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T5 or T6?

T6 came out in 2015, but obviously not from the 1st of Jan. So it could be either a T5.1 or a T6.

If it's a T6, you'll have slightly different features. For example, the dash, bonnet, lights (front and rear), as well as interior fabric and wood effect. A brief google should be able to clarify :)
 
Ianantking said:
Is my 2015 California SE TDI BMT a T5 or T6?
Click to expand...
Do you have AdBlue? If NO then you have a T5.1. If YES then you have a T6.


VW TRANSPORTER T5​

The Transporter T5 was initially manufactured between 2003 and 2010 and is easily the most recognisable and popular Transporter on the roads today. It was given an upgraded look from it's T4 predecessor and features a more modern shape and 4-piece front grill.

This model is often confused with the facelifted T5.1 which came in 2010 and features a reinvented front end.

VW TRANSPORTER T5.1 (FACELIFT)​

The Transporter T5.1 is the newer, 'facelift' version of the well-known T5. It was introduced in 2010 and has a much sleeker and differently shaped front end.

The main difference, and way to tell, are the front lights and bonnet shape. As well as looking at the mirror covers. This is the newer, fresher T5; if you have an '01 to '14 plate then it is most likely the T5.1.

VW TRANSPORTER T6​

The Transporter T6 is the latest release in the long line of Transporters from VW. It was released in 2014 and replaced the facelifted T5.1.

Many of the updates can be seen under the bonnet and in it's safety aspects, but there is also a clear costmetic update through the headlights and grill.
 
If its an SE its a T5.1 if its an Ocean its T6
 
I’m confused: you have a SE now? In 2017 you mentioned an ocean… ;)
Thread 'Cali novice'
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/cali-novice.20338/
No offense intended but kinda hard for others to know what you have if you don’t know it, well: you understand, don’t you? I don’t.
+ read all the above :thumb
Also: a picture will provide clarity because they both look clearly different.
 
Last edited:
andyinluton said:
If its an SE its a T5.1 if its an Ocean its T6
Click to expand...
Also if its a 180 its a T5.1SE as that power output was upped to 204/199 for the T6 Ocean
 
And to keep it simple: some external features. Look carefully: the T6 is on the right (the straight bottom of the window in the tailgate is especially noticeable and I think the difference is also clear at the front).
IMG_2711.jpeg
 
WelshGas said:
Do you have AdBlue? If NO then you have a T5.1. If YES then you have a T6.
Click to expand...
Not necessarily @WelshGas I have a 2016 T6 manufactured 14/04/2016 with a CAAC engine and does not have AdBlue but is acceptable in LEZ areas!. I don't think the T6 had AdBlue until the 2017 model nominally 1st August 2016.

For the OP, if the rear lid has glass with a flat bottom edge it's a T6, if it turns up each end it's T5 (note wing door models didn't have this change).
Also of note is that the front wing flasher repeaters are along the swage line at the back of the wing on a T6 whilst T5 ones are almost oval and lower on the wing.
 
calibusje said:
And to keep it simple: some external features. Look carefully: the T6 is on the right (the straight bottom of the window in the tailgate is especially noticeable and I think the difference is also clear at the front).
Click to expand...

I didnt think it got any simpler, no need to look at anything. - he's said its an SE in the first post, if its an SE its a T5.1
On his profile he shows its a 180 - if its a 180 it can only be a T5.1
 
CamperFam said:
T6 came out in 2015, but obviously not from the 1st of Jan. So it could be either a T5.1 or a T6.

If it's a T6, you'll have slightly different features. For example, the dash, bonnet, lights (front and rear), as well as interior fabric and wood effect. A brief google should be able to clarify :)
Click to expand...
 
andyinluton said:
I didnt think it got any simpler, no need to look at anything. - he's said its an SE in the first post, if its an SE its a T5.1
On his profile he shows its a 180 - if its a 180 it can only be a T5.1
Click to expand...
Again thanks for that. The consensus is that I have a T5.1.
rod_vw said:
Not necessarily @WelshGas I have a 2016 T6 manufactured 14/04/2016 with a CAAC engine and does not have AdBlue but is acceptable in LEZ areas!. I don't think the T6 had AdBlue until the 2017 model nominally 1st August 2016.

