Bongo’s in new ULEZ zone Central London

[Catherine]

Thanks, I'll look at that.

[Northern Bongolow]

No it wasn't, it was the Ford probe, if you can find one they have most of the same bits, lekies, fuses, relays,

[apapa]

Hello,

Any update on this topic or is it not possible to prove bongo meets euro 4’emission standards?

It says on TFL website that I need a Homologation certificate from Mazda stating the bongo conforms.

I have no idea how to go about doing this but will keep trying.

[Ian]

Hello,

Any update on this topic or is it not possible to prove bongo meets euro 4’emission standards?

It says on TFL website that I need a Homologation certificate from Mazda stating the bongo conforms.

I have no idea how to go about doing this but will keep trying.

We are not aware of anyone managing to get their Bongo exempted. Maybe you could be the first?

[Ian]

A point of clarification on this. Have received a few enquiries over the last few days. None of the Bongo engines are listed as Euro compliant. The 2 litre engine (FE-DOHC) can also be found on the Mazda 626 1988 to 1987 (not compliant). The diesel engine (WLT) is also found on the Ford Ranger pick up 1998 to 2006 (not compliant). The V6 petrol is only found on the Mazda 929 2.5 litre US model (1990 to 1994) non compliant.

Non compliant means not tested.

There are a few people who have input their vehicle reg into the TFL database and found that their Bongo is shown as compliant. I'd keep quiet about this if I was you.

[apapa]

Thanks Ian,

I have spent a few hours today speaking to Mazda, TFL and a few others.

I have found out that there are a number of companies offering CoE testing such as this

https://www.dvlaadvice.co.uk/certificat ... ssions.htm

The problem is that you have to pay in advance and there is no guaruntee that a Bongo will meet Euro 4 standards. There is also no guarantee that TfL will accept this certificate. Somebody would have to pay the money and take the chance.

I also had a chat with a very helpful person from Mazda UK. She says the best person to speak to in Mazda UK is somebody called Zoe Marrow. I have sent her an email.

I also had a chat with a motorbike mechanic from a garage in east London ( https://www.nationalemissionstestcentre.com/ ) they have arranged with TfL to directly test, certify and exempt motorbikes. They were unaware of any garage that offered the same service for cars. I wrote to TfL to ask them about this anomaly but have not had a reply.

I think the crux is as follows:

I have been told that Mazda made significant changes to the 2l petrol engine in 2002 to meet stricter Japanese emission rules. These included changes to the intake plenum, ignition, distributor, fuel rail, injectors, exhaust manifold and they fitted a MAP sensor.

If these changes mean a 2l 2004 is below the Euro 4 emissions limits and the CoE from Mazda states this then I am ok. If not I will need to pay.

I will update if I find out more.

[Ian]

I have been told that Mazda made significant changes to the 2l petrol engine in 2002 to meet stricter Japanese emission rules. These included changes to the intake plenum, ignition, distributor, fuel rail, injectors, exhaust manifold and they fitted a MAP sensor.

If these changes mean a 2l 2004 is below the Euro 4 emissions limits and the CoE from Mazda states this then I am ok. If not I will need to pay.

Andy, fantastic! You have been busy! How on earth did you find that out? Keep us all posted.

[Hazzobongo]

I just had the pleasure of handing over £25 to the ULEZ nazis as I took my son to Heathrow to emigrate from this shithole country, funny how you can be charged for emissions at an airport where jets are taking off and landing every minute. I had to pay for 2 days as we arrived at the Heathrow premier inn which is approx 1/2 a mile into the zone on the day we went and then another 12.50 for the 1/2 mile drive back out the following morning, robbery without a mask.

