Leaking pop tops on 2023 California Oceans

[CaliforniaCylus]

I have an 06s. It leaks!

Leaking 06s bellows are rare.

Got any pictures of it leaking?

 

[Top Diner]

know this has or is being discussed so apologies if this is posted incorrectly. My 2024 T6.1 04S pop top is leaking even in light rain showers through the front lower seam of the semi circular front vent. I contacted my local Breeze Van centre to be told that VW have significantly tightened up the instructions to main dealers such that they should reject customers warranty claims for leaking bellows. I believe VW are in possibly/probably in breach of UK legislation in not at least attempting to fix this long standing issue for many customers. Any advice please on how I can resolve this. I am so disappointed that I may face a long and expensive battle to get a satisfactory resolution. Thanks.

 

[stationmaster]

The O6S bellows have clear tape down the corner seems, which VW have seen fit to add to stop water ingress at this place. Ours also leaked v. badly between the rubber seal at the base and the aluminium roof in heavy rain. To much tension me thinks. O5S changed to O6S's under warranty.

What date were your leaking 05S changed to 06S?

 

[Top Diner]

What date were your leaking 05S changed to 06S?

I have OS4 bellows on a 2024 6.1 Ocean.

 

[Resfeber]

Correct , normally dry. But in storm force conditions I get leaks. Driving sideways rain for hours and they start to show ingress. I aquatexed them for that reason after reading here it's good stuff, it isn't, it's sh1te

2nd that about T6 bellows.
My T6 with the single layer bellows only leaked once in 6 years under relentless wind driven rain on to the side of the van.
For what it’s worth my new T6.1 with 05s bellows leaked at the front corner seams at first decent wetting with wind driven rain.
Aqua texted all seams and no leaks in similar wind driven rain.

 

[Delwilk]

I just bought a 74 plate California beach 2 weeks ago and went away for the night straight away to get a feel for it. I have previously had two converted VW vans with SCA roofs that never leaked. It rained and I had all the problems discussed in detail in this thread. Dealer took it in straight away to “sort out”. Just had an email to say it is ready. They have not done anything to it but said “advice from VW for all California models is that if it is persistent heavy rain then the roof should be dropped to prevent any water ingress.” I have responded to say it is not fit for purpose if the 2 people sleeping upstairs have to find somewhere else to go if it starts raining in the night. I cannot believe that VW actually sell a campervan that cannot be used in the rain. Thanks to the members who provided contact details for VW exec office I have also spoken with them today - they didn’t like the sound of the don’t use in the rain advice.

Hugely disappointed and I am now trying to reject the vehicle.

 

[CaliforniaCylus]

I just bought a 74 plate California beach 2 weeks ago and went away for the night straight away to get a feel for it. I have previously had two converted VW vans with SCA roofs that never leaked. It rained and I had all the problems discussed in detail in this thread. Dealer took it in straight away to “sort out”. Just had an email to say it is ready. They have not done anything to it but said “advice from VW for all California models is that if it is persistent heavy rain then the roof should be dropped to prevent any water ingress.” I have responded to say it is not fit for purpose if the 2 people sleeping upstairs have to find somewhere else to go if it starts raining in the night. I cannot believe that VW actually sell a campervan that cannot be used in the rain. Thanks to the members who provided contact details for VW exec office I have also spoken with them today - they didn’t like the sound of the don’t use in the rain advice.

Hugely disappointed and I am now trying to reject the vehicle.

I can fully understand your desire to reject. That is not an acceptable message or position from the Dealer that a California is only for use in dry weather.

If you have version an older version than 06S I cannot figure why they wouldn't warranty fix to a version which has obvious improvements to fix leaks.

You could get Kernow Transporters to replace it for about a grand and issue a court claim for the money spent. But it's a lot of aggravation.

I sometimes think the VW warranty isn't worth anything...

 

[Viktorgeorge]

I have OS4 bellows on a 2024 6.1 Ocean.

I think that would be 04S.

I can see you are new to this forum. It is a goldmine of info for a California owner with many extraordinarily helpful members.

An initial procedure to understand is the 'reply' system when a post in repeated and greyed when above a reply to it. So #4528 above was @stationmaster replying to @SusiBus rather than to you, even though you were the post immediately above @stationmaster.

 

[Up10]

Leaking 06s bellows are rare.

Got any pictures of it leaking?

Yes I have but in essence it leaks on the horizontal seam below the front fly mesh.

 

[Sad]

06s here on MY24, soaked several times during the hot weather over the last few months. And today, just back from 2 weeks in France during several monster thunderstorms, and not a hint of a leak.

 

[Delwilk]

I can fully understand your desire to reject. That is not an acceptable message or position from the Dealer that a California is only for use in dry weather.

If you have version an older version than 06S I cannot figure why they wouldn't warranty fix to a version which has obvious improvements to fix leaks.

You could get Kernow Transporters to replace it for about a grand and issue a court claim for the money spent. But it's a lot of aggravation.

I sometimes think the VW warranty isn't worth anything...

They said my bellows are the latest version. It’s like they refuse to believe that it is possible for yet another version to be leaking. Here’s an idea, they could ask Reims or Westfalia to make a decent set for them

 

[ParachuteMan]

2nd that about T6 bellows.
My T6 with the single layer bellows only leaked once in 6 years under relentless wind driven rain on to the side of the van.
For what it’s worth my new T6.1 with 05s bellows leaked at the front corner seams at first decent wetting with wind driven rain.
Aqua texted all seams and no leaks in similar wind driven rain.

