality builder.

Be sure to take it on the highway to check for wind noise. Mine whistled and had to be redone. The problem here is that VW doesn't let their own dealers do the front cap, they've contracted this job out to the cheapest shops they could find, and as many here can attest, the work is often atrocious.

One good point about my job is that it was finished one month after I first took it in for the corrosion, and I had an almost new T6 Caravelle (Shuttle in the UK) as a substitute vehicle. The dealer had to send it back to the contract shop for the whistling (no one had tested it), and the do-over took another two weeks. I've always been shocked by the years long waiting list in the UK.

 

[Cameron1960]

I’ve been on a motorway since the work was completed and there was no wind noice, phew. The work was completed at a VW dealership in North East England. Prior to leaving the dealership I did check the roof operation and bellows!

 

[clarinetbcn]

@Martin Could this thread be combined with the VW California T5 ONLY Roof Corrosion thread?

 

[Ozzy Pete]

If there was a choice I wouldn’t let VW or their chosen repairer do any work on the front panel. From doing a full replacement repair at a cost of Over £4k to a plastic overlay panel is a total travesty. Personally I would pay a body shop myself to have the corrosion treated and resprayed. At least you are still original and if done properly should last for many years.

 

[SusiBus]

We were lucky in as much as we were one of the first to have the corrosion attended to, and had a complete aluminium front panel replacement.
I feel that this capping over, is a totally unacceptable solution, and has proved too often be problematic. As owners we should never have accepted it as a satisfactory remedy, but we are where we are, and surely we must be at the tail end of people having the front panel repaired.
Glad to hear yours looks Ok Cameron, keep an eye on it!

 

[Bryan2411]

Does the recall extend to the area around the whole of the pop top roof? I’ve a patch of bubbling paint on the rear near side corner where the pop top drops into?

 

[WelshGas]

Does the recall extend to the area around the whole of the pop top roof? I’ve a patch of bubbling paint on the rear near side corner where the pop top drops into?

Only the Elevating Section.

 

[Ozzy Pete]

Does the recall extend to the area around the whole of the pop top roof? I’ve a patch of bubbling paint on the rear near side corner where the pop top drops into?

Probably not but you would need to to a VW dealer and ask them. They would probably say the 3 year paint warranty is up, like they did with me.

 

[ArunAlec]

Anyone had their corrosion job done by Glasgow (don’t know the body shop)?
Just had a call to say mines booked for May 22. Lifting section for respray/tape and front cap replacement (probably decline that bit).
Seems mad when I’m in Sussex to haul it to Scotland!

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Anyone had their corrosion job done by Glasgow (don’t know the body shop)?
Just had a call to say mines booked for May 22. Lifting section for respray/tape and front cap replacement (probably decline that bit).
Seems mad when I’m in Sussex to haul it to Scotland!

Is that via SMG Cowfold? If so, mine has been on waiting list for 2 years now....so interested to hear how you get on.

 

[ArunAlec]

Is that via SMG Cowfold? If so, mine has been on waiting list for 2 years now....so interested to hear how you get on.

Breeze at Havant. They did the.check at my last service a couple of months ago and rang today with the May 22 booking.
For convenience I moved from SMG to Breeze Havant. Initially because they were able to do an “emergency“ next day battery replacement.