Leaking pop tops on 2023 California Oceans

[Up10]

Sorry but I think that the dealer is being reasonable - having previously had leaks I’m suprised you’ve waited 2 years to test a repair.

I would just get a waterproofing spray & treat it myself. It will only cost you a few quid and won’t take long to do.

I am not sure it matters how it is long after replacing the bellows. Ours was a mere few months and VW refused to honour any warranty. It is a sub standard product on what is otherwise a very nice van. Just treat it as a tent and reproof the external face and be happy with your vehicle.
Vw cannot work out what to do but the members of this forum have resolved the issue. Forget ombudsmen, just buy a can of spray and wait for a sunny day to apply. You will live a happier and less frustrated life for it.

 

[Chriskend]

Once you have sprayed the canvas use the rest to coat your hiking boots and coat…win win

 

[lohr500]

What’s your technique of application please?

Our bellows were only leaking on the stitched seam lines and the seams where the zips and stitched in ribs are located. So those were the only areas I treated. The panels themselves had no leaks.

Warm day with no wind and completely dry bellows.

Our van was only a few weeks old, so the bellows were really clean. If your bellows are dirty, I would clean the above areas carefully with a mild soap solution and allow to dry thoroughly.

I applied two coats of Aquatex to those areas, internally and externally, allowing around 1 inch of over spray either side of the seams.
Let the 1st coat dry completely for half an hour before applying the 2nd.

I used a piece of old cardboard held against the base of the bellows to mask the bottom rubber seal and to stop any over spray landing on the paintwork or internal trim.

Once dry, you can't see that the spray has been applied And two years later, there are no signs of any degradation of the seams, zips, or bellows material. So as far as I am concerned, no side effects from using it.

 

[acer]

Our bellows were only leaking on the stitched seam lines and the seams where the zips and stitched in ribs are located. So those were the only areas I treated. The panels themselves had no leaks.

Warm day with no wind and completely dry bellows.

Our van was only a few weeks old, so the bellows were really clean. If your bellows are dirty, I would clean the above areas carefully with a mild soap solution and allow to dry thoroughly.

I applied two coats of Aquatex to those areas, internally and externally, allowing around 1 inch of over spray either side of the seams.
Let the 1st coat dry completely for half an hour before applying the 2nd.

I used a piece of old cardboard held against the base of the bellows to mask the bottom rubber seal and to stop any over spray landing on the paintwork or internal trim.

Once dry, you can't see that the spray has been applied And two years later, there are no signs of any degradation of the seams, zips, or bellows material. So as far as I am concerned, no side effects from using it.

I did pretty much the same thing. We’ve had some heavy rain in Slovenia and wake to some dampness on the horizontal metal strip below our 06S belllows. Perhaps condensation? Either way, I don’t think it will hurt to give those stitched areas another treatment on our return.