VW Transporter T5 Kombi - My Tow Vehicle for the Ibiza

[Dave_R]

Been fancying one of these for the last 2 years but the price and the amount of money I was spending on my Ibiza & house I just didn't have the funds to do it. Now I'm in the position to get one I had to have one.

After weeks of looking, I came across this on eBay

50,000 miles on the clock with Full Service History and invoices for everything done on it and even had coilovers fitted

I couldn't let this go for the price it was going for.

So once I got it home the first thing I fitted was the tow bar, basically because I knew I wanted it all colour coded so if I damaged the bumper in anyway it would be fixed lol.

Then changed the metal pressed number plates as I have had grief from the police in the past and even when I get the Dubmiester ones I get a dent in the front one, so a trip to Halfords because they have the "suppliers" font/logo in white so it's hardly noticeable and looks "clean" and fitted the number plate surround from my old car.

Wasn't sure what to do with the front end, it was either the Caravelle front end or the original bumper with the lower lip (one that looks like the Audi bumper).

One the evening I ordered this I was looking on the Banded Steelie thread and changed my mind, the next day I ordered the Caravelle front end (bumper & grille), along with a rear bumper from TPS, spoiler from Banwy and then took the van to Old School Engineering (OSE) in Bleancwm. These guys have done a lot of work on my track car over the years and I'm always impressed with the work they produce!

Fitted some Silva Tec indicators to de-tango the headlights,
Before

After

Side by side

Also like to let my cars breath a bit better, so purchased a Pipercross Panel Filter

Fitted a set of wind deflectors

And then my steelies arrived, 17x9" all round.

Slap on a bit of Gtechniq C5 Armour

Also coated the centre caps (right side have been done)

New boots fitted to the van

His & hers steelies

Not sure what to do with the interior because my dog goes in the back from time to time I don't want to carpet inside as I would have dog hair all over the place so for now I have just fitted the arch covers.

Fitted a Pioneer Double Din Player & reversing camera

And black side bars

My VAG Family

 

[betty_swollox]

Looks spot on mate


I thought u had already done a thread for this?

 

[Dave_R]

Thanks, I've only mentioned it on my Ibiza thread

 

[betty_swollox]

Thanks, I've only mentioned it on my Ibiza thread

AAAAH knew I had seen it somewhere lol!!!


I nearly bought a transporter a while ago, if I do get a van it'll defo be what I go for

 

[Dave_R]

I love it, towing is so much easier and I can take a shed load of bits now!

Heading to Bournemouth in July with missus, kid, missus parents & the dog... Plenty of room for us all.

So useful to have!


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[Dave_R]

Removed the EGR Valve today to give it a clean and to fit the blanking plate I purchased a few months ago.

Before

After, couldn't afford to soak it over night because I need to use the van on a daily basis so this was the cleanest I can get it at era bit of elbow grease.

And the blanking plate, £3 off eBay

 

[Daniel M]

Looks great mate, really like them.

 

[Dave_R]

Forgot to add this, decided to change my steering wheel. Would love to have the GTi flat bottom wheel but the prices of them are so silly!

Managed to find a 2013 Caddy 3 spoke wheel on eBay, so removed the original steering wheel

Fitted the new wheel

And then found the chrome trim on eBay for £5

Sorry about the dark photo

 

[kevlaa]

Looks great loving the steel wheels!

 

[Dave_R]

When I fitted the EGR blanking plate I noticed that the boost pipe going to the EGR Valve was worn and not siting right. I had this problem on my old Passat TDi where the wedges on the hose would wear and the clips can't hold the hose in no more

I ordered a new hose from VW.

The connections on the hoses (old vs new)

Close up (old)

New

Think it may have been causing a boost leak so will see if it sounds any different tomorrow on my way to work.


My mate noticed with his van when using my trailer in the rain that all the spray was going directly onto the car being towed, so not to risk throw stones at my track car I purchased some mudflaps, fronts are VW ones and the rears are the set from Veedub.

 

[Dave_R]

The black background of the rear VW badge wasn't looking too black anymore

A little nose on eBay and I came across some decals £3.50 later and jobs a good one

 

[James86]

This is awesome! Random question but have you had to get commercial insurance on it? I was put off buying one as I know nothing about this kind of insurance

 

[Dave_R]

Insurance wise, it's just you can't have fully comp and be able to drive any car with owners permission. With Van insurance it's just the van that you insured, if that makes sense.

Didn't really bother me because the only other car I drive is the missus so I just put my name on her insurance (I pay for her insurance anyway) so I can drive her car.

 

[James86]

Insurance wise, it's just you can't have fully comp and be able to drive any car with owners permission. With Van insurance it's just the van that you insured, if that makes sense.

Didn't really bother me because the only other car I drive is the missus so I just put my name on her insurance (I pay for her insurance anyway) so I can drive her car.

Kind of makes sense pal!

 

[Dave_R]

No photos but had a real bad knocking noise when I came back from Kent. Trying to eliminate the cause thinking the coilovers (Vmaxx) are less than 15 months old I will go for top mounts & drop links so went and got some genuine parts.

£200 later (parts & labour) and still knocking, worse than before actually. So jumped up and down on the passenger side and could hear the same knocking sound, phone call to CMC and they sent me a pair of front struts for a tidy price. Turns out that the passenger Coilover damper was shot!

I could compress it with one finger and it wouldn't return! Hopefully these hold out now or it'll be GAZ shocks next but all this did make me finally adjust the dampers and make from softer.... Much nice ride now

 

[Daragh]

Very nice T5 mate.. Have been thinking of changing my t4 for 1..
is it a 2.5 130bhp or a 1.9 105 bhp ?

 

[Dave_R]

Thanks mate, it's a 2.5 130 for now. I'm hoping the turbo goes so I can fit a 174 turbo and get it remapped to 205bhp lol.


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[Daragh]

Ya .. You can't beat the power bump.. I remap my t4 and it's a different van . I presume you know about t4 t5 forum aswell

 

[rosssei]

Great job on this - the wheels transform the van! Whats next for it?

 

[Dave_R]

Ya .. You can't beat the power bump.. I remap my t4 and it's a different van . I presume you know about t4 t5 forum aswell

Yea I'm aware of the Forum, not too fussed on it really.

Great job on this - the wheels transform the van! Whats next for it?

Thanks, not sure would like to sort the interior but don't know what to do yet.... Can't do carpet because I usually have the dog in the van to. Thinking of the T4 R Us plastic panels.