Bongo Fury

I want to convert my headlights to LHD specification as I am moving to France and want to get through the French test... Anyone know if there is a headlamp that is fit for this purpose?

Ken, sorry to bring bad news, but it can't be done. It's been tried before. And in any case, it's not just the lights. Any vehicle with a sliding door must have access to the Pavement side in France.

i dont know exactly what it involves but an aquainetance was trying to register his bongo in france and you need a manufacturers report which will cover all of the safety points required for france and being registered in another eu country doesnt count for anything!!!it is to protect there market from imports,being as the bongo was never a eu vehicle it seemed impossible to do ,i havent heard from him recently but he was on about bringing it back to uk to sell because he couldnt find a way to register!!!

Umm I know of people moving to France and Spain and taking their Townaces with them. These also have the same characteristics as the Bongo and they didn't have a problem.

but arent they the same as a space cruiser that was marketed in the eu so would have relevant manufacturing paperwork for eu safety compliance?

No not the same as a SpaceCruiser. Townace was manufactured for Japanese home market only just like the Bongo. Very few parts interchange with the SpaceCruiser.

Ken,

I can't comment about the import implications for France but I can confirm that it is possible to get your headlights adjusted to pass a Euro headlamp test.

I am currently running a Bongo in Germany with converted 'right-dippers' (that's the headlights, not the passengers....). After an exhaustive search for a set of replacement headlights from another vehicle to no avail I managed to get them modified at a German garage. It is quite a common occurrence I am told. Total cost 50 Euro.

I am not sure how they were modified but they now have a flat central beam that doesn't bend either way. This was suitable for the German light test.

Hope this helps, let me know if you need any more info.

Tim

This just illustrates the power and value of the Forum. Someone raises a question about the use of a Bongo in Europe and within days a Bongo user in Germany pops up with the answer.

Wow!

Lots of useful information and it looks like I will have to do more research on the French test....

Hi Ken,
Here my reply to a similar enquiry a few months back: link

The 'door on the wrong side' scenario will only apply to the Bongo if it is registered as campervan. It is impossible to register any campervan without a RH side entry door. There are also additional tests to be carried out concerning gas piping, fumes etc if the van is fully kitted out...

The bottom line is that is can be done - all depends on the tenacity of the inspector, your own level of perserverance and the amount of money you are prepared to put into the process.