Kombi beach . . . . Cactus

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Originally Posted by BrianJ

We priced new campervans at a recent RV show and anything that does the same job costs around $100,000, so we figure that is the real value of our van, not the $10,000 that the market value says it is worth.
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Just my 2 cents worth. The insurance companies are part of the problem as you said. I have my T4 insured for agreed value of $27,000.
Buyers in the UK would jump at buying mine because of the absolutely rust free body, no accidents & low mileage. The reason I know this is a travelling parts guy in Adelaide, now retired, had some English tourists check out his car while on vacation & even though his van was very high mileage they got very excited & said it would be very valuable in the UK.
To the OP [newcman] If you still love the van, spend the money wisely & still enjoy it. The total costs of buying & owning a new van these days is enormous.
Edit. I forgot to mention that if you drive an expensive vehicle & have a write off accident, the insurance co will pay out a trade price figure not a retail one unless you can get agreed value for the full value.

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Originally Posted by jets

Just my 2 cents worth. The insurance companies are part of the problem as you said. I have my T4 insured for agreed value of $27,000.

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We also have our beach ensured for 'agreed value', last time I think it was $24000.

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Originally Posted by newcman

G'day groovers,
Yesterday I took my yellow '08 Kombi Beach 2.5TDI (auto), to get a new exhaust manifold etc fitted. After 293k it had warped and done the broken stud "thing" so all studs get replaced ($4,700 + for any studs that need the 'easy-out').

I've owned it since new. We had already decided to keep the vehicle as it's in excellent condition otherwise, and is just such a brilliant thing for our lifestyle and to drive. Two separate mechanics had said it was the best kept T5 they had seen. Straight body, unmarked trim and paint, clean engine, golden oil. So along with some EGR work and a couple of sensors I was willing to drop $6 to $7 grand on it.

Two hours after it landed at the shop I got a call to tell me that it had 'done the lifters and cam thing'. That is, the lifters had failed and worn out the camshaft lobes. A $7 to $8 grand fix. I had heard about that happening too, but .... what can ya' say, except: Goodbye Beach.

I won't be putting another engine in it. I can't afford that and the future value is just not there. Trouble is . . . . and this really is just a rhetorical question .... What do I do with it??

Wreckers?..... $750 to $1000 !! I just can not see myself doing that.
Wreck it myself, sell parts? ..... not on your life mate!
Sell to a home mechanic who's willing to repair or fit new engine? ..... Show me one!?

The above are not meant to be exhaustive options. Just a bit of thinking out loud really. (although the shock is wearing off).

Anyway, notwithstanding our differing preferences and financial situations, I'd be interested to know what you would do if this happened to you and your VW.
Thanks for reading.

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Sorry late to the party, not on here much these days.

First thing you need to do is find a new garage. $4700 for manifold is insanity. Yeah it's a bitch to do, but you just paid about $4k for labour. That's beyond crazy.

A cam and top caps is no big deal, and anyone who does VAG car will have encountered it. Buy the cam and top caps off Darkside or any reputable UK provider, and find a more realistic German garage to fit them. All they need is the genuine top end timing tool, or a high quality copy.

Darkside, who know how to charge but are my main go to charge $385 pounds for a complete kit, so double that and add post.

Darkside Developments - Complete Camshaft Kit for VW 2.5 PD TDi Engines

It's not a big deal to fit, and as mentioned any german garage will know the job. It would take me under two hours, getting the manifold off is about the biggest hassle.

These engines are a nightmare if attacked by regular mechanics, but if you find someone with the knowledge, and upgrade to the recommended parts, it should be pretty reliable.

Darkside did a video showing this camshaft issue on a 2.5 PD engine recently.

newcman out of curiosity, who are you using as your mechanic? Curious as I am also in Newcastle. Agree with others that the pricing you have been quoted seems very expensive.

https://youtu.be/YbYFvKfEn3o?si=5yBBeNj4kK8YqsMD

thx for the vid, interesting what to look out for. Mines at 200K km so far, all good