Elddis Affinity 2016 cracked panels

Hgv Gaz
Hgv Gaz Forum Participant Posts: 28
edited October 2016 in Caravans #1

Just wondering if Elddis are still having problems with front/back panels cracking on there 2016/2017 affinity models or any other problems.

Comments

  • Trini
    Trini Forum Participant Posts: 429
    edited October 2016 #2

    Not sure if they have changed spec/manufacturer which I doubt as the given weights have not changed.

    If you do look at the 550 ask the dealer to remove the ice box as stated in the Elddis broachure.

    Without totally removing the fridge the ice box cannot be removed as claimed.

    Told Elddis who havent changed their claim. Shows the level of their customer service.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited October 2016 #3

    Is it the because the Frdge door will not open far enough because of a design"malfunction "at Elddis Wink

  • Hgv Gaz
    Hgv Gaz Forum Participant Posts: 28
    edited October 2016 #4

    Not many comments about panels cracking on the latest Elddis vans, does this mean that Elddis have got there act together and sorted the problem out.

     

  • Trini
    Trini Forum Participant Posts: 429
    edited October 2016 #5

    Indeed it is a design fault as the fridge door opens against the end of the o/s bench end panel and the door needs to open passed 90 degrees.

  • HelenandTrevor
    HelenandTrevor Forum Participant Posts: 3,221
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    edited October 2016 #6

    We have been looking at the Affinity, the dealer today said Elddis have supposedly sorted the problem.  Undecided We spoke to our independent
    service engineer too and he said he's not had any problems with the newer ones. It is one of the things that has been putting us off, but you can have problems with any make. 

  • handsj
    handsj Forum Participant Posts: 117
    edited November 2016 #7

    We have a 2016 Elddis Affinity 550. We're very pleased with it and check regularly for any cracks (after hearing the stories!) but to date all is well. We only had one issue since the caravan was new - an internal panel became unstuck on our first journey,
    but this 'teething problem' was corrected by the dealer.After several breaks away this year we continue to be very happy with our Affinity.

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,581 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2016 #8

    Given what the problem must have cost Eldiss it would be financial sucicide not to correct it but nothing official seems to have been said.

  • handsj
    handsj Forum Participant Posts: 117
    edited November 2016 #9

    I suppose it's difficult for the manufacturers to play it correctly as they'd be damned by previous buyers if they admitted there had been a problem. Hence the "continuous improvement" policy.

  • Kartman60
    Kartman60 Forum Participant Posts: 24
    edited November 2016 #10

    We have the Avante 462 bought new in 2013 and we're on our 2nd replacement rear panel.

    The 1st replacement cracked similar to the original.  Elddis & our service centre (who didn't supply the van) have authorised both repairs without any fuss..

    So far the 2nd replacement panel seems ok...

    However, we've had various other problems, replacement Heki rooflight due to cracked kerb, electric box cracking - twice, broken screen door to main door, generally poor fit and movement of furniture, fridge coming 'loose'...

    When we bought the van in 2013 the intention was to keep it for 6 yrs and then swap to a motorhome.  Although we still love the layout of the 462, we've lost faith in it and are tired of continually travelling back & forth to the service centre to get it
    inspected, waiting for the warranty claim to be approved, then waiting for the parts to be delivered, then waiting to get it fixed...so we are trading the caravan in early for a motorhome which we will take delivery of next year.

    Lets hope we have better luck with the motorhome...Cool

     

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited November 2016 #11

    i hope you do...what have you ordered?

    Im guessing NOT an Elddis.....

