New import

[Porthlevenbongo]

hi guys just joined. I'm inporting a 2003 tintop which is due to land early december and then go in to the garage. This is not my first bongo as my first was a total disaster nothing but overheating and breaking down so I thought this time I would take the import route.
So a few questions, could anyone suggest what works I should have carried out on this fresh import?
Also are there any bongo specialist garages that people use in cornwall or west cornwall?

Thanks in advance

[mikeonb4c]

hi guys just joined. I'm inporting a 2003 tintop which is due to land early december and then go in to the garage. This is not my first bongo as my first was a total disaster nothing but overheating and breaking down so I thought this time I would take the import route.
So a few questions, could anyone suggest what works I should have carried out on this fresh import?
Also are there any bongo specialist garages that people use in cornwall or west cornwall?

Thanks in advance

If keeping it long term, rigourous treatment to prevent corrosion would be top of my list.

Also, coolant change and cambelt if any doubt about when last done. Then low coolant alarm.

What engine type is it?

[mikeWalsall]

I wonder if there are many diesels available .. most imports now seem to be Petrol engined ..

[Bob]

Welcome aboard, and congratulations on your new Bongo.

I'm sure there is a Bongo Friendly garage in Cornwall but can't remember where, sorry.

Definitely happy to recommend Allans in Plymouth, though.

[Porthlevenbongo]

Rigorous treatment? Wax oil and underseal?

It is a 2 litre petrol engine.

Thanks

[mikeonb4c]

Rigorous treatment? Wax oil and underseal?

It is a 2 litre petrol engine.

Thanks

Yes and take a close interest in ensuring it gets right into the inner/outer rear wheel joins and that road salt etc can't get in from outside along the wheel arch seams. Also get inside of sills and cross members sprayed, and keep in the habit of going periodic examinations underneath, paying particular attention where cross-members join sills. The problem is probably several years off with a 2003 model but it's never too soon to start preventative measures.

[Jillygumbo]

Allan's vehicle services in Plymouth is my recommendation.

[the janner vanner]

Allan of Allan's vehicle services is your man, I wouldn't trust anyone else. He's the BEST.

[alan]

Allan of Allan's vehicle services is your man, I wouldn't trust anyone else. He's the BEST.

as they siad

[New Forest Terrier]

Totally agree. I bought a new import in 2008 and had it expensively undersealed by a specialist firm. This included white waxoyl in the cavities and was the best £650 I ever spent. Its still immaculate underneath and so are the wheel arches. It came from the south of Japan and had only green paint underneath, so would have been a rusty disaster very quickly. Its a 95 but with a personal plate it still gets mistaken for nearly new.

As you are buying a petrol I would get a LPG conversion sooner rather than later. I have a V6 and dithered about getting one for ages, thinking I was not doing enough mileage. I got it done four years ago and its not just the cost, its the fact that the Bongo gets used far more when its £25 of gas rather than £50 of petrol.

Smaller points get the silly fog lamp set into the bumper. The dangling one comes to grief very quickly, either it rusts or gets knocked off. I swapped the km speedo for a Mazda GA5 one, but they are not that easy to get hold. It was originally chipped but never very accurate.

Finally get it checked out by a Bongo specialist for any little problems due to it standing while waiting for export. As you sre getting the cambelt done this will happen anyway.