pipsyp

The AA covered my 2008 Series 10. They were a bit cheeky, each year they'd pretty much try and double my premium but a quick call to them would see it back to their new customer discount level. I still have it for another car, the times I've had to use it they have been truly excellent as well.

For simplicities sake probably avoid the Hybrid. Great cars, but considerably more complicated and costly when things do (inevitably) go wrong. The series 20's do also have a CVT gearbox which isn't without its potential issues so just worth bearing in mind. I personally would not discount a later Series 10 facelift. They are extremely hard wearing and well made, and being that bit more straightforward than a series 20 will prove easier to maintain. The oil usage issue only really affected the 2AZ-FE motors made in North America, the Japanese made variants never really suffered. They are chain driven and with regular oil changes will pretty much last forever. It's enough motor for these vans as well (they actually go very well if you rev them out). The V6's are wonderful and I gather not much thirstier as they have to work less hard to pull the van around, also whilst belt driven they are non interference engine so if you were unlucky enough to have a cambelt failure, it won't destroy the top end (just be an inconvenience). Certainly more effortless than a 2.4 Bonus is you can get an excellent shape AH10 freshly imported for less than £10k, which does make them a bit of a bargain. If I were in the market for an Alphard again, I'd be looking for a min grade 4 V6 MS (sport pack) facelift with the 5 speed gearbox, just really as this is peak Alphard AH10 IMHO. I had a 2.4 converted camper previously and it was wonderful.

Hi Dave, unscrew the connector from the USB stick. If your existing head unit has DAB capability it should have the male version of this connector on the back - this is how most DAB antennas come. Probably not a waste TBH.

Hi Dean, Best foot forward is to try and find your part number on Toyota EPC, not the easiest thing to do but gets easier with use. Only real challenge is the part varies depending on the wood finish (if any) you have in your vehicle. toyota.epc-data.com Once you've found it, best to order from Amayama or Partsouq on line, will take a while but even with shipping will be alot cheaper than sourcing through a local Toyota dealer. Amayama are Japanese but do have services in the UAE, Partsouq are UAE based. The alternative assuming the wood is OK is to consider getting it smart repaired, there are people out there now that can refurbish (essentially they sand, fill and respray) leather wheels and gear levers. Be cheaper than replacing it I expect. By all accounts it's not uncommon for people on the shipping boats to nick the gearknobs off of these things, why you see alot of them imported with aftermarket gearknobs on them, I don't understand why but it happens! Hope that helps.

Got to factor these things weigh around 2 ton before conversion. Not to sound at all condescending either but it does require some adjustment in driving style going from a car to what was an 8 seater minivan 👍 I'd be inclined (assuming there's no record it has been done in recent times) to get the discs and pads replaced with genuine Toyota parts, as well as the brake fluid, ensuring they are properly bled and go from there. I'd expect an improvement.

Vehicle is now SOLD

I found Just Kampers to be very good, but expensive when cancelling (want 230 quid to walk, on a policy I only renewed a month or two ago). Is fair to say Alphards aren't the easiest things to insure, particularly once they've been camper converted!

Yeah it's rather a shame eh......even as a converted camper we found it made a brilliant family vehicle (so comfortable), but the appalling urban fuel economy did for it in the end. I still think it's rather a shame Toyota never did make a Turbo Diesel variant! It has however gone to a lovely home (an older, retired couple who will definitely use it as intended) so all round been for the best I think.

Evening all, My Alphie finally sold today and goes to it's new home tomorrow, so that's the end of my adventure. Bit of a shame, bought it with the intention of doing alot of camping (and up our game), but we've just not had the opportunity to use it like we hoped. Made no sense to keep running it as an expensive, very inefficient A to B car so it had to go. Just want to say thanks to those on here who have helped with responses to my many queries over the past year or so, a really decent friendly forum. It's quite possible down the line, I might have a funny 5 minutes and buy a V6, so possible it's not the last youve seen or heard of me 😆 Cheers Paul

Hi Roger, Believe the heated mirrors would work with the rear screen, perhaps give it a go on a colder morning and see if they clear. You can tell if you remove the glass it will have a wired connection to it and a metal heating grid between the glass and frame. If you're curious they are not difficult to remove, they have retaining clips at the top which hinge into place and clips at the bottom to keep it in place. Push the mirror completely inwards at the top so you can pull it out from the bottom. To put them back in it's the reverse (push the mirror plate completely down first). Given the prices of the things though completely understand if you didn't care to find out lol Cheers Paul

Hey all, So mirror debacle over. The dealer did indeed supply the wrong part in the correctly marked package. They've provided a replacement, same part number but it's right this time. I can only assume someone has picked the wrong part and packaged it with the wrong part no, that parts now doing the rounds of Toyota UKs parts inventory, and I was just properly unlucky to have received it lol. Glad it got sorted as the blurry thing has cost me £133.03+VAT, all so I didn't have to wait quite so long! For anyone wanting to know I believe the part nos are as follows: Pre FL LH Mirror glass (non heated) 87961-58011 Pre FL RH Mirror glass (non heated) 87931-58011 FL LH Mirror glass (non heated) 87961-58030 FL RH Mirror glass (non-heated) 87931-58030 And just buy them from Amayama. They are less than 80 quid with postage to the UK. Now if you have power seats/heated seats there's a strong likelihood you also have heated mirrors. It's not a common fixture on these unless you happen to have a very top spec van. In that instance the part no will be different (as I think the heated glass versions are also hydrophobic coated) and will need verifying by using the Toyota EPC website (I found Google Lens useful for translation). The above parts should suffice for 95% of you though!

I'm lucky enough to have a friend who does all my work on the Alphard (and trust him more than anyone). Best thing to do if you can is just get genuine Toyota parts sourced and get a decent independent to do the work. The alternator and plug/coil prices quoted above seem extortionate but otherwise not bad at all. I concur with the gearbox oil change......they hold alot of oil and it's not the cheapest stuff so sounds reasonable. Also, if there's no suspect worries about anything (I.e it's running well, not losing coolant etc), it's probably not worth doing things like coils and water pump unless they are obviously failing or it's definitively time to do it. If you have a V6, it's a non interference engine so even if you had the timing belt go, it's likely to end up just being a major inconvenience than causing any damage to the motor. The 2.4 is chain driven and if that snaps it will decimate itself, but they arent known for stretching/breaking timing chains. The 2.4 apparently requires very occasional valve adjustment as the tappets aren't self adjusting, but again I don't think it's at all common that they go out of spec and need re-shimming. Mines on 82k miles and it's as smooth as anything. Key to keeping these things healthy is ensuring the cooling system is all good, and regular oil changes. Do that 2.4 or V6 they will literally run forever.

The dealer are arranging for the part to be reshipped, so fingers crossed the right item will be in the bag this time! I inspected the part that arrived further compared to the one I sourced from Japan and it is literally identical, even the markings and number references on the rear so the part they provided is definitely wrong (the Pre FL mirror). Will update once the new one appears!

Oh Lee has verified it for us as well. I can't help but think this time it's wrong part in the bag.

Hi Roger, From EPC. I got it wrong the first time (that was on me as the part was for a Pre FL) but 2nd time both Amayama and the Toyota dealer confirmed the part no. My mate has sourced numerous parts for it for me from the Toyota dealer he uses (radiator, some suspension bits) from them before with no issue so think this is a bit of a one off. My working theory is that the bag has the right part number on it, but the wrong part in it (it wasn't sticky sealed and had been stapled shut so looks like its been open previously). The glass is quite functional so it's not absolutely the end of the world, just potentially annoying if im stuck with the two (as the one through the dealers was special order and potentially non returnable).