Japanese Auto LocatorsReviews 

This review is based upon my experience of buying a van and conversion from Phil and his team at JAL

Have just taken ownership of a gorgeous NV200. I’ve named her Valerie, after my dear mum. She’s a lovely teal colour. Valerie is my first van and is very special.

The conversion and finish is exceptional, so impressed with the upholstery and how neatly all the gubbins is concealed. Top of the range fridge, gas burner and sink.

Sturdy RnR bed, loving the mushroom pop top which allows you to walk the full length of the van.

She drives smoothly and I’m loving the automatic transmission. Very economical.

I warmed to Phil immediately when meeting for the first time. He listened to what I wanted, the initial consultation felt very bespoke and respectful and I felt reassured and confident straight away.

Phil really knows his stuff, he’s an expert and very passionate about what he does. He’s also very kind and funny!

Phil’s customers satisfaction is tantamount. The imports have come a long way and sometimes it takes time to get things right.

It’s been a big step and responsibility buying a van, it’s been a journey, not a race. You have to trust the process.

I would not hesitate at all to recommend JAL, you really are in safe hands. After care and customer service is brilliant too!

Thank you Phil and JAL

Difficult communication. Deadlines repeatedly missed. A year of disappointment, anxiety and financial loss when the Delica I bought had a persistent starting issue. In the year I owned the van it spent all but a few days back with JAL for repairs. Alternatives were offered but i specifically wanted a Delica for off road use. The starting problem was apparent from the day I went to collect the van and was unable to drive it home. Repeated requests for a refund right from the start were ignored until a year later I had to use a legal firm to negotiate on my behalf. By that stage it was just a relief not to have to deal directly with the company again.
The vans imported are fantastic and the conversions are high quality - but I found customer service, communication and paperwork were sadly lacking. Of note JAL is not registered with the Motoring Ombudsman and did not provide a complaints procedure when this was requested.

We found Phil very helpful and knowledgeable. This was our first campervan and a work colleague suggested JAL, we're glad we followed her recommendation! From the offset Phil was supportive and responsive.
We enjoyed choosing the colour scheme for the interior and when we finally collected our van we were overwhelmed with the finish, it was beyond expectation.
We've had 2 years of campervan adventures with no issues, the van has been totally reliable and Phil was on hand to quickly answer a couple of queries.
Sadly, due to a change in circumstances we have made the difficult decision to sell the van. We approached Phil to see if he could help and he's been incredibly supportive and is overseeing the sale for us.
We'd highly recommend JAL and know that we'd return in the future when circumstances allow.

Just had a couple of small issues with my camper and was delighted with how swiftly I was booked in and the repairs made under warranty- the staff were so helpful- thoroughly recommend them😊

I was initially after a Mazda Bongo and after much research contacted Phil at JAL Imports. He was very knowledgeable and guided me towards a Nissan Elgrand.
I was shown around a finished van and was impressed with the workmanship so after studying the stock list (including making numerous calls to Phil to ask questions and take advice) placed an order, chose my colour scheme and pop up roof and waited.
Updates were few and far between but messages and calls answered very quickly and Phil was always available to give advice and guidance.
There was a long delay in getting the finished van, which is expected in the current climate, but, when my van was finally completed I was very impressed with how it looked, the workmanship and attention to detail.
The van drives great, it is so comfortable and in fantastic condition considering it is 17 years old. The fit out is fantastic. Phil completed a very detailed handover on collection to make sure i knew what i was doing.
I am extremely pleased with the final outcome.

We've got our Bongo from Jal about 5 and a half months ago and are delighted with it. Phil and the team do such great work on these vehicles.
We're based in NI so it initially felt like a bit of a risk going so far away to get a camper, but we were quick to get over that once I went out to meet Phil and take at look at the shop.
Maybe not the best at responding to emails but when you see the work that these guys are putting in to each vehicle you understand why.
When I picked up our vehicle from JAL, Phil sat me down with a four page doc of does and don'ts, how's and why's that really made you feel like he has more invested in this vehicle than you do. Like he's genuinely proud/cares about the vehicle and wants it to be looked after properly.
And that's what you're getting when you buy from JAL.

We had a tiny issue with one of the guages not working properly, reported it within the warranty time frame and were told to bring it back when we could/ it suited to be fixed, which was great as it's a bit of a trek from NI.

Couldn't recommend JAL more. Great bunch of lads.

Great experience, Phil is extremely knowledgeable. Had my van just over couple of weeks , runs like a dream , few snagging issues but Phil has been super responsive.

