2007 VW Transporter Sportline refresh
Discussion
Quick bit of van history first as this becomes relevant later on.
Back in the mid 2000s the VW Sportline trim/brand was not as ubiquitous as it is these days, and was effectively a UK special edition with basic panel and kombi vans sent from the factory straight to a single authorised VW body shop in Kent where they painted and fitted front and rear spoilers, 30mm lowering Eibach springs, stainless side bars, 18” Borbet split rim wheels and upgraded seat materials. They all had the grunty 172 bhp 2.5 litre 5 cylinder TDI engine, 6-speed manual box and aircon. Other than this they were quite basic and only came in silver, red or black. Nothing like the options you get on Transporters now!
In 2010 we bought a three year old black T5 Sportline panel van with 21,000 miles on it, mostly to be used for mountain and road bike transport to races and events. Unfortunately I have no photos of it from the early days, but the previous owner had sadly already sold the Borbet wheels and side bars and fitted black 20” Wolfrace 5 spoke wheels, along with a Golf GTi steering wheel and slimmer style door mirrors and rear lights from the then-new T5.1 facelift van. I believe he was planning a big project with it but then changed his mind.
After children came along and the cycling stopped, around 2013 we had a company carry out a Caravelle/Kombi style conversion with side windows, swivelling captain chairs up front, insulated and carpet lined rear, flip down DVD player screen, alcantara roof lining with down lights, OEM seat rails in the floor and four individual Caravelle seats and a table in the back. I changed the big wheels for slightly later OEM Sportline 18” items. Also had a remap to around 205 bhp and something like 500 NM torque - it goes well for a big old lump. I also had a set of Bilstein coil overs fitted.
Here it is around 2016 with winter steel wheels on, next to my old RS4 at a Sunday Service at Vauxhall HQ.
And on a trip to Morzine mountain biking:
We then ran it as the family bus (brilliant with 3 children) for for a few years, during which it picked up various scrapes and bumper damage along the way, and the tailgate was hit while parked in Sainsbury’s by a truck that never owned up to it. Tried to get that repaired by a PDR guy, but you could still see it. I was also a bit surprised to see rust appearing along both sills….
Back in the mid 2000s the VW Sportline trim/brand was not as ubiquitous as it is these days, and was effectively a UK special edition with basic panel and kombi vans sent from the factory straight to a single authorised VW body shop in Kent where they painted and fitted front and rear spoilers, 30mm lowering Eibach springs, stainless side bars, 18” Borbet split rim wheels and upgraded seat materials. They all had the grunty 172 bhp 2.5 litre 5 cylinder TDI engine, 6-speed manual box and aircon. Other than this they were quite basic and only came in silver, red or black. Nothing like the options you get on Transporters now!
In 2010 we bought a three year old black T5 Sportline panel van with 21,000 miles on it, mostly to be used for mountain and road bike transport to races and events. Unfortunately I have no photos of it from the early days, but the previous owner had sadly already sold the Borbet wheels and side bars and fitted black 20” Wolfrace 5 spoke wheels, along with a Golf GTi steering wheel and slimmer style door mirrors and rear lights from the then-new T5.1 facelift van. I believe he was planning a big project with it but then changed his mind.
After children came along and the cycling stopped, around 2013 we had a company carry out a Caravelle/Kombi style conversion with side windows, swivelling captain chairs up front, insulated and carpet lined rear, flip down DVD player screen, alcantara roof lining with down lights, OEM seat rails in the floor and four individual Caravelle seats and a table in the back. I changed the big wheels for slightly later OEM Sportline 18” items. Also had a remap to around 205 bhp and something like 500 NM torque - it goes well for a big old lump. I also had a set of Bilstein coil overs fitted.
Here it is around 2016 with winter steel wheels on, next to my old RS4 at a Sunday Service at Vauxhall HQ.
And on a trip to Morzine mountain biking:
We then ran it as the family bus (brilliant with 3 children) for for a few years, during which it picked up various scrapes and bumper damage along the way, and the tailgate was hit while parked in Sainsbury’s by a truck that never owned up to it. Tried to get that repaired by a PDR guy, but you could still see it. I was also a bit surprised to see rust appearing along both sills….
