Peeling paint

[petenkaz]

Hi all

over some time now the paint on our kombi beach has been peeling in the tracks where the rack mounts are. The poor does live outdoors, but it appears to be that the paint has not bonded to whatever is in those tracks, and had been going on for some time. Rest of car is fine. Anyone else experienced this at all?

[Scouser]

How old is it?
My 2000 T4 had the same problem, eventually all the cear coat came off the whole of the roof.
Dave

[fransnz]

You need to stop it or slow it down otherwise it'll just keep going.

[petenkaz]

It's a 2008, will need to repaint the roof I think sadly. Just unusual it all appears to be happening in the tracks

[Scouser]

Thats where mine started, its like the paint didnt stick correctly to the 90 degree corners in the tracks?
Within two years it was all off.
You will have to remove all the clear coat and repaint the whole roof.

[petenkaz]

Awesome thanks for that, got to knock a couple of dents out that others have kindly left for me, so whilst they've got the paint tin out! Yep Scouser, that's exactly where mine started and is restricted to. Wonder how much to repaint?

[Zebt]

Same thing happening to mine, obviously a fault, any recourse with VW? I wouldn't think so but it's very unusual for modern cars to have paint issues these days. Mine's a 2011 SWB and as I'm trying to get it pop topped (not having much luck finding anyone to do it)so I am holding off sorting it out but worried about rust.

[petenkaz]

Seriously doubt any recourse with VW. Have been quoted by panel beater to repaint, but not the whole roof. Cost for this will be $816. Don't know whether this is good or bad. My preference would be to repaint the whole roof obviously.
A pop top would be awesome, and after researching a while back I think there are a few around that do them in Australia. though from what I've seen they're not the standard of Trakka and some of the European ones where the lines blend to the original roof line. I would imagine the cost to be around 10k, so when you take off at least 1k to get the roof painted it doesn't look like too bad an option.
Please post if you find any local manufacturers of SWB pop tops. I know there is a posting somewhere on the topic.

[Zebt]

Discussed with Discoverer campers near Wollongong, they will pop top my roof for around 8k not painted (SWB). Thinking seriously about it. Van is currently with VW today for servicing, pointed out the paint peeling and he wasn't too interested, van is 1 year out of warranty so I asked him to make a record with the warranty department. I always get a bad feeling when I go to the VW service places.

[Sunny43.5]

I would take up the issue of paint peeling with VW Australia 1800 607 822 from reported in the UK peeling paint and rust has been seen over there as well Take a look at this guys report when asked which T5 he should buy
Quote {The Best T5 to go for is a T4 that is clean and tidy!
In my opinion the 5 pot T5 although some will disagree, if the correct oil has been used throughout its service ( hard to know). The water pump, power assist pump need to have been replaced.
Central locking problem usually is the loom below the drivers seat, ABS issue is the loom at the rear.
Other checks is the DMF clutch check, park nose down on a hill and take up the drive in reverse, judder indicates DMF on its way out.
Check the intercooler for bulging.

Rust at side door handle.

Groaning top strut bearings.
Clonking steering column when turning, felt through floor, VW cannot fix this seemingly???
Worn suspension bushes on tie bar and control arms, 80 - 100,000 ish miles.
Checked for cracked manifold. Get the vacuum model EGR if possible, you can blank it off. Check all the vacuum hoses especially the large on to the brake servo, seem to crack as valve in middle above rocker cover.
Lift the drivers side wheel, in gear check for slop in the drive shaft.
Prone to scrub outer edge of front wheels.
Paint is softer on the T5 than the T4. } end Quote .

[petenkaz]

Thanks for that poptop pricing Zebt, found a panel beater near work who quoted me last week, waiting for the quote back. his solution was just to paint a bit either side of the roof, still not the whole roof. i'm not too wise in the ways of painting so I hope this solution is cheaper and works long term.
Interesting Sunny43.5 for the take on the T5. I find it's a great car, now done 140,000 with to date no major issues touch wood (other than me filling with unleaded). Still feels much more solid than a Japanese car. I wonder how my Triton will feel after doing the kind of work my Beach has done, I doubt as well put together as the VW. It's also time for a big service, last one was a year ago now and half way through towing a van on a half lap of Australia. Always serviced by VW, until I got jack of their lousy service, or a VW specialist.
Torn between a really good old fashioned tart up, i.e. new wheels and tyres and a big service/detail and shifting it. Would love a Multivan these days for the passenger comfort, shame they're out of my price range though!
I will ring VW as you suggest, though I think they'll just brush it off

[Zebt]

Just called VW. They told me to go back to the dealer and ask for the paint issue to be raised with warranty and submit a 'request for goodwill'. Also interestingly they mentioned that the corrosion warranty is 12 years, one of the peeling areas is now corroding. I am guessing that the corrosion warranty only covers the major steel structural areas and not the body work, although I suspect that the roof does form part of the safety integrity of the vehicle. I will contact the dealer again.

[petenkaz]

Thanks for that Zebt. i'll chase up. Unfortunately I bought it from Burwins in Victoria and not a local dealer. Will let you know if I get any satisfaction from them!

[Sunny43.5]

Corrosion should be covered where ever it is , they could not separate certain areas . If you think about it the most logical place for rust would be down in the sill area as it would be the most exposed to rocks etc . Just don't give up on them keep complaining I know it worked for me even though it took two years for them to do the right thing in my case .

[petenkaz]

First inspection by the warranty guy at VW, and you see it's all my fault. Because despite being way outside of the paint warranty period I should have taken it to them, so they could have no doubt knocked back my claim then. And the rust is because of me, not crappy paint? So the VW guys advice was to get it fixed when I get the roof painted, i.e. me fix and don't waste their time. Also as the car's so old it's bound to happen. He will get back to me once they've lodged the warranty claim with VW. guy at work pointed out a good fact, warranty is on corrosion and not paint, so should be on bare metal. Makes sense to me and the basis for a good argument with VW.

So I guess my chances are nil on the first go. However, I can be a real stubborn bastard and rather annoying when it comes to such things!