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Westfalia California Questions

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3.5K views 15 replies 10 participants last post by  calibug  
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#1 ·
Hi does anyone have experience of the LHD version of the T4 Westfalia California?

Are these genuine VW conversions from new?

Any experience of german or european imports?

Any bad points to look out for.

What sort of cost is a 2003 model with good mileage (less that 12k a year average)

What mpg does the 2.5L 102 bhp return.

and anything else that any one can advise or offer please.

Thank you

T:
 
C
#4 ·
Yep, I've got one. Can't help you with info on importing, because as you can see I live in Germany. However the T4 California is a conversion made by Westfalia and officially sanctioned by VW. After converting my own van whilst I lived in the UK, I can really appreciate the amount of work that Westfalia put into these vans, they are really well put put together. However you do need to like Battleship grey as a colour!

Aside from all the usual checks on the base van, make sure that everything in the van works. The fridge, night heater and above all the control unit. A small panel that sits by the cab lights and controls all of the interior electrics. A lot of the stuff can still be replaced at the moment, but at serious cost.



This is a useful site for info and pictures: http://www.westfaliat4.info/html/vw_westfalia_t4_transporter_us.html

Price wise, these vans really hold onto there value and can be quite pricey, but you get what you pay for.
 
#6 ·
You've already got some answers which are relevant.
I've got a '92 model with the 5 cylinder non-turbo 2.4 diesel, so can't help with the mpg. As for price, have a look round on t'interweb to see what prices are being asked. There's usually a few for sale in UK - Start by looking up Eastfalia in Surrey (Google it).
Parts are also available here - http://www.vwbusshop.de/en/Westfalia-T4

Westies really are well built and the interior layout is very well designed - I wouldn't change anything on mine. Check that the roof canvas is serviceable, i.e. NO rips or tears: particularly, look at it above the windscreen, where it usually gets trapped in the closing latch when lowering - then check that it hasn't been trapped in the 'scissors' hingeing. It's good quality canvas, so should be waterproof - but can be re-proofed if necessary using tent proofing, either brush on or spray.

Don't worry about LHD - you'll quickly get used to it as soon as you stop changing gear with the window winder I:.

Good luck with the search.

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M
#7 ·
Loads of topics on these about but suffice to say Westfalia are IIRC the oldest converter of VW's and no-one (no-one!) builds them like Westfalia. Absolutely bullet proof quality, before Westy were taken over by Mercedes or whatever they were 'the' official converters for VW and Westy T4's were sold through VW dealerships just like the VW Californias are now.

BUT, unlike VW Westfalia know how to do it and use quality parts not fragile and they don't use a daft aluminium roof that starts to rot on virtually all examples with a 2 or 3 year waiting list for a £4k replacement of roof etc

Look here for all T4 info and manuals, reviews etc.

westfaliat4.info
 
M
#8 ·
Re' price, for a last year production clean example you'll be looking at around £20k to £24k. Some around £18k maybe if a year or two older.

http://www.campervans4u.com/stocklist.html

http://motorhomes.autotrader.co.uk/...-diesel-broxted-mfpa-8ab5eb9645daddc90145f4dd681a7a8c/makemodel/make/volkswagen


Don't think they will be much cheaper in Germany from dealers, just as sought after there too.

http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/s...eModelVariant1.modelId=33&maxPowerAsArray=KW&minPowerAsArray=KW&ambitCountry=DE

http://fahrzeuge.autoscout24.de/?at...200&ustate=N,U&sort=threetier,price&results=20&page=1&event=addB||mileage&dtr=s
 
W
#12 ·
I got a 2.5tdi 102bhp California Coach.

I've been keeping an eye on my fuel consumption over the past year, from fill to refuel.

I haven't got under 600 miles on a full tank. Our Corky is standard, no blanked EGR, or after market exhaust etc.

Reason I keep an eye on the mpg was the result of the injector pump failing.

Starts on the button, no smoke whatsoever. The EGR was cleaned out during the period when Corky wasn't running right.

If you can get service history that will help.

Watch out for scams on the bay and autoloader. Certainly 12 months ago there were a few dodgy Californias about, and dodgy sellers.

The 2.5 tdi 102 is the van to get. Yes they their problems, but when running within spec, they are a joy to drive.

