Clear plastic strips on roof-well opening front-edge

Theodora · Oct 15, 2023

Does anyone know what the function is of these clear plastic strips on either side of the roof-well – and what would happen if they were removed?

2 years ago, after I noticed they were starting to buckle/dislodge and paint was rubbing-off from the top-edge just above them (due to excessive pressure from the roof front-edge rubber seal when closed), I managed, after a long saga, to get VW to finally admit a manufacturing/assemble fault and repair this under the warranty.

They adjusted re-positioned the pop-up roof slightly towards the back (to relieve the pressure), cleaned-up and repainted the damage and replaced the 2 clear plastic strips on either side. This was 8 months ago and I haven’t had the roof up this year. But now I see one of the strips is starting to buckle again, which indicates to me that further positional fine-tuning in needed.

I assume they must be there for a reason, but what would happen if I just removed them completely?

Perfectos · Oct 15, 2023

Can you post a pic of the front edge of the roof seal,
both side looking across the roof
I.e looking along the front section on the seal where it meets the front cowl & the curving part of thd roof (with the roof fully shut )

and a photo roof part raised take a photo of the roof seal (underside) where the roof seal would meet the distorted sticker / strip

Theodora · Oct 16, 2023

Many thanks. I will take photos and send later when I'm back (but I think it all looks normal).

In the meantime, do you know what is the function of these strips (and would happen if they were simply removed)?

orbital · Oct 16, 2023

I’ve had mine replaced several times under warranty. Just about to get them replaced again. It’s always the driver side one that fails. They last about 8-10 months!

Theodora · Oct 16, 2023

Thanks for info. It’s my passenger side that is starting to dislodge (has taken about 7-8 months) - but the drivers side seems OK.

But do you know what the actual function of these strips is? What exactly are they there for , and just on the outer edges? And what would happen if they weren’t there?

flying banana · Oct 16, 2023

They are there to prevent metal contact from within the rubber roof seal. They always come off. I replace mine with helicopter tape when I can be bothered.

Theodora · Oct 17, 2023

I see. I wonder why it's not needed all accross the front edge? Eitherway (based on my experience of the paint rubbing-off due to excess pressure) any movement is indicative that there's a roof position misalignment issue. I only noticed, back in June 2021, there was a problem when one of the strips was starting to poke through the pop-up roof/cowling split-line. These photos show what it looked like back then when first noticed - along with the damaged caused to the top-edge paint.

Has anyone else had (or seen) this sort of problem?

WelshGas · Oct 17, 2023

Theodora said:
I see. I wonder why it's not needed all accross the front edge? Eitherway (based on my experience of the paint rubbing-off due to excess pressure) any movement is indicative that there's a roof position misalignment issue. I only noticed, back in June 2021, there was a problem when one of the strips was starting to poke through the pop-up roof/cowling split-line. These photos show what it looked like back then when first noticed - along with the damaged caused to the top-edge paint.

Has anyone else had (or seen) this sort of problem?

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Mine are still in place after 9 yrs, but I do have the Hydraulic Roof.

Christine Kirk · Oct 18, 2023

Did the pop top roof cleaning routine on Sunday and can report that the plastic strips are still firmly in place at 4 years 9 months. As this is a job that I do as often as I can; I find there is always a build up of road grime / traffic muck, it is likely to be abrasive if left. cleaning is done with a soft cloth and warm water. ( our California has the hydraulic roof also)

Hull Fair this year!

Ocean Spirit · Oct 18, 2023

WelshGas said:
Mine are still in place after 9 yrs, but I do have the Hydraulic Roof.

I didn't know they had them on the T5.
I thought they were introduced as T6 roof corrosion prevention strips.

WelshGas · Oct 18, 2023

Ocean Spirit said:
I didn't know they had them on the T5.
I thought they were introduced as T6 roof corrosion prevention strips.

The side strips under the rubber seal were retrofitted to all Californias from 2010 to , I believe January 2017, as a Workshop Recall to address the Galvanic Corrosion along the roof edge.
The 2 strips on the front, as detailed in the OPs post were, as far as I am aware, always there. Certainly my 2014 has them from new.

Ocean Spirit · Oct 19, 2023

@WelshGas ahhh thats ringing bells now. I have a good forgetery.

WelshGas · Oct 19, 2023

Ocean Spirit said:
@WelshGas ahhh thats ringing bells now. I have a good forgetery.

I believe the 2 strips at the front are to allow slight movement of the roof front laterally as it closes and minimise rubbing of the rubber seal on the paintwork as it fully closes.
On a manual roof the locking clips cannot be locked simultaneously so there can be slight movement laterally as one clip is done up counteracted when the second clip is done up.
On the Hydraulic roof something similar takes place as it lowers into the locked position guided by the contour of the front. Without the contour either type of roof might not close correctly positioned.
Just my theory.

Beaker · Oct 20, 2023

Mine are the same. I will add it to the list for service.

Theodora · Oct 20, 2023

Beaker said:
Mine are the same. I will add it to the list for service.

OK - So it's not just me. How dislodged are they - and is this both sides? And did you only have a look after reading my thread, or is it an ongoing issue that you just get sorted when you take it in for a service? And do you have any top-coat paint starting to rub-off anywhere (as per my historic problem)?

If you've only just noticed this then I suggest you keep an eye on painted edges to check the pressure isn't to severe that paint will rub-off (see my above photos). Otherwise you could go through the tortuous process I had with VW.

