VW California T5 ONLY Roof Corrosion - General Discussion

[KGCali]

Don't let VW touch the blistering on the front cowl, if covered by warranty, which I doubt, they will cut out half of the cowl and then fit a plastic cap over the whole front cowl which can leak later so not worth it. Claridges did a good job for me on repairing the leaking roof cowl from the previous owners VW repair but if it was my option I'd just take it to an experienced aluminium body repair shop and just get the area treated, filled and resprayed correctly.

 

[ArunAlec]

Don't let VW touch the blistering on the front cowl, if covered by warranty, which I doubt, they will cut out half of the cowl and then fit a plastic cap over the whole front cowl which can leak later so not worth it. Claridges did a good job for me on repairing the leaking roof cowl from the previous owners VW repair but if it was my option I'd just take it to an experienced aluminium body repair shop and just get the area treated, filled and resprayed correctly.View attachment 93490

Agree! Mines due for front and lifting roof warranty repair in December but I am 99% sure I will tell them to leave the front alone. If it does get to the state where the corrosion is noticeable I will get it sprayed by a classic car worksho, who should be more competent with ally repair

 

[Lambeth Cali]

These are much bigger than yours, sadly...

Ah so they are on the cap not the roof. Clearly pretty big. There are multiple threads about fixing the cap. There seems to be different ways to fix that. I think there were some plastic caps etc. I would trawl the threads, try and contact someone who had theirs done and are happy with it a few years on. Then try and use the same bodyshop using the same method.

The bodyshops seem very hit and miss. There was a person on here recently who had trouble with their roof operating, with possibly a broken control panel and hydraulic pump. This problem appeared after they had had the cap 'fixed'. All the roof pumps, ecu and controls are under that cap. It seemed pretty likely that the roof fix broke the roof! There is a wiring loom and various electronics under there. It doesn't seem urgent, so I would take your time and consider travelling to the best place to fix it. Maybe something for after the summer!?

 

[Poppins]

Ah so they are on the cap not the roof. Clearly pretty big. There are multiple threads about fixing the cap. There seems to be different ways to fix that. I think there were some plastic caps etc. I would trawl the threads, try and contact someone who had theirs done and are happy with it a few years on. Then try and use the same bodyshop using the same method.

The bodyshops seem very hit and miss. There was a person on here recently who had trouble with their roof operating, with possibly a broken control panel and hydraulic pump. This problem appeared after they had had the cap 'fixed'. All the roof pumps, ecu and controls are under that cap. It seemed pretty likely that the roof fix broke the roof! There is a wiring loom and various electronics under there. It doesn't seem urgent, so I would take your time and consider travelling to the best place to fix it. Maybe something for after the summer!?

Sound advice, thanks! I will enjoy my summer, then look for a good bodyshop with experience of aluminium and VW Californias somewhere in the South East. I'm in Brighton. Anyone any recommendations?

 

[Ozzy Pete]

Does anyone know a good body shop in the Swansea/ Carmarthen area. Looks like I’m going to need one soon.

 

[WelshGas]

Does anyone know a good body shop in the Swansea/ Carmarthen area. Looks like I’m going to need one soon.

No recommendations but I would check out Nos1 & 2

3 Best Car Body Shops in Carmarthenshire - Expert Recommendations

Expert recommended Top Car Body Shops in Carmarthenshire. How do we actually find? ThreeBestRated.co.uk 50-Point Inspection includes everything from checking reputation, history, complaints, reviews, ratings, satisfaction, trust and cost to the general excellence.

threebestrated.co.uk

Or here , Nos 1

3 Best Car Body Shops in Swansea - Expert Recommendations

Expert recommended Top Car Body Shops in Swansea. How do we actually find? ThreeBestRated.co.uk 50-Point Inspection includes everything from checking reputation, history, complaints, reviews, ratings, satisfaction, trust and cost to the general excellence.

threebestrated.co.uk

 

[Ozzy Pete]

Would like to hear from someone that’s actually had work done and is 100% pleased with it.

 

[WelshGas]

Would like to hear from someone that’s actually had work done and is 100% pleased with it.

You'll have to travel then. The only Member I can recall, who reported back, was in Scotland. He posted in this thread, pre-pandemic.

 

[Randwick]

Heritage in Bristol arranged a good job. Quite a few years ago, though.

 

[Ozzy Pete]

Travel to Scotland from South Wales? Has anyone else got a better idea?

 

[Ozzy Pete]

Swansea/Carmarthen Area.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Any decent bodyshop should be able to carry out the work provided they prepare the surface correctly, match the colour/age of the paint, apply paint & lacquer.

I think the issue with the official VW repair is that the most bodyshops objected to the quick bodge method but wanted to do it properly, which VW were not willing to pay for. You get what you pay for!

 

[ArunAlec]

Any decent bodyshop should be able to carry out the work provided they prepare the surface correctly, match the colour/age of the paint, apply paint & lacquer.

I think the issue with the official VW repair is that the most bodyshops objected to the quick bodge method but wanted to do it properly, which VW were not willing to pay for. You get what you pay for!

Bit of a no win situation for the bodyshops! Forced to adopt a dodgy repair method for a fixed price and be liable for any subsequent problems with the repair.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Bit of a no win situation for the bodyshops! Forced to adopt a dodgy repair method for a fixed price and be liable for any subsequent problems with the repair.

