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.

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.

As Rojie said, it is to help with parking

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. 

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.

On 3/16/2025 at 11:17 AM, Rojie said:

 

I doubt it is electronic.

 

Just a manual visual aid.

It seems it is actually wired in and does light up at the tip - it comes on automatically with the lights. Other poles have a button on the dash to retract but annoyingly mine appears to be fixed.