Hello everyone,

I recently bought a 2012 Toyota vellfire and I am really loving this vehicle. One thing I am concerned about is the corrosion of the undercarriage as I have read that in Japan the manufacturers do not treat the cars with any anti corrosive treatment. Has anyone had any issues with corrosion or can shed more light on this matter? Also, any recommendations around London for quality underseal?

They don't use / need salt on the roads so that it the why.

How long has it been in the UK?

When it was imported it should have been treated, so you could ask the previous owner, and / or the importer.

Have you taken a look underneath? does any of it look treated?

As for places in London I can't suggest any so I would do an internet search for ones in your area.

It has been only maybe over a month, and I bought the car 3 days ago. The underneath looks spotless but does not look that it was treated with anything. I will double check with the seller, he did not mention anything though. Is this a standard procedure for doing this for the importer?

It should be, fitting a fog-light, possibly changing the speedometer from KpH to MpH and giving it an under-seal would be expected actions, together with the paperwork side of things. I'm not an importer though so your mileage may vary.

Is there any paperwork showing who the importer is? it may be worthwhile getting a CarVX (https://carvx.jp/) report.

Thanks for the reply.

I spoke with the seller and he told me that the car is not undersealed because they stopped doing it for they being accused by customers that they hiding the condition of the undercarriage by sealing it.

The vx report is all good, the car is in very good condition just need the underseal.

Have you done the underseal for yours?

1 hour ago, Marius16 said:

... being accused by customers that they hiding the condition ...

Have you done the underseal for yours?

Oh well - you have the answer at least.

I have a Lanoguard kit waiting for time and the right weather, so I guess that's a no :-)

Edited Monday at 07:57 PM1 day by Gamith
to add a reply to the first point.

36 minutes ago, Gamith said:

Oh well - you have the answer at least.

I have a Lanoguard kit waiting for time and the right weather, so I guess that's a no :-)

Interesting, let me know how it goes. I might just do the same. Will do some research on this Lanoguard product, thanks.

I’m sure i saw that car go through USS Tokyo or Osaka end of last year.

In the early 2000s many people were throwing any type of under seal over the car. These days it’s less so. Couple of reasons

A) to do it properly is expensive and there is more of a wash n go type approach

B) As the cars age, there is (across many platforms, but mainly classics) a real desire from the buyers to view the underneath of the cars as factory finish

C) It’s widespread for some to spray the underside black prior to selling at USS or similar auction houses. This isn’t common on the Alphard/Vellfire, but it does happen. It’s more on the classic JDMs. Mitsubishi Evo mainly.

You do want to avoid anything from coastal areas in the south or especially anything from the car north.

27 minutes ago, Matt.4877 said:

I’m sure i saw that car go through USS Tokyo or Osaka end of last year.

In the early 2000s many people were throwing any type of under seal over the car. These days it’s less so. Couple of reasons

A) to do it properly is expensive and there is more of a wash n go type approach

B) As the cars age, there is (across many platforms, but mainly classics) a real desire from the buyers to view the underneath of the cars as factory finish

C) It’s widespread for some to spray the underside black prior to selling at USS or similar auction houses. This isn’t common on the Alphard/Vellfire, but it does happen. It’s more on the classic JDMs. Mitsubishi Evo mainly.

You do want to avoid anything from coastal areas in the south or especially anything from the car north.

It was USS Tokyo.

Lots of people and mostly traders told me that they don’t bother with undersealing anymore because it is more or less pointless, unless the car already has rust.

I am thinking to do the Lanoguard, it is quite cheap and easy job and by the look of the reviews quite effective. This car just so clean, I want to preserve it as much as possible.

I remember talking to someone many years ago who had bought a Hillman Imp (I think) new, took it home and drilled a hole in each side pillar (and quite likely various other spots) and filled it with waxoyl - decades later the car was still in great condition.

1 hour ago, Marius16 said:

It was USS Tokyo.

Lots of people and mostly traders told me that they don’t bother with undersealing anymore because it is more or less pointless, unless the car already has rust.

I am thinking to do the Lanoguard, it is quite cheap and easy job and by the look of the reviews quite effective. This car just so clean, I want to preserve it as much as possible.

It’s not pointless, it’s just an expense that most dont want (trade) and also TBH it does take time and a lot of skill to do it properly. Clear under seal is where i would be heading, and removing the exhaust etc so it’s not caked on.

Thought I recognized the car from the aero & the wheels.

1 minute ago, Matt.4877 said:

It’s not pointless, it’s just an expense that most dont want (trade) and also TBH it does take time and a lot of skill to do it properly. Clear under seal is where i would be heading, and removing the exhaust etc so it’s not caked on.

Thought I recognized the car from the aero & the wheels.

I spoke today with Jade Autos boss he said he been in the business for ages one of the first importers and he said its not worth to seal the cars as they will outlive you before they rust to bits(the toyota alphard he ment) not sure if thats true. Have you ever seen any cases with these being rusted out bad?

5 minutes ago, Marius16 said:

I spoke today with Jade Autos boss he said he been in the business for ages one of the first importers and he said its not worth to seal the cars as they will outlive you before they rust to bits(the toyota alphard he ment) not sure if thats true. Have you ever seen any cases with these being rusted out bad?

Not sure i agree, although having been involved in importing since the late 90s, everyone will have an opinion. They do rust, and especially depending on the area and how it’s used. There are examples every week that have rusted through. They often look presentable at first sight, but underneath tells the truth. Also the associated documentation (not the auction sheet) when it’s going through.

1 minute ago, Matt.4877 said:

Not sure i agree, although having been involved in importing since the late 90s, everyone will have an opinion. They do rust, and especially depending on the area and how it’s used. There are examples every week that have rusted through. They often look presentable at first sight, but underneath tells the truth. Also the associated documentation (not the auction sheet) when it’s going through.

Well that was his advice when I asked him about the underseal and if he could arrange it for me… The importer I bought this car from also had similar option he said it’s beneficial but not a necessity.

As i say, everyone has different standards & view point. They do rust. Just like any other car. It’s also how it’s stored, (in UK) but also where in Japan is it from. A USS Tokyo or Osaka car is not always from that region so you need to dig into the history. It depends on ultimately how picky you want to be vs budget.

Quite a rare front bumper on yours, as the aftermarket manufacturer has stopped producing those.

This is what the report say