Exporting UK bongo to The Netherlands

[MisterMinion]

Hi
Fell in love with bongo camper vans during our UK holiday. But none are for sale in The Netherlands where we live. Does anyone have experience or tips how to import a bongo from THE UK to THE Netherlands ?

[cmm303]

There was a recent thread about EU compliance and axle weights. http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 46&t=54586

Hopefully somebody will be along with a more comprehensive answer!

[Bob]

Don't know the answer, but welcome aboard.

I don't know if one of the importers would ship one direct to NL, but they may not want to be responsible for warranty work abroad.

[Ian]

You will have a problem registering a pre-owned UK Bongo in the Netherlands. The RDW (equivalent of VOSA in the UK) will insist on a "Certificate of Conformity" to ensure that the vehicle meets fairly strict emissions and safety criteria. But because the Bongo was not made for the European market, Mazda NL, or indeed other Mazda outlets in the EU will not supply a CoC.

But you may be able to import one from Japan if you go down the "vehicle approval" route, although the inspection fees are quite high. But if someone has done itt before, it will be cheaper. See the RDW website for more info.

[MisterMinion]

Thanks for the info. I asked the rdw to check if there is a type approval for the Bongo, they will reply within 3 days

What needs to be done in any case is adapt the headlights for right hand drive. Any tips on this?

[Simon Jones]

The best known solution is to fit Vauxhall Astra lights which can be adapted from LHD to RHD: http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 44&t=65528

[MisterMinion]

Got that one tackled then! Brackets are just my thing ;o)

[Diplomat]

Never mind the headlights.

I would think long and hard about whether you want the sliding door on the wrong side, let alone the driving position. The Bongo is designed from scratch for right hand drive countries, which is more than can be said for most cars on our roads.

Surely a continental vehicle would make far more sense in the Netherlands?

Only if you come touring to the UK a lot would a Bongo make sense, in the same way that people who mainly use motorhomes abroad opt for LHD.

Lax rules here about which side of the road we park makes wrong handed side doors more tolerable. Not sure if the Netherlands are strict, many countries are.


Frank