For the OP, if the rear lid has glass with a flat bottom edge it's a T6, if it turns up each end it's T5 (note wing door models didn't have this change).
Also of note is that the front wing flasher repeaters are along the swage line at the back of the wing on a T6 whilst T5 ones are almost oval and lower on the wing.
Click to expand...
I definitely don’t have Adblue but I definitely thought it was an Ocean. Am I the only one to be confused by the nomenclature? From the photos provided by calibusje I am pretty sure I have a T5.1. Thanks for your help

rod_vw said:
Not necessarily @WelshGas I have a 2016 T6 manufactured 14/04/2016 with a CAAC engine and does not have AdBlue but is acceptable in LEZ areas!. I don't think the T6 had AdBlue until the 2017 model nominally 1st August 2016.

For the OP, if the rear lid has glass with a flat bottom edge it's a T6, if it turns up each end it's T5 (note wing door models didn't have this change).
Also of note is that the front wing flasher repeaters are along the swage line at the back of the wing on a T6 whilst T5 ones are almost oval and lower on the wing.
Click to expand...
 
Ianantking said:
Again thanks for that. The consensus is that I have a T5.1.

I definitely don’t have Adblue but I definitely thought it was an Ocean. Am I the only one to be confused by the nomenclature? From the photos provided by calibusje I am pretty sure I have a T5.1. Thanks for your help
Click to expand...
Just you wait till you start trying to understand the power levels between them all :D And if that's not enough, then look at the road tax banding :D

Our Ocean is a 199 with a luxury car tax bracket; 6 months later, and we'd have had a 204 with a motorhome tax band. :D It's a minefield for anyone looking for some consistency :D
 
andyinluton said:
I didnt think it got any simpler, no need to look at anything. - he's said its an SE in the first post, if its an SE its a T5.1
On his profile he shows its a 180 - if its a 180 it can only be a T5.1
Click to expand...
Also correct but I'm afraid it's not that simple: a short 10 second search shows that the OP posted in 2017 that he bought a 2015 OCEAN.
Hopefully all the explanations (like yours) and visual representations (my post), helps him to know for sure what he bought at the time. It doesn't matter to me what he bought if only he knew, I'm just trying to help. As always.
Greetings
EDIT: when I wrote this, the pictures were as help for the OP, not a reaction on your post just before ;) nothing personal.
 
Last edited:
WelshGas said:
Do you have AdBlue? If NO then you have a T5.1. If YES then you have a T6.


VW TRANSPORTER T5​

The Transporter T5 was initially manufactured between 2003 and 2010 and is easily the most recognisable and popular Transporter on the roads today. It was given an upgraded look from it's T4 predecessor and features a more modern shape and 4-piece front grill.

This model is often confused with the facelifted T5.1 which came in 2010 and features a reinvented front end.

VW TRANSPORTER T5.1 (FACELIFT)​

The Transporter T5.1 is the newer, 'facelift' version of the well-known T5. It was introduced in 2010 and has a much sleeker and differently shaped front end.

The main difference, and way to tell, are the front lights and bonnet shape. As well as looking at the mirror covers. This is the newer, fresher T5; if you have an '01 to '14 plate then it is most likely the T5.1.

VW TRANSPORTER T6​

The Transporter T6 is the latest release in the long line of Transporters from VW. It was released in 2014 and replaced the facelifted T5.1.

Many of the updates can be seen under the bonnet and in it's safety aspects, but there is also a clear costmetic update through the headlights and grill.
Click to expand...
Early T6's didn't have Adblue. I've been corrected a few times on that point.
 
