The Mazda Bongo Wagon - a Weird Van from Japan

This is my 1996 Mazda Bongo Wagon "Special Limited Version Waux". There's maybe a dozen of these in the US including some Ford Spectrons, so I wanted to share everything I can. I haven't seen any videos that cover these in much detail beyond a walkaround - please let me know if you need more information or have any specific questions.
Follow our adventures in this van here: / makermazdas
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My Car Culture T-Shirts: www.teepublic.com/user/makerm...
My Mazda Bongo Wagon Parts Reference Doc: docs.google.com/document/d/1F...
Ball Joint Press/Pull Kit: amzn.to/3z4Ntl0
1/4" Wheel Spacers: amzn.to/3EEXXIW
JBL GX428: amzn.to/3euJ9SE
Sony CarPlay: amzn.to/3qDYJ4e
Air Filter: amzn.to/3pAQg29
Amayama: www.amayama.com/en
SpareTo: spareto.com
AutoDoc: www.autodoc.co.uk
PartSouq: partsouq.com
Buyee-Yahoo Auctions Japan: buyee.jp
Be mindful of the ads, but these can be helpful, though not perfect for finding similar filters:
Oil Filter Cross Reference: www.oilfilter-crossreference.com
Fuel Filter Cross Reference: www.fuelfilter-crossreference...
Air Filter Cross Reference: www.airfilter-crossreference.com
When searching for parts consider also searching for these other vehicles with a shared platform borrowed from the bongo:
Ford Spectron
Ford Econovan
Mazda E-series/E2000
Kia Bongo
Nissan Van/Nissan Vanette
Thanks for watching!
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idealgrain.com​
/ ideal_grain
etsy.com/shop/idealgrain

[@minskmade]

great van. just spied it on wicked works, thought it was a delica . super fun.

[@jeremyspecce]

It was so cool to see this in person, I really appreciated the personal tour and this taught me even more about the Bongo, it’s so cool. That rotating rear seat blew my mind. Also, the song at the end is frequently featured in FourEyes furniture videos so that was funny to hear.

[@oweng3763]

Im very excited to see more videos about the bongo. Its so ridiculously cool.

[@joshuabennett2851]

Hey man, great video. Came here from the Delica page, funny how many similarities there but from owning 2 of the Toyota USDM 4wd vans seems like all the Japanese mfr were putting similar stuff in their cab over designs. Digging the length of the MT/TC case levers, very commercial truck of the time. Would love to see some video of off road driving in the Bongo. Have a 93 L300 that I have done way too much modding on but works great off/on road.

[@Introverted_goblin_]

Very entertaining video, great info. I'm looking at a '91 silver 2 model. Fingers crossed on the auction. Seems like the JDM groups run in similar circles. I'm a fan of Doug's videos as well.

[@zulhilmimohamad7090]

Love this. I Can’t believe the splendid original condition that you got. In malaysia you can find only with 1800cc petrol engine 2wd.

[@anuka86]

oh the little car salesman memes !

[@Vindulaperera]

Excuse me?

[@IdealGrain]

@@Vindulaperera The little graphic on screen every time I touch the van

[@Vindulaperera]

@@IdealGrain haha yes. This Anuka is also having a same van as mine. From my country also

[@chriswood5239]

Really great video. Can you provide any info on how you bought it?

[@IdealGrain]

I bought it through cars and bids. The seller, @carsfromafar , did all the import and title work. His home state of Tennessee makes that a bit easier. Import/title stuff on imports varies by state.

[@chriswood5239]

@@IdealGrain “cars and bids?” Never heard of that! Would you share what you paid? I would think it would be a little cheaper than the super-hyped Delica?

[@IdealGrain]

@@chriswood5239 It was just under $11k, which is far under what I see higher mileage similarly equipped L300 delicas go for, and in my opinion the bongo is a little more practical and reliable, though parts availability and shops that will work on it are few and far between. The finished auction page is still available on carsandbids.com if you’d like more details. Note: some of the technical details in the auction listing are incorrect, but it’s fairly minor discrepancies that I’ve only learned after spending more time with the vehicle. The seller would not have been aware.

[@kuni145]

Yo u finding an American equivalent shocks is going to save me so much time. Been looking for over a year almost 2

[@IdealGrain]

I have part numbers but haven’t been able to source them. I’m just going to buy what I can from amayama when I rebuild the suspension maybe next spring.

[@kuni145]

@@IdealGrain also u sure about the 15w-40 especialy in the north east Atleast for my 92 it says 10w-30

[@IdealGrain]

@@kuni145 There are multiple oil weights listed in the owners manual, and oddly other than straight 30 weight they all have a 30C outside temp operating limit. Unfortunately there are just not many full synthetic diesel oil options in the US, and I’m really only using it during the warmer months and go on long trips when it’s over 30C out. So I stick with 15w-40 because it maintains its properties at higher temperatures, still has acceptable cold weather protection, it’s what’s common, available, and it hasn’t been a problem.

[@IdealGrain]

@kuni145 My parts list is updated with US sourced KYB shocks that I have purchased myself and installed without issue. Huge ride improvement!

[@paulmandeville9007]

I see you are from Rhode Island, I am as well. I've always been interested in these small JDM trucks and vans but I just read that RI is no longer registering JDM micro trucks and vans. They are also notifying people their current registrations are suspended. Does the bongo van fit into the classification of a JDM KEI vehicle that RI is now invalidating registrations of?

[@IdealGrain]

Hey! Yep, I won this auction and the ban happened the same week. Rhode Island is currently in limbo with this, but it only is an issue for "kei" class vehicles, and almost specifically targeted at kei trucks and vans. Many owners in RI received letters requesting they surrender their plates, however the ban was backpedaled on after a few news articles came out. RI is no longer actively cancelling registrations, but is not granting new Kei class vehicle registrations either. That said, as long as the vehicle has an engine larger than 660cc, and/or has a GVWR or passenger capacity that makes it easily identifiable as not-a-kei-vehicle, they will definitely process it with Antique tags, and depending on the situation, you may be able to get a standard registration. I did have a VIN check performed at my local police department before going to the DMV because the vehicle did not have a standard US format VIN. I confirmed with my local police that in RI (call your local town/city police to confirm), if you have antique tags and can still pass a state inspection, you are not bound by the antique restrictions, which are unenforced anyways. The Bongo, Delicas, R32s, R33s, Crowns, Cedrics, etc are all safe for now. There are other registration options through other states as a non resident that may or may not have legal implications, but are pretty widely used.

[@paulmandeville9007]

@@IdealGrain is the bongo classified as KEI?

[@IdealGrain]

@@paulmandeville9007 Nope, it isn’t. Kei class vehicles have 660cc or smaller engines and are no more than 3.4 m in length, 1.48 m in width, and 2 m in height and generally 2 or 4 seat only. This is a good bit larger, and seats 8.

[@edjellock9265]

I like to think that Waux is pronounced like “Woah”

[@abelgibson2394]

How many fuse box

[@IdealGrain]

Just one in the drivers footwell. Relays scattered throughout the dash.

[@lubegamukasastephen3207]

Both petrol and

[@user-tj3hl6cw5g]

Не хуя не понятно но очень интересно😂

[@user-uf3xq3uj6y]

У меня такая но у него состояние лучше. У меня кпп автомат. Газ бензин. 96 год