Bussty Bongo and (maybe) some other Banger buys

[roy8846]

Bussty Bongo and (maybe) some other Banger buys. Where do I start.

So I have little money and a decent motor, back in the days of two thousand and twenty three. And I think I'm about to have a mid life crisis.

My old family steed, sold cheap to a WBAC type of place. As I wanted a camper for family escapades/France/NC500 etc.

 

 

 

Somehow I'm pulled into a Mazda Bongo which at the time was still priced high as the COVID camper bubble hadn't burst yet. £5000 later to a dealer this (very) bad boy was ours. My new daily driver 

 

 

Within 3 months I had been on a recovery trailer more times than I have ever been camping. At least 3 seperate coolant spills, and I mean 8 litres a time. Back box fell off too. Luckily warranty saved me. But then more coolant woes, more new hoses, a new radiator and a new head. 

Finally went to Shell Island in Wales in the Feb of next year. During a storm. Scared the life out of my wife as we parked right on a cliff next to the sea. It did take us to France and cover over a 1000 miles on that trip, that was a priceless memory. Alas the bongo was swapped and I had lost a few grand in the process. Swapped it for a RAV4.

 

Many months pass without an issue, I do love that period Rav and CRV. My favourite ever cars owned. Bulletproof. After those many months I see my old Bongo up for sale. And again I am sucked in of a dream of happy camping. So here we are (we actually swapped back!). He was looking a bit tatty at the rear arches so got the good old Combi Colour Out. I hope to update this thread this year with some cool memories instead of head gasket nightmares. Time will tell.

 

Here she is now anyway (2.0l petrol, 222000km so far on the clock.) Working like a dream with no issues

 

If you have made it this far, commiserations.

Here's my first AutoShite purchase, not wanting to use the Bongo for work. I have been trying to buy something here for a few weeks, small, reliable commuter vehicle is what my head said would be good.

 

Yes it's @DavidB325TI. 

Insurance through Tesco at £360 the year, well happy with that! My insurer gave me my NCB to use on it as they couldn't get anywhere near those prices. 

Few jobs to do, first was sort the radio out, was going to go all posh but got this cheap from @loseroneand works a treat. Maybe I'll do a proper audio install I'm unsure yet.

 

Next up the seats need some serious TLC so that's my next update with this. As an aside I never owned a BMW neither any quick cars. This thing is such an underrated machine. To me it's a fucking beast 😂 

 

Anyway there they are. Anyone PM with easy way to get trade insurance? It will be the only thing stopping me from a fleet of sheds

[loserone]

Nice! 

I'm currently running a fleet of five and shopping, but trade insurance seems to be long gone for those not actually trading.  

[Matty]

I like a man that chops in a perfectly ordinary reliable car to play roulette with old tat. My kinda fella 😁

[roy8846]

52 minutes ago, Matty said:

I like a man that chops in a perfectly ordinary reliable car to play roulette with old tat. My kinda fella 😁

The DCT on those things is so smooth it's unreal. It went after 30K and was done under warranty. At 50K it was starting to slip a bit again. Didn't fancy the bill with Kia quoting 2K, spent more than that repairing the old Mazda within 6 months. No wonder I'm always broke.

[Matty]

7 minutes ago, roy8846 said:

The DCT on those things is so smooth it's unreal. It went after 30K and was done under warranty. At 50K it was starting to slip a bit again. Didn't fancy the bill with Kia quoting 2K, spent more than that repairing the old Mazda within 6 months. No wonder I'm always broke.

In fairness theres few nailed on bets on cars of any age or era. Its all an informed gamble.

[roy8846]

These seats have seen some @DavidBaction for sure, I'm scared to look under the seats

 

 

So it begins....

 

[DavidB]

Yes good luck, definitely wasn’t me, the previous owner worked as a mechanic at Gatwick. I’ve had all of the seats out and cleaned everything, so there won’t be any surprises underneath. I bought new black seats but couldnt find the rest of the black interior to go with them.

[roy8846]

£9.23 direct from BMW dealer via eBay yes please. I bought one as even though feedback is amazing I thought it took good to be true 😂 

Other side swiftly ordered from same place needless to say.

 

Sorts out one of the issues it had.

Next the fog lights don't work. Maybe this has something to do with it? 

 

The seat recolour has been a slow process though 1 is done 😂. By the time I finish the interior the first seat will probably need doing again. Nowhere a match to OG colour but it's very presentable at least

 

The Bongo has had low power at low revs for months, finally unplugged the MAF and low and behold it's sorted it. Next to sort she's running real rich (or something), 3 trips to work at round trip of 16 miles each at rush hour devoured £40 of fuel.