Just to confuse matters there is tendency for T5's to have a T6 front end conversion and now T6.1 ones are being fitted. Unlikely in this case but..
 
calibusje said:
Also correct but I'm afraid it's not that simple: a short 10 second search shows that the OP posted in 2017 that he bought a 2015 OCEAN.
Click to expand...

The 10 second search wasn't working earlier!

@Ianantking - you need to be careful re low emission zones, generally T5.1 don't meet the standards but T6 do.

Can I ask, do you have "OCEAN" plastered on the side of the van under the rear side windows? ( thats a less than subtle clue as to what it is) I am surprised no-one has mentioned that as its easier to spot than some of the other clues!
 
B J G said:
Early T6's didn't have Adblue. I've been corrected a few times on that point.
Click to expand...
rod_vw said:
Not necessarily @WelshGas I have a 2016 T6 manufactured 14/04/2016 with a CAAC engine and does not have AdBlue but is acceptable in LEZ areas!. I don't think the T6 had AdBlue until the 2017 model nominally 1st August 2016.

For the OP, if the rear lid has glass with a flat bottom edge it's a T6, if it turns up each end it's T5 (note wing door models didn't have this change).
Also of note is that the front wing flasher repeaters are along the swage line at the back of the wing on a T6 whilst T5 ones are almost oval and lower on the wing.
Click to expand...


All T6 Californias had Adblue and Euro 6 for Emissions. These were Registered as M1 and the Euro 6 standard was mandatory from September 2015. Only the early Commercial T6's were sold with the T5 drivetrain and did not have Adblue and hence were Euro 5 for Emissions until September 2016 when Euro 6 was Mandatory.

So there was one year in which T6 Commercial Transporters, Registered N1, were sold with the T6 body but the old T5.1 engine and were Euro 5.

en.wikipedia.org

European emission standards - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
 
andyinluton said:
The 10 second search wasn't working earlier!

@Ianantking - you need to be careful re low emission zones, generally T5.1 don't meet the standards but T6 do.

Can I ask, do you have "OCEAN" plastered on the side of the van under the rear side windows? ( thats a less than subtle clue as to what it is) I am surprised no-one has mentioned that as its easier to spot than some of the other clues!
Click to expand...
I've seen people rolling around town with V12 badges on their cars and everyone knows it's packing a V4. Stickers are not definitive. :shocked
 
andyinluton said:
)The 10 second search wasn't working earlier!

@Ianantking - you need to be careful re low emission zones, generally T5.1 don't meet the standards but T6 do.

Can I ask, do you have "OCEAN" plastered on the side of the van under the rear side windows? ( thats a less than subtle clue as to what it is) I am surprised no-one has mentioned that as its easier to spot than some of the other clues!
Click to expand...
Worked fine at 1:28 pm :thumb I mean: I clicked on the name and the OP had only posted 9 posts, quickly read the first one and there it is: he bought a 2015 OCEAN (just to explain how I knew this as far as I can call this a search).
Don’t be surprised; The sticker was too obvious… I mean, really? I still refer to the post of 2017 when he mentioned he bought an OCEAN (with for me implicated the sticker on both sides of course, otherwise why would one mention this. Unless you don't have one of course :D ).
My photo series is very clear for the doubters who may not have stickers on an ocean or... do not have an ocean. Or even the stickers could be taken off. For me it remains a somewhat bizarre question: do I have a T5.1 or a T6?
Now I can only hope that the OP now knows what he bought then because the doubt must have eaten him all these years.
 
Last edited:
Corradobrit said:
I've seen people rolling around town with V12 badges on their cars and everyone knows it's packing a V4. Stickers are not definitive. :shocked
Click to expand...
If there's no stickers when bought at 2 years old it's 99% chance it isn't an Ocean. I mean we could get really technical and suggest looking at the V5 to see what that says, but that would be too easy.

When someone asks "Is my 2015 California SE TDI BMT a T5 or T6?", "California SE TDI BMT" isn't the sort of designation that you just make up, he's read it on a document somewhere, its not a sticker on the boot. So pretty obvious that the document he's reading is a related to a SE
 
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