2021 Marco Polo with factory mounted Westphalia Awning question

[Webbah]

Hi everyone,

I'm taking delivery of a new 2021 Marco Polo 300d that includes the Westphalia Awning installed. Does anyone know how the brackets are attached to the car? I'm not a big fan of the stock one as it is rather bulky and also doesn't have a rubber seal to block rain near the van side. I'd love to remove it and perhaps go with a Fiamma F35 or F40 instead. Are the brackets for the stock one mounted on the body? Meaning did they drill holes, etc to mount and if removed I'm going to have an issue or need bodywork to swap it out?

Thanks!!

 

[Grand Tourismo]

Hi everyone,

I'm taking delivery of a new 2021 Marco Polo 300d that includes the Westphalia Awning installed. Does anyone know how the brackets are attached to the car? I'm not a big fan of the stock one as it is rather bulky and also doesn't have a rubber seal to block rain near the van side. I'd love to remove it and perhaps go with a Fiamma F35 or F40 instead. Are the brackets for the stock one mounted on the body? Meaning did they drill holes, etc to mount and if removed I'm going to have an issue or need bodywork to swap it out?

Thanks!!

@Samebutdifferent is your man for this one!

 

[enano]

Hi everyone,

I'm taking delivery of a new 2021 Marco Polo 300d that includes the Westphalia Awning installed. Does anyone know how the brackets are attached to the car? I'm not a big fan of the stock one as it is rather bulky and also doesn't have a rubber seal to block rain near the van side. I'd love to remove it and perhaps go with a Fiamma F35 or F40 instead. Are the brackets for the stock one mounted on the body? Meaning did they drill holes, etc to mount and if removed I'm going to have an issue or need bodywork to swap it out?

Thanks!!

The westfalia awning (actually, a rebranded Thule Omnistor 4900) is only very slightly bulkier than the F35, and smaller than the F40. Unless you have some serious issues with the stock awning, I don't think it is worth replacing. If your only issue is the rubber seal, the Fiamma seal probably fits the Westfalia as well -- or you can go the DIY route and cut a bicycle tube to shape, as some others have done before..

Brackets for the stock awning can be removed, sort of.

• The front bracket is screwed to a hole in the under-roof rail. Depending on the year, this hole comes standard even if the van does not have an awning. If you remove the awning, you should simply plug the hole with a plastic cap. It also has two screws in the side rail that come out with no issues.
• The rear bracket is supported by a screw that comes built into the under-roof rail -- even if the van does not have an awning, the screw is present -- , plus it rests on a metal plate that is glued to the van using Sika. I am not sure how safe it is to try and unglue that plate. If you are completely sure you want to replace the awning, you can probably use the Fiamma brackets and awning without removing the plate, anyway.

I have attached the installation manual for the awning. It's in german, I am not aware of a version in any other language. I purchased and installed the mounting kit myself and it came with the same document on paper.

 

[Webbah]

The westfalia awning (actually, a rebranded Thule Omnistor 4900) is only very slightly bulkier than the F35, and smaller than the F40. Unless you have some serious issues with the stock awning, I don't think it is worth replacing. If your only issue is the rubber seal, the Fiamma seal probably fits the Westfalia as well -- or you can go the DIY route and cut a bicycle tube to shape, as some others have done before..

Brackets for the stock awning can be removed, sort of.

• The front bracket is screwed to a hole in the under-roof rail. Depending on the year, this hole comes standard even if the van does not have an awning. If you remove the awning, you should simply plug the hole with a plastic cap. It also has two screws in the side rail that come out with no issues.
• The rear bracket is supported by a screw that comes built into the under-roof rail -- even if the van does not have an awning, the screw is present -- , plus it rests on a metal plate that is glued to the van using Sika. I am not sure how safe it is to try and unglue that plate. If you are completely sure you want to replace the awning, you can probably use the Fiamma brackets and awning without removing the plate, anyway.

I have attached the installation manual for the awning. It's in german, I am not aware of a version in any other language. I purchased and installed the mounting kit myself and it came with the same document on paper.

Awesome thank you!!

 

[caMPike]

Hi everyone,

I'm taking delivery of a new 2021 Marco Polo 300d that includes the Westphalia Awning installed. Does anyone know how the brackets are attached to the car? I'm not a big fan of the stock one as it is rather bulky and also doesn't have a rubber seal to block rain near the van side. I'd love to remove it and perhaps go with a Fiamma F35 or F40 instead. Are the brackets for the stock one mounted on the body? Meaning did they drill holes, etc to mount and if removed I'm going to have an issue or need bodywork to swap it out?

Thanks!!

Fiamma F35Pro and F40 require same adapter for MP, front adapter needs one hole to be drilled, rear one use existing points plus SIKA adhesive
I chose F35Pro 270cm long
PROS: thiner case, larger square area because of 25cm longer roll out (225cm total)!!!
original Westfalia(rebranded Thule) or F40, both have only 200cm roll out and also slightly shorter (version 250cm, next size is 300cm and it is too long for MP)
CONS: F35Pro has manual rolling, better to have someone for assistance, after some practice 2 hands enough.
The seal to block gap between awning case and car body is a BIG issue. I didn’t found any original solution. The main reason is rounded shape of MP roof which doesn’t correspond to stright line of awning case. Finaly I came with DIY solution what works pretty well.