No wonder I'm broke 😆 

[Brigsy]

Seat recolour looks pretty decent to be fair, well worth doing.

[DavidB]

The seats look amazing! 

[New POD]

8 hours ago, roy8846 said:

£9.23 direct from BMW dealer via eBay yes please. I bought one as even though feedback is amazing I thought it took good to be true 😂 

Other side swiftly ordered from same place needless to say.

 

Sorts out one of the issues it had.

Next the fog lights don't work. Maybe this has something to do with it? 

 

The seat recolour has been a slow process though 1 is done 😂. By the time I finish the interior the first seat will probably need doing again. Nowhere a match to OG colour but it's very presentable at least

 

The Bongo has had low power at low revs for months, finally unplugged the MAF and low and behold it's sorted it. Next to sort she's running real rich (or something), 3 trips to work at round trip of 16 miles each at rush hour devoured £40 of fuel.

No wonder I'm broke 😆 

Do you think it would work on my sofa 

[roy8846]

On 30/01/2026 at 18:19, New POD said:

Do you think it would work on my sofa 

Yes it would. Covers up all sorts! You can sponge it on or roller it even 

[DavidB]

What stuff did you use on the seats, is it like paint? My (grey) steering wheel is worn and you can see the black underneath. It looks awful.

 

[roy8846]

8 hours ago, DavidB said:

What stuff did you use on the seats, is it like paint? My (grey) steering wheel is worn and you can see the black underneath. It looks awful.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07V2NHSHM?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title&th=1

 

You can sponge it on or roller etc, I just used a rag and applied a few coats.

 

Leather still soft feels good too.

250ml would be overkill for a steering wheel. Plenty.

[Imhotep]

That leather looks almost new again. Might look into some of that for the wearing bolster on my MG

[roy8846]

A few days after purchase I found out the hard way, kidney grilles held in by gravity and the grace of god.

 

eBay special from China and a week later (god they can ship quicker from there than when I pay extra 9 quid for fast delivery here at times), may as well add to the stuck on M badge on the arse end...

[roy8846]

Been tatting with the Bongo today, felt it needed some love as has been retired from daily duties.

Revs were all over the place and I was getting around 15 mpg tops, also the exhaust fitted by previous owner had no gaskets, leading to CO2 alarms going off if sat to long in traffic 😂 

Some electrical contact cleaner on the MAF and some Gungum later she's bodged up for the short term at least. Running beautifully. Just a squeal from Aux belt to sort now (adjuster is shot I think as keeps loosening a bit)

Also put the freebie stickers on I got with raffle prize @RoverFolkUsor @loseronethanks again (can't remember who sent them 😂)

 

 

The BMW had a wash today, first one since purchase! My god it showed up the awful paint cracking on body, still it's running fantastic so I'll take that over some shoddy paint!!

Added an Alpine amp + head unit and DAB I sourced cheap, never have too many screens to distract you whilst doing 0 to 60 in pant wetting time 😎 

Oh and updated the lights as above pic...

Pre wash and just to show difference..

[roy8846]

The Bongo has done me proud, second time ownership has so been been giving plenty smiles per miles. The 2.0 petrol has lost a few horses but never fails. A solo trip to Wales was the first of hopefully many. Anyone recognise the places?

 

 

The journey from town to waterfall was epic, I even stopped in the middle of nowhere for a brew, heaven!

 

In other news the BMW is still going, changed the rear lights and still working on seats. Gave it a proper wash too.

[yes oui si]

I'm REALLY impressed with how the seats are turning out. Love these wee things.

[roy8846]

BMW update.

Found the coolant cap rubber seal gone so have gave it to local garage for change of oil and coolant plus sort seal. They have told me it's got K Seal in it so has had problems in its recent life

 

It's running ok at the minute so the advice is to leave well alone for now. Lord help me 🙏 

[vaughant]

2 hours ago, roy8846 said:

BMW update.

Found the coolant cap rubber seal gone so have gave it to local garage for change of oil and coolant plus sort seal. They have told me it's got K Seal in it so has had problems in its recent life

 

It's running ok at the minute so the advice is to leave well alone for now. Lord help me 🙏 

Ah bummer but if it's running don't worry about it 👍🏻👍🏻.

Looks a pretty decent car, seats have come up great 😃.