VW California T5 ONLY Roof Corrosion - General Discussion

[Martin]

Does anyone have any pics of their corrosion please they can send me for inclusion in a magazine news article

Any colour apart from Silver, grey or sand beige. Also in hi res if possible.

Obviously your name will not be quoted in the article.

Thanks

admin@vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[Claudiopinto]

Hello cali friends.

Here in Portugal, SIVA came to my local vw dealer to inspect the Cali. This hapend after 2 inspections from the local dealer.

After this last inspection, and due to my cali dates of 2007, the national importer declined any responsibility due to guarantee issues, and due to the last maintenance was done outside a vw dealer.

But since I am a former vw cliente of this local dealer, they informed me that they are going to assume the total repair, changing the front panel with the new one, and repairing all the roof border. The Cali will be at the shop for 3 weeks in total.

After this, I must appreciate my local dealer for the courtesy repair cost's in their behalf.

Tchau,

Cláudio

 

[nclarke8]

Hello all,
Our van goes into Shorade at Cannock tomorrow for its front panel repair. Claim for main roof has just been signed off so hopefully will get sorted at same time. Will hopefully find out tomorrow what the repair process is for the main roof as haven't seen the details on that yet. Hopefully more than just a respray..

Will report back on any issues from the repair process in a couple of weeks when i get it back.
Regards
Neil

 

[sue.h]

Hello all,
Our van goes into Shorade at Cannock tomorrow for its front panel repair. Claim for main roof has just been signed off so hopefully will get sorted at same time. Will hopefully find out tomorrow what the repair process is for the main roof as haven't seen the details on that yet. Hopefully more than just a respray..

Will report back on any issues from the repair process in a couple of weeks when i get it back.
Regards
Neil

our cali is going to Shorade and we are 19th on the list.
they are replacing the full section above the winsdcreen and respaying the roof.
my understanding is that they take the bellows off, do the repair and replace the same bellows. I am a bit worried about that so we will be checking it thoroughly when its done.

will wait for your report when yours in done,. good luck

 

[777111]

Hello all,
Our van goes into Shorade at Cannock tomorrow for its front panel repair. Claim for main roof has just been signed off so hopefully will get sorted at same time. Will hopefully find out tomorrow what the repair process is for the main roof as haven't seen the details on that yet. Hopefully more than just a respray..

Will report back on any issues from the repair process in a couple of weeks when i get it back.
Regards
Neil

our cali is going to Shorade and we are 19th on the list.
they are replacing the full section above the winsdcreen and respaying the roof.
my understanding is that they take the bellows off, do the repair and replace the same bellows. I am a bit worried about that so we will be checking it thoroughly when its done.

will wait for your report when yours in done,. good luck

Mine will probably end up at Shorade too (some time in the distant future....) for the main roof panel only - front panel seems to have been a factory modified one and no sign of corrosion.
Yes, I would be concerned about detaching the bellows but I am not sure where exactly it would split away from the main roof panel - looks like there is a white frame that the bellows attaches too which could separate from the corroding aluminium section which would be less of a difficult job. I may be wrong - anybody know?

 

[malc]

Mine goes in next week in Wrexham VW for the blistering on the main roof to be sorted.

 

[777111]

Mine goes in next week in Wrexham VW for the blistering on the main roof to be sorted.

Which one of the four specialists paint shops are doing the work? don't think Wrexham can do this themselves?

So your front panels ok too? Do you know the build date?

 

[smgcowfoldparts]

If it is the pop-up roof then this can be repaired at a VW approved body shop, only the front panel repair is done at one of four body shops.

cheers

 

[777111]

If it is the pop-up roof then this can be repaired at a VW approved body shop, only the front panel repair is done at one of four body shops.

cheers

Thanks Alex - hadn't been aware of that.
Do you know what is involved? How the aluminium top panel separates from the bellows?

 

[smgcowfoldparts]

Depends what has been requested and authorised for the repair, so can't comment. The bellows are easily removed from the pop-up roof and the roof can be removed easily as well.

cheers

 

[cozmo1589]

If it is the pop-up roof then this can be repaired at a VW approved body shop, only the front panel repair is done at one of four body shops.

cheers

Took mine into Breeze vw Poole today for other work and while there I opened a case with service manager for front panel bubbling. He said they just need to take some photos, report to vw and at some point in the future they will contact me and arrange for my Cali to be taken to Bristol for approved repair. Hope it's going down on a transporter as Bristol is a good 180 mile round trip from Poole :-/

 

[CaliforniaDAN]

Yep a transporter turns up with a Cali then takes yours for repair and returns it repaired (hopefully to you)

 

[sue.h]

Depends what has been requested and authorised for the repair, so can't comment. The bellows are easily removed from the pop-up roof and the roof can be removed easily as well.

cheers

thanks, thats a load of my mind

sue.h

 

[cozmo1589]

Yep a transporter turns up with a Cali then takes yours for repair and returns it repaired (hopefully to you)

Oh so I get a courtesy Cali do I for duration of the repairs ??

 

[CaliforniaDAN]

Yes

The repair takes about 2 weeks apparently so you are not left without any transport

 

[Stu]

Yes I have one at the moment, brand new

Trouble is it makes me want to swap mine for a DSG.

I have had some lengthy conversations with the place doing mine and they seem very professional.

They tell me the bellows is replaced as the old one is ripped removing it. (Although I think Alex says they can be replaced.)

They have also given me a good quote to remove the two car park dings and tidy up a few stone chips to get the old girl looking top line again.

