Hi all - 1st post.

I'm due to see a 2006 Alphard tomorrow (2.4l, campervan conversion, automatic, under 75k miles). This morning I spoke to my local, trusted Toyota mechanic because I know nothing about Alphards.

He warned me of the following:

• Parts can be very hard to get (sometimes impossible), as they are imports.

• The electrics can be an issue.

• Working on them can be tricky, because any instructions would be in Japanese.

How seriously should I take these 3 warnings? I don't want to lumber myself with a vehicle that's a real pain to repair.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

hi

Parts are getting easier as there are loads in the country that share many parts from other toyotas plus there loads of used parts available,

Never had issues getting parts as such

11 minutes ago, Alphard Club said:

hi

Parts are getting easier as there are loads in the country that share many parts from other toyotas plus there loads of used parts available,

Never had issues getting parts as such

Thanks for the quick reply. Do the electrics seem to be a particular issue?

not that i have seen from my ownership
They dont have major electrical issues, not saying every one of them are electrical issue free. No gremlins i have seen. Other members may chip in with their experiences

Only things i have found is they need bushes changing as the roads here wreck them, but once changed they are fine. The Axle bush is the common one.

Easy to sort.

Parts to service the engine on our 3.0 liter 2006 Alphard are the same at those for the Camry with the same engine - our local mechanic just sorts them out in the usual manner. Same with the cam belt.

We were missing a tow hook cover for the front bumper - MegaZip (Japanese parts supplier) simply posted us one (took about 10 days).

An idiot range into the back of our Alphard, requiring a new bumper - the Toyota dealership local to the repair shop for a brand new one in for them within 3 days.

Not had any electrical issues to date, and our local car electronics place has no issues installing a new head unit and reversing camera (complete with functioning steering wheel controls).

I hope this is reassuring.

2 minutes ago, stopgapcat said:

Parts to service the engine on our 3.0 liter 2006 Alphard are the same at those for the Camry with the same engine - our local mechanic just sorts them out in the usual manner. Same with the cam belt.

We were missing a tow hook cover for the front bumper - MegaZip (Japanese parts supplier) simply posted us one (took about 10 days).

An idiot range into the back of our Alphard, requiring a new bumper - the Toyota dealership local to the repair shop for a brand new one in for them within 3 days.

Not had any electrical issues to date, and our local car electronics place has no issues installing a new head unit and reversing camera (complete with functioning steering wheel controls).

I hope this is reassuring.

Brilliant - thanks a million.

There are plenty of dedicated parts suppliers either independents or even some Toyota dealers, in fact Toyota sell service parts on eBay. The only electrical problems that crop up regularly are the powered sliding door which is in fact a bowden type cable that breaks up and jams the motor inside the door, a quick solution is to cut the cabel and open/close manually and the ballast units for the dip headlights but they are an easy fix as well

14 minutes ago, dezufo said:

There are plenty of dedicated parts suppliers either independents or even some Toyota dealers, in fact Toyota sell service parts on eBay. The only electrical problems that crop up regularly are the powered sliding door which is in fact a bowden type cable that breaks up and jams the motor inside the door, a quick solution is to cut the cabel and open/close manually and the ballast units for the dip headlights but they are an easy fix as well

Thanks to you also, sir - I'm getting some excellent help here, in advance of my inspection.