Edited by sutts on Wednesday 6th April 20:42
By January this year the van was on 110,000 miles, much loved, but starting to look a little sorry for itself. We had to make a decision to either move it on or pump some money into it. The latter won out fairly easily in the end - my wife loves driving it and it is so practical and spacious for children, dogs, bikes, kit. With values holding up and it being (relatively - for a T5) fairly low mileage, it seemed reasonable to spend some time and money correcting any damage, improving it further and bringing back the shine.
I did seriously consider a facelift (aka fakelift) to the more modern T6 front end, however, that gets done a lot and there aren’t many of the original T5 Sportlines left, Although it will never be a classic like a T2, I felt it worth keeping the original look at the front, albeit it has had a few more modern elements added elsewhere.
I got in touch with the VW body shop (A B Crush Panel Craft) who completed the original Sportline conversions and are about 30 miles away from me in Kent, and got it booked in for new front and rear bumpers, a new tailgate with rear window, new mirror covers, repairs to the sills, a full respray in the original Diamond Black and new leather front seat covers. It amused me slightly that they completed the van new in 2006 and were now seeing it back 16 years later. As is often the case the brief got bigger as work progressed!
Before it went to them I had a new stainless exhaust fitted, painted the callipers black and had the wheels refurbished in a darkish shadow chrome:
You can just about make out the damage to the tailgate (ripples and dimples in the paint near the handle) and the tape covering a crack in the bumper and damaged parking sensor, in the top picture with the new exhaust on.
I did seriously consider a facelift (aka fakelift) to the more modern T6 front end, however, that gets done a lot and there aren’t many of the original T5 Sportlines left, Although it will never be a classic like a T2, I felt it worth keeping the original look at the front, albeit it has had a few more modern elements added elsewhere.
I got in touch with the VW body shop (A B Crush Panel Craft) who completed the original Sportline conversions and are about 30 miles away from me in Kent, and got it booked in for new front and rear bumpers, a new tailgate with rear window, new mirror covers, repairs to the sills, a full respray in the original Diamond Black and new leather front seat covers. It amused me slightly that they completed the van new in 2006 and were now seeing it back 16 years later. As is often the case the brief got bigger as work progressed!
Before it went to them I had a new stainless exhaust fitted, painted the callipers black and had the wheels refurbished in a darkish shadow chrome:
You can just about make out the damage to the tailgate (ripples and dimples in the paint near the handle) and the tape covering a crack in the bumper and damaged parking sensor, in the top picture with the new exhaust on.
Edited by sutts on Wednesday 6th April 23:01
It went off to the body shop in late January, and the strip down revealed worse corrosion to the sills than originally thought. This was considered unusual for a T5, and the reason revealed itself a few days later:
Handily they had a brand new but written-off T6.1 (not sure of the story but hey) that donated its sills and some its floor to make good the repairs.
Factory spec stonechip being applied to the new metal and ongoing prep for paint:
With a small stroke of genius they decided to remove some of the internal carpeted panels to see what was happening behind, and found that the insulation that had been put in years earlier was holding moisture and it was actually quite wet. This had been dripping down into the sills and slowly rotting them from the inside out!
So the first budget creep arrived with the agreement to strip out the inside, re-insulate with a more modern material and re-carpet over new wooden panels:
The body shop are lucky enough to have a very skilful in-house guy who has been doing camper conversions for 20 years, and he did all the inside work. More budget creep arrived when we realised that with it stripped out now would be a good time to have rear windows cut into the bodywork, and while we were at it replace the side windows with new ones to match…
The wooden side panels were made in two sections to make them easier to remove if required in the future to access wiring
Handily they had a brand new but written-off T6.1 (not sure of the story but hey) that donated its sills and some its floor to make good the repairs.
Factory spec stonechip being applied to the new metal and ongoing prep for paint:
With a small stroke of genius they decided to remove some of the internal carpeted panels to see what was happening behind, and found that the insulation that had been put in years earlier was holding moisture and it was actually quite wet. This had been dripping down into the sills and slowly rotting them from the inside out!
