charliec

1 hour ago, ThuMentaliss said:

Their Chinese origin and you will find them on internet sites who sell chrome wheels, however the problem with them is getting the correct offset,  or you could try reducing the wheel size to 18" they are heavy and would be difficult to repair as chrome on alloy finish is expensive to repair....

alright will do, thanks

56 minutes ago, Andrew said:

No worries, you should have a good chance of finding Eurolines on the driftworks private sale section.

and my RX-7 is 1989 FC, I got it cheap (very cheap compared to prices nowdays) when I was 19 (i'm now 32) and due to moving abroad for work sadly it ended up sat in the garage for several years. thankfully the original rotary engine is still going strong, only 64k miles, I need to get it back on the road and start using it again but the bodywork needs sorting!

if you can find a good turbo model on Japanese auction sites for a cheap price then go for it, but like you said they've gone up in price a lot! I haven't seen a cheap one for a very long time unless it's falling to pieces due to rust!

you can also get away with cheaper road tax if you get an import model, kind of a loop hole (DVLA correctly classes the import as the 1.3 rotary engine, it's equivalent to a 2.4 piston engine and non import UK models get put into the 2.4 tax class!).

thanks this is all really useful, how do you access the private auction section? cannt find it on the website

12 minutes ago, ThuMentaliss said:

Ah! nice to see my vehicle on display, sold those wheels since, now have multi spoke Brock 19" alloy's

its lovely! i want mine to look similar to yours. what are the alloys on the car in the photo and what did you have to do to get them on?

hey @Rojie 

i think i just bought them off amazon, they have loads but i went for the cheaper ones. there are nicer ones that cover the majority of the carpet for 60 pounds but i just got some for the front and second row. tommorow i will send some photos

you can also cut them so they fit perfectly

19 minutes ago, Andrew said:

The wheels on the white Alphard look like 'Work Ls207' but without the bolts so maybe they're a copy or slightly different model.

'Work Euroline DH' are a good option too and often available on ebay or website forums.

Also 'Zauber' wheels are a close match to the mercedes amg style wheels.

I myself am currently importing Enkei and AME wheels from japan, one set for my Alphard and the other for my rx-7. But these are via container which can take 2-3 months.

great, thanks a lot! the work eurolines are exactly what I'm looking for. I don't know enough about wheel companies so I had no idea where to start haha

what rx-7 do you have? is it an fc or an fd?

I've been looking into the fcs and am considering getting one before the prices rise even more with these jdm cars. would love to hear your opinion on getting one.

hey guys i’ve recently discovered that in my van there is a possible missing panel? it underneath the passenger side gloveboxes.. it’s also the same with the drivers side 

would a 2008 3L meet the ULEZ Requirements?

i know it has the same engine as the 06 model but the uk government just base it on the year of the car... it is a real shame

my van is almost identical to this one, and the only clear difference here is the alloys.. this is sort of the look i want to be going for

hey guys. recently i have decided i am 100% getting some alloys for my alphard. i am stuck on which ones to get though

if anyone has alloy suggestions please send some to me!!!

Im thinking of going for 90s merc style rims.. obviously not actual merc rims but similar styling 

i also love the jdm jap style ones that have a similar design but i can find them anywhere!

I will send a photo of the style im talking about 

Thanks in advance

@Rojie i assume it Raeem gave it with the paperwork, ill go have a look now

@Rojie yes its a 3L gen 1 MZG. does this change anything?

hiya @Rojie how do you find your model number? is it in the manual or on the physical car like the doorcards etc?

hey @metamorphic69 the build difference isnt really that all different, ive personally got an alphard so im not an expert on the vellfires, but i think the vellfires are more like the elgrands... they have 3.5 and/or 2.4 ltr engine and the seating configuration is a mix of the alphard and the elgrand

They are also newer and from seeing them both in person, the vellfire looks longer and taller

i hope this answers your question alright

Hey guys, hope your doing well, i was just wondering if anyone knows how to check if your van is awd or or is just the generic front wheel (2wd) minivan platform..

if anyone can help me with this i would greatly appreciate it 

many thanks

charlie

2 hours ago, Rojie said:

It is scheduled for a Campervan rear conversion soon, a rather special one (in my mind).

