VW California T5 ONLY Roof Corrosion - General Discussion

[Ewan]

I've just had the work done by Benfields who have done a great job. So much so in fact that they re-painted the roof twice until they were fully satisfied with the quality of the work.

What I'm now not clear on is what guarantees relate to the repairs that have taken place. Benfields advised that I should speak to VW about this. VWCS quite unhelpfully explained that since the repairs were not done under warranty, but were a "gesture of goodwill", then no warranty could be given. All the person I spoke to (on checking with her boss) could suggest was that I could contact Benfields who would give me a 12 month guarantee against poor workmanship !!

All of this seem extremely unsatisfactory. It took 3 years for the issue to come to light on my van so at the very least I would expect a guarantee of at least that duration. My tailgate handle has been replaced already and the paintwork is deteriorating yet again, so problems obviously do reoccur if the right solution isn't found.

For those of you who have had the work done, what have you got in the way of a "guarantee" on the repair? I see someone else has been given a 3 year guarantee. Do VW have a consistent line ??

 

[David Eccles]

I phoned customer services after work done and they issued me with a letter stating the warranty for completed roof work was for three years. But you may have to be persistent.
Body shop also gave me a copy of invoice that they give to VW with exact breakdown of parts and work (and scary costs) when I asked for some paperwork

 

[snowy55]

My understanding is that all paint work carried out at a Vw approved workshop, on any part of the vehicle, is guaranteed for 3 years. My raising roof was repainted when the vehicle the was 9 months old so mine will still have time to run under the 6 year rule or does the 6 year rule finish at point of first repair, only time will tell!

 

[snowy55]

What happened about all the extra workshops and personnel Vw were supposed to be training up to cut down the ridiculous waiting times. Any body know?

 

[AlanC]

I phoned customer services after work done and they issued me with a letter stating the warranty for completed roof work was for three years. But you may have to be persistent.
Body shop also gave me a copy of invoice that they give to VW with exact breakdown of parts and work (and scary costs) when I asked for some paperwork

I suspect you do have a slight advantage over the rest of us, David.

Having said that, our March 2010 van was approved and booked via Breeze back in June 2014 and progressed through them.
I got a warranty letter from them once the work was completed at Heritage Westbury earlier this year.

Alan

 

[AlanC]

What happened about all the extra workshops and personnel Vw were supposed to be training up to cut down the ridiculous waiting times. Any body know?

The main delay apparently, is the deployment of the loan vans. Each of the 4 repair shops only have two each. I heard they were getting another one each, but may have dreamt that.

The repair shops have an good supply of parts now and the manpower to do the job quickly. If you can do without a loaner, then they will book you in tomorrow.

Alan

 

[Ewan]

I phoned customer services after work done and they issued me with a letter stating the warranty for completed roof work was for three years. But you may have to be persistent.
Body shop also gave me a copy of invoice that they give to VW with exact breakdown of parts and work (and scary costs) when I asked for some paperwork

I have a copy of the invoice too and of course proof that the work has been carried out is on VW's database.

However, having spoken to them again VWCS are adamant that no separate warranty is issued on the roof repair, and only a 12 month workmanship warranty from the bodyshop applies. Perhaps the 3 year warranty you have relates to the overall warranty on a new van (mine is now over 4 years) ??

In short, VW are not accepting any responsibility for ensuring the repair is effective in addressing the problem. If issues reoccur after 12 months it's your problem. I don't think this is satisfactory.

 

[shambly]

Talk to the Executive Office, and remind them of the initial promises that they made owners / the forum.

It took me many months, persistence, and my rejection of initial letters but I eventually received a statement on headed paper than matched what I had been told (mostly verbally but partly via email) by VWCS.

"I am happy to confirm that Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles provide a three year Paint Warranty covering the pop up roof and front panel repairs which have been carried out."

Why did I bother? Because i'd experienced first hand the difficult situation of being at the mercy of a bad dealer when trying to get badly carried out warranty work fixed (It is they, the bad dealer, that must fix it; not anyone else, not even the third attempt...) and I wanted the reassurance of VW standing behind the roof work, not an individual bodyshop (who I didn't even get to select).

 

[SHedman2401]

Think mine is similar. You booked in yet?

 

[jts46]

Body shop also gave me a copy of invoice that they give to VW with exact breakdown of parts and work (and scary costs) when I asked for some paperwork

any chance you could let me have a copy of the parts and numbers?

John

 

[Pasper2]

Heard yesterday that Heritage Bristol are awaiting front panels which are on back order, so might be a few delays again.

 

[Ajspicer]

I also rang Heitage to find out where we fall in the queue and was also told about the shortage of front roof panels. Oh well no rush, it's only cosmetic after all.