So the first budget creep arrived with the agreement to strip out the inside, re-insulate with a more modern material and re-carpet over new wooden panels:
The body shop are lucky enough to have a very skilful in-house guy who has been doing camper conversions for 20 years, and he did all the inside work. More budget creep arrived when we realised that with it stripped out now would be a good time to have rear windows cut into the bodywork, and while we were at it replace the side windows with new ones to match…
The wooden side panels were made in two sections to make them easier to remove if required in the future to access wiring
He also very neatly fitted an LED strip around the perimeter of the roof lining, which works independently of the 6 down lighters and is able to be controlled for brightness on a little remote control:
|https://thumbsnap.com/vc88KRS6[/url]
Good picture of the OEM Caravelle rail system that allows the individual rear seats to slide or be removed, along with the tough Altro flooring that was retained, and the new carpeting and windows:
|https://thumbsnap.com/vc88KRS6[/url]Good picture of the OEM Caravelle rail system that allows the individual rear seats to slide or be removed, along with the tough Altro flooring that was retained, and the new carpeting and windows:
That really left the front seats, which were recovered (and with new foam) in nappa leather by a local upholsterer to a slightly later T5.1 Sportline design, but in a dark grey and parchment colour to our spec. I think they came out really well and are a little different to anything else out there:
The final piece of project creep came when my ever helpful contact at A B Crush offered me a pair of new stainless factory T6.1 sidebars that he found in their vast workshop at a good price! These are a more modern trapezoid shape compared to the more bulbous older type, and have built in puddle lights that illuminate when the van is unlocked. I said yes.
I supplied some new aftermarket lights with upgraded bulbs to be fitted along with additional rubber door seals (as fitted to the California and Caravelle) and a new gear knob and gaiter. We also replaced a couple of interior plastic cab panels to replace scratched ones, and finally new front mud flaps. Two months after it went in it was finally ready for collection….
The final piece of project creep came when my ever helpful contact at A B Crush offered me a pair of new stainless factory T6.1 sidebars that he found in their vast workshop at a good price! These are a more modern trapezoid shape compared to the more bulbous older type, and have built in puddle lights that illuminate when the van is unlocked. I said yes.
I supplied some new aftermarket lights with upgraded bulbs to be fitted along with additional rubber door seals (as fitted to the California and Caravelle) and a new gear knob and gaiter. We also replaced a couple of interior plastic cab panels to replace scratched ones, and finally new front mud flaps. Two months after it went in it was finally ready for collection….
Walking into the workshop we certainly weren’t disappointed, and I was pleased I stuck to the original T5 Sportline front end, which I really like, rather than ‘fakelifting’ it.
The new paint and glass looks fab, and the sidebars appear to lower it when it’s actually at a reasonably sensible ride height on the coil overs.
It has the current Sportline badge on the rear, and like the latest vans I didn’t bother replacing the ‘TDI T30’ badges. This seems in keeping with the somewhat cleaner modernised look with the later mirrors, rear lights and sidebars and the aftermarket headlights.
It looked good to me outside as well!
The new paint and glass looks fab, and the sidebars appear to lower it when it’s actually at a reasonably sensible ride height on the coil overs.
It has the current Sportline badge on the rear, and like the latest vans I didn’t bother replacing the ‘TDI T30’ badges. This seems in keeping with the somewhat cleaner modernised look with the later mirrors, rear lights and sidebars and the aftermarket headlights.
It looked good to me outside as well!
Edited by sutts on Wednesday 6th April 22:20
It’s actually a pleasure to drive with a decent amount of shove, it doesn’t roll excessively but is quite compliant and comfortable, and is quiet and rattle-free inside with all the sound deadening in the floor, doors, and sides.
I expect the carpeting and additional door seals help with that as well.
Inside it has a Pioneer CarPlay head unit with wiring going into the glovebox and the 15” monitor that folds down from the headlining keeps the children entertained on long journeys. Having individual seats stops them scrapping as well! The new windows at the rear and back have really lifted the previously gloomy rear section and it’s great to be able to see out of the tailgate now. There’s a rear camera and sensors to hopefully avoid any more reversing incidents.
Overall it was a significant investment into a 15 year old vehicle, but we know and love the van, I couldn’t have replaced it with a new one to the same spec without spending a further £20 - £40k depending on year (prices on these Transporters are daft really), and it should now be good for another 10+ years or until anyone driving a diesel becomes completely ostracised from society.