We are delighted with our Nissan NV200 conversion. The perfect package. A great conversion, neat, compact and well thought out. Phil is very knowledgeable and gave us good advice and a great choice of materials for flooring and fittings.
We ordered the van in July 2023 and were told it would be ready maybe before Christmas, aiming for January 2024 and latest February 2024. There was a hitch with the original NV200 which had been adapted for disability, but specifications for another van were sent to us straight away in October. We finally collected our converted van at the end of May 2024 (just 4 days before we went on holiday) so a very long wait. Communication with Phil can be frustrating due to delayed responses. Keep questions brief and to the point.
Phil dealt with our queries after we had collected the van and sorted out the snaggings efficiently.
Can't fault the conversion - it's just what we wanted so we would definitely recommend Japanese Auto Locators for your camper van.
Just be very aware of the time scales and be prepared to be patient.

Picked-up my new Alphard camper conversion from JAL in late May 2024. Advice during selection of vehicle and specification of conversion was spot-on. Finished job was fantastic.

Within 3 days my neighbour had reversed into the passenger door. Phil sourced and replaced a new door and did a brilliant job just in-time to save a big planned trip, 4,000 km to Galicia NW Spain.

Fuggy the Furgoneta performed fantastically. Not a murmur. Would have been good to have been able to have a few practice runs before setting-off on a big trip to acquaint myself properly with how everything worked but my neighbour put paid to that.
Having used the van a few times now, there are a few things I would have specified differently but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Great service and a fantastic camper that I think will give me reliability for years to come.

Cheers Phil and all the team at JAL.

I bought an Alphard some years ago. I still have it and love it again after getting a proper R&R bed with head rests rather than thick blocks of foam, covered and stuck to bed the base with Velcro. No curtains initially, no shelves in the big cupboard either. Lights at the back are long and are just about head height to hit the back of my head when sitting in bed. My ancient Bongo had flat lights. Poor use of storage space. The work top has big screw covers sticking up. Bed boards can easily be dislodged and dangerous. In addition to getting a properly upholstered bed I have paid to have a 3/4 fixed bed board with gas struts, fabulous. The water pump is attached to the outside rather than integrated!
The vehicle itself is lovely even though the gear box failed after 3 years but that is just bad luck. Just a ghastly, tacky conversion. My roof also blistered. Buy the car but get it converted elsewhere!

I am so delighted with my nv200 from JAL. It exceeded my expectations for the finish and space.

Storage - loads more storage than I thought. Cupboard alongside bavk seat gets loads in. Under the seat fits big double duvet and pillow plus other bits and bobs so bedding is out of the way but can always be packed. My storage tent fits here too.
Room for my awning down the side of the back seat and the table the other side.
Room under both from seats.

There is also way more boot space than I thought there would be. Ive put a hook up for my coats and then there is a ledge on the seats where you can fit lots of stuff. It means most of the stuff I’m taking can be packed in the boot and storage areas leaving the inside of the van clear on the journey.

Seating
Swivel seat is a great addition and makes the van feel a lot more open. I’ve added fleece covers that make it seem less car like and the match the lovely grey fleece that lines the van.
When the table is set up, it’s a perfect distance to sit opposite someone.
The back seats are roomy.

Sleeping
The bed is a great width and the bed folds out really flat. It’s a little stiff to move but think it will get easier. You need to make sure you keep hold of the seat belt buckles as you unfold/fold as they slip down under the bed which is a problem if you’ve got passengers. It’s hard to get them back once they slip down ( make sure you don’t lean on the bed if you’re reaching for them as the bed can flatten and you can get your arm stuck). Sure this applies to all rock and roll beds, not just this one.
I had bought a mattress topper but you don’t really need it as the bed goes so flat due to the clever design in the shape of the seats.

The roof space needs a mattress to go on the top of the roof boards. Enough room for one adult or two little ones I’d say.

Lights
Lots of lights - 3 side lights that can be switched on and off individually. Plus lights in the roof.

Fridge
Really a good size with freezer section that keeps ice cubes and lollies frozen. Runs off battery for 3 days or easy peasy with the solar panels.

Fuel economy
just worked out at 35 mpg on last trip of mix of a roads and some motorway. That’s in 1.5 petrol

All in all I am just soooo happy with my van and the quality of the finish. Scot at JAL has come up with an ingenious design and has done a great job. Thank you so much JAL

Bought a fully converted Bongo. Great workmanship, and a good looking camper. Phil helped us all the way through the process and went above and beyond to get us to where we needed to be. Thanks Phil. Would buy another camper here for sure.

