Cooling System

[mikeonb4c]

Good luck. Once again, very sorry to hear of your plight. And to all newbies reading this and who haven't done it already, for heavens sake fit a low coolant alarm. The Bongo can be very unforgiving of overheating episodes

[humbi]

Hi further to my emails regarding the overheating dramas my bongo experienced a month ago in Provence, i have decided with all the money i spent in purchasing it, paying for MOT (new brake pads, tyre, wiper arms/blades etc), buying extras for it like roof mattress (quality 2" memory foam not cheap 1"), silver reflective screens, extra belts, fuses, bulbs the list goes on, to not purchase a replacement engine (approx £900 delivered to France incl VAT) and to pay for fitment (approx 750-1000 Euros). The garage owner where the Bongo is is a nice guy and would be willing to fit the supplied engine. I think i have overcapitalised so if anybody is interested in a Bongo with a good shell and has a few pounds to spend buying and installing an engine they can pick up a great bargain.
If interested please contact me via reply on this forum and a phone number for contact. Naturally i would like some money for the Bongo but it would be reasonable i think and worth doing. I can post photos or email them to interested parties.
Thanks for your time.

[maxheadroom]

humbi,
very sorry to hear of your troubles.
I don't know if this will help but a while ago I was going on holiday to Devon in my car got off the M5 at Taunton and the clutch went. Managed to lip to a side street and loaded all my gear in to the brother-in-laws car and carried on to our holiday.
During the week I joined the RAC. At the end of the holiday my brother-in-law gave me a lift back to the car and I phoned the RAC, who came out and towed me home
And just another thought I shipped my Bongo from Japan for around £800, have you investigated how much it would cost to ship yours back. There is an engine & gear box for £300 at the moment on eBay. And if the worst comes to the worst if you bring it back to the UK break it for spares and maybe make so money.

[mikeonb4c]

Can't help but think that retrieving you by Bongo tow would make a great adventure / expedition for someone with time on their hands. You could cover their fuel cost and a meal or two and be back in Blighty with Bongo for less than cost of fitting the engine. Bongo then much more sell-able or - if you can manage it - I've seen adverts for good engines including fitting them for around £900 or so. Wouldn't that be a great, if a UK South Coast Bongo owner was up for an adventure / mercy mission to France

But very sorry to hear of your troubles

[ronhud]

Mike - what is the situation re towing a Bongo? I thought that 4wd wasn't towable.
Ron

[humbi]

Hi Guys,
Thanks for your thoughts. I am emigrating to Australia in early August, actually was supposed to have gone already however the Bongo woes have held us up. We are planning to do some more adventures but with a hire car instead. If i wasn't emigrating i would have probably done some of these things however don't have time. If anyone is interested they could get Bongo fixed and then fly either to Marseille or Nice, it is an easy train trip from either, and then pick it us when ready and then have a road trip before headin back to UK with it. Just a thought.
I am going to take it off the road officially soon as i have to make a decision so if anyone knows anyone who is interested please contact me. I may put it on ebay for a low 'buy it now' to move it so to speak.
Thanks

[mikeonb4c]

Mike - what is the situation re towing a Bongo? I thought that 4wd wasn't towable.
Ron

I honestly don't know Ron. Can it not just be towed in neutral? From humbis latest posting its clearly a non starter anyway. What a shame

Oh and good luck humbi - probably a bargain there for someone who is up for the challenge.

[francophile1947]

I believe you have to disconnect one of the propshafts to make it towable - they are normally transported. No problem with 2WD.

Ooops!!! I forgot about the autobox (thanks Alan) - don't tow 4WD or autos