They do say these things are never completely finished (!) and I may consider getting the rear seats covered in the same design of leather (currently OEM Caravelle fabric) and look into getting the door cards covered in leather to match, although I admit that would be a little extravagant.
Last few pics, including today having travelled 200 miles north to the in-laws in a lot of comfort.
Finally, I’ve sent the V5 off to the DVLA to have the body type updated to Dual Purpose Vehicle, which it now meets the criteria for with the rear windows. This might mean a small increase in VED, but will allow for car speed limits on A roads and dual carriageways.
The family fleet now stands at:
1987 BMW E28 M5
1997 Volvo V70 T5
2007 VW T5 Transporter
2012 Renault Clio RS200.
Quite a varied selection which covers a lot of bases, and it’s fairly obvious I’m not into or fussed about having a new car. Although if someone offered me a new M5 or M2 CS I wouldn’t turn them down!
I expect the carpeting and additional door seals help with that as well.
Inside it has a Pioneer CarPlay head unit with wiring going into the glovebox and the 15” monitor that folds down from the headlining keeps the children entertained on long journeys. Having individual seats stops them scrapping as well! The new windows at the rear and back have really lifted the previously gloomy rear section and it’s great to be able to see out of the tailgate now. There’s a rear camera and sensors to hopefully avoid any more reversing incidents.
Overall it was a significant investment into a 15 year old vehicle, but we know and love the van, I couldn’t have replaced it with a new one to the same spec without spending a further £20 - £40k depending on year (prices on these Transporters are daft really), and it should now be good for another 10+ years or until anyone driving a diesel becomes completely ostracised from society.
They do say these things are never completely finished (!) and I may consider getting the rear seats covered in the same design of leather (currently OEM Caravelle fabric) and look into getting the door cards covered in leather to match, although I admit that would be a little extravagant.
Last few pics, including today having travelled 200 miles north to the in-laws in a lot of comfort.
Finally, I’ve sent the V5 off to the DVLA to have the body type updated to Dual Purpose Vehicle, which it now meets the criteria for with the rear windows. This might mean a small increase in VED, but will allow for car speed limits on A roads and dual carriageways.
The family fleet now stands at:
1987 BMW E28 M5
1997 Volvo V70 T5
2007 VW T5 Transporter
2012 Renault Clio RS200.
Quite a varied selection which covers a lot of bases, and it’s fairly obvious I’m not into or fussed about having a new car. Although if someone offered me a new M5 or M2 CS I wouldn’t turn them down!
Edited by sutts on Wednesday 6th April 23:15
Lovely old bus with a new lease of life.
Maybe give it set of newer Sportline wheels to finish it off?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/18-VW-T5-T6-5X120-SPORT...
Maybe give it set of newer Sportline wheels to finish it off?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/18-VW-T5-T6-5X120-SPORT...
I can't imagine there are many people on PH who have a VW T5 and an RS200. I'm also in this 'elite' club.
Do you track your Clio? I bought mine last year with the intention of leaving it standard and enjoying having a cheap car for a while. Then I went to Thruxton for a track day and I'm completely hooked. So far I've done -
KTEC Manifold
KTEC 200cel sports cat
Godspeed Discs
PBS pads
Braided Hel brake hoses (ordered yesterday)
If you're interested in track days, then the Clio really suits Llandow. I was here last weekend for a track day, great circuit and not too bad on the tyres either.
I've gone off topic - lovely T5, the bodyshop have done a great job. My T5 is about to be face lifted (sorry I hate the front end, but I like the 1.9TDI engine) and next month it's having a poptop fitted by Skyline.
Do you track your Clio? I bought mine last year with the intention of leaving it standard and enjoying having a cheap car for a while. Then I went to Thruxton for a track day and I'm completely hooked. So far I've done -
KTEC Manifold
KTEC 200cel sports cat
Godspeed Discs
PBS pads
Braided Hel brake hoses (ordered yesterday)
If you're interested in track days, then the Clio really suits Llandow. I was here last weekend for a track day, great circuit and not too bad on the tyres either.
I've gone off topic - lovely T5, the bodyshop have done a great job. My T5 is about to be face lifted (sorry I hate the front end, but I like the 1.9TDI engine) and next month it's having a poptop fitted by Skyline.
Looks good. I’ve a T5 camper too. 2.0 d. Only thing I keep reading is how unreliable and also thirsty the 2.5 is.
How are you finding it ? In fairness there’s an equal amount of people with starship mileage on them.
I can recommend a pop top company to you if you make that leap. They are one of those weird vehicles with an almost non existent depreciation curve to them and they really get under yr skin. Nothing else is as useful.
How are you finding it ? In fairness there’s an equal amount of people with starship mileage on them.
I can recommend a pop top company to you if you make that leap. They are one of those weird vehicles with an almost non existent depreciation curve to them and they really get under yr skin. Nothing else is as useful.
Networkgeek said:
I can't imagine there are many people on PH who have a VW T5 and an RS200. I'm also in this 'elite' club.
Do you track your Clio? I bought mine last year with the intention of leaving it standard and enjoying having a cheap car for a while. Then I went to Thruxton for a track day and I'm completely hooked. So far I've done -
KTEC Manifold
KTEC 200cel sports cat
Godspeed Discs
PBS pads
Braided Hel brake hoses (ordered yesterday)
If you're interested in track days, then the Clio really suits Llandow. I was here last weekend for a track day, great circuit and not too bad on the tyres either.
I've gone off topic - lovely T5, the bodyshop have done a great job. My T5 is about to be face lifted (sorry I hate the front end, but I like the 1.9TDI engine) and next month it's having a poptop fitted by Skyline.
They make an interesting contrast for sure.Do you track your Clio? I bought mine last year with the intention of leaving it standard and enjoying having a cheap car for a while. Then I went to Thruxton for a track day and I'm completely hooked. So far I've done -
KTEC Manifold
KTEC 200cel sports cat
Godspeed Discs
PBS pads
Braided Hel brake hoses (ordered yesterday)
If you're interested in track days, then the Clio really suits Llandow. I was here last weekend for a track day, great circuit and not too bad on the tyres either.
I've gone off topic - lovely T5, the bodyshop have done a great job. My T5 is about to be face lifted (sorry I hate the front end, but I like the 1.9TDI engine) and next month it's having a poptop fitted by Skyline.
This is my Clio:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I’m going to an evening track day at Brands Hatch with it next month, which will be my first time on track with that car - really looking forward to it!
FNG said:
Is it the glass you've put in the tailgate that allows you to change it to a dual purpose vehicle, or the rear side glass, or both?
Interested as I prefer the solid metal rear windows as a security and privacy feature but wouldn't be keen on van speed limits as a result.
I believe it’s the rearmost side glass that makes the difference, but it also has to remain under 2,040 kg unladen (T5s are around 1850-1950kg unladen), have a fixed roof and also have at least 4 seats (can be removable) with seats belts in the back.Interested as I prefer the solid metal rear windows as a security and privacy feature but wouldn't be keen on van speed limits as a result.
austinsmirk said:
Looks good. I’ve a T5 camper too. 2.0 d. Only thing I keep reading is how unreliable and also thirsty the 2.5 is.
How are you finding it ? In fairness there’s an equal amount of people with starship mileage on them.
I can recommend a pop top company to you if you make that leap. They are one of those weird vehicles with an almost non existent depreciation curve to them and they really get under yr skin. Nothing else is as useful.
Thanks, I agree they do seem to become part of the family! We’ve run ours between 21,000 and 110,000 miles so far and on the whole it has been pretty reliable and never let us down. Off the top of my head the bigger bills have been for: Clutch and DMF a couple of years ago and a new intercooler and electric window switch modules longer ago than that. It recently had a new heater motor and resistor. Otherwise it’s been normal service items like brakes and the odd suspension part, CV gaitor etc. How are you finding it ? In fairness there’s an equal amount of people with starship mileage on them.
I can recommend a pop top company to you if you make that leap. They are one of those weird vehicles with an almost non existent depreciation curve to them and they really get under yr skin. Nothing else is as useful.
To be fair it is religiously serviced every 12 months, and the 2.5 5 cylinder lump has always felt good and strong. I’ve never properly worked out the fuel economy but I have seen 600 miles out of a full tank occasionally when it has been doing long steady runs, so probably mid to high 30’s are possible. Around town and on the school run I don’t really want to know!
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