On the upside fuel consumption was excellent, I had one block on the tank guage heading down there from Hartlepool where I filled up costing £56 and decided to top up again at Dunstable to avoid the London ripoff which cost £45, this last fill took me to Heathrow and as I approached Middlesborough the tank was still reading between half full and three quarters and I thought the guage was sticking so called in a service station to put another 20 quid in and it went up to three quarters so I'd have made it home comfortably with half a tank spare, pity its not so frugal around the doors. H

[Bongolian]

That midnight to midnight trick caught me in Birmingham ULEZ zone.
Went to visit my son, decided to stay for a curry and left just around midnight.
Wasn’t too sure whether we left the Zone just before, or just after midnight as while the signs on the way in are reasonably visible, (though when navigating an unfamiliar city and traffic, scanning the multiple signs is the last thing you’re concentrating on) we didn’t spot a single one saying ‘you’re leaving the ULEZ Zone’.
Tried getting info from the council to see if they could confirm wether we needed to pay one, or two charges, but they refused to give info saying it was against their data protection rules, so I had to pay twice just in case
We were inside the zone a max of four hours, and in total, drove less than one mile within it.. a nice little earner for em I bet.
I managed 27.8 mpg fill up to fill up on the 280+ mile trip though (2.5 diesel)

[Hazzobongo]

I couldn't give you the MPG figures but from my door to Heathrow is 269miles, the Luton turn is 37 miles so I reckon the van did 320 miles to where I put the final 20 quid in and that was less than half a tank, to be fair I plodded back keeping the revs in top at 2100, to say I am impressed is an understatement.

My kid takes the van to Wales and Cornwall in the summer on his surf trips and has said its great on fuel over the distance whereas I rarely go over a 100 miles and thats usually a fishing trip or an overnighter to a favourite village for a meal/drink so I've not really taken much notice about fuel consumption.

[BongoBongo123]

I had 37 mpg / miles to the gallon this weekend (224kms /17.1L fuel used using tank refill / brim to brim technique) combined motorway 50mph resticted and A road journey (round trip of 140 miles) 2.5L diesel. Best ever was 40 mpg some years ago.

If you drop back to 50/55mph the economy goes through the roof on the diesel at least.

Bongo when driven smooth returns very good MPG for the engine size and age. 30 years old van.

It is indeed robbery to charge ULEZ and congestion charge for a vehicle that produces less CO2 than a petrol engine does. And the monsterous road tax on top we did 3,500miles last year !!!!

A big part of it is driving style and keeping your tyres pumped. I always use Archoil Advanced diesel synthesis additive as well. Lots of people say they do not believe in additives but my experience is the engine runs smoother, quieter which means less friction, keeps the injectors nice and clean etc. I get good MPG and am happy with it. A little less oil drag if you have 5w 30 fully synth in the engine.

You are free to make your own choices ultimately.

[Bongolian]

Very impressive.
As you say, brim to brim fill up/mileage check is the only way to get true figures.
The Bongo does lend itself to ‘conservative’ driving I think, nice and smooth all round, and as an older wagon, everything probably benefits, easy does it is clearly the way.
Unfortunately I’ve not had much chance to take mine on a proper trip yet, but I’ll keep your techniques in mind when I do.
With my current usage, if I got over 30mpg I’d be happy, (plus I fear I drive too much like I ride my motorsickles ).

[Hazzobongo]

Having had a diesel guzzler previously in the hilux surf I knew that on a run anything above 60 mph would gulp down the fuel, now that was a 3L. Like I said I wasn't expecting really decent fuel consumption out of a 2.5 with my own heavily constructed rear conversion in it and couldn't give precise figures for consumption but a hundred quid for two of us door to door with luggage was much better than the ridiculous train prices from here to there, the pi55 off for me was the thirty quid inside the zone and 6 of it to pull in and let him out a heathrow.

I'm a biker too but I can be lightfooted in the Bongo and really heavy handed on my ZX9R especially in the boondocks in this area where the bizzies have given up completely, they've even removed the speed cameras on my main route into Scotland but the jocks kept theirs armed on the other side of the border, they also put 20mph limits on border villages so I no longer do a big round run or stop at their cafes and shops any longer. Keilder is a nice return run though unless hairpins and 90deg turns aren't what you desire.

[Bongolian]

Hairpins.. 90’ turns.. what’s not to like
(Gonna roll my Guzzi in the back hopefully this year when I go to the TT and/or Manx )