Cheers Bob.

Just to update came the next day and also has free return post for the £100 back

Mine has started making 'supercharger' type whirring noises which rise and fall with the revs. Looked up for a replacement £120 for a used one from Bongo Spares, few dodgy looking one's on Ebay for circa £100 and a recon one for £443 eek!

Heads up for others as there are not many posts or outlets ...

I am not so 'into' my Bongo anymore only 500miles this year, mostly school runs but no camping, no use over Winter either once the salt goes down, it's still in great condition though. Just had a bit of rust treated rear os sill/wheel arch area just got it back so washing it in the drive and felt ...

Just as a side, I had mine black Waxoyled underneath with clear cavity wax.....topped up several sections over the last few years and ACF50, this year I have used Lanoshield/Lanoguard......went on really easy and looks and feels good....did the underneath, pipes, wheel arches, suspension arms, coils ...

Get a few quotes to rectify the corrosion.....then make a decision it may not be game over. £6.5K is a lot of money to put into a vehicle for such a limited time/use to then scrap/break. Given the age of your Bongo as you said there were always going to be rust issues.

Purchased an OE thermostat (no gasket supplied), took the old one off and the original seal/gasket fell to bits with most welded onto the thermostat housing, had to scrape the old one off. Thought I could bodge it but no, purchased an MX5 housing gasket (same as Bongo it seems) and all is good again ...

nice post need to do mine, got the genuine thermostat; engine is running cold

That certainly clarifies it then (arse covering); I use both E5 and E10 in mine and more E10 than E5...had no issues as yet. Additive over Winter when not/hardly used.

If you are unable to lower that quote from £3.5K by shopping about I personally would be looking to sell/trade/break your Bongo for another example especially if your's is not in 1st Class condition i.e. rust AFT gearbox paint/panels/arches etc. This time of year people are beginning to bail out of ...

a fair old whack I would say circa £800-15000...quite a bit of labour in that lot (depends who you get to do the work). For a 2004 Bongo I think that list is quite substantial.....ongoing maintenance neglected by previous owner?

Personally I would not bother. If that concerned use an ethanol additive and take it with you....or alternate with E5 and E10 fill-ups....think much of the E10 coverage was hysteria and I know of no-one with a 'modern' vehicle who has had any trouble.

suggest due to cold temperatures and transmission fluid flow rate is much slower....if it is momentary when setting off. Check fluid level and colour.

hawko wrote: Tue Nov 15, 2022 2:09 pm Nice to know, but having only the 1 key, does kinda make me nervous of locking myself out

Is there an easy way to disable it? Or failing that, an easy way to get a second key sorted?
Not looked into either yet but i'm sure you chaps know more

Timpsons.

I have a Thule 973 bike rack on my van permanently fitted requiring no mods or cuts etc and use the Thule BackUp storage box as and when which is made to fit the rack. Works well and takes the duvets, chairs etc. The rrp for the box is now £530 yikes! Got mine used on eBay was used for one golf trip ...