Bongo Fury

Hi, does anyone know of a Bongo friendly garage or mobile mechanic near the Purbeck area of Dorset? - Wareham/Swanage

Poole is not too far and I know of RD Motors, Hamworthy (near Imperial Cars). So far I have only used them to check over the Bongo when I bought it and they seemed helpful and friendly. They are Bongo specialists, but I don't know if they are very expensive or not. Has anyone else had experience of them? I understand that you may not be able to comment on here if your experience was negative, but in that case perhaps you can pm me.

I read on here somewhere that there is a mobile mechanic in Corfe Mullen, but I may be too far away for him unless I can take the Bongo to him.

For the last 2 years I have been using a garage called Rentech in Holton Heath Industrial Estate for MOT and servicing. Renault specialists but they seem very good, and excellent value MOT (<£40). I think they do a lot of vans, being on an Industrial Estate, but whether that has any bearing on being good with Bongos - I have no idea.

Reading about the Bongo coolant system on here, draining etc. makes me wonder if I should go to a Bongo specialist. Either that, or I'll have to find a tactful way of asking Rentech if they have experience of this. I can hardly suggest they watch a You Tube video - don't want to offend them!! Being female I tend to worry about being ripped off although I can manage to sound a bit technical if I have an inkling of what a problem might be

There's a good few owners your way, someone will know a good garage.

Bob wrote:There's a good few owners your way, someone will know a good garage.

Hoping one of them will post one day !!

Let's hope so.

I don't think a decent garage should take offence about being advised of the strict procedure to follow with bleeding a Bongo. And any decent garage ought to be able to bleed one properly if they follow the rules and the Bongo has no issues. I think it's a little more straightforward if they don't drain the rear heater as that is a likely area for trapped air if it is drained. I've done 3 coolant changes like that with no issues, and it still means almost all the antifreeze gets replaced.

Fond memories of Purbeck. My mum had an old cottage at Acton, Langton Matravers where I spent many happy times flying model gliders on the coast and on the hills.

Am I right in saying that the 'only' odd thing about the Bongo as far as general servicing is concerned is that care needs to be taken to properly bleed the cooling system?

We've not had ours long, so I haven't had to take it anywhere yet.

Mark.T wrote:Am I right in saying that the 'only' odd thing about the Bongo as far as general servicing is concerned is that care needs to be taken to properly bleed the cooling system?

We've not had ours long, so I haven't had to take it anywhere yet.

I reckon that's about right but, like any car, but especially an uncommon one, a garage familiar with a Bongo will be slicker at getting the job done and in diagnosing faults, so may offer better rates.

Indeed, thanks.

Hi, I'm in Dorset, Purbeck area too. Any recommends now please? Don't need anything doing yet but will need service autumn/winter time? Many thanks,

It bubbled up, Imperial in Poole:

http://www.imperialcar.co.uk/

mikeonb4c wrote:

Mark.T wrote:Am I right in saying that the 'only' odd thing about the Bongo as far as general servicing is concerned is that care needs to be taken to properly bleed the cooling system?

We've not had ours long, so I haven't had to take it anywhere yet.

I reckon that's about right but, like any car, but especially an uncommon one, a garage familiar with a Bongo will be slicker at getting the job done and in diagnosing faults, so may offer better rates.

absolutely agree with both quotes. There isn't a golden rule. Some bongo specialist charge rates exploiting the niche market. Taking into account distances and time, sometimes the independent on your doorstep that you trust may be comparable even if they want to allow more time to do a particular job. However nothing beats the specialist for diagnosing peculiar faults.

Thanks again!