Bongo Fury

New to the world of the Bongo!

Hello and thanks to everyone who has written in the forum, it has been an eye opener from the very start. So I guess that were we begin.

We were looking for a camper for our trip to Silverstone to see the 2010 MotoGP and happened across a Bongo, I did some research and this sort of camper sounded excellent for myself, my wife and out 2 small children. Viewing all manner of sites on the web and calling a few for sale we found one in a local garage (40miles) so we went to see it. We loved it, the concept that was and decided to sleep on the thought of ownership. The garage called in the morning and offered us a further discount and I felt confident in the price and the vehicle being offered considering how much they were else where in Scotland.

Is this where the trouble began?

We collected the Bongo on the wednesday night and packed up and drove happy driving to Silverstone, 3 of us and our stuff. We didnt plan to use the Bongo there than to sleep as we ate at the vendors and cafes etc to keep it simple as it was out first time away. On the road back we stopped at Scotch Corner and whoosh, the water was everywhere under the car! What was wrong as I didnt have a clue, overheating of course. I called the AA and had to pay £145.00 to join in a breakdown situation. They came out 1hr later to say the cylinder head had gone and we shouldnt/could drive home. We had to upgrade to Relay to get us and the Bongo home £53.00 for the membership upgrade and £213.00 for the surplus to transport the Bongo.

Needless to say I was furious, 3 days and it was bust! I called the garage in the morning and quoted there 1 month warranty on the engine and gearbox. They came out that night and collected the Bongo. Some 5 weeks later we got it back after the head had been fixed? Pressure tested etc, well that what they tell me. It drove fine and my wife and I began to clean (smokers before us) and I began to pimp the Bongo. Alloy wheels, tinting, new stereo etc. On the Friday morning of the first week having it back I noticed a small oil leak and contacted the garage to be told monitor it and we will check it out. I thougt fine so we started to get ready for a weekend trip with the boys. A full valet was in order, £50.00 worth of cleaning product bought and so I started.

I opening the kitchen sind door and noticed the base was warped, maybe from the weight of the water container so decided to take it out and replace. At this point I noticed the gas pipe to the burner wasnt fitted (compression fitting I believe) so I called the garage and quoted health and safety and products being fit for purpose. They said they would collect and fix. Some 3 days later they came out and the Bongo is away. I have linked some pictures of the other itmes we found during our investigation and would welcome comments/feedback as this maybe a case for the Trading Standards. We are thinking for asking for our money back and walking away but also feel that the time we have spend cleaning and doing it up will be wasted and we might be further out of pocket.

http://s865.photobucket.com/albums/ab21 ... y%20Bongo/

Should we force them to fix it all? He is the list so far;

Oil leak, Cooker connection, Gas ventilation at rearCamper insulation, Cable in centre console, Fog lamp, Ariel, Rock n roll bed hinge, Proof of electrics at hook up, Proof of electrics at split charger, Receipt/job sheet for engine works, Warranty document/confirmation, Owners manual, Gas certificate/inspection, Electrical certificate/inspection, Gear selector dial and Rear cabinet lock.

Hi, I am sorry to hear about your problems, to be honest I would advise asking for your money back and putting the work you have put in down to experience.

From your pictures things do not look good, and I would be wary that there more be other 'surprises' lying in wait for you, especially with an 80 mile return journey every time there is a problem.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

(And feel free to pm me where you bought it if you want.)

I have no issues with saying the Bongo was bought from Bo'ness Motor Company.

They are fixing it so that is something to greatful for and I guess I still have my statutory rights under the Sale of Good Act if we arent completetly satisfied with the results or the timescale.

I too I am sorry to see ure new purchase in such a state,In my opinion for whats its worth,if that's the way the do a gas installation then i worry for the rest of it!!As the saying goes "not fit for purpuse" and if proved u should get ure money back.


ps put ure location on it helps us help u. cheers stevie

I suppose the question is, did they do the install or did they get someone to do it? This is something that I can't prove and would need them to demostrate (in writting).

The worry that I have is in buying another Bongo, will the same issues present themselves or having gone throught this Bongo and found what I have and requested it be fixed put me in a position of knowing what I have and what I need get fixed.

As my wife says, if this had been a private sale we would have an even worse problem to deal with.

scotia wrote:I suppose the question is, did they do the install or did they get someone to do it? This is something that I can't prove and would need them to demostrate (in writting).

The worry that I have is in buying another Bongo, will the same issues present themselves or having gone throught this Bongo and found what I have and requested it be fixed put me in a position of knowing what I have and what I need get fixed.

As my wife says, if this had been a private sale we would have an even worse problem to deal with.

Chances are if it was a private sale you would have paid less to start with, they sold you a potentially lethal vehicle and they are responsible for it, what if you had, in all innocence, connected up a gas bottle to it?

