[carboncow]

Howdy...doing research for a buy. Looking at a 2013 Exec at a great price with tons of service records from a euro shop but...

The top has a sensor issue (according to seller) that was diagnosed by Vw and his Euroshop would NOT do a top, nope. The seller seems very believable but I have not seen a quote and he said Vw stated...

"xxxxx VW would only replace entire top with new prime painted assembly shipped from Germany and quoted $14,000!!!!!"

So I have a VCDS for our Touareg and Sportwagen and not to much scares me but I don't pull engines or rebuilt transmissions...and I've had a Porsche Boxster top (mostly) apart before.

1. What is so scary with EOS tops that a euro shop wouldn't touch it? Cause they don't have Vw/VCDS specific tools?
2. Why would Vw quote something so dumb? Is that their go to answer for top issues?
3. How could a given sensor be that bad?

The car is 1.5 hrs away and I might go look on Friday but wanted to get everyone's take on how crazy this $14K BS seems. I don't know what the top is doing...or not. Just that he claims it's a bad sensor.

EDIT: I should add...I know some of you are going to call BS on his claim or tell me to run, but I'm just looking to find out if this is one of those BS Vw answers where they go defcon 4 on everything. I've owned Touaregs so I know how dumb they can be when the real answer is "we don't know what we are doing..."

 

[Techvet]

The top is pretty complicated with several sensors at strategic points to monitor the progress of roof operations. Most are Hall Effect sensors that relay on magnets to trip them. The basic electronics are very simple - monitor the open/close status based on sequence and timing by the roof controller. However, many of these sensors are buried in the roof infrastructure and not easy to get to. In addition, the wiring for these sensors is not the most robust. One veteran user here (Voxmagna) can comment further on what he did to fix his. It's not beyond an advanced DIY'er to tackle, but you'll need a lot of patience. The first step is to a VCDS scan to see which sensor is causing the trouble. Then come back here for advice/council.

Regarding the new top and price.... Dealerships here in the states used to have specially trained EOS techs who worked on EOS roofs. Regrettably many of these skilled folks have retired or moved on. Even if they have a trained tech, dealerships may be reluctant to have them tear into a roof, with no guarantee that they can get it functional. Independent garages want nothing to do with them either. Not that I can blame them because there are just too many variables on these cars. Remember the youngest is now 7 years old (in your case it's 10 years old.) The only profitable "sure thing repair" is a new roof at $14,000 installed, thank you very much.

What we need here in the states is a firm like Cayman Motors over in the UK. Those guys do nothing but convertible roofs (including EOS roofs) and are quite good at it. To date, none like it have surfaced on our shores.

 

[carboncow]

I should

What we need here in the states is a firm like Cayman Motors over in the UK. Those guys do nothing but convertible roofs (including EOS roofs) and are quite good at it. To date, none like it have surfaced on our shores.

Thanks for the input. I've seen their videos (Cayman). I had a feeling Vw theory was just to replace EVERYTHING. Maybe I'll see if this guy will allow me to VCDS scan the top and see what comes up and run it past you guys.

One thing I've learned is when I show up with a VCDS at a car lot (this guy is a private owner) they get VERY nervous them I'm somehow going to destroy their car or find out the truth!

EDIT: I should add. This guy is asking $7K for an Exec (brown with saddle interior) for only $7K...so it's a hell of a deal if I can get it running for a handful of sensors and some elbow grease but I'm not interested in replacing wiring harnesses...not my experience !

 

[voxmagna]

Your whole story relies on what the seller has told you! The seller is passing on information that may not be true or which he believes is true? The seller is an experienced sales person. If a V.W repair shop quoted for a new roof there could be something else wrong, possibly it's distorted or leaking so badly it needs a lot of seal work, or a new roof. Consider this scenario: A roof segment is bent or distorted and a good sensor is correctly throwing a fault code. I'd suggest a workshop with knowledge who's seen the car may know a lot more than the seller? A seller who has been told a roof is beyond repair and there are many used EOSs like that, may be tempted to suggest a sensor fault which prevents them showing you a working roof. VCDS isn't going to fix a mechanically bad roof. Why not scan the car and see what it tells you?

If you can't take the risk, the only price to negotiate for this car with a non-working roof is its value minus the cost of a new roof, unless you can get a second expert opinion before putting down any money? You may have had previous car experience but the EOS roof system is very complex for DIYers and coming at it cold, somebody with Avionics experience probably has the best skillset.

Many shops don't know what they are doing because they are probably old school auto trained and would struggle to understand the electromechanical complexity of a convertible roof system, or think watching a few online videos is a substitute for their lack of knowledege and training. The good shops are those that know their limits and turn you away. If you are a Gambler prepared to take a risk this may be a car for you. If you are careful with your money you should get more hard information on the fault or negotiate the price down to cover the worst case. There are no individual V.W parts available for the EOS roof structure - hinges, braces etc and all parts should align to within a mm.

A cabriolet with a non working roof isn't a good deal, unless you have a V.W dealer repair estimate as evidence to negotiate with. When you buy an EOS you are buying a roof, not just a car.

 

[2phast]

My advice, don't purchase someone else's problem. There may be more to it then just a sensor.