  • Britford
    Britford Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited February 2019 #12

    We purchased a new 554 in 2016. It is now just about to run out of warranty. The dealer has been very good but the number of problems we have had with it and Elddis customer service, which is a total misnomer, would make us think very carefully about buying elddis again.We like the layout of the van, but we are now wondering what problems we will have now the warranty is up and what repair costs will be. Also, the time to get parts is disgraceful.If Bailey can supply most parts from stock and deal directly with the customer, why can't other dealers do so as well

     

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,581 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #13

    The warranty is in addition to your rights under The Sale of Goods Act or Consumer Protection Act (depends on the date of purchase) and so if the caravan turns out to be faulty you will still have rights against the retailer and the finance company if bought on HP or a credit card was used.

  • handsj
    handsj Forum Participant Posts: 117
    edited February 2019 #14

    Painful to see this thread resurrected because we posted on 5 November 2016 that all was well at that early stage with our brand new 2016 Elddis 550.

    Suffice to say that after 2.5 years of ownership we decided to cut our losses and get rid.  We had not expected to have water ingress in a supposedly 'SOLID' new caravan, resulting in a warranty repair that left it obvious there had been a problem. We had not expected the gas locker door to crack 2/3 across because its design was too flimsy for the gas struts fitted. We had not expected that numerous cracks would appear in the front panel and to be told that if we didn't pay to have them individually repaired then they would spread, necessitating the whole front panel to be changed at a cost, to us, of around £3,000! In addition to the expense, all this work involves a lot of time and stress for the owner!

    We had not expected to be told that the roof was too flimsy to take the weight of a roof mounted aircon unit. We were never comfortable that the nose weight of the van empty was close to the ALKO chassis limit so that we always had to load behind the axle.

    Following other scare stories that we heard from other Affinity owners we felt that we really couldn't take the risk.  I sincerely hope that Elddis manage to overcome their design and quality control problems as the SOLID concept is admirable in theory.

    The purchase of a new caravan from retirement savings is a BIG investment in order to pursue an enjoyable hobby.  Why should British manufacturers make it such a risky investment?

     

     

     

     

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited February 2019 #15

    Do not be mislead  by the hype as there are also problems with LAs from other countries, its just that the "complaints"about UK build quality seems more "prevelant"as the vast majority of LAs in the UK are made here so complaints will seem higher,and complaints are always to the fore rather than the many thousands who do not have the major faults of in the grand scheme  of things, 

    I feel for you with your problems but how many do they build? Bailey produce about10,000 units per year

  • Kartman60
    Kartman60 Forum Participant Posts: 24
    edited February 2019 #16

    Like handsj seeing this post from 2016 brought back the memories...

    We eventually 'got rid' of our Elddis in April 2017.

    We changed to a Chausson Welcome 610 motorhome on the Ford 170 euro6 engine.  We absolutely love it. (Apologies to BoleroBoy for not replying)

    I'm delighted to say we have had zero, yes that's '0' problems with it. The 1st hab service in March 2018 passed with flying colours. The moisture readings on the record sheet by the way were between 6% and 8% and the van was covered in 4'' of snow at the time.

    We've done over 170 nights away and over 10,000 miles both in the UK and Europe including trips to Slovenia/Croatia and Spain. We're booked on the ferry to go to Portugal shortly and have a trip booked to Denmark/Sweden & Norway starting in August and a trip to Greece in April 2020.

    This van has restored our faith and confidence in being able to plan and book our trips in advance without wondering what is going to fail next and the hassle & stress of getting repairs done.

    Long may it continue...

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited February 2019 #17

    SOLID = Soggy or lets in damp? Hopefully not as I have a SOLID logo on the side of the MH.

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,581 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2019 #18

    I suspect you are right. I notice that Eldiss now Hymer group caravans came last yet again in the Practical Caravan/C&CC customer satisfaction survey for worst customer satisfaction and had the lowest percentage of fault free caravans.

  • lynepaul
    lynepaul Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited October 2020 #19

    No, I had a 2013 Avante  cracks at the bottom of the rear panel, had to retro fit covers. and now a 2015 Affinity 554 and have recently found bad cracks on the top corners of the rear panel. O have seen several vans with retro fit cover to deal with the issue. P/last weld repair £900

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