What condition was my converted Volkswagen California in?

I must admit that whilst I was in the process of buying a converted Volkswagen California campervan – and this isn’t the first time this has happened to me – when you become obsessed with a vehicle and actively and constantly search for one to buy, I, at least, get carried away and the purchase takes on a compulsive and irrational element rather than a logical one. You want to buy one as soon as possible, especially when the search drags on.

On top of that, when you find a potential candidate that ticks all the boxes in terms of price, engine and extras… all the photos and videos the owner sends you will seem fine, and you don’t spot the finer details.

It’s not until the day you see it in person – and even then, not until it’s in your possession (when you can take a more relaxed look) – that you can properly assess the condition of the vehicle you’ve bought. Obviously, you’ll have done your research on its pros and cons, but you won’t be able to gauge the full extent of its condition until, as I say, it’s in your possession.

Condition at the time of purchase of the converted Volkswagen California

• Condition at the time of purchase of the converted Volkswagen California
  • Bodywork and paintwork
  • Mechanics
  • Interior and fittings

Without further ado, I’ll describe the condition of my van in March 2024, when I bought it.

Bodywork and paintwork

This is the worst part of my van. And it was something I could see in the videos the owner sent me. What’s more, we signed a clause in the contract stating that the buyer was aware of the rust and the condition of the bodywork. In other words, I was aware of it and had seen it beforehand. There was certainly going to be a fair bit of money needed to get it into good condition.

As you can see in the photos, it has one of the classic rust spots found on these vans: the windscreen frame. It’s very rusty, and there’s even a hole where it joins the fibreglass roof.

This area, along with the lower side panels, is undoubtedly the worst affected. On top of that, previous owners had tried to carry out a few botched repairs with body filler to improve its appearance.

The fibreglass sections (rear and roof) are also affected, as are the windows.

Mechanics

Well, this part is, in principle, in the best condition, but in a 27-year-old vehicle, issues are bound to crop up. The seller assures me that the engine runs very well and hasn’t given him any trouble. It starts up powerfully, the Varta battery looks brand new, and I have a receipt showing that the timing belt has been replaced. To be honest, the journey home went very well, even on hills and mountain passes.

As I mentioned before, it’s only when you look more closely that issues come to light. Shortly after I got it, the brake sensor started playing up and I had to replace it.

Another thing that was a bit of a ‘scare’ was the brakes. At first glance, the brake calipers were very rusty and flakes were literally falling off when I scraped them with a simple screwdriver. It was when I was replacing the discs and pads that I noticed one of the rear pads was cracked, and on the other side, one of the pads had lost its lining. At the rear, the rust was also preventing me from removing the screws from the caliper mount, so for the moment I’m unable to change the discs.

Over the next few months, I want to carry out some mechanical work:

• Change the oil and filters – in progress.
• I’ll be adding a bottle of Ceratec to protect the engine from wear and tear.
• Change the gearbox oil.
• Replace the brake hoses, DOT4 brake fluid, brake pads and discs. In progress.
• Front anti-roll bar bushings.

Interior and fittings

The interior is in fairly good condition, bearing in mind the vehicle’s age, but the quality of the materials in the VW-converted Volkswagen California campervan is evident. There are a few broken parts and curtains that aren’t original to this model, but the seat fabric is in good condition and the padding still feels firm. The windows in the high roof section, which are fitted with blackout blinds and mosquito nets, show significant signs of wear; both the blackout blinds and the mosquito nets need replacing, and the plastic trim needs to be whitened as it has taken on a yellowish tinge.

I’d like to highlight the condition of the fridge: although it works perfectly, it has undergone a repair during which the control circuit from the main control unit was bypassed. It is now operated via a dial inside the unit itself. Furthermore, the lid is misaligned and slightly loose, and the plastic trim has also yellowed.

So, here’s a guide to buying a converted Volkswagen California campervan, highlighting the most sensitive issues and what you need to bear in mind. I hope you find my experience useful.