It doesn't matter who did the conversion, BMC are responsible for it as the Merchant

I know the 'what if statement', it doesnt bare thinking about and I most certainly used it to get him to collect the vehicle and thats one of the reasons for asking for a Gas Safe engineer to do the work to correct it or I will not accept it back along with all of the other items listed. I guess they are at my mercy to fix everything just now given how serious an issue this could be and if I were to go to Trading Standards etc.

As for costs, what is the going rate for a Bongo like this? N Reg, converted as it was (excluding what we found) 118km.

Have we been sold a sucker? Do you think I can claim compensation for the alloys, tiniting, valet, etc?

Hi folks... sorry to hear your tale of woe! My concern would be less with the conversion, and more with the state of the base vehicle. The problems you have with the conversion could easily be sorted. Is it a new conversion or pre owned? Have the garage just sold it on without really looking closely enough? If you do get them to sort out the problems with the conversion, would it be possible to twist their arm and get a better insurance / warranty on the van from them as compensation. (after all these policies are simply bought by the dealer ) If you keep the van, make sure you get a mason alarm fitted and low coolant alarm. It may be worth getting a techie member of the forum to give it a look over for you just to be on the safe side. There are folks in the central belt who would happily help out (maybe a bit slow on the response due tio holiday time etc) if all goes well and it's a keeper get yourself up to Glencoe in September 25th / 26th, there should be a bit of collective wisdom around to help you .

All the best

David.

David,

Thank you for your words of wisdom, I will look into the items suggested. The warranty wasn't something written down, purely a question I asked at the time and the garage have honoured it, which I feel has been good for us especially given the cylinder head going and now the conversion.

I think the conversion is/has been a home brew job some time ago as the facing materials are de-laminating but as you say this is something easy fixed, especially as we were thinking of making changes to customise it to our needs.

The trip away sound fantastic and i'm sure we would join you all providing the Bongo is working and your collective words of wisdom would be very helpful indeed.

scotia wrote:David,

Thank you for your words of wisdom, I will look into the items suggested. The warranty wasn't something written down, purely a question I asked at the time and the garage have honoured it, which I feel has been good for us especially given the cylinder head going and now the conversion.

I think the conversion is/has been a home brew job some time ago as the facing materials are de-laminating but as you say this is something easy fixed, especially as we were thinking of making changes to customise it to our needs.

The trip away sound fantastic and i'm sure we would join you all providing the Bongo is working and your collective words of wisdom would be very helpful indeed.

I thought it didn't look like a new conversion. That said I think it is reasonable to ask the garage to fix the items which do not work, sinse it was sold converted and is clearly unfit for purpose. It sounds from the tone of your posts that you really want to keep it having invested so much time on the van. Just make sure you know it mechanically before you have to cut the apron strings (warranty expires) with the garage who sold it to you.

All the best

David.

David,

Is there any local garages I should take it too who specialise in Bongo's thus allowing them to check it over as I can use this are part of the negotiations.

Ie, once it has been returned I will highlight I will get an independent to check it over just be be on the safe side.

Regards,

scotia wrote:David,

Is there any local garages I should take it too who specialise in Bongo's thus allowing them to check it over as I can use this are part of the negotiations.

Ie, once it has been returned I will highlight I will get an independent to check it over just be be on the safe side.

Regards,

Although we have not used them ourselves I understand that GBL Motors, Duff Street Lane , Edinburgh are considered to know their stuff. I think Dandywarhole has suggested using them in the past, and if they are considered OK by him that's good enough for me

I believe that the Edinburgh Garage is for general servicing only. If you also want to get your conversion checked out then you should try Campercraft,Unit 8A M90 Commerce Park, Latholmand, Dunfirmline KY12 0SJ tel 07907 661175

David, Alan isn't going to be too pleased at you calling him a HOLE, correct spelling is dandywarhol.

Tony

MountainGoat wrote:I believe that the Edinburgh Garage is for general servicing only. If you also want to get your conversion checked out then you should try Campercraft,Unit 8A M90 Commerce Park, Latholmand, Dunfirmline KY12 0SJ tel 07907 661175

David, Alan isn't going to be too pleased at you calling him a HOLE, correct spelling is dandywarhol.

Tony

I was referring to getting the mechanical side of things checked over Tony

OOPs..... trypo, I'm sure Alan will forgive me Mountingcoat....... You up for the September Glencoe meet sir?

Again, thanks for all your information.

As you say, the conversion we can deal with in principle, change, upgrade and alter as necessary however the nuts and bolts should be out primary concearn.

I will await the response/return of the Bongo and hopefully make arrangements for the Edinburgh/Dunfermline garage to take a look. I know the garage in Dunfermline offer underseal and this maybe an opportunity to have things looked at also.

The good thing here is that we have communicated with the garage via TEXT which itself is forward to our HOME email as evidence therefore should we end up with an independent telling us the vehicle isnt road worthy or the conversion works completed aren't upto standard/code then as a trader they will have to either REPAIR/REPLACE or REFUND.