Exactly. VW then tell you it was a one-off goodwill repair and then refer you back to body shop that is 100's of miles away. VW just offload the issue to a bodyshop that has probably received below market rate for the repair.

 

[ArunAlec]

Exactly. VW then tell you it was a one-off goodwill repair and then refer you back to body shop that is 100's of miles away. VW just offload the issue to a bodyshop that has probably received below market rate for the repair.

One thing that amazes me through the whole drawn out roof saga is the relative silence of the Motothome/Campervan press. I would have thought they would have loved to have a nice campaign that just keeps giving…. Could have had along running page filler.

 

[Ozzy Pete]

One thing that amazes me through the whole drawn out roof saga is the relative silence of the Motothome/Campervan press. I would have thought they would have loved to have a nice campaign that just keeps giving…. Could have had along running page filler.

The only problem with that is unless it’s actually affected you OR it’s a danger to life any article would be tomorrow’s chip-paper.
VW would say that they have addressed the issue but the 3 year or extended 6 year warranty is still not long enough as it’s just another Of those VW ticking time bombs. It could take 3 years or 8 years to rear it’s ugly head. But if you are out of any chance of a warranty repair you are expected to dig deep into your pockets.

 

[Ozzy Pete]

Any decent bodyshop should be able to carry out the work provided they prepare the surface correctly, match the colour/age of the paint, apply paint & lacquer.

I think the issue with the official VW repair is that the most bodyshops objected to the quick bodge method but wanted to do it properly, which VW were not willing to pay for. You get what you pay for!

Most body shops can only do car type vehicles nearer to ground level. Working on the front California cowl needs staging and California knowhow. It’s not really something I would trust to a body shop without the proper equipment or knowledge.
There’s plenty of body shops that can do outstanding work on a car but would I trust them to work on my California? Not so sure.

 

[WelshGas]

Most body shops can only do car type vehicles nearer to ground level. Working on the front California cowl needs staging and California knowhow. It’s not really something I would trust to a body shop without the proper equipment or knowledge.
There’s plenty of body shops that can do outstanding work on a car but would I trust them to work on my California? Not so sure.

The link I posted to

WESTON PAINTWORX​

Unit 3 Heol Y Parc, Llangennech, Carmarthenshire SA14 8UU​

Carry out bespoke work to cars, LCV and HGV, so if they don't have the facilities I don't know who will.

 

[Ozzy Pete]

Not quite sure what price to expect. Has anyone had this done, if so what did you pay. That’s for prep, prime, base and clear coats. I think they have to take the side channel end trims off to do a proper job.
It’s got to be done so whatever the price is that’s what it is.

 

[WelshGas]

Not quite sure what price to expect. Has anyone had this done, if so what did you pay. That’s for prep, prime, base and clear coats. I think they have to take the side channel end trims off to do a proper job.
It’s got to be done so whatever the price is that’s what it is.

The Scottish member paid £450, and was very happy, but that was about 4 yrs ago.

 

[Ozzy Pete]

The Scottish member paid £450, and was very happy, but that was about 4 yrs ago.

Just had a Quote through in the last half hour. In that case I’m very happy with the quote I’ve had from Sinclairs Gorseinon. £334 + Vat. Inc any parts, paint and Labour..

 

[SusiBus]

I'm sure it will come into the spotlight on a consumer rights program if enough people complain.

Matt Allwright from BBC Rogue Traders owns an Ocean. He was on a camper van program the other night .

It has come under the spotlight already. On behalf of the forum, we complained very vociferously back in 2014 to the MDs of Germany and UK which did result in us being invited to Milton Keynes for lunch with 3 heads of department. This resulted in replacement of the front aluminium cap instead of it just being rubbed down and sprayed. Because this repair was costing thousands it has subsequently been cheapened to just overlaying with a plastic cap, which I think is not fit for purpose.
At that time, the elevating roof edges were rubbed down, primed and resprayed, and new rubber seal fitted, although the addition of tape to act as a barrier had not been thought of.

The Scottish member paid £450, and was very happy, but that was about 4 yrs ago.

 

[Elmo3]

Don't let VW touch the blistering on the front cowl, if covered by warranty, which I doubt, they will cut out half of the cowl and then fit a plastic cap over the whole front cowl which can leak later so not worth it. Claridges did a good job for me on repairing the leaking roof cowl from the previous owners VW repair but if it was my option I'd just take it to an experienced aluminium body repair shop and just get the area treated, filled and resprayed correctly.View attachment 93490

I’ve had a quote from a specialist bodyshop to do just this i.e. repair and repaint the front cowl in situ. He also suggested running a bead of sealer along the front edge of the roof to prevent water ingress. Any views on doing this?

 

[ArunAlec]

I’ve had a quote from a specialist bodyshop to do just this i.e. repair and repaint the front cowl in situ. He also suggested running a bead of sealer along the front edge of the roof to prevent water ingress. Any views on doing this?

You shouldn’t need to but it won’t hurt! I’ve only heard of water ingress there when VW have replaced/covered the cap with the plastic cover.

 

[Elmo3]

You shouldn’t need to but it won’t hurt! I’ve only heard of water ingress there when VW have replaced/covered the cap with the plastic cover.

Thanks. He seemed to think it would help. The leading edge is also prone to stone chips which don’t help. Daft design really. Just wondered if there was any reason not to seal.