Volkswagen Eos problems
Cayman Autos is the UK’s leading convertible roof repair specialist. We repair cabriolets made by many different manufacturers including BMW, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Audi, Ferrari, and Saab. Our talented team can diagnose and repair cabriolets in a matter of hours!
While we see many different types of cabriolets in the workshop each week, certain models tend to come in more frequently. This usually occurs because that particular model has a design flaw or a common technical problem. One of the cabriolets that we see on a regular basis is the Volkswagen Eos.
While it is a fantastic vehicle, the Volkswagen Eos has a complex five-piece folding roof that often experiences mechanical problems. This post will take a closer look at the Volkswagen Eos and explain how to deal with the common problems that this cabriolet has!
About the Volkswagen Eos convertible
The Volkswagen Eos is a popular compact sports car that was produced between 2006, 2007 and 2015. It was inspired by the Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet and uses the same Volkswagen Group A5 platform as the Golf.
The Eos is a fun car to drive, with its front-wheel-drive configuration making it particularly quick off the starting line! It is available as a 6-speed manual or automatic with a wide range of engine configurations, ranging from a 1.4 litre inline-four engine through to a 3.6 litre V6 (which really had some speed)!
The Eos sold particularly well in Europe thanks to its clean design and stylish trim. The metal folding roof was also a major drawcard to car enthusiasts. It is a unique five-piece folding roof that contains an independently sliding glass sunroof. This complex system was designed and produced by Open Air Systems (Oasys) — a German-Italian joint venture which is a subsidiary of Webasto Germany.
This design gave drivers much better wind reduction and noise isolation compared to many soft top convertibles. The folding roof on the Eos is also fast — folding into the trunk in less than 25 seconds. Once the roof is folded into the boot, it reduces the available boot space from 300 litres to approximately 190 litres (380 Litres to 205 Litres in later models).
The design of the roof is quite complex. It features a separate hydraulic retracting mechanism and numerous rubber seals. Periodic maintenance must be performed to ensure these rubber seals remain watertight. Because of the complexity of the design, repairs and maintenance should be carried out by a trained professional. Unfortunately, many car owners have accidentally damaged the roof on their Volkswagen Eos by attempting to repair it themselves!
Common Faults With The Volkswagen Eos Folding Roof
The design of the Volkswagen Eos makes it prone to water ingress. Once water manages to get into the vehicle through joints, cracks or perished seals, it can damage mechanical and electrical components of the roof.
Because we are approaching the wetter months of the year, it is a good idea to have the seals on your Volkswagen Eos checked. They are simple to repair and this type of preventative maintenance will help you avoid catastrophic failure later on.
We usually prefer to rejuvenate seals instead of replacing them. This approach is faster, more cost-efficient and keeps your cabin watertight. Our team removes any dirt, grime, or tree sap that has built up on the seals of your vehicle’s folding roof system. We then treat the seals to keep them supple and capable of keeping moisture out of the vehicle.
Water and electrical components do not mix well! It is important to employ these kinds of preventative measures regularly. The most common problems affecting the Volkswagen Eos folding roof are:
Volkswagen EOS — Roof Flap Sticks
Some customers who drive the Volkswagen Eos have problems with the roof winglet getting stuck. It can usually be remedied with a quick flick of the unit. This issue is actually caused by the headlining getting caught. Check out the video below for a clever way to fix this issue!
Volkswagen Eos — Water Ingress Issues
The Volkswagen Eos suffers from a number of water ingress problems. The most common path of water ingress is via the boot. Once inside the boot, water can corrode the roof pump and cause your vehicle’s folding roof to malfunction. The pump is covered by foam which can quickly absorb water, leading to corrosion of the pump’s components. Check around the spare tyre for evidence of water entering the vehicle. If you notice some water, bring your vehicle in and we will make sure the roof pump is in good working order.
Water Ingress into the boot
Water Ingress into the bootWater ingress into the cabin can make driving in the wet very uncomfortable! It can damage the sunroof driver motor mechanism. If your sunroof driver motor becomes damaged, the sunroof may bounce back when opening, be slow to operate or make a grinding noise when operating.
Water entering the cabin can also damage the roof’s control unit, which is located under the carpet. If this unit becomes water-damaged your roof may be incapable of opening or closing. We can perform a water test to find the source of a leak affecting your cabin and address it before the control unit is damaged.
Volkswagen Eos — Operational Faults
Several of our customers with folding roof issues initially took their Volkswagen Eos to their local VW dealer. In some cases, they were charged hundreds of pounds just to diagnose the issue that might be affecting their convertible roof. The diagnosis fees of VW dealerships are quite ridiculous at times!
Unfortunately, VW dealers have a track record of misdiagnosing the issues that often affect the Volkswagen Eos folding roof. They often claim that a twisted or bent frame is the cause of an issue and suggest that the owner spend £9000+ to replace the entire roof!
We love Volkswagen, but their after sales service does not cut it when it comes to convertible roofs. The folding roof on the Volkswagen Eos is so complex that even a trained VW mechanic will still struggle to correctly diagnose and repair it. That is why you should use a company that specialises in convertible repairs, like Cayman Autos.
Established in 2005, our company has quickly grown to become the UK’s leading folding roof specialist. We have worked on many Volkswagen Eos folding roofs and know this vehicle well. Our reputation for repairing convertible roofs is so strong that many of our customers travel across the UK to have their roof repaired by us.
We will diagnose any fault affecting your Volkswagen Eos folding roof for £60-120 plus vat — far cheaper than your local Volkswagen dealership. Our team will perform this diagnosis within an hour. We carry most parts in stock and can perform most repairs immediately after your vehicle’s problem has been diagnosed.
If you are interested in learning more about our services or booking your car in, give us a call – 01737 761 599., we would love to hear from you!
Cayman Autos also have a new Youtube channel! We will be uploading useful tips for convertible maintenance and repairs. Check it out now.
