actu_8 Posted October 19, 2023 Share Posted October 19, 2023 Hi - I've seen an Alphard for sale but it looks like its sitting low. It's had a home conversion and I'm wondering if it's the weight on the springs? Are there any checks I could do? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rojie Posted October 19, 2023 Share Posted October 19, 2023 1 hour ago, actu_8 said: Hi - I've seen an Alphard for sale but it looks like its sitting low. It's had a home conversion and I'm wondering if it's the weight on the springs? Are there any checks I could do? Thanks Hello Mark, Welcome to the Forum. Private Sale or Business Seller ? Check the wheels and tyres are the correct size. Are they 16 or 17inch ? 205/65/16 or 225/55/17. Check the minimum ground clearance, 160mm. Is it a rear conversion or a side conversion ? Quality of conversion ? Gas integrity, if fitted ? Either way, IMHO, it is unlikely to be the additional weight. Most conversion involve removing the middle and rearmost seats. Many Alphies are lowered, either in Japan or the UK. Ground clearance can become an issue. Replacing suspension parts (excluding wheels and tyres) to revert to factory will cost upwards of 1200 ! AA RAC Inspection may be advisable. Mine cost 300 pounds, and was very reassuring. Other than that, all the usual precautions when buying a pre owned vehicle. Check the undersealing too. Is the speedo in miles or kilometres ? Insist on a copy of the Auction Sheet BEFORE you part with any cash. Good Luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia Ingram Posted October 19, 2023 Share Posted October 19, 2023 I have a converted Alphard and it definitely looks low but when I compare it to other vehicles it is much the same. The modern trend seems to be low to the ground. I don't like it as my last camper was a Mitsubishi Delica and that was much higher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
actu_8 Posted October 19, 2023 Author Share Posted October 19, 2023 Thanks for the responses. Very useful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
actu_8 Posted October 19, 2023 Author Share Posted October 19, 2023 2 hours ago, Rojie said: Hello Mark, Welcome to the Forum. Private Sale or Business Seller ? Check the wheels and tyres are the correct size. Are they 16 or 17inch ? 205/65/16 or 225/55/17. Check the minimum ground clearance, 160mm. Is it a rear conversion or a side conversion ? Quality of conversion ? Gas integrity, if fitted ? Either way, IMHO, it is unlikely to be the additional weight. Most conversion involve removing the middle and rearmost seats. Many Alphies are lowered, either in Japan or the UK. Ground clearance can become an issue. Replacing suspension parts (excluding wheels and tyres) to revert to factory will cost upwards of 1200 ! AA RAC Inspection may be advisable. Mine cost 300 pounds, and was very reassuring. Other than that, all the usual precautions when buying a pre owned vehicle. Check the undersealing too. Is the speedo in miles or kilometres ? Insist on a copy of the Auction Sheet BEFORE you part with any cash. Good Luck. Thanks. The ground clearance is =< 150mm so it looks like it's been lowered. Would that be a red flag? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rojie Posted October 19, 2023 Share Posted October 19, 2023 11 minutes ago, actu_8 said: Thanks. The ground clearance is =< 150mm so it looks like it's been lowered. Would that be a red flag? And are the wheels and tyres standard sizes. IMHO, only an opinion, I would not have thought 1 cm would not make much difference. These machines do have a soft ride so it can be difficult to assess whether the springs are worn. You don't say whether the conversion is side or rear ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
actu_8 Posted October 19, 2023 Author Share Posted October 19, 2023 8 minutes ago, Rojie said: And are the wheels and tyres standard sizes. IMHO, only an opinion, I would not have thought 1 cm would not make much difference. These machines do have a soft ride so it can be difficult to assess whether the springs are worn. You don't say whether the conversion is side or rear ? Hi - sorry, yes, it's looks like a home done rear conversion and the tyres are 205/65 R16. 160 cm is around 6.3 Inches so, yeah, just over a cm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rojie Posted October 19, 2023 Share Posted October 19, 2023 42 minutes ago, actu_8 said: Hi - sorry, yes, it's looks like a home done rear conversion and the tyres are 205/65 R16. 160 cm is around 6.3 Inches so, yeah, just over a cm! It is quite normal for the front valance to be lower than the rear valance. Private or Business seller ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
actu_8 Posted October 19, 2023 Author Share Posted October 19, 2023 20 minutes ago, Rojie said: Private or Business seller ? Private Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montecrist0 Posted October 19, 2023 Share Posted October 19, 2023 Hi, mine has lowered uprated springs with 18" alloys, always wary of flooring but have not yet had a problem. Ride is brilliant! Photo attached. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThuMentaliss Posted October 20, 2023 Share Posted October 20, 2023 nice photo, lowered vehicle with skinny depth wheels definately a no no if your considering camping in some of the awlfull 'field type' campsite's in the UK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montecrist0 Posted October 20, 2023 Share Posted October 20, 2023 Had no problems yet but am very wary, helps with 4 wheel drive though. Not interested in winter camping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picasso Posted October 20, 2023 Share Posted October 20, 2023 thats got coil overs all round nice vehicle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
actu_8 Posted October 20, 2023 Author Share Posted October 20, 2023 7 minutes ago, Picasso said: thats got coil overs all round nice vehicle How can you tell?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picasso Posted October 20, 2023 Share Posted October 20, 2023 i can tell by the photo its lowered there is no clearace between the wheel arch and top of tyre on the shocks should be a round what looks like a nut you can manually adjust the hight of each shock high or low but wont make much difference to be honest with you i would personaly put it back to standard suspension cost is about £1200 in parts i had mine done when i bought mine as it was lowered and to many speed bumps and pot holes where i live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picasso Posted October 20, 2023 Share Posted October 20, 2023 coil overs look like this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
actu_8 Posted October 20, 2023 Author Share Posted October 20, 2023 1 hour ago, Picasso said: i can tell by the photo its lowered there is no clearace between the wheel arch and top of tyre on the shocks should be a round what looks like a nut you can manually adjust the hight of each shock high or low but wont make much difference to be honest with you i would personaly put it back to standard suspension cost is about £1200 in parts i had mine done when i bought mine as it was lowered and to many speed bumps and pot holes where i live. Thanks. The photo is of someone else's Alphard, not the one I'm considering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThuMentaliss Posted October 20, 2023 Share Posted October 20, 2023 To be clear i've fitted coilovers to several racing touring cars when situated at Brands Hatch in kent ..they are not designed for the alphard type vehicle ,, they are designed t to be a repacement adjustable coil/spring suspension for the standard suspension of saloon cars and single seater race cars 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KATB Posted July 20 Share Posted July 20 I have same green coil cover and my new alphard is very low. Front bumper has ground clearance of less than 10cm I think. I suggestions where to take this car for normal coil adjustment? I live in london. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montecrist0 Posted July 23 Share Posted July 23 Hi, just measured mine at 15cm, yours must be super low. I haven’t had any problems grounding yet. 😬 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rojie Posted July 23 Share Posted July 23 27 minutes ago, Montecrist0 said: Hi, just measured mine at 15cm, yours must be super low. I haven’t had any problems grounding yet. 😬 15 cm is normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KATB Posted July 23 Share Posted July 23 Indeed, mine is just 10cm.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KATB Posted July 23 Share Posted July 23 Indeed, mine is just 10cm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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