Same here. 05S plus Aquatex the seams (especially the vertical ones) solves the leaking

 

[SusiBus]

What date were your leaking 05S changed to 06S?

Sorry for the delay in replying.
They were changed on the 07/10/24. It was when VW didn't seem to be that reluctant to honour a warranty claim for a genuine known fault. This is similar to thier actions with regard to roof corrosion. Once it started to cost them a lot of money, they switched to a cheaper repair that has given owners endless problems.
Hope this helps.

 

[stationmaster]

Sorry for the delay in replying.
They were changed on the 07/10/24. It was when VW didn't seem to be that reluctant to honour a warranty claim for a genuine known fault. This is similar to thier actions with regard to roof corrosion. Once it started to cost them a lot of money, they switched to a cheaper repair that has given owners endless problems.
Hope this helps.

Thanks for getting back to me.

 

[Top Diner]

Leaking 06s bellows are rare.

Got any pictures of it leaking?

Yes. Supplied to main dealer. Awaiting decision on Warranty.

 

[CaliforniaCylus]

Yes. Supplied to main dealer. Awaiting decision on Warranty.

Was curious to see / understand how bad leaks can be on the 06S. When our 03S bellows leaked the water formed puddles in each corner and then cascaded over onto the headlining and seats.

But 06S bellows definitely have major improvements with the black rubber seam sealer strips and also the vertical transparent seaming tape.

There should be a lot less places for them to leak!!!

I'm expecting one day to need to go to 06S but we currently have very waterproof 03S ones.

 

[Up10]

Was curious to see / understand how bad leaks can be on the 06S. When our 03S bellows leaked the water formed puddles in each corner and then cascaded over onto the headlining and seats.

But 06S bellows definitely have major improvements with the black rubber seam sealer strips and also the vertical transparent seaming tape.

There should be a lot less places for them to leak!!!

I'm expecting one day to need to go to 06S but we currently have very waterproof 03S ones.

If you have waterproof bellows, don't be tempted to change them.
VW Group say only a handful of 06s bellows leak. However, the impression I get from reading posts on this forum, this is not the case. OK, they may have resolved issues around the lower joint to the roof (but not always) and also to the vertical seams. However, leaks are often reported along the horizontal seam below the front fly mesh in the posts I have read.
Yes, there are fewer places for leaks on the 06s bellows, but they still let the rain through.

 

[Betsycalifornia]

Leaking 06s bellows are rare.

Got any pictures of it leaking?

Our 06s leaks. A lot less than 03 or 04, this was 2.5 hours into some rain in France the other day. Ended up putting the cover on, got soaked. It hasn’t previously, but it did this time. Wrong type of rain for sure.

View attachment IMG_8715.jpeg

 

[Andy C Berks.]

Our 06s leaks. A lot less than 03 or 04, this was 2.5 hours into some rain in France the other day. Ended up putting the cover on, got soaked. It hasn’t previously, but it did this time. Wrong type of rain for sure.

View attachment 140857

That pic looks reminiscent of my current 04S the one time they leaked - put Aquatex on them and no real trouble since. Had a bit of damp the once since but it was so minor we couldn't be sure if it was a minor leak or condensation. Am sure they will likely leak again at some point as ultimately the wrong amount of rain will ultimately find a way, as without a seam sealer on that lower joint the pooling water will eventually always find some way in. Looking closely at your pic it looks like the water ingress is initially along that upper of the two rows of stitching on the bottom "hinge" of the window flap, which would make sense as that's where the water will collect. VW did supply us with a cover but haven't actually used it yet, after having made a fuss in the first place to make them pay for it.

Had two sets of 03S before the current 04S and they leaked almost as badly as if we had just left the window open !

Tricky decision on whether you ask VW to replace them again and maybe end up with a worse job or whether you try Aquatex. Personally I would put Aquatex on it as that will stem the vast majority of the flow, and most likely stop it all together - and its completely invisible (strong odour during application but completely disappears once dry)

 

[Betsycalifornia]

That pic looks reminiscent of my current 04S the one time they leaked - put Aquatex on them and no real trouble since. Had a bit of damp the once since but it was so minor we couldn't be sure if it was a minor leak or condensation. Am sure they will likely leak again at some point as ultimately the wrong amount of rain will ultimately find a way, as without a seam sealer on that lower joint the pooling water will eventually always find some way in. Looking closely at your pic it looks like the water ingress is initially along that upper of the two rows of stitching on the bottom "hinge" of the window flap, which would make sense as that's where the water will collect. VW did supply us with a cover but haven't actually used it yet, after having made a fuss in the first place to make them pay for it.

Had two sets of 03S before the current 04S and they leaked almost as badly as if we had just left the window open !

Tricky decision on whether you ask VW to replace them again and maybe end up with a worse job or whether you try Aquatex. Personally I would put Aquatex on it as that will stem the vast majority of the flow, and most likely stop it all together - and its completely invisible (strong odour during application but completely disappears once dry)

We used 4 tins of spray Aquatex before we left just in case.