I’ve had my JAL camper build Bongo for over two years now. I’ve just had the second MOT done and it’s still passing with no advisories! I’ve had no issues with the Bongo either. Really happy camper 😄

After researching companies who import and convert cars
to campervans, we decided to go with JAL.
In February, we made an appointment and went to meet Phil. He explained everything we needed to know about the process and about the conversion. We picked and reserved a vehicle (which was already in transit from Japan) from an extensive list. We then waited for it to get to the UK. At the end of April, Phil notified us that it arrived and we went to see it. We were amazed at the quality.
The car then went into the production queue and we were given a very wide choice of woods, materials, floorings and colour schemes plus many other options etc. to make the camper personal to us. Although it seemed a long time, with little communication in between, we finally collected the finished campervan two weeks ago. When I saw it, I just cried with joy. The end result just blew me away. The quality of the build is superb. The long wait is worth every minute. Phil spent time to make sure that we understood all the workings and answered every question before we drove away. Last weekend we went on our first adventure. It was amazing!
Phil, I can't thank you and your team enough. I would recommend your company to anyone looking to buy a high quality campervan.

Phil and his team are absolute specialists you will not be disappointed with your vehicle.

Phil will update you when it is necessary. Please be patient, as the wait will be definitely worth it. Fleur is absolutely stunning and part of the family

Phil was to the point but really knows his stuff.
We bought a Delica 8 weeks or so ago. We are fans of Mitsubishi already but. We have just come back from 18 days road trip to Scotland. 2000 miles all weathers. Lots of big hills etc. absolutely brilliant. Love it and can’t wait for next trip. She does exactly what Phil said she would .

Communication with Phil has been excellent. I sometimes struggle with communication as I have a stammer. However, Phil after some email communication suggested that I phone him. I am glad that I did as he clearly knows a great deal about Japanese vehicles and camper conversions.
I have been in contact with a number of companies. Some of them have been great in terms of communication but after contacting a number of people who have had vehicles from Phil they have all said that the camper conversions they have had from him have been really good but communication not always great. I guess we all have strengths and weaknesses but given the choice between a great campervan or a great experience, I know which I would choose!
I live up in Scotland but luckily have family in Redditch. I did think about visiting in mid September but it clearly said that they were shut. We are planning to visit in mid October and Phil has said just to phone him to make arrangements nearer the time. This was communicated to me today on the first day back from his holiday.

Just returned from our maiden first tour with our Nissan Elgrand, 1450 miles covered 6 countries visited and a fab time had, with the campervan being a brilliant drive and home for the trip.An excellent conversion. We would recommend to anyone, friends have already shown an interest.
Phil is very knowledgeable and has very quickly answered some of our very novice questions. Yes as people have said DVLA delays and other things caused our van to be ready a month or so after the original estimate, but definitely worth the wait. Phil has communicated when asked or if there are any updates.

My wife and I are looking to buy a Nissan Elgrand from JAL - (following a lengthy market appraisal we placed one on order approx 4 years ago but due to personal circumstances we decided to cancel and a deposit refund was agreed.) I finally spoke to Phil this morning following a number of failed contact points, v/mail, phone, email, text to enquire on current lead times to order one this month. His response was fairly blunt and stated “oh you cancelled on me a few years back, how am I to know that you are serious and you wont do it again!”The conversation seemed to go no further, did not want the business it seemed.
Just amazed at his attitude as we were looking to pay the total in faith of a delivery date that suited both parties. I am sure they are successful in their own right but what could they be as a business who actually listens and cares for the customer.
Bit of a shame at such a short sited response.
*update - No spec chosen or colour scheme or visibility of any time scale whatsoever. The original order was definitely not WIP - ah well, always two sides to a story .

Regards - Bill

My Wife and I decided to move to a campervan after 40 years camping with tens.

After a very long wait, which others have experienced, we picked up our Elgrand conversion in December 2022. We have now used it on a couple of trips, and are very pleased with it. The base vehicle appears to be sound and performs as expected. As it was purchased based on photos taken in Japan we were very pleased with the Elgrand we finally picked up.

The conversion itself is sound, and works well for our needs, although a bubble in the floor has recently appeared. It is impressive how much gear you can get into what is essentially a small campervan.

If the motor assist for the roof was available when we specified the conversion we would have gone for it. The mushroom roof is heavy, my wife cannot lift it.

The solar panel has proven to be of major benefit, i would recommend for all conversions.

Communication with Phil is an issue, many months of silence in our case. Having said that the communications you do receive are relevant and informative. Phil clearly knows his stuff and it is worth listening to his advice.

Overall we are very happy campers, and we love our Elgrand.