 

Nothing too special about the cabinetry; but will be real wood veneer. The panels are special order only.

The maple veneer should look fantastic when completed, sealed and polished.

 

Other 'improvements' are in the planning stages.

Objective is to have a very visually stunning interior whilst creating an extremely comfortable functioning unit.

The rear leather seats, after removal, will be used to provide other leather based upgrades.

 

The van will look totally stock/standard from the outside.

Whole van was rated 3.5 for the auction, now much better, probably 4.5; but still has a very minor nudge or two on the outside. I feel sure it will get some more as soon as we start travelling. It is already 15 years old.

 

Where are you in London, I have family there that I visit from time to time.

 

ahh i see, i was also wondering if your alphards lights were yellowing in anyway and if you know how to sort that out? 

Im in north london, been here all of my life

was also wondering what your exterior is like? i have a feeling your van is the one i originally looked at online, but i was just too late!

the gearstick looks identical to the first one i ever saw

22 minutes ago, Rojie said:

Thanks for your glowing appraisal.

 

Looks like a manual, but isn't.

 

All the 'wood' panels match in colour and grain size. So ....

My guess is the options, if they are options, were fitted at the time of the original purchase.

Either by the factory, as factory options, or by the Distributor as a differentiator to distinguish their product from that of their rival distributor.

You probably know that the G and V variants are very similar, but as they are sold via different distribution channels they can have these different options fitted.

I have no idea how you would source the 'extra' wood panels, or the CD/DVD console.

 

The gear shift should be quite easy to do; but I didn't do mine, it came like that.

 

I have BIG plans for my Alph, which I may publish after they have been achieved; certainly not before then.

 

Good Luck with your Quest.

No problem! it just shows what little things can do to transform your whole car, that little console in the middle is by far my favourite thing on it, whoever had this car in japan clearly put lots of love and money into it, what grade was yours on the auction sheet? mine was a 3 but it looks more like a 3.5-4. When you say big plans are you thinking of a camper conversion? im not to fussed about doing one, id rather give the car a couple cosmetic upgrades and maybe a tune if i feel it is needeed. i do notice it bogs down when you have 4 ish people in the car, but no one buys these things for speed! i would love to hear your plans and maybe get a couple new ideas of my own. the only thing im worried about if i modify the car is that ill miss its super stock form (not really usually a fan of stock cars) but because this is an import from japan.. the original parts feel sort of special

I mean i really am v jealous of your interior, i really wish i had those step carpets

Thanks for the photos 

@Rojie that interior looks stunning, the wood is lovely and the gearstick looks like its a manual! (i know its not) do you have any idea if the extra wood is a factory option or not? would love to do that to my car, and the little cd boxes look great

20 minutes ago, Rojie said:

Maybe.

 

I personally, not the car, have been immobilsed, mainly in bed, for three weeks with a grossly swollen knee.

Trips to Doctors and Hositals is all I have managed so far.

I will do what I can

ouch, im sorry to hear that. Get well soon and no pressure whatsoever 

@Rojie do you mind sending a photo of your whole car and its interior tomorrow if that's ok? just so i can do a comparison 

ah i see, that is weird though because i have got the v badge on the back of mine.

10 minutes ago, Rojie said:

If you are going for alloys, do your research.

 

AND, tell your insurance company what you do.

 

There are internet tools to allow you to ensure you don't alter the rolling radius, which will change your odometer accuracy.

These tools also calculate changes to offsets and clearances within the wheelarch space.

Be careful, if you increase the ride height, as you may find you cannot enter car parks that have 2metre height restrictions.

 

 

It may not matter to you. It did to me. 2 metre barriers are common where I live in Torbay.

I did all this research when considering a Mazda Bongo (which are slightly taller than Alphards). An idea I abandoned.

 

I will check my steps and see if they are lit. I also have Alphard insignia on the rear bumper sill immediately at the bottom of the door hatch. I'll check to see if that lights too. although I doubt it.

 

Happy motoring.

great thanks will have a look at all of that!

4 minutes ago, Rojie said:

I'll take a photo tomorrow.

great, could you also take a photo of your dash and the dvd/cd holder? im interested to see the difference between mine and yours