Nearside Front Wing Stick Pole ?

[sumogogg]

Hi all

 

So I recently aquired a 2006 Alphard 3.0. It is not fully on the road yet as only just got the MOT yesterday and now have to go through V55 stuff.

 

Anyway, I wanted to ask if anyone new what the pole on the nearside is (see photo). They seem to be quite rare, I have only seen them on a handful of Alphards for sale and also seen them on some Elgrands. Mine has a small Toyota logo on it, which makes me think it was a factory option. 

 

Googling suggests it is a parking guide and it should also light up, but I havent seen it light up as yet, so not sure how to 'activate' it.

 

I am tempted to remove it, as while it might not be a target in Japan, in the UK we seem to have our fair share of 'undesirables' who will probably try and bend/rip it off. 

 

Any help/info is much appreciated.

[Rojie]

14 hours ago, sumogogg said:

Hi all

 

So I recently aquired a 2006 Alphard 3.0. It is not fully on the road yet as only just got the MOT yesterday and now have to go through V55 stuff.

 

Anyway, I wanted to ask if anyone new what the pole on the nearside is (see photo). They seem to be quite rare, I have only seen them on a handful of Alphards for sale and also seen them on some Elgrands. Mine has a small Toyota logo on it, which makes me think it was a factory option. 

 

Googling suggests it is a parking guide and it should also light up, but I havent seen it light up as yet, so not sure how to 'activate' it.

 

I am tempted to remove it, as while it might not be a target in Japan, in the UK we seem to have our fair share of 'undesirables' who will probably try and bend/rip it off. 

 

Any help/info is much appreciated.

 

I believe it is so you can 'see' where the front corner is when parking in very tight spaces.

[dezufo]

As Rojie said, it is to help with parking

[sumogogg]

Thanks, that concurs with my internet searches, the only other bit I don't know is how to 'enable' the pole, there doesn't seem to be a button to turn it on. 

[Rojie]

50 minutes ago, sumogogg said:

Thanks, that concurs with my internet searches, the only other bit I don't know is how to 'enable' the pole, there doesn't seem to be a button to turn it on. 

 

I doubt it is electronic.

 

Just a manual visual aid.