Toyota BB - rare JDM box on wheels
Discussion
Got the BB back from it's first service in my care yesterday. Took it to my local Honda specialist, Dream automotive, who looked after the DC5, I think they are now fans of the box of awesomeness!
Just had the basics done and a thorough checkover. Considering the overall condition of the car i wasn't too worried, although a couple of bits need doing after christmas.
BB needs new front drop links, and the rear axle bushes are pretty shagged. Considering it went through MOT in October and passed with no advisories, i'm a little surprised these weren't picked up!
Got some poly uprated front droplinks coming, and some japanparts rear bushes, the OEM are about £70 each!! The pattern ones were cheap enough that i don't mind replacing them again in a couple of years if they don't last...worth a punt for 1/3 of the price.
Just had the basics done and a thorough checkover. Considering the overall condition of the car i wasn't too worried, although a couple of bits need doing after christmas.
BB needs new front drop links, and the rear axle bushes are pretty shagged. Considering it went through MOT in October and passed with no advisories, i'm a little surprised these weren't picked up!
Got some poly uprated front droplinks coming, and some japanparts rear bushes, the OEM are about £70 each!! The pattern ones were cheap enough that i don't mind replacing them again in a couple of years if they don't last...worth a punt for 1/3 of the price.
Is there much of a difference between the bB/xB and the Cube interior and flexibility-wise? They tick quite a few boxes for a car that I really should consider, but something with a bit of poke would be more desirable (for example the RS Clio-powered Kangoo poppopbangbang was running for a while). Keep the updates coming please, as it is the quirky cars I find most interesting.
Nunga said:
Is there much of a difference between the bB/xB and the Cube interior and flexibility-wise? They tick quite a few boxes for a car that I really should consider, but something with a bit of poke would be more desirable (for example the RS Clio-powered Kangoo poppopbangbang was running for a while). Keep the updates coming please, as it is the quirky cars I find most interesting.
Having not owned a cube i couldn't say for sure, but the BB certainly seems very similar. I've yet to mess about with the seat configurations but it looks like you can fold the rear seats up flat against the back of the front seats to create a van like load area.I'm hoping you can fold all the seats pretty flat, my plan is to get a couple of foam pads made up to turn the back of the car into a bed for camping trips.
So, this weekend was pretty productive. I popped up to Stevenage to pay DK Car Audio and Security a visit. Dave battled 0 degree weather to sort out audio and security on the BB. Highly recommend him if you are in beds/herts and need any auto electrical work done.
BB is now sporting a bluetooth head unit. I actually had this kicking around before i bought the car, then found out afterwards that the BB has a reversing camera already wired. I may eventually swap out for a screen type unit so that I can use the reversing camera as it's there, but tbh this car is a damn sight easier to reverse in than my dc5 was!
So whilst poking around the bay, I found the first, and hopefully only bodge on the car. This bB is running aftermarket "Sonar" headlights from Japan...and it looks like for whatever reason the OEM indicator bulb holders aren't totally compatible with the headlight units (missing part maybe).
So to solve this, they have been "installed" with some sort of sticky grey caulking/mastic
Bit nasty, i'm sure you will agree...so my spring project will be to fabricate or 3D print some new mounts/cylinders so that the holders can twist and slot in as they should. I don't mind the odd minor bodge, but to the engineer in me this is a step too far!!
Finished off the weekend by giving the bB it's first wash, always a good time to see exactly what state the paint is in. Turns out it has faired very well, few light scratches here and there but overall exceptionally decent nick for an 18yo car. I scrubbed the inside of the rear arches and got a load of mud and muck out (prime breeding ground for rust in JDM cars), and generally had a good nose around.
Turns out this takes about twice the time to wash than the DC5, and i'm just that bit too short to reach the middle of the roof!
A decent clay and polish will be on the cards for spring, but first up will be a full dinitrol underseal in Jan.
BB is now sporting a bluetooth head unit. I actually had this kicking around before i bought the car, then found out afterwards that the BB has a reversing camera already wired. I may eventually swap out for a screen type unit so that I can use the reversing camera as it's there, but tbh this car is a damn sight easier to reverse in than my dc5 was!
So whilst poking around the bay, I found the first, and hopefully only bodge on the car. This bB is running aftermarket "Sonar" headlights from Japan...and it looks like for whatever reason the OEM indicator bulb holders aren't totally compatible with the headlight units (missing part maybe).
So to solve this, they have been "installed" with some sort of sticky grey caulking/mastic
Bit nasty, i'm sure you will agree...so my spring project will be to fabricate or 3D print some new mounts/cylinders so that the holders can twist and slot in as they should. I don't mind the odd minor bodge, but to the engineer in me this is a step too far!!
Finished off the weekend by giving the bB it's first wash, always a good time to see exactly what state the paint is in. Turns out it has faired very well, few light scratches here and there but overall exceptionally decent nick for an 18yo car. I scrubbed the inside of the rear arches and got a load of mud and muck out (prime breeding ground for rust in JDM cars), and generally had a good nose around.
Turns out this takes about twice the time to wash than the DC5, and i'm just that bit too short to reach the middle of the roof!
A decent clay and polish will be on the cards for spring, but first up will be a full dinitrol underseal in Jan.
TheJimi said:
This. Is. Awesome.
Can I be cheeky and ask for much you paid? Approx is fine.
I gave £2500 for it, i think that i got a very good example for the money.Can I be cheeky and ask for much you paid? Approx is fine.
They seem to sell for anywhere between £1800-3000 privately, and i guess to import one you would be looking at £4-5k ish landed.
When you see Cubes up for £3-5k, the bB is a cheaper leftfield option, and i think better styled.
iMitchy said:
If it's anything like my Yaris T-Sport, I'd invest in some poly-bushes.
Brand new rubber bushes disentagrate in about 6 months...
Yeah i've got uprated poly front droplinks to go on.Brand new rubber bushes disentagrate in about 6 months...
Unfortunately couldn't get poly rear arm bushes (was hard enough finding any full stop!), but when the bushes up front let go i'll polybush them.
designforlife said:
Yeah i've got uprated poly front droplinks to go on.
Unfortunately couldn't get poly rear arm bushes (was hard enough finding any full stop!), but when the bushes up front let go i'll polybush them.
Think you have to use Scion xb ones and ship them from US, few people do that with Yaris'. I think I have a link to what you need, I'll fire you a PM.Unfortunately couldn't get poly rear arm bushes (was hard enough finding any full stop!), but when the bushes up front let go i'll polybush them.
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