stevem1955

Hi I am pretty sure you will not be able to open the tailgate with the bikes attached. I fitted A Halfords advanced 3 bike rack to my Vellfire when we went on holiday, it carried two electric bike with ease. The advanced rack has a tilt facility which allows the bikes to be tilted out of the way with out removing them from the rack thus allowing access to the boot. I was a bit sceptical about these types of racks but I must say it worked a treat.

Hi I too have 2008 3.5 Vellfire which is also 4WD, and when I read your article I was concerned that my car could also be affected. So I did some research online about the 2GRFE engine and have found, they have been around since 2005 and the early engines did have a rubber hose fitted to the rear bank VVTI line and this would be visible. Your picture shows the rear VVTI line and there is no rubber hose, same as mine, so its should be fine. If you check out ebay someone is selling a 2GRFE engine for 2005 ? 8-2015 Mk2 Alphard. There are some pictures of the engine and it shows this one has a rubber hose fitted to the rear VVTI line. As for engine oil coolers on 3.5 Vellfires/Alphards S2 I don't think they were ever fitted, but other models in the Toyota/ Lexus range with this engine were, notably the Toyota Avalon from America there's a UTUBE video on how to remove this engine and the guy mentions the rubber hose and how it can leak.

Ebay !

I have recently replaced the filter in my 3.5 Vellfire 6 speed auto box. The drain plug has a plastic tube behind it (this is the to set the level) the tube also needs to come out to drain the fluid this is removed by an Allen key. I bought 4 litres of genuine Toyota ATF WS from ebay ''expensive''. I topped up after replacing sump and filter and used about 3.5 litres. There are a few videos on u tube about changing filters and fluids on the U660e gearbox.

Hi I have just received my crit air sticker (2) for my 2008 vellfire from official French web certificat-air.gouv.fr it cost me 4.61 euros. It seems you don't need to worry about meeting euro emission as it it is based on year of manufacture for vehicles that don't show euro standards in log book. So even the earliest Alphard would get crit-air 3 sticker. You can check this on the official French web sign it even translates into English.

Hi Shane I have just insured my 2008 Vellfire 350G with Aviva for £305 fully comp for My wife and I. We live in London borough of Havering and the vehicle is garaged both 60+years old and 20 years no claims. I got this from Confused . com