 

[Webbah]

Fiamma F35Pro and F40 require same adapter for MP, front adapter needs one hole to be drilled, rear one use existing points plus SIKA adhesive
I chose F35Pro 270cm long
PROS: thiner case, larger square area because of 25cm longer roll out (225cm total)!!!
original Westfalia(rebranded Thule) or F40, both have only 200cm roll out and also slightly shorter (version 250cm, next size is 300cm and it is too long for MP)
CONS: F35Pro has manual rolling, better to have someone for assistance, after some practice 2 hands enough.
The seal to block gap between awning case and car body is a BIG issue. I didn’t found any original solution. The main reason is rounded shape of MP roof which doesn’t correspond to stright line of awning case. Finaly I came with DIY solution what works pretty well.

Thanks for sharing the photos! What's the red strap for?

 

[caMPike]

Thanks for sharing the photos! What's the red strap for?

Original Fiamma safety strap to avoid accidental opening while driving

 

[Webbah]

So I'm 99% sure I will have the dealer remove the awning completely. The ensured me they would make sure the car was perfect for delivery without the awning and would do whatever is required. I will then consider one of these awnings that you can slide into the rail when needed and inflate with Air beams.

 

[Steve B]

Before you bin it, I find the Thule awning fine and useful. It makes no discernible difference when driving (in my experience) and I've bought the side/front screens which take a few mins to put on. The only mod I made was adapting a centre pole to prevent ponding, without having to have the awning on a tilt. If you need a full holiday drive away accommodation, then you will need something else. Its all about how you will really use the MP

 

[SteveR]

....If your only issue is the rubber seal, the Fiamma seal probably fits the Westfalia as well -- or you can go the DIY route and cut a bicycle tube to shape, as some others have done before....

If you are referring to the rubber seal between the vehicle and awning case, Thule do offer one. It's been posted on here a few times but linked here for reference

 

[Webbah]

Before you bin it, I find the Thule awning fine and useful. It makes no discernible difference when driving (in my experience) and I've bought the side/front screens which take a few mins to put on. The only mod I made was adapting a centre pole to prevent ponding, without having to have the awning on a tilt. If you need a full holiday drive away accommodation, then you will need something else. Its all about how you will really use the MP

Thank you! I will rethink this. Especially now we have a rubber seal solution too. ;-)

 

[caMPike]

If you are referring to the rubber seal between the vehicle and awning case, Thule do offer one. It's been posted on here a few times but linked here for reference

Similary seal has Fiamma also and I have ordered it but doesn’t fit with MP roof and the way how the awning is mounted, especially rear part behind rear adapter where the gap is approx 15 cm wide. The seals are designed for wall-mounted awnings at motorhomes and some for VWcali, unfortunately no MP

 

[Webbah]

Made a decision and had the dealer remove the awning. It's brand new of course and perhaps I can sell it, but I'm guessing most users here are in the UK? At any rate I decided that for my needs I prefer the Kampa/Dometic Cross Air and ordered that as I found one in stock ready to ship. Thanks for all the help nonetheless everyone!

 

[Grand Tourismo]

Made a decision and had the dealer remove the awning. It's brand new of course and perhaps I can sell it, but I'm guessing most users here are in the UK? At any rate I decided that for my needs I prefer the Kampa/Dometic Cross Air and ordered that as I found one in stock ready to ship. Thanks for all the help nonetheless everyone!

For selling maybe try one of the German Fb groups for the Marco?

 

[Samebutdifferent]

Made a decision and had the dealer remove the awning. It's brand new of course and perhaps I can sell it, but I'm guessing most users here are in the UK? At any rate I decided that for my needs I prefer the Kampa/Dometic Cross Air and ordered that as I found one in stock ready to ship. Thanks for all the help nonetheless everyone!

Good move, I had mine removed and sold it. No holes just this bracket:



This is the cover for it that some MP's seem to have along with the lashing points etc:



I didn't have one of those and failed to find one so used Sugru to fill the hole;

 

[Webbah]

Good move, I had mine removed and sold it. No holes just this bracket:

View attachment 1800

This is the cover for it that some MP's seem to have along with the lashing points etc:

View attachment 1801

I didn't have one of those and failed to find one so used Sugru to fill the hole;

View attachment 1802

View attachment 1803

Thanks for the detailed photos! I did have the cover and had them install it once the awning was removed. I also had a look at the Fiamma F35 Pro they had installed (and recommend instead) on 2 MP's that were there. They do have a rubber seal that prevents rain from entering near the sliding door and the awning looks so much better than the Westphalia version. They also install using the pop top mounting points so do not need the extra bracket or any modifications to do so. If I do choose to install one that will be the one for sure.

My MP was delivered with a total of 8 lashing points so it looks like they spec'd it with 2 lashing kits. However these were also supposed to include the straps and I didn't find them. Not a big deal as I can get those anywhere or use bunji cords. The other tool in your photo I also have and that is for removing the bench seats from the rails. Likely will never use that.