T6 Ocean wheel arch bodywork repair & dealer response

[Perfectos]

Worth a read in the context of this thread

Rust under rear registration plate

I bought some pressed metal licence plates to replace the ones that came with the van, purchased new from inchcape VW commercial in Manchester When I took the rear plate off I found that there was a line of rust and a few other spots and bumps - the van is 4 years old and while the 3 year...

www.t6forum.com

 

[ScotlandtheDave]

Thanks for the link @Perfectos - have dropped a little update on there and your update prompted me to update the good people here.

I am extremely relieved to report that the dealership have come to an agreement with VW to cover the cost as a goodwill gesture. Having said that it was far from plain sailing!

I left you last time that i was pending the outcome from VW customer care on whether the dealership would entertain a contribution scheme. I got a call back from VW, saying it was a no to the dealership contributing, there was no mechanism for VW to do anything, there was no process in place for me to get an independent view either and as such that was case closed. The chap referred me to the motor ombudsman as the next steps. I was livid, to be frank.

I re-contacted PVWI on the incredibly slim chance they could help, but they had ceased trading by that point. I have to say John @PVWI was incredibly helpful and generous with his time, often telling me things that VW should have know, but didn't. Their closure will be a real loss to the industry. He did mention that VW have an alternative process in place for paintwork inspections, but i never got the call back from my complaint handler at VW CC to explore this.

I also called the service manager and sought his view on the outcome, resulting in a fairly honest conversation about the situation, which resulted in him agreeing to revisit the case with the DP and the paint shop to see what they could do. I also offered to contribute as it was looking increasingly likely that I would have a bill to foot regardless. They are my nearest dealership and can't fault the work they've done so far, so I did make the case that whilst I've not bought from them I can still put business their way / be a customer, starting with service / MOT etc from the all-in plan on the van.

Shortcut to this week, about a month after the last conversation and a couple of mails about getting the van in for service and roof inspection. I got the call to say they have agreed a goodwill gesture with VW to get the paintwork sorted. I am quite relieved tbh, after all of the to-ing and fro-ing of the last 6 months. Next steps are to agree the time and get it done, let the paint cure for a bit then get the van ceramic coated.

I am really glad its moving in the right direction now and will update again soon. Thanks for all the support and suggestions!

 

[Perfectos]

Thanks for the link @Perfectos - have dropped a little update on there and your update prompted me to update the good people here.

I am extremely relieved to report that the dealership have come to an agreement with VW to cover the cost as a goodwill gesture. Having said that it was far from plain sailing!

I left you last time that i was pending the outcome from VW customer care on whether the dealership would entertain a contribution scheme. I got a call back from VW, saying it was a no to the dealership contributing, there was no mechanism for VW to do anything, there was no process in place for me to get an independent view either and as such that was case closed. The chap referred me to the motor ombudsman as the next steps. I was livid, to be frank.

I re-contacted PVWI on the incredibly slim chance they could help, but they had ceased trading by that point. I have to say John @PVWI was incredibly helpful and generous with his time, often telling me things that VW should have know, but didn't. Their closure will be a real loss to the industry. He did mention that VW have an alternative process in place for paintwork inspections, but i never got the call back from my complaint handler at VW CC to explore this.

I also called the service manager and sought his view on the outcome, resulting in a fairly honest conversation about the situation, which resulted in him agreeing to revisit the case with the DP and the paint shop to see what they could do. I also offered to contribute as it was looking increasingly likely that I would have a bill to foot regardless. They are my nearest dealership and can't fault the work they've done so far, so I did make the case that whilst I've not bought from them I can still put business their way / be a customer, starting with service / MOT etc from the all-in plan on the van.

Shortcut to this week, about a month after the last conversation and a couple of mails about getting the van in for service and roof inspection. I got the call to say they have agreed a goodwill gesture with VW to get the paintwork sorted. I am quite relieved tbh, after all of the to-ing and fro-ing of the last 6 months. Next steps are to agree the time and get it done, let the paint cure for a bit then get the van ceramic coated.

I am really glad its moving in the right direction now and will update again soon. Thanks for all the support and suggestions!

Great new (in the End). Thanks for the update.

 

[gt_63]

Oh grief
More examples of VW’s sloping shoulders!
I’ve just discovered bubbles all round my NSR wheel arch
Cali Ocean 2015
Already spent a fortune on EGR a couple of years back now add what will be by the sounds of it a very frustrating and depressing saga ahead
Where are the benefits in spending all that money initially to be faced year after year with more costs
Saddened and disappointed
GT
Not sure who I’m aiming this at but just need to vent

 

[sbmcd]

I had a paint blister issue on my van many years ago, front of rear wheel arch where is flares out.

Took it up with VW who had their own body shop do an inspection, I witnessed the inspection myself and the inspector showed me where the tiny stone chips had punctured the paint coating allowing the blisters to form.

I paid for the repair myself.

