VW California T5 ONLY Roof Corrosion - General Discussion

Where do you have the Roof Corrosion on your VW California?

  • Front panel only

    Votes: 197 37.4%

  • Main elevating roof only

    Votes: 80 15.2%

  • Both Front panel and main roof

    Votes: 250 47.4%
  • Total voters
    527
The 110 page thread is the second one on the subject. I condensed the other one to the first post on the current one.
Someone else is welcome to do similar with current one, but suggest talk to Martin or Kev first.

Just checked & it was not the 110 page current roof corrosion thread that I started. There must be two others somewhere !! That is large main threads.

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Van on its way to ABCrushPanelcraft in Canterbury to have roof corrosion sorted courtesy of VW and the AA!

on its way.jpg
 
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Hi Celia, that is good news , nice to see you back online


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Mine came back from Heritage, Wiltshire. The corrosion wasn't too bad initially nonetheless it has returned looking great complete, like Californiaman's, with a new canvas roof. The roof motor also sounds completely different too.
Whatever, it's done now and I am happy.
I did not want a replacement vehicle and mine was collected and returned courtesy of the AA who also were excellent.
 
Hi all, my Cali is on the list at AB Crush in Canterbury too. Can anyone give me an idea how long those who have had repairs by AB Crush recently, waited? Moz Williams (above) states his van is going in to them in May 2016? Do they generally give dates that far in advance?
I have only been waiting six months so far and really want to phone and pester them yet!
Thanks.
 
Whoops, that should read -"I don't want to ring and pester them yet.
 
Calihunter said:
Hi all, my Cali is on the list at AB Crush in Canterbury too. Can anyone give me an idea how long those who have had repairs by AB Crush recently, waited? Moz Williams (above) states his van is going in to them in May 2016? Do they generally give dates that far in advance?
I have only been waiting six months so far and really want to phone and pester them yet!
Thanks.
Click to expand...
I had about 4 weeks notice and they had my Cali around 3 weeks. The courtesy Cali they gave me was top of the range 4wd but they left it with me for around 3 weeks AFTER my Cali was returned back to me ;-D their work is top notch 1st class so I'd say your in safe capable hands with them

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Thanks for that Cozmo.
Do you mind me asking how long you waited after the repair was authorised? I don't necessarily need a replacement vehicle.
 
If you don't need a loan cali then give them a ring - chances are they'll get you in much sooner.
I was 99 on the list with heritage but once I told them I didn't need the loaner they had me in within the month!

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When I rang Heritage and said I didn't need a loaner, they collected our van the next day.

Well worth a call.

Alan
 
Calihunter said:
Thanks for that Cozmo.
Do you mind me asking how long you waited after the repair was authorised? I don't necessarily need a replacement vehicle.
Click to expand...
It was a good 18 months or so, not a fast process at all but so long as your in the system that's the main thing ;-)

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Freeley said:
If you don't need a loan cali then give them a ring - chances are they'll get you in much sooner.
I was 99 on the list with heritage but once I told them I didn't need the loaner they had me in within the month!

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Click to expand...
True.
I was offered an earlier date if I didnt want a loaner by 6 weeks but I hung on and had one as needed to keep mobile.

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Ha, you beat me to it ... I was just letting Martin know that I decided to attempt a summary. It's clear this issue isn't going away and people keep asking the same questions over and over again so ....

I know there's been a discussion about having a summary as a sticky post but then no agreement as to how exactly this should be done. I personally don't think any summary should only be made available to paying VIP members which is why I've written it on my blog (and anyone can read the full 120+ pages anyway).

I'm keen to update it if I've included any inaccuracies or misleading information (ideally via blog comments but I can certainly check back here from time to time). It's only useful if it's accurate and up to date.
 
Ian said:
I am new to this forum and about to collect my new Cali next week.
I know this issue has been covered a few times on this forum but I thought I would give a quick account of my recent experience with VW.

I have spoken to my dealer and now to a brand advisor about potential roof corrosion and this is the email response I got:

"I can confirm that we have had notification from the Product Marketing Team that all Californias built after March ‘2014 do come with the new specification roof and have the normal 3yr manufactures warranty."
Click to expand...

Do we know how many 2014 vans are affected on the main roof and when these were built? Ie before or after March 2014. Or is the post referring to the front panel?
Ours was built the last week of March, I have washed the roof every time I've washed the van and no sign of anything but I'm not looking under the seal until it's due it's service in Spring.
 
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All T5 Cali's could have the problem on the main roof, it is a bit of an unknown, the last one I heard about was late 2014. If you do have the problem only on the main roof this can be done by a normal VW body shop.

When looking you need to peel back the rubber seal.


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Looby said:
Do we know how many 2014 vans are affected on the main roof and when these were built? Ie before or after March 2014. Or is the post referring to the front panel?
Ours was built the last week of March, I have washed the roof every time I've washed the van and no sign of anything but I'm not looking under the seal until it's due it's service in Spring.
Click to expand...

Ours was built in May 2014 and we've just noticed little bubbles on the main roof. Rather than have that fixed now we think we'll wait a year or so and see if the front panel goes too. If I understand correctly we don't have to do anything until 2020.

I did have to look very closely to find the bubbles - under the seal at the front, and just visible beyond the seal on one side.
 
I realise that vw are currently covering all vehicles up to 6 years old. The post I quoted was from page 109, posted in May 15 and suggests that going forward from 2014, they were only applying the normal 3yr warranty.
I confess I haven't read every entry in the thread, I'd just noted that one at the time as it was quite relevant to our van build date.
If someone knows of confirmation that we have till 2020, I'll be thrilled.
 
As someone not affected I believe I would be down to VW ASAP with any signs of roof issues. They can then confirm if it is best to wait and you could get that in writing. Just a thought!


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Looby said:
I realise that vw are currently covering all vehicles up to 6 years old. The post I quoted was from page 109, posted in May 15 and suggests that going forward from 2014, they were only applying the normal 3yr warranty.
I confess I haven't read every entry in the thread, I'd just noted that one at the time as it was quite relevant to our van build date.
If someone knows of confirmation that we have till 2020, I'll be thrilled.
Click to expand...

I took the van to the dealer and the warranty manager confirmed 6 years. He said he could arrange a roof repair within 2 months, but that if corrosion happened on the front panel the roof would be done anyway. He suspected that as it is present on the roof it would happen on the front panel in due course.

I might just send him an email so something re. the warranty is in writing, but he was very clear about the 6 years.
 
Does anyone know what is the average wait time for a roof and front panel repair is ? My claim was accepted August 2014 and have been told today I am 73rd on the list with Shorade bit of a shock as I wad told in August this year I was 75 th on the list ! I have left it with VWCV for a manager to ring me as this is unacceptable I seem to be moving backwards in the list not forwards ? Any ideas anyone please ?
 
Ramscali said:
Does anyone know what is the average wait time for a roof and front panel repair is ? My claim was accepted August 2014 and have been told today I am 73rd on the list with Shorade bit of a shock as I wad told in August this year I was 75 th on the list ! I have left it with VWCV for a manager to ring me as this is unacceptable I seem to be moving backwards in the list not forwards ? Any ideas anyone please ?
Click to expand...
You'll be a good year to 18 months I'm afraid. Maybe a little sooner if you don't opt to have a loaned courtesy California

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