Buying a T6 Cali in 2025

[Devaprem]

Hi. I am thinking of buying a replacement Cali (my current one is written off in a recent road accident). It is a 2019 T6 204 with about 20k on the clock from a VW main dealer (Chelmsford) and I'm told has full main dealer service history. From the video it looks to be in very good condition with all the accessories. The deal includes RAC Platinum Plus warranty for 1 year but I have read mixed reports about that particular warranty cover (e.g. £55/hr maximum labour cover). I've download the checklists from this forum and have amended one a little based on my experience. I can use this as a reference when looking at the vehicle but would be really interested in any advice anyone can offer on pre-purchase vehicle checks (RAC, AA, etc?).

 

[FivetonesCali]

Something to consider:

- 204ps Bi-Turbo CXEB T6 Engine & Turbo problems -

- 204ps Bi-Turbo CXEB T6 Engine & Turbo problems - Looks like im the latest patient of the CEXB engine issues. (possibly the 2016-2018 range as there is a mention that the CXEB Block etc was revised in 2019) (the CXEC 199ps Bi-Turbo was released 2019> and revised ) in sort it looks like its...

www.t6forum.com

 

[Resfeber]

Hi. I am thinking of buying a replacement Cali (my current one is written off in a recent road accident). It is a 2019 T6 204 with about 20k on the clock from a VW main dealer (Chelmsford) and I'm told has full main dealer service history. From the video it looks to be in very good condition with all the accessories. The deal includes RAC Platinum Plus warranty for 1 year but I have read mixed reports about that particular warranty cover (e.g. £55/hr maximum labour cover). I've download the checklists from this forum and have amended one a little based on my experience. I can use this as a reference when looking at the vehicle but would be really interested in any advice anyone can offer on pre-purchase vehicle checks (RAC, AA, etc?).

If the vehicle is under 6 years old, I would advise for peace of mind that you also invest in VW’s all in plan (2 years servicing, 2 years roadside assistance, 2 years VW warranty)

All-in Service Plan | Volkswagen UK

Discover the 24 month All-in service plan from VW, with up to 2 years warranty, 2 years of roadside assistance, 2 MOTs & 2 services giving you peace of mind.

www.volkswagen.co.uk

with a few reasonable exclusions apart from oil leaks due to failed seals (a common occurrence for the front crankshaft seal which is cheap but expensive in labour, as the water pump and timing belt are replaced at same time.)

 

[Devaprem]

Something to consider:

- 204ps Bi-Turbo CXEB T6 Engine & Turbo problems -

- 204ps Bi-Turbo CXEB T6 Engine & Turbo problems - Looks like im the latest patient of the CEXB engine issues. (possibly the 2016-2018 range as there is a mention that the CXEB Block etc was revised in 2019) (the CXEC 199ps Bi-Turbo was released 2019> and revised ) in sort it looks like its...

www.t6forum.com

Thanks. I will ask the dealer about this (giving the TPI number and other information), although I do see mention that VW addressed the 2019 model (although when in that I don't know)

 

[Devaprem]

If the vehicle is under 6 years old, I would advise for peace of mind that you also invest in VW’s all in plan (2 years servicing, 2 years roadside assistance, 2 years VW warranty)

All-in Service Plan | Volkswagen UK

Discover the 24 month All-in service plan from VW, with up to 2 years warranty, 2 years of roadside assistance, 2 MOTs & 2 services giving you peace of mind.

www.volkswagen.co.uk

with a few reasonable exclusions apart from oil leaks due to failed seals (a common occurrence for the front crankshaft seal which is cheap but expensive in labour, as the water pump and timing belt are replaced at same time.)

Thanks. I will ask about that but they've only mentioned the RAC warranty, which I'm not sure about

 

[Resfeber]

Thanks. I will ask about that but they've only mentioned the RAC warranty, which I'm not sure about

Please follow the link I sent.
It is for you to purchase the plan or negotiate as an alternative to the RAC warranty, if and only if the vehicle is under 6 years old at the date of purchase.
Effectively, the 2 years VW warranty part is free when you value the 2 years servicing, 2 years MOT and 2 years roadside assistance.
The RAC warranty is only for 12 months and you would have to fund 2 years servicing, MOT’s and Roadside assistance on top.
Finally the VW warranty side will cover many of the camping features that the RAC will not.

