Does anyone agree T5 differences .

[Sunny43.5]

I have just had the pleasure of working on a brand new T5 Multi Van 4 Motion , it was interesting to note a couple of items which I thought worthy of comment . I posted some time back about how the front doors of our new T5 transporter shut with resounding double clang you could actually push them inwards when they were closed , sounded like some cheap Asian import car not a solid German build quality vehicle . When I bought the van I was so annoyed that the only way to shut the doors up was to adjust the strikers this made them shut "just like a Golf" but had another problem now they sit slightly inwards of the body at the rear edge. The dealers at first service were useless they trotted out that the seals had hardened and just put some lube on the locks , but it seems that the answer is that the multi's have an additional seal at the trailing edge and along the bottom of each door so the Multi sounds "just like a Golf" from factory . Second one and this was raised by someone else but worthy of mention if you own a Transporter and open and shut your sliding door on a hill you stand the risk of being dismembered by a sliding door which will just launch itself to close . Multi vans have appositive latching system which means the door cannot self close with out the outside handle being pulled first to release the lock . It seems that the sensible thing to do would make this a safety issue and fit the lock system to all side doors of all models and lets face it from the front door thing to the sliding door a commercial vehicle is going to have hundreds of more closing opening sequences than a passengers one would . I would be the first to admit that if suited I would have bought a Multi but it does just not suit our needs with two disabled kids on board {headroom clearance}and internal space , I would never assume or expect that a standard van would have all the wonderful features in the multi versions but these two simple things should be the same .

[Sunny43.5]

Here is the difference .

[IN2VWS]

I am wondering if the extra seal is there because of the additional vent in the door, rather than making the 'Golf door' sound.

[Umai Naa!!]

My '06 Transporter's sliding door won't release from the holding mechanism when it's open, unless you pull the handle.

The Multivan does have a hell of a lot more NVH work done to it compared to a Transporter, though. Which would explain the different sound when the doors close.

[Sunny43.5]

Yes I thought the vent in the door might have something to do with the extra seal but it does not go all around only the trailing edge and along the bottom , without any doubt the extra seal does make a difference to the way the door closes it makes sense double the amount of rubber will absorb the rebound effect we are getting . As silly as it seems to some the fact that I picked up on the rebounding door from the very first day and it was P*&^sing me off I spent a huge amount of time to make the basic van quiet as you would have seen in my pictures during the conversion only to have it spoiled by the horrible noise . The latching system is more a safety thing as commercial vehicles open and shut doors more often and on a hill a slight bump will have the door attempting an amputation on you body ! I may look into purchasing the seal and fitting it myself as the seal does have several plastic clips which would require drilling some small holes . I will also see what the dealer will do to rectify the problem as I have it listed on the first service records and they did nothing to fix it other than a smear of lube on the latch . The advisor basically told me the seals had hardened so I will hit them up for some new ones , as I said in an earlier post the doors rubber seals will lose their rebound properties if the doors are left closed for a prolonged amount of time as ours was a "prerelease" model it was at the holding yard for over a year before we purchased it , and because of the doors being closed it squashes them and they will stay that way . Umai I agree the Multivan is a more expensive and better equipped van but lousy fitting doors is not acceptable they will not get better they will get worse !! and yes the latch on the sliding door is only spring loaded not locking if you have a look at the Multi you can see the latch being released when you pull out the handle they are connected by a cable no so on the Transporter .

[REVHE4D]

That seal on the Multi doors that is missing on the Transporter, would definitely help with road noise and dust getting into the lower section of the door. I am forever cleaning the inside of my doors from dirt and dust each week. Why do they leave basic things out like that is beyond me considering even when I purchased my transporter in 011 it was over 60k for a premium vehicle only to get it and to spot a few build quality issues. I do like driving one, but it is sad to know things could be better.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[Seano]

T4 Transporters had the full length door seals...even the dual cabs. And on all 4 doors too.

[Sunny43.5]

Yes it seems that as time marches onwards features get less and less and the price goes up and up . Watched an add on TV the other night driveaway price for a Jeep Cherokee $25K Vw Transporter two seats no carpets no back seats no windows yes I could go on and how much $40k . I still cannot see why VW removed the sump guard just exposes the alloy parts to road damage even my sons 97 T4 has a steel sump guard and my first T5 a plastic one now none at all !