Our roads are increasingly covered in shrapnel from potholes, especially in winter so it's no wonder our paint work is given a hard time,

 

[ScotlandtheDave]

Oh grief
More examples of VW’s sloping shoulders!
I’ve just discovered bubbles all round my NSR wheel arch
Cali Ocean 2015
Already spent a fortune on EGR a couple of years back now add what will be by the sounds of it a very frustrating and depressing saga ahead
Where are the benefits in spending all that money initially to be faced year after year with more costs
Saddened and disappointed
GT
Not sure who I’m aiming this at but just need to vent

I hear you, its infuriating. I've since found at least another 3 areas of this on the van, all at the bottom of panels and all exhibiting the same symptoms as the other bits. I'm in no doubt, in my case at least, that this is zinc inclusion. I've remained philosophical about it thus far as there isn't much i can do now except pony up for repairs as and when it starts to become noticeable.

What does make this more difficult to swallow is the misconception that a long "anti-corrosion" warranty is covering this, when it doesn't. If i'd been more on the ball with the 3y limitation i'd have been all over this paintwork with a fine tooth comb and hunted out any issues.

c'est la vie i guess. I hope you managed to get it sorted for a reasonable cost!

 

[gt_63]

I hear you, its infuriating. I've since found at least another 3 areas of this on the van, all at the bottom of panels and all exhibiting the same symptoms as the other bits. I'm in no doubt, in my case at least, that this is zinc inclusion. I've remained philosophical about it thus far as there isn't much i can do now except pony up for repairs as and when it starts to become noticeable.

What does make this more difficult to swallow is the misconception that a long "anti-corrosion" warranty is covering this, when it doesn't. If i'd been more on the ball with the 3y limitation i'd have been all over this paintwork with a fine tooth comb and hunted out any issues.

c'est la vie i guess. I hope you managed to get it sorted for a reasonable cost!

Thanks for message Dave. We are away at present but will get onto this as soon as I get back. I’ll update this thread as I go
All the best GT

 

[sbmcd]

If you look under the edge of the front wheel arch you will see a 5 mm strip of exposed paintwork that is not protected by the inner wheel arch trim, of course that area is prone to stone chips which puncture the paint surface and allow the corrosion to commence.

With the benefit of hindsight a strip on 3M helicopter tape would go a long way to prevent that happening.

In my opinion paint warranty only covers manufacturing issues. Stone chip generated corrosion will never be covered by VW.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

The whole thing is supposed to be galvanised. Dipped in zinc.
My 2008 bonnet has a hundred stone chips, most touched up every now and again. None has ever gone rusty.

No Californias should ever rust nor T4s either. The only rust should ever happen after a bad repair and respray etc.

Terrible customer service. Clearly poor manufacturing.

 

[vmaxkiddy]

The whole thing is supposed to be galvanised. Dipped in zinc.
My 2008 bonnet has a hundred stone chips, most touched up every now and again. None has ever gone rusty.

No Californias should ever rust nor T4s either. The only rust should ever happen after a bad repair and respray etc.

Terrible customer service. Clearly poor manufacturing.

If only.
Adhesive for end trim is reacting with the bodywork and has affected some (lots ?) vans. Hopefully it’s not the full awning rail too.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

If only.
Adhesive for end trim is reacting with the bodywork and has affected some (lots ?) vans. Hopefully it’s not the full awning rail too.

View attachment 122619

View attachment 122620

View attachment 122621

That's terrible. I mean roof stuff is well known. Mine has small bubbles that go up and down. I know I'm lucky. That's had a roof repair with I think a plastic cap glued on. I mean anything that a dealer has attempted a repair, all bets are off!

 

[sbmcd]

If only.
Adhesive for end trim is reacting with the bodywork and has affected some (lots ?) vans. Hopefully it’s not the full awning rail too.

View attachment 122619

View attachment 122620

View attachment 122621

That is quite shocking.

 

[sbmcd]

The whole thing is supposed to be galvanised. Dipped in zinc.
My 2008 bonnet has a hundred stone chips, most touched up every now and again. None has ever gone rusty.

No Californias should ever rust nor T4s either. The only rust should ever happen after a bad repair and respray etc.

Terrible customer service. Clearly poor manufacturing.

My bonnet has also survived numerous stone chips without any corrosion, can't say same the same for the main body panels, although I have kept on top of them to prevent them becoming an issue.

Have you had no corrosion at all on your van?

 

[Lambeth Cali]

My bonnet has also survived numerous stone chips without any corrosion, can't say same the same for the main body panels, although I have kept on top of them to prevent them becoming an issue.

Have you had no corrosion at all on your van?

It’s absolutely pristine. I give it a good wash twice a year and wax it every 3 or 4 years. Gave the roof a good clean last year after some sticky tree stuff covered it. Put ceramic wax on after that and seems good. Sat outside all year long.

I’m a big fan of my plastic BMW.

 

[pjm-84]

None on mine either - 2015 vintage

 

[sbmcd]

It’s absolutely pristine. I give it a good wash twice a year and wax it every 3 or 4 years. Gave the roof a good clean last year after some sticky tree stuff covered it. Put ceramic wax on after that and seems good. Sat outside all year long.
View attachment 122626
I’m a big fan of my plastic BMW.

Very nice, perhaps you have less shrapnel from poor roads than we do up this end of the country.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Very nice, perhaps you have less shrapnel from poor roads than we do up this end of the country.

It’s only done 60k miles, mainly on French motorways. I didn’t used to like metallic wheat beige - I bought it 18 months old so no colour choice - but love it now. Kids say it’s silver but to me it’s champagne gold.
My 2008 Golf was rust free too.
VW do seem to be slipping. I mean the leaking roof bellows does rather suggest a lack of basic quality control.