General How common is the Peeling Paint

[Jemthetaxi]

Hi, my first post on here.
After a lifetime of tinkering with VW vans, due to getting a bit older, it's now time to sell my VW T4, and get a larger van to convert into a more "comprehensive" camper. The Ducato van fits the bill brilliantly.
I've been looking at circa 2015, pre euro 6 vans with a view to buying something in the near future.
The one nagging doubt I have, is the peeling paint problem. I'm hoping someone more knowledgeable than me could tell me if there are any production years that are better than others. My local council runs a fleet of 2015 Citroen Relay vans, mostly 2015 MY, and none of them seem to be affected.
Has this problem with the paint been rectified now, or are there certain production years to avoid. Thanks in advance.

 

[the green vanper]

Hello,

100% sure it was on the x250, which they changed to x290 in 2014. I can't remember if I've seen an x290 with the peeling paint.

Strangely I have the x250 and the paint peels only from the bonnet, not from the cab roof. But I have a L1 only cab. Then it is covered, so that might be the cause.

 

[Jemthetaxi]

Thanks for the speedy reply, much appreciated.
So is it safe to say that anything from the post 2014 facelift doesn't suffer from peeling paint ?

 

[the green vanper]

Thanks for the speedy reply, much appreciated.
So is it safe to say that anything from the post 2014 facelift doesn't suffer from peeling paint ?

No, I'd only said that I can't remember seeing them with the peeling paint.

Could be that I'm seeing more of the x250 or the x290 with L1 cabs.

Let's wait for others to confirm.

The body is the same, perhaps they changed the process somewhere on the way...

 

[Jemthetaxi]

Thanks again,good point.

 

[Reg 65]

My understanding is the peeling paint occurred around 2008 when Sevel changed over to water based paint before they had got the hang of it. I had to respray just the bonnet on my 2008 manufactured white X2/50. Easy job to take the bonnet off and spray it in the garage with generic white rattle cans - colour was near enough when you are doing the whole panel. I havent heard of peeling paint on later models. But if you wash them with an industrial hot high pressure washer that can fetch the paint off most things!!

 

[RS3100]

My vans build in early 2016 was delayed because Sevel shut down the production line to demolish and build a new paint plant between February and May of that year. They also used the opportunity to convert the production line for Euro 6, although my Euro 5+ van still went through in May, albeit a bit of a hybrid with some Euro 6 modified components fitted.

So one might have hoped that the peeling paint problem had been fixed at the same time. However, a couple of owners of later vans on the Facebook group for my panel van conversion have reported peeling paint, and when I did the annual roof clean early last year, I noticed that paint was peeling from the rain channel at the back of the roof either side of the high level brake light. Only minor (so far). I rubbed it down and brush painted over it as it's out of sight inside the drip channel.

 

[Jemthetaxi]

Thanks for the replies.
So it seems peeling paint is still a problem then. Such a shame, because I've been involved with "classic" VW's most of my life, and got to the stage in my life, where I've had enough of paint problems.
I'm not ruling out a ducato just yet though. The design is perfect for a camper conversion, and the galvanised body is a big plus.
Also a lot cheaper than an equivalent Crafter, and probably nothing in it as far as reliability is concerned these days. I don't have much faith in the modern VW diesel engines.

 

[the green vanper]

The huge advantage of the triplets (no longer being triplets though) is the galvanised body AND the width. It's the only van in which you can sleep sideways being normal height

If your are taller, the only solution is the van like mine

 

[Jemthetaxi]

I think you're right, my plan was fit a fixed rear bed (no more rock n roll beds), at the rear, with a "garage" underneath. Although me and the Mrs are both under 5'8".
I guess compromises have to be expected. Fiat Ducato still top of my list. And so much aftermarket stuff available for a camper kit out.

 

[the green vanper]

Same here

But 205 cm of internal width So some extra cms in the 'living' area, too.