The expensive conversion parts are the fridge, the central control unit above the cab area, and the 240/12v charge unit.

I think the Kaktus fabric is the best.

Good luck with your search. Andy and Jamie at campervans4u. are sound blokes.

No I'm not associated with them, nor did I buy my van from them, but they sorted out my mysterious engine problem.
 
B
#14 ·
A few answers to your Westie questions:

Westfalia camper vans are genuine conversions. Until the introduction of the T5, all the "factory" conversions were carried out by Westfalia for VW.

We imported our 2001 Westfalia California Generation in 2007 after looking at a number of aftermarket conversions over here, but none of them were of a suitable or good standard. Eventually we decided that the California was the one to have. We searched German websites and EBay and eventually found one at a dealers north of Hamburg. I contacted the seller and arranged to fly over and check it out. Happy with it, we agreed a price, I flew back, transferred the money from our bank to his and flew back a few days later with my wife and a couple of sleeping bags! We had to sort out the export paperwork at the local equivalent of a vehicle tax office, paid about 30 euros for the export number plates - which included 30 days insurance - and drove it back via The Tunnel.

Once back home, we began the process of registering it in the UK. The main issues to be addressed are the headlights, position of the rear fog light and the instruments to mph. In the end, the cost of changing the gauges were going to be too costly and so I took it for an mot without changing the speedo. I also didn't want to change the headlights immediately as were were about to embark on a 3-month continental trip so left them as they were. I bought headlamp deflectors and the mot guy positioned them on the headlights to correct them for rhd use.

One tricky issue concerned the rear fog plight, which was showing no power at the bulb. After spending a day on it myself and half a day from an auto electrician, he diagnosed the problem. The van has a towbbar fitted, with a 13-pin adapt or attached to the standard7-pin . This adapt or fooled the van into thinking there was trailer or caravan attached and automatically cut off the current to the towbbar, apparently to avoid glare from the "towed vehicle"! Our van has the digital computer display, which indicated consumption in terms of litres per 100 Kim's. Not too helpful but our local VAG dealer sorted it out painlessly.

In terms mpg, our T4 returned 39 mpg over the 4999 miles of our fully laden 3-month trip. I have had the van re-mapped to137 bhp to enable safer overtaking when fully laden and also to improve economy and the best consumption I have obtained is 44 mpg, but with a very light right foot!

We have had no problems with the van since purchase, just the usual replacement items during our 8 years and 50,000 miles such as discs, pads, exhaust, cam belt and water pump and air-con compressor. Even the 110amp leisure battery is original!

All the Westy California's are lhd but I have found no problem with that.

Our purchase price was £16,000 in 2007 which included the air fares and a favourable exchange rate. Not sure what the prices are now, but the latest T4 Westies are 2003.

I have no doubt that a well looked-after California is a great long-term buy. Go for it!
 
C
#16 ·
I have a 1997/8 T4 2.5 TDi. 102hp Westfalia California Coach LHD, purchased over the phone from German owner in June 1958, for DM 54,000, with 17,000km on the clock.
Brought it back to England with no problems, did not even have to change the headlights, only the licence plates, then in 2002 took it to France, where I now Live.
This is my only vehicule, which I use for all purposes, shopping, camping, touring, transporting 100 terracotta roof tiles, anything, anywhere, and gets under, (just), the 2m car park bar.
It is really a great motor, with an overall fuel consumption of 7.5 litres/ 100km ( +- 36 mpg) including travel in the Pyrenees. Will do 130kph on the Autoroutes all day long, with a max of around 157kpk
Serviced every 10,000km by VW dealers. Cambelt/waterpump and Brake fluid changed as required.
Now completed 130,000km.
Apart from regular servicing costs, including Tyres, and Brake Pads, and front Discs, the only things done have been a 15Euro condenser change to cure stumbling at 70kph, which was recommended in this Forum, and a 215Euro Turbo compressor vane and injector change, to cure a "Limp Mode" lapse.
I also replaced the plastic ball/rotule on the gearchange linkage - cost 15Euros.
I replaced the Starter battery after 13 years, not because it was failing, but just because I felt that it was time for a change. The Storage battery has been changed twice.
The driver's seat is really comfortable, like sitting in an armchair, and despite its size, this is a really good compromise all-purpose vehicule.

Hope that this info helps.
 
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