Leaking Bellows: Installed since October 2023 Only

[RockinNRollin]

Remember only real rain is accepted by VW and not hosepipe rain.

This will be real rain unless Michael Fish has been involved in the forecasting.

 

[RockinNRollin]

Still leaks.

 

[McGons]

Still leaks.

How bad was it?
We’re in conversation with our dealer about replacing ours as thought these new ones looked promising.

 

[RockinNRollin]

Steady ingress. Basically unchanged from the original.

 

[Corradobrit]

Still leaks.

In line with the experience of bellows with the same date in Germany. You may be unlucky by a week. It's the October ones that 'seem' to be offering some protection.

 

[RockinNRollin]

In line with the experience of bellows with the same date in Germany. You may be unlucky by a week. It's the October ones that 'seem' to be offering some protection.

I have to admit I was a bit surprised by the date tag on the latest one on mine. Urgh. What a mess.

 

[Lagertha]

Amazed that 7 people in this forum have had new bellows fitted in the past 3 weeks.

Make that 8

 

[CaliforniaCylus]

So we have the experience of @Betsycalifornia (ok) and @RockinNRollin (failed).

What about the other 6?? Are they fixed or leaky

 

[OooOooTheMonkey]

I have to admit I was a bit surprised by the date tag on the latest one on mine. Urgh. What a mess.

Have you just had one replacement set of bellows?

 

[Kayleigh]

Steady ingress. Basically unchanged from the original.

So I wonder what exactly has changed between the late September bellows and early October dated ones that appear much more water resistant.

 

[RockinNRollin]

Have you just had one replacement set of bellows?

3 replacements on top of the original.

 

[Corradobrit]

3 replacements on top of the original.

That really is unfortunate. Makes you think there has to be a way to test the bellows at the dealership before they are installed. Put some tension in the fabric similar to that introduced by the rams and then spray with the hose. I would bet they still leak.

 

[Kayleigh]

That really is unfortunate. Makes you think there has to be a way to test the bellows at the dealership before they are installed. Put some tension in the fabric similar to that introduced by the rams and then spray with the hose. I would bet they still leak.

I think the only way is to test them once fitted. Given that VW no longer test using a hosepipe I guess that means vans will be onsite for extended periods after having bellows replaced.

 

[Barry Chuckle]

@Jimmylondon07 Have you had your Cali back from the dealers yet, I was just wondering if yours are now sorted?

 

[Jimmylondon07]

@Jimmylondon07 Have you had your Cali back from the dealers yet, I was just wondering if yours are now sorted?

Nope not back yet mate, maybe this week…

 

[Barry Chuckle]

Nope not back yet, maybe this week…

fingers crossed for you, blimey they're taking there time. Perhaps the micro climate in Crawley hasn't had any rain for a month

 

[Corradobrit]

Hangtag on new 101023 dated bellows is now "04S". Could this be the one. Owner says only light rain but still dry. Obvs needs more of a workout.

 

[Hueyhew]

That really is unfortunate. Makes you think there has to be a way to test the bellows at the dealership before they are installed. Put some tension in the fabric similar to that introduced by the rams and then spray with the hose. I would bet they still leak.

Shouldn't the supplier of the roof bellows be testing on a rig representing the cali roof in a repeatable manner like this old film from Vango

before they leave their depot, especially as they know there is an issue currently. Pointless testing in ambient conditions as not repeatable, hose test is much better imo as it can be repeated.

 

[.Billy Ocean.]

Hangtag on new 101023 dated bellows is now "04S". Could this be the one. Owner says only light rain but still dry. Obvs needs more of a workout.

Oh let’s hope so *insert fingers crossed emojo*

 

[bullibuskombi]

I think the only way is to test them once fitted. Given that VW no longer test using a hosepipe I guess that means vans will be onsite for extended periods after having bellows replaced.

They had mine foe 2 weeks, no rain while they were there so still unresolved.

 

[RockinNRollin]

Testing is difficult to standardise without some specialist equipment. Really a range of conditions need to be tested from the deceptively wet “mizzle” to breezy squalls and persistent rain. A hose doesn’t necessarily replicate these and leaving it out in the rain doesn’t either unless a range of conditions are encountered.

Interesting on the 04S tag; to my knowledge that’s the first time we’ve seen anything other than 03S on the MY23 bellows design

 

[Corradobrit]

Testing is difficult to standardise without some specialist equipment. Really a range of conditions need to be tested from the deceptively wet “mizzle” to breezy squalls and persistent rain. A hose doesn’t necessarily replicate these and leaving it out in the rain doesn’t either unless a range of conditions are encountered.

Interesting on the 04S tag; to my knowledge that’s the first time we’ve seen anything other than 03S on the MY23 bellows design

Apparently single skinned MY22 had 02S, double skinned was as we all know 03S (with new part number) and now 04S has materialized, although the part number remains the same.

 

[RockinNRollin]

Apparently single skinned MY22 had 02S, double skinned was as we all know 03S (with new part number) and now 04S has materialized, although the part number remains the same.

It’s the significance (possibly?!) of something materially changing on the tag that interests me. There must be a reason for it.

 

[OooOooTheMonkey]

Sounds like there’s finally been some kind of genuine change to the design or construction. Let’s hope it actually solves the problem.

 

[Julesverne2000]

Is there a requirement for manufacturers to provide a technical note to explain part updates when there has been a fault? Or will we forever be speculating and reliant on the (at best) inconsistent or (at worst) willingly misleading information from dealers and VW customer service?