T5 Transporter Campervan Owner

[Biggles]

Hi, Biggles here, great website and forum. Picked up lots of useful stuff.
Live in Mona Vale, Sydney. Bought Trainspotter September. 05 model LWB Discoverer camper conversion with 128kw diesel & 6 speed auto. Has done 130K k's. I'll attempt to attach a piccie at the end. Find the VW manuals (aka War & Peace) pretty heavy going, especially with the huge range of models/engines etc. Couple of queries.
a) the 128kw diesel - does it have a toothed timing belt or chain driven? If belt, when should it be replaced? Can't glean from the service records when/if it was done. All but one service done by Penrith VW dealer.
b) records indicate 506.1 oil used - services approx. every 15K. Is it advisable to do an interim oil/filter change, say at 7,500k?

Just put new set Hankooks 235/55/17s on - 103 rating. Did have quite worn Pirellis with just 99 load rating. Someone was very naughty, as the manual and tyre placard clearly specify the 103's. Dealer who sold it to me (Sydney RV Centre, Narrabeen) went halves, which was a great gesture. Not sure why ours has the 17" steel wheels - all the otheres I've seen use 16's with a higher profile.

Any advice will be appreciated, or if I can help anyone, I'll be pleased to do so.
Cheers,
Biggles
05 T5 Trainspotter LWB 128kw
98 Golf MK3 2.0 GL

[phaeton]

Welcome Biggles

The silver Discoverer looks great

[phill]

nice looking unit !

Hi Biggles whats the interior set up like ?
was looking at geting a dissel stove for my van but cost to much what do you have ?

[WEDEL.1]

Great looking T5....green with envy

Maris

[WEDEL.1]

The early T5, 128KW came with 17" steel wheels.

My advice on anything to do with the oil on these Diesels is to follow the recommendations of the Manufacture. Also get the opinion from whoever is going to do the servicing - find out which oil they would be using - and in the event that you are using a non Dealership for servicing, make sure that oil is OK for the motor.

We have just bought a Golf TDI, and the dealer told me NOT to do anything for 15K or 12 mths, no oil change, no oil filter change.

Maris

[Biggles]

Thanks Phaeton, the colour is actually called wheat beige and is sort of champagne colour. The colour coding does set them off nicely. Must try not to bump into things and get those bumpers scratched. Does have reversing sensors - work well too.
Cheers.

[Biggles]

Hi Phill, conversion done about 1 year ago by Discoverer (Milperra, Sydney) for previous owner. Has 3 burner gas stove integrated with sink & electric tap.
Microwave included as is 85l Engels fridge 12/240v. 100 amp/hr van battery with charger/regulator etc. The model is called the "bed seat layout".
Good photos at following url:-

http://www.discoverercampers.com.au/?type=Page&id=4&gallery=Discoverer+Volkswagen

If you want more info, let me know.
Cheers.

[Biggles]

Hi Wedel, Thanks for that info on the wheel size and the advice on the oil. Just a bit nervous going 15,000 between changes. I do have a very good mechanic. Will probably avoid vw dealer as their charges are dreadful. I'll ensure the correct oil is used even if I buy it myself. Thsi guy did my Merc C200 for 6 years and I had no complaints. He's into Euro stuff.
Thanks again, Wedel

[phaeton]

Thanks Phaeton, the colour is actually called wheat beige and is sort of champagne colour. The colour coding does set them off nicely. Must try not to bump into things and get those bumpers scratched. Does have reversing sensors - work well too.
Cheers.

I see it now looked silver till I really looked

[Biggles]

Wedel, no one replied to my query about the timing belt/chain. Any thoughts? Cheers.

[rogerd63]

Im waiting to see at what time this belt should be changed. I was told once that on my 2005 T5 1.9lt it was at 5yrs or 120,000 km.
This was from Vw whom il never let touch it again as they just over charge and dont actually do a proper service.

[Wim]

Hi,

I'm also new here and just posted my newbie announcement. I'm also a VW Campervan owner and made a website of this.
Because I live in Belgium the main part is in Dutch but there is also an English page.
I think you will see the video of a 8.000 KM trip in Russia with a T5 4 Motion Campervan, you find it in the page Busmania

THE LINK TO MY WEBSITE

Kind regards from Belgium,

Wim

[Transporter]

Welcome to the forum! That's awesome website.


Holy cow, the 1963 VW Bus sold for $198,000 at auction, that's unbelievable.