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VW California T5 ONLY Roof Corrosion - General Discussion

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

  • Front panel only

    Votes: 193 37.2%

  • Main elevating roof only

    Votes: 79 15.2%

  • Both Front panel and main roof

    Votes: 247 47.6%
  • Total voters
    519
I have a 2008 SE that has some corrosion on the front panel. Given that it is out of warranty, I'm looking for some advice on how to get this repaired myself. I'm not keen on trying to deal with VW given all of the horror stories that have been reported here but I am not sure if taking the van to a local bodyshop would be any better.

Any advice anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 
Shiny Rusty said:
I have a 2008 SE that has some corrosion on the front panel. Given that it is out of warranty, I'm looking for some advice on how to get this repaired myself. I'm not keen on trying to deal with VW given all of the horror stories that have been reported here but I am not sure if taking the van to a local bodyshop would be any better.

Any advice anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Click to expand...
This Galvanic Corrosion is a common problem on Land Rover Defenders and any vehicle with aluminium body panels.
Local body shops come in 2 varieties, those that just concentrate on accident repair and those that will do custom paint jobs, classic cars etc: Search out the 2nd sort and have a chat with them.
 
Just got van back after roof repair any one else had this corrosion on this plate also roof rubber now fouling awning rail this is how vehicle has been returned with both issues

BEB4CAA0-486F-4ABC-B674-7B5D3C959BD1.jpeg

B9D5DDBA-A6C0-45F6-B984-63E5380B15FE.jpeg

8CE5519E-A704-4083-89F5-B2E4A7402D7F.jpeg
 
Definitely not right!

Was this a corrosion fix at a body shop or the latest workshop action to fit the tape.

Get it straight back to them.
 
Body shop repair yes dealing with 1st thing tomorrow do these repairs know what they they are dealing with told them it’s not a 3gand polo
 
awayinmevan said:
Body shop repair yes dealing with 1st thing tomorrow do these repairs know what they they are dealing with told them it’s not a 3gand polo
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Ours went to claridges in Southport and apart from the fact that they put the seal back on with sealant which then caused a massive mess when the dealer did the recent workshop action it came back looking very good. No issues with the seal.

It almost looks like they've bent the front corner of your roof. Maybe they didn't realise you could elevate the roof and they did the repair using a tin opener.

Shocking quality control. Hope you get if properly fixed asap.
 
Loz said:
It looks like the corner of the seal is not hooked over the corner of the roof.
I
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I wondered if it has just been put on a bit to one side, with a small gap which has become a bigger gap with the force of the wind when driving back.
 
My dealer has just informed me...
"It looks like there may be corrosion appearing above the original repair. We have to take photos of the corrosion that we find and send them to VW for them to decide what repair to carry out. Unfortunately the original photos that were taken we not good enough quality for the warranty team so they asked us to take them again. Hence why we are doing that whilst we have the vehicle with us. We will then have to wait for a reply from VW as to the next step."
So is this something different from what people seem to be describing here? Our Cali was one of the earlier ones to have corrosion done (front roof panel and roof edges) when they did stuff like new canvas, loan Cali, and even repainted whole roof
I actually have a copy of the invoice to VW for this work which listed all work done and parts replaced and cost over £3864! in 2015!!!!
When I get pics from dealer I will post....
 
Just taken mine into dealers again for more photo's as first ones were not what VW@Milton Keynes wanted. So waiting for authorisation and vehicle would probably go to Lookers in Glasgow. They appear to be only ones in country who could have a slot for April. Was informed VW were rumoured to be looking at opening four bodyshops dedicated to the roof repairs. Hope this is right for all of us with the roof corrosion.
 
Blistering in the area under the seal is quite common on GRP roofs. This is due to the seal being added as the paint is still curing. Water then sits in the rubber seal and will not dry as quickly as the bodywork. This causes the paint to blister. By bursting a blister you can check if the aluminium underneath is corroded or just the paint.
 
Today taken my 2015 Cali in for major service to Lancashire Vw van centre. Was quoted around 4 hrs to complete the service and check for roof corrosion as per Vw campaign. The service was quite shocking, being told “only another hour” . I specifically asked does the van have any corrosion “no” was the reply.

Waited and waited then I think they realised my nerves were running thin. Do you want to have. Look, yes . Off I went to the workshop to find the technician had removed the seal and rubbed down the edges of my roof as I did have corrosion... not happy at all .