 

[Gedi]

Hi

My Cali is a 2012 and have just noticed blistering along the front panel above the windscreen. My van will be 3 years old in two weeks time. Does the warrenty run out in 3 years or is more than that? I just phoned my local VW dealer and they said I have to phone Body Shop and they will deal with it? Is this the correct way forward, doesn't it have to get recorded at the local VW dealership? Sorry for all the questions, as I can't find the answers in this thread....

 

[Martin]

You have six years to register your claim but they could withdraw this at any time so I would get it looked at as soon as you can.

There is no reason why the dealer can't submit the claim, but if the bodyshop is not too far I would just pop along to them as they will know more about it.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[shambly]

I'm sure that the fact that your statutory rights under the sale of goods act expire at six years and the fact that VW decided to offer to extend their warranty on their roof issue to six years are entirely unrelated. Cough. At least it currently saves the hassle of pursuing them legally - though it is not exactly a difficult one to prove given the evidence and their current goodwill position (but the onus would be on you to prove it should VW withdraw their goodwill)

 

[Gedi]

You have six years to register your claim but they could withdraw this at any time so I would get it looked at as soon as you can.

There is no reason why the dealer can't submit the claim, but if the bodyshop is not too far I would just pop along to them as they will know more about it.



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thanks for the Info, I have booked an appointment to get the fault registered. They said that it might take up to 1 year. I am in no rush, it will be peace of mind to get it registered before my 3 year warranty runs out at the end of the month.

Cheers Gedi

 

[SHedman2401]

Hi

My Cali is a 2012 and have just noticed blistering along the front panel above the windscreen. My van will be 3 years old in two weeks time. Does the warrenty run out in 3 years or is more than that? I just phoned my local VW dealer and they said I have to phone Body Shop and they will deal with it? Is this the correct way forward, doesn't it have to get recorded at the local VW dealership? Sorry for all the questions, as I can't find the answers in this thread....

You take it to the dealer, who filed a report with camera and paint depth gauge. This goes to VW in Milton Keynes who process it and allocate your Cali to one of four specialist body shops.

I waited two weeks after the inspection then phoned to have it confirmed my van would be fixed. They are really helpful but give them time to do the processing!

 

[Bigbud]

Well we jumped the cue with Cannock as we didn't need a replacement van whilst on Holiday (our beach is our only vehicle) They picked it up almost two weeks ago and we got back tonight to some bad news.

Our van is the first beach they have had apparently and the panel they are replacing is different as the one supplied doesn't have enough holes for the manual roof and it has a hole where the Flexi light is on the SE version. They can drill the holes required but didn't know what to do with the 25mm hole that's surplus to requirements so haven't done our van, they put in a request for information to VW the day the van arrived but still have head nothing, mean while our vans in the workshop with no roof and were without a vehicle !!

Has anyone had a beach done yet ? Could you let me know what they did ?

As a side note the Van went to Manchester to have the roof checked down the side and they said it was fine, went to Cannock and there is bubbling down both sides, Bloody Manchester have been awful for us and I have had issues every time I've dealt with them. Waste of time taking it which at the time was a cluster fudge as Manchester have no internal communication at all.. I digressed

Jim

 

[Meoncoast]

Get them to fill the large hole with a free Flexi light.

 

[Harrythecat]

Another confirmed diagnosis this morning. March 2012 registered California SE. Corrosion at the moment only on the front section.

Repair options for where I am appear to be Cannock or Newcastle. Waiting time is anyone's guess!

 

[muttley]

The main delay apparently, is the deployment of the loan vans. Each of the 4 repair shops only have two each. I heard they were getting another one each, but may have dreamt that.

The repair shops have an good supply of parts now and the manpower to do the job quickly. If you can do without a loaner, then they will book you in tomorrow.

Alan

This may have been the case a few weeks ago, but customer services advised me this week that there is a shortage of parts, so there is no rush to re-book my Cali.

Simon

 

[Calicanoe]

Have just spoken with VW customer services RE: paint repairs to panel/main roof and they have stated they will only provide a 12 month warranty for work carried out (my van is 2011 plate). This is a goodwill will gesture, as your 3 yr warranty is up, and it was a defect with a part and not classed as corrosion?

 

[cozmo1589]

For anyone interested, there is a 2 page spread on the California Roof Corrosion issue in the latest months edition of VW Bus T4&T5 - quite an interesting read ;-)

 

[jts46]

Any chance of a scanned copy as i am in france?

John

 

[cozmo1589]

Any chance of a scanned copy as i am in france?

John

Yeah happy to but not at home until Monday afternoon so will do it then mate unless anyone beats me to it ;-)

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk