Craikeybaby's VW T5 Bike Van

[Craikeybaby]

Van by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

After years of struggling with a BMW 1 series as our "big sensible car", I decided that I needed to buy something more practical. I figured that if I was getting something big and FWD, I may as well get something BIG and not have to bother with bike racks etc. So ended up, seemingly like most other mountain bikers with a VW Transporter. It is a 2014 T5 (facelift) SWB Kombi Highline 140ps. The 140ps is key, because although these all have pretty much the same 2.0tdi engine, in various states of tune, the 140ps version gets the stronger 6 speed gearbox.

The plan was not to buy quite this early in the year, but once I had the idea of what I wanted I kept an eye out on all the classified sites and this one popped up on Facebook, as one of their suggested posts, and on further inspection it had the perfect spec, was fairly local, in budget and by far the best colour - so I bought it!

I have only had it a week, but am pleased with it so far, it is better to drive than I was expecting, the gearshift being particularly good. Not only is it my first van, it is my first diesel vehicle and the first front wheel drive vehicle I have owned for 15 years. I am enjoying the elevated driving position and embracing taking a more chilled out attitude to driving - I still have my MR2 Roadster to thrash around in when I am not transporting kids or bikes. I have had a few trips out with bikes which fit in the back easily.


Bike and van by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

I have no plans to convert it into a camper van, which is common with these, but there may be a few changes to the interior to make it more comfortable/practical. However the plan for now is just to use it like a big estate car.

There are a few little jobs to do:
Sort out the Bluetooth media player - I test these things for a living and the VW one has me stumped, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't and other times the option isn't even shown on the headunit (phone is shown as connected, including media player on the cluster display).
Sort out what can be displayed in the cluster display, as temperature/range are displayed, but only with warning messages, the rest of the time it is phone information.
Buy/build some under seat storage for the twin seat in the back.
Touch in a few stone chips/small scratches.
Correct the number of seats on the V5 - it says 6, but it is a 5 seater. I'm guessing it was most likely an admin error at the dealer that originally registered it (coincidentally my local VW dealer).
Floor mats for the front, I'm thinking rubber will be a better bet than carpet as I am using it for mountain biking.
Possibly fit a ground anchor in the boot to secure my bikes.


I'll keep this thread updated with any changes/fixes I make to the van, or maybe just post pictures of where I have been in it...

[Craikeybaby]

No, but I'll try to take some when I am next out in it. This one is a 5 seater, 2 captains seats at the front (single passenger seat is meant to be more comfortable than the bench seat) and 3 on the middle row - then a massive area for bikes at the back.

[Craikeybaby]

Drove my wife’s Yaris earlier, after a week in the van and I had to double check that I hadn’t left the handbrake on! Definitely wasn’t expecting that coming from a van!

Fatball said:

Looks great, always wanted one. Enjoy!

Thanks, I wanted one for a while, but had planned to run my old car into the ground, as it was reliable, but worth nothing. I just bit the bullet and bought this - glad I did!

gkeele said:

Wouldn't mind one of these at all, I've been roof racking for years now. Love the Orange.

The roof rack worked well for localish rides, but wasn’t keen on leaving the car anywhere, with bikes, especially the Orange on top.

It is a 2017 Four, was my dream bike at the time, and still is really.

Greendubber said:

Nice choice, mates got one and its brilliant. Does yours have a bulkhead between the back seats and the load area? I've found that makes them way more car like, plus you can just mop the back out once muddy bikes have been removed

I did look at one with a bulkhead, but wanted to keep the flexibility.

wolfie1978 said:

Do you have many plans for it op? I have a 2012 Caravelle and i'm looking for some inspiration with it

No plans for the van yet, will see how we get on with it over the summer. Maybe carpet the back/sides to make it quieter inside, although it is no worse than the BMW with bikes on top. I can imagine I’ll lower it and change the wheels at some point, but nothing crazy.

Wonderman said:

Post on FB doing rounds re fitting "high locks" to stop doors being peeled open at the top. Just a thought as I was looking into doing something similar vehicle wise as gets a bit of a pita when more than 2 of us.

Thanks, will look in to that. My priority is getting something solid to lock the bikes to inside, but obviously better to stop entry in the first place!

[Craikeybaby]

TryingHard said:

Loads of useful stuff.

Thanks! We’re planning on it be in more of a big family than a camper - I may have the odd overnighted with one of the boys when they are a bit older.

I did manage to get Bluetooth media working at first, by activating it in the menu, however it is still shown as active, but not available. My next test will be unpairing and re-pairing my phone. I’ll try holding down the media button too. I may just get another head unit, as I would really like car play!

I haven’t tried holding the up button down on the stalk, so will try that too. I need to try and find what exactly is fitted, same goes with the seats. The cluster features are more nice to haves than essentials, I will be getting a diagnostic tool though.

[Craikeybaby]

I’m surprised at the universally positive response on here, but I agree it is shaping up to be great family car.

austinsmirk said:

I’ve had loads of Vw campers over the years, partly as I’ve been cycling for 30 plus yrs. I’d stick a decent rigid fiamma rack on the back. When your bike is dripping in filth, it’s out of the way. Fair enough if yr parking it up, stick it in the van, but generally it’s a lot easy keeping all the muck out. More so if you’ve mates gf wife etc bikes and 2,3,4 of them.

I’m thinking that I’ll get a portable power washer to remedy the muddy bikes in the van issue.

[Craikeybaby]

I decoded the production codes, hoping to find out if it was 5 or 6 seats from factory, if it has the trip computer features and if there were any clues as to what the “ECOFUEL” badge on the back means. Unfortunately I am no nearer to answers:

X13 = National sales program Europe (RHD)
B0A = Component parts set without country-specific design requirement
CK8 = Alloy wheels 6.5J x 16
G0K = 6-speed manual transmission
H0D = Tires 215/65 R16 C 106/104T
J1D = Battery 380 A (72 Ah)
D91 = 4-cyl. turbo diesel engine 2.0 l/103 kW (4V) TDI common rail; Base engine: TG3/ TJ3/TU3/TU4/TL4/TP4/TM3/TW3/TR4/TS1/TN5
1AK = Electronic stabilization program (ESP) with brake assistant
1G2 = Steel spare wheel with original equipment tires
2PW = Leather steering wheel
1NL = Covers for alloy wheels
5RV = Right exterior mirror: aspherical
5SJ = Left exterior mirror: convex
TW3 = 4-cylinder diesel engine 2.0 l Unit 03L.K
3S0 = Without roof rails/roof load rack
3U0 = Without luggage compartment cover
QI8 = Service indicator 40,000 km or 2 year ( variable )
8AE = Radio "RCD310 MP3"
8GU = Alternator 140 A
1BA = Standard suspension/shock absorption
7MJ = Emission standard EU5 plus
0E1 = Short wheelbase
4UF = Drivers and front passenger air bag with front passenger air bag deactivation
4X0 = Without side air bag
4R1 = Power windows
4K3 = Radio remote controlled central locking operated from inside and safe securing
N0F = Woven fabric seat covering
5TC = Without decorative inserts
8RE = 4 speakers (passive)
2JG = Body-colored bumpers
E0A = No special edition
2V1 = Dust and pollen filter
0JD = Weight category front axle weight range 4
0YD = Weight range 4 installation control only, no requirement forecast
1D0 = Without trailer hitch
A8B = Basic equipment
8BF = Halogen headlight for driving on the left
U5B = Instrument insert, mph speedometer Great Britain
1N1 = Power steering
3L3 = Manual height adjustment for front seats
4A0 = Without seat heater
8N1 = Windshield wiper intermittent control

So, can anyone shed any light on what “ECOFUEL” means? The only thing I can find on Google in relation to VW “ECOFUEL” is to do Compressed National Gas variants, and this is definitely a diesel 140. So my only guess is that someone has fitted a random badge.

[Craikeybaby]

I have managed to get into the MFD menu, rather than just pressing the up button on the end of the wiper stalk, I needed to press the up button on the stalk AND nudge the stalk up, then I can choose between MFD/Media/Phone.

I still can't get the Bluetooth Media player to show on the headhunt though. I tried a long press on the media button, which had no effect.

[Craikeybaby]

Sorted the Bluetooth! I didn’t realise that in addition to the connection to the device, it also needs the audio to be started manually on the device for the Bluetooth Media option to be displayed on the head unit.

Every other system I have used let’s you connect ready for audio.

[Craikeybaby]

Coin Slot. said:

And now the wallet emptying can begin...

Owning a Transporter and not ‘tweaking’ it is a bit like eating a doughnut and not licking your lips

Yeah, something like that! Trying to keep it standard for the rest of the year, due to insurance. Still got a few things I want to do though.