I picked the matter up with the workshop manager who said it was a lack of communication on there part and won’t happen again. That doesn’t really fill me with any confidence or trust.

Technician had rubbed down and applied what looked like silver paint to the edge . Then was going to add tape.

After waiting another 2 hrs once again the technician turned up and said the workshop manager wasn’t happy about the tape and it had to be re done.

On recieving my keys back the technician let slip he had some photos of the corrosion. So my reaction was why wasn’t I told considering I was in the showroom all day.

Really not happy at all about the so called repair. So this is another disgruntled Vw owner.
 
7EE2B8C3-7581-4B76-9895-680E72A6F5A6.jpeg 472B28BE-D5FF-4D88-870A-34F011C3835C.jpeg 00EE6158-DBE8-4E51-BB41-CA74A595B774.jpeg Since my post yesterday I lifted the roof this morning to have a closer inspection in daylight . To my horror founsome blistering visibly above the line of the rubber. Lots of visible “silver” paint

This is after the so called campaign repair at Vw dealer

So called Vw customer service to lodge a claim, we shall see what happens
 
Denzilgts said:
View attachment 40670 View attachment 40671 View attachment 40672 Since my post yesterday I lifted the roof this morning to have a closer inspection in daylight . To my horror founsome blistering visibly above the line of the rubber. Lots of visible “silver” paint

This is after the so called campaign repair at Vw dealer

So called Vw customer service to lodge a claim, we shall see what happens
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I’m sorry to say that that really does look like a cowboy job!
 
Hope thats just a temporarily fix ....
 
Denzilgts said:
View attachment 40701 This is the photo I managed to get from the mechanic working on my van ....
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Looks like that should have been booked for a trip to a body shop.

Can't see why they would put that silver paint on and not spray over with the proper colour?

This just goes to show that it's worth having all the facts before you let the mechanics at it. So take the seal off, take photos of what's underneath. You were lucky the mechanic let you have a photo of what he found.
 
Interesting I have my bus booked in to get a door handle changed (the paint came off) under warranty, and I have been informed my bus will also have a "recall 75a1 for roof corrosion", apparently it will be assessment and photographs of the roof.

Now to date I haven't seen any evidence of the roof corrosion on mine but it's nice to see a proactive approach and for them to check it without me asking.
 
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MattBW said:
Interesting I have my bus booked in to get a door handle changed (the paint came off) under warranty, and I have been informed my bus will also have a "recall 75a1 for roof corrosion", apparently it will be assessment and photographs of the roof.

Now to date I haven't seen any evidence of the roof corrosion on mine but it's nice to see a proactive approach and for them to check it without me asking.
Click to expand...
My advice would be if you can let them show you when they take the seal off. Get the mechanic to show you the clear tape they apply.

For me they have now agreed to take the van away to be done in a body shop now. But certainly a massive heartache and certainly takes the shine off the van.

I know it’s not exactly related but today while I was at work (actually on the phone to Vw customer service) I noticed a 2012 Cali parked near me .

Looked up and saw the front panel
 
That is a sad sight . Fingers crossed I've not seen any evidence of any but you never know. Sadly I doubt I will be able to see as I'm not there but when my warranty ran out the body shop did check and show me. I dont recall tape but I also had no corrosion.
 
Just wanted to add some good news to the thread. Following advice I received a few weeks earlier about corrosion on the front panel of my van, I took the van into a body shop for repair. As far as I can tell, Witherspoons in Edinburgh did a great job. I've posted before and after photos of the repair. Total cost under 400 pounds.
20190106_124621963_iOS.jpg20190106_124604384_iOS.jpg 20190120_142526025_iOS.jpg20190120_142535798_iOS.jpg
 
No corrosion behind the roof sill then?

That would be a great repair for the price if it last’s
Fingers crossed

Alan
 
Shiny Rusty said:
Just wanted to add some good news to the thread. Following advice I received a few weeks earlier about corrosion on the front panel of my van, I took the van into a body shop for repair. As far as I can tell, Witherspoons in Edinburgh did a great job. I've posted before and after photos of the repair. Total cost under 400 pounds.
View attachment 40815View attachment 40816 View attachment 40817View attachment 40818
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In the third picture, it looks like they have put sealant between the roof panel and the top of the windscreen surround. Is this to prevent water entering and the electrolysis reoccurring?
 
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