And, if anyone is told by VW that the roof assembly isn't designed to allow forward/backwards positional adjustement, come back to me and I'll send on the admittance I finally got out of them after 2 years of telling me otherwise.

I'm still waiting to get mine booked-in for another investigation.

RonB · Oct 21, 2023

I have a 2013 T5.1 and these two strips were applied as a recall retrofit relating to prevention of the roof corrosion issue maybe around six years ago. I have subsequently had them replaced once by VW since they were suffering the same movement problem and beginning to project out from under the rubber seal. Earlier this year, I removed them, used lighter fuel to ease off the adhesive and reapplied strips of helicopter tape, however - and this I believe is critical - I used a hair dryer to carefully mould and bend the tape to the roof contour - something I suspect that was not done properly when they were originally applied. So far, despite a lot of subsequent usage in very high temperatures in a big European trip, they remain fixed with no signs of movement. Time will tell…

Theodora · Oct 21, 2023

Thanks RonB. I'm surprised these strips relate to the old corrosion problem. Before I bought mine (as new in 2019) I researched the historic pop-up roof corrosion issue and checked it out with the dealership. They told me years ago there had been problems with something like bimetal or galvanic corrosion when 2 dissimilar metals come into contact (I know there are lots of threads here on this). But I was reassured that there had been a design/material/manufacturing modification, so it was not an issue on my model. I'll be a bit annoyed if this wasn't the case. Either way, when they replace the strips I'll ask them whether they warm them up to help mould them into shape.

WelshGas · Oct 21, 2023

Theodora said:
Thanks RonB. I'm surprised these strips relate to the old corrosion problem. Before I bought mine (as new in 2019) I researched the historic pop-up roof corrosion issue and checked it out with the dealership. They told me years ago there had been problems with something like bimetal or galvanic corrosion when 2 dissimilar metals come into contact (I know there are lots of threads here on this). But I was reassured that there had been a design/material/manufacturing modification, so it was not an issue on my model. I'll be a bit annoyed if this wasn't the case. Either way, when they replace the strips I'll ask them whether they warm them up to help mould them into shape.

There are 2 problems relating to Galvanic corrosion, interaction between steel and aluminium in the presence of water.
1. The cowl above the windscreen was an aluminium rich alloy. It suffered Galvanic corrosion and the alloy was changed for MY 2015, so mid 2014 so I gather.
2. Elevating roof is aluminium and can suffer Galvanic corrosion due to interaction between the aluminium roof and the rubber seal around the edge due to it having a steel insert. A workshop recall for all Californias from 2010 to 2017 is in place to have the roof edge inspected, repaired if corrosion found and a clear tape applied to the edge. The seal can move up and down when opening/closing the roof as the seal can stick to the body. Post 2017 the tape was fitted in the factory.
The 2 pieces of tape referred to are not part of this scenario as far as I am aware and are for a totally different purpose. They were already fitted on my 2014 vehicle and the roof edge tape was retrofitted some 4 yrs later under the Workshop recall.

RonB · Oct 21, 2023

Do you know what these strips are actually for @WelshGas ?

RonB · Oct 21, 2023

Oops, sorry, just realised you’d explained that a couple of posts previously,

Theodora · Oct 21, 2023

Thanks WelshGas - but when you say, "Post 2017 the tape was fitted in the factory" ...I'm a bit confused. What tape is this - and where please? There is no tape on my roof anywhere (either on the front cowling, cut-out opening or pop-up roof). The only tape I have are those 2 short clear plastic strips (that kicked-started this thread). But I don't think you're referring to these?

Ocean Spirit · Oct 21, 2023

Just jumping in here, I think @WelshGas is saying that the rubber seal that grips to the edges of the elevating roof has a steel insert (effectively the teeth holding it to the lip) now tape is added between the steel and the lip of the roof it grips to, preventing contact with the aluminium roof.

Theodora · Oct 21, 2023

Thanks - I'll open it up and have a look. But is this tape immediately visible or hidden inside between the rubber-seal/gasket and roof-edge? (I'll find out I suppose!).

Perfectos · Oct 21, 2023

Theodora said:
Thanks - I'll open it up and have a look. But is this tape immediately visible or hidden inside between the rubber-seal/gasket and roof-edge? (I'll find out I suppose!).

Some reading for you. With a full explanation of the issue and photos.

Just announced - T6 recall for roof corrosion beneath the seal

VW have introduced a recall for the well documented issue of roof corrosion / paint bubbling below the seal. The roof will be inspected with the seal removed and if ok protective "foil" will be applied. I dont have any info regarding what will happen If not ok but I will find out today /...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

additional context and info

Adding the 3M tape to roof edges

I checked my roof last summer at 1 year old and all was good. Earlier this year I ordered the 3M protection tape to do the edges myself before the corrosion starts but today was the first Hot day I got to fit the tape. So I removed the side and rear parts of the roof seal and used some detailer...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

Theodora · Oct 21, 2023

Inbetween showers managed to take a few photos (and some that Perfectos requested a few days ago). Can't see any tape, so assume it's inside, i.e. hidden under the seal and intended not to be visible anyway (as one would hope for when factory fitted). Either way, this seems to be a separate issue from the 2 clear plastic strips on either side.

However, I still can't see what their function is or where there is a risk of metal-on-metal contact in this area because the only thing that is making contact with this top-edge and the plastic strips in question is just the rubber seal itself. Ans why are they just on either end, and not continuous across the whole top-ledge surface end-to-end?

When it goes back in for an inspection to see why one strip has started to dislodge I'll all once again