[Craikeybaby]

Had a good trip out in the van today, our usual park has a height restriction on the car park, which means I couldn’t go in with my bike on top of the car - but I could take the bike in the van! Had a great ride with my 3 year old, his longest ride to date!



I had some time to kill waiting for my wife and managed to pull 12 parking tickets out of the gap between the dashboard and windscreen. It seems to be a common issue, as it is possible to buy a foam strip to block the gap.

[Craikeybaby]

The main thing for me is being able to have the bike locked out of sight in the back, I did not feel like I could leave the car with the bike on the racks only secured by the Thule locks. Getting changed in the back is good though, as is just being able to sweep out the mud after. With AC, Bluetooth and cruise control this is the most luxurious vehicle I have owned!

[Craikeybaby]

The door seals are on my radar, and I’ll likely get the sound deadening done when I get the rear carpeted etc at my local conversion place.

Trying not to spend too much money on it until the autumn!

[Craikeybaby]

This is he only interior shot I have a the moment, but shows how much space there is with an adult (size M) 27.5” trail bike in the back.

[Craikeybaby]

GT72 said:

I didn’t realise they went in sideways, that’s perfect.

It’s diagonal there. Sideways would need the front wheel off.

[Craikeybaby]

CaptainSlow said:

On the Kombi models like this one..

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2008-VOLKSWAGEN-TRANSPO...

I see the rear seats fold up but can the come out completely to fit a motorbike in?

I’m not sure about the 3 seat bench, but I expect it would. On the 2/1 rear seats, like mine, both the 2 and 1 can be removed.

[Craikeybaby]

I think you would need a LWB for 4 adult mountain bikes in the back with wheels on. When I was looking at vans Transits seemed to have a bulkhead behind the second row of seats.

[Craikeybaby]

Since my last post the van has mostly just sat on the drive. Before lockdown was announced we managed to squeeze in a family day out to a small mountain bike trail, it was a really good day and proved the van works how we expected it to. After that it has mostly sat on the drive for six weeks. It did turn into a mobile office at one point as my home broadband was down and I had also ran out of 4G data, so I was able to drive to work and connect to the wifi from the car park!

Last Friday should have been a good day for the van - I ordered some bits for it and managed to get out in it with my youngest son to pick up some essential shopping However, parked up by the butchers I noticed that there were scratches all down the passenger side, that were not there before. I am not sure if they are from people passing it to closely coming up the drive with deliveries, or when it was parked on the street for a few days whilst we have the front of the house painted. They aren't too bad, but it is just annoying. It was also the first time I have driven it when it has been hot enough to have the AC on, and it smells of vomit. When I get a chance, I will take it down to my local AC specialist, hopefully they are still open - when I have been there before you don't have to get out of your vehicle, so they should be able to carry on working safely.

On a more positive note, I got the windscreen seal fitted - so hopefully no more tickets lost in the void! My eldest son enjoyed helping me and sitting in the drivers seat! The space in the front makes it easy to clamber about.

"Just borrowing the van Dad" by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

Then I got him to help fit the new threshold cover caps:

Cleaning out the holes by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

It is only a little thing, but tidies up the back of the van nicely:

New caps fitted by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

I still have some extra door seals to fit, which are a universally recommended upgrade, but not sure that can be done whilst looking after an inquisitive three year old, so will tackle that another day.

Other than that it has just sat on the drive, I last bought diesel for it in February!

[Craikeybaby]

Mine has already missed two trips to Wales. I decided to SORN my MR2 Roadster instead, as tax was due the same month, so at least I got them out of sync.

[Craikeybaby]

Had a brief drive in the van this afternoon, just running an errand in town, but found myself with a massive smile on my face. It isn't fun to drive, like my MR2 Roadster for example, but there's just something about it.

I'm waiting for a delivery from ECP with AC cleaner and a new pollen filter, which will hopefully get rid of the vomit smell. I've also found where to press to stop an interior rattle - on the roof console where the phone microphones are. So that will require further investigation.

[Craikeybaby]

I took my son out for a spin in the van area, just to some woods on the other side of town for a bike ride. As I had some bits between the front and rear seats, I moved his car seat to the passenger seat and let him ride up front with me - which he loved!

This evening I started investigating the rattle from the roof console. I already had the access panel open, but I then removed the interior light, then the microphone module, and found some non-OEM looking pink felt, which seems to have been put up there to stop a rattle... Unfortunately the clips at the front of the trim part have snapped, I'm not sure if it was me or the previous owner, but I now have some more shopping to do.