 

[Resfeber]

For what it is worth, I had a T6 under warranty for 7 years, due to the 2 year all in plan I purchased and benefited from new media system circa £2000, EGR valve and cooler, + egr pipes. (around £1800) plus power locking for tailgate fixed (cost not known) and apart from the front crankshaft oil seal that I had to pay for( £1200) clearly benefited from the All in plan and helped me at private sale by being able to offer the plan to the new owner as a warranty for the remaining balance of the plan.

 

[bigmac77]

Thanks. I will ask the dealer about this (giving the TPI number and other information), although I do see mention that VW addressed the 2019 model (although when in that I don't know)

If you can view the vehicle look under where the steering column is and there should be a large paper sticker and it will have either CEXB or CEXC on it. Mine is a 69 plate Cali and is a CEXC.

 

[willwander]

2019 T6’s are generally good.
I consider the T6 to be a sweet spot in the Cali range. Do a little research on the 204 engine, not as bad as the dreaded 180bhp circa 2010-2011.

 

[FivetonesCali]

Thanks. I will ask the dealer about this (giving the TPI number and other information), although I do see mention that VW addressed the 2019 model (although when in that I don't know)

If it’s a 199 that’s the revised design. This engine is shared between the last of the line T6 and the early T6.1s. They introduced a completely new version later as a 204 that finished out the T6.1.

This is from memory I’m sure you could find out more from researching further.

 

[Devaprem]

For what it is worth, I had a T6 under warranty for 7 years, due to the 2 year all in plan I purchased and benefited from new media system circa £2000, EGR valve and cooler, + egr pipes. (around £1800) plus power locking for tailgate fixed (cost not known) and apart from the front crankshaft oil seal that I had to pay for( £1200) clearly benefited from the All in plan and helped me at private sale by being able to offer the plan to the new owner as a warranty for the remaining balance of the plan.

Thanks again. I followed your link and VW only offfer the option of a couple of service plans, not the All-In one. Also, I can't transfer my existing one, which ends next June, to a new vehicle. Yours seems to have paid off. I apart from the two services, MOTs and a couple of Roadside Assist calls, I had just started a claim on mine for a replacement MMI unit (the delamination problem). The 12 month RAC warranty is included in the price so I'll give this some closer scrutiny.

 

[Devaprem]

If you can view the vehicle look under where the steering column is and there should be a large paper sticker and it will have either CEXB or CEXC on it. Mine is a 69 plate Cali and is a CEXC.

Thank you for the tip - I'll check this when I look but will also ask

 

[Devaprem]

If it’s a 199 that’s the revised design. This engine is shared between the last of the line T6 and the early T6.1s. They introduced a completely new version later as a 204 that finished out the T6.1.

This is from memory I’m sure you could find out more from researching further.

It was registered in March 2019, which might be it was just before that change or the first of the new engine variants. I'll do more research...

 

[Resfeber]

Thanks again. I followed your link and VW only offfer the option of a couple of service plans, not the All-In one. Also, I can't transfer my existing one, which ends next June, to a new vehicle. Yours seems to have paid off. I apart from the two services, MOTs and a couple of Roadside Assist calls, I had just started a claim on mine for a replacement MMI unit (the delamination problem). The 12 month RAC warranty is included in the price so I'll give this some closer scrutiny.

Unfortunately All in Plan is not available for your vehicle due to March 2019 registration so more than 6 years old (but there may be other worthy vehicles out there) a few months younger that could be covered.
T6 at this age gets my vote. Most issues sorted.

For anyone else re the all in plan, this is the correct link

VWCV Service Plans | Volkswagen Financial Services UK

With a service plan for your Volkswagen Van, you can budget for your vehicles servicing needs, knowing your next services are covered.

customer.vwfs.co.uk

Scroll down in the table to All in plan currently £46 per month for 24 months. But occasionally discounted

 

[JohnCalifornia]

Mines an April 2019 vehicle and has the CXEC engine code. Does this mean mine is the newer 204 or 199BHP. I thought I had the 204BHP but I’m sure in some paperwork somewhere it says it’s 199BHP. I’ll look into my paperwork further…….

 

[JohnCalifornia]

Just checked all service invoices etc and mine is the 199BHP. Best change my details on here from 204 to 199……..

 

[Devaprem]

I've been told by the dealer that it's a 199 biturbo so it sounds like the later engine code (CEXC rather than CEXB). That sounds like good news but I'll check when I see it next week