 

[CaliforniaDAN]

Yes I have one at the moment, brand new

Trouble is it makes me want to swap mine for a DSG.

I have had some lengthy conversations with the place doing mine and they seem very professional.

They tell me the bellows is replaced as the old one is ripped removing it. (Although I think Alex says they can be replaced.)

They have also given me a good quote to remove the two car park dings and tidy up a few stone chips to get the old girl looking top line again.

Good to know this as my Cali needs a little tlc here and there!

 

[cozmo1589]

Yes

The repair takes about 2 weeks apparently so you are not left without any transport

Result !!!!!

 

[Californiaman]

I've had a conversation with AB Crush today about my roof repair. I was initially given a choice of two dates - one if I didn't need a replacement vehicle and one if I did. They explained that the replacement vehicle would be organized by the AA and that they have had difficulties related to one vehicle being collected and the replacement being delivered separately so they are going to try to do both at one time. I am now waiting fro a call from the AA and an insurance company...

I've asked for a couple of minor bits to be looked at on my van.

AB Crush have a very good reputation and were pleasant and reasonably knowledgeable to deal with today. Fingers crossed...

 

[vedubya]

I have been advised that I am now on the waiting list with Heritage VW....

 

[Stu]

So today I had the opportunity to take AB Crush up on the very kind offer of a tour of their facilities.

First thing that struck me was that they have really quite a sizeable operation going on there and looking at some of the cars on site are very clearly well versed in the VAG market, although they appear to be approved repairer's for many other brands.

I was met by Julie Crush whom I'd spoken to on the phone previously who made me a lovely cup of coffee - Thanks Julie

I was shown around the site by Ian who was very keen to answer questions and made me feel very comfortable about the whole process and then introduced to the man who is trained and responsible for the Cali repair process (sorry forgot his name :doh ), very nice bloke too.

I saw the work in progress on my van, the elevating roof removed and being prepared to be repainted, the replacement cast aluminium front section and then next door tucked away safely was the Cali. I am not kidding you, it is wrapped in bubble wrap!!!

These guy's have made me feel 100% confident that they will carry out the repair to the highest of standards and with the utmost care and respect for our Cali.

I saw 4 crates of all the new parts, sealants and adhesives - quite a bewildering array.

I also had the opportunity to see the specialist team preparing new T5 Sportline models which is essentially a standard model van which is then modified by AB Crush on behalf of VW UK. Wing mirror caps are changed, front bumper cover added, side bars added, wheels changed, and the interior fitted out.

The icing on the cake, after being shortlisted for a number of years AB crush have just been awarded VW Body Shop of the year 2013!! They actually have a trophy cabinet in the reception!!

 

[Californiaman]

It is good news indeed - they have a great reputation.

 

[jamescropp]

Thanks for all the advice. I took my Cali to our local VW centre in Thornaby, Stockton and there were no quibbles regarding the work that needs doing and will join the queue to get it done in Newcastle

 

[nclarke8]

Hi All,

My van is the 'guinea pig' at Shorade as I found out yesterday when I dropped my van off. They asked if I could drop it off instead of having the AA swap them over to keep to the same start date, didn't mind except 90 mins in traffic on the lovely M6 for Solihull to Cannock.

Anyway the place looks very impressive and the guy I spoke to Mark showed me what they would be doing. 50 new parts £2000 worth for the front panel job. They also got the go ahead to do the main roof 're-spray and new seal' job.

Looked over the loan vehicle and looked good, every toy possible except 4motion I think.
Warning 1 - Take your gas bottle from your Van as the loan van was 'unused'
Warning2 - Check the battery status on the control panel :doh I didnt

As it was said to be new and I needed to get home I thought all good and drove off. Yes its unused 63 plate with 100 miles on the clock BUT someone had left the tap on and completely flattened the leisure batteries (this was diagnosed when VW Assistance guy turned up, whirring noise when I plugged in the charge lead) . Called VW customer services who didn't know what to do, called Shorade and then after a while VW Assistance called and a guy came to help. He's ordered new batteries and the Van will have new batteries next week, Wednesday, but currently I have a camper with no fridge and a roof that wont raise

The joys of Cali ownership :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[CaliforniaDAN]

Hi All,

My van is the 'guinea pig' at Shorade as I found out yesterday when I dropped my van off. They asked if I could drop it off instead of having the AA swap them over to keep to the same start date, didn't mind except 90 mins in traffic on the lovely M6 for Solihull to Cannock.

Anyway the place looks very impressive and the guy I spoke to Mark showed me what they would be doing. 50 new parts £2000 worth for the front panel job. They also got the go ahead to do the main roof 're-spray and new seal' job.

Looked over the loan vehicle and looked good, every toy possible except 4motion I think.
Warning 1 - Take your gas bottle from your Van as the loan van was 'unused'
Warning2 - Check the battery status on the control panel :doh I didnt



As it was said to be new and I needed to get home I thought all good and drove off. Yes its unused 63 plate with 100 miles on the clock BUT someone had left the tap on and completely flattened the leisure batteries (this was diagnosed when VW Assistance guy turned up, whirring noise when I plugged in the charge lead) . Called VW customer services who didn't know what to do, called Shorade and then after a while VW Assistance called and a guy came to help. He's ordered new batteries and the Van will have new batteries next week, Wednesday, but currently I have a camper with no fridge and a roof that wont raise

The joys of Cali ownership :lol: :lol: :lol:

A really good heads up for us all to give the loan vehicle a really good check over for any faults I hope to be eagle eyed on handover!