smallbear

By way of clarification, the bleep is an internal sounder, hidden deep behind the dashboard and exists primarily for the driver's irritation, not an external sounder and not therefore a safety risk as some have suggested. It is, aparently, to warn the driver that he or she is in reverse gear. This feature is deemed necessary for the Thai market - Toyota does not appear to provide this in certain other markets and for those in which it does, it appears that the feature can be disabled using the Toyota Intellent Tester, though contrary to what I was informed at the dealership.

Kartman's reply correctly identified this - glad you were able to think outside the box Kartman, thanks. In actual fact, the buzzer is very difficult to reach and I don't imagine for one moment it's a task which is as straightforward as it might have been on an older vehicle.

I was looking for any first-hand owner's experience, in which Toyota agreed to change the settings to the owner's preference - there are many settings incidentally and the US market has a guidebook for owners to request the dealership to modify their preferences. Presumably there are no first-hand experiences, but thanks anyway.

The subject more or less explains what I want really. The standard model without reverse sensors, has this annoying and constant bleep-bleep-bleep buzzer sound when reversing the car. In the USA, it appears that the dealer can disable it. I asked at the Toyota dealership here and got the usual silly reply, that it's for safety and they cannot.

It's the second Camry I've owned and after the first, I decided I'd never buy another, because of some of the stupid features that appear to be designed for incompetents and its poor quality ride, but, long story, I find myself with another Camry, and rather regretting it.

Hope someone can help because it's driving me nuts!

I am hoping to hear from any other couples who have held a joint Christian-Buddhist marriage ceremony, as we are planning to do. My wife-to-be is Buddhist and we have discussed the concept of a priest attending the ceremony and participating in some form, whatever that might take. We are interested in what other couples might have done and any pointers you can give us. Were you for instance able to make the Christian element of the ceremony formal and was the priest able to officiate, or was it a blessing only? Did you marry in the Church? Thank you.

I have purchased a therapeutic device from USA recently and the supplier sent it as per my request using USPS (standard US Postal Service), since this does not normally cause issues with arbitrary rates of import duty being appled in Thailand.  However, according to the tracking web site for USPS and Thailand Post, the goods arrived in Thailand last Sunday 27th but shows no status update since then.

July 27, 2014 10:42:04    BANGKOK MAIL CENTER    Accept
July 27, 2014 11:48:55    BANGKOK MAIL CENTER    To Customs

I have used USPS several times recently, and the goods have always been posted directly to me without delay.

However, this supplier, without me being aware of it, has marked the goods "Magnetic Device".  The device is fairly urgent to me because it is for a medical condition, although the device itself is not classified as medical equipment.

Can anyone please advise, what is the usual procedure when goods are in this status?  I have received no notification in any form.

I have been driving my new Camry 2.5g for 7 months now. Love the car, no issues at all. Seriously considered the new Accord but I prefer the more conservative Camry interior and it has a less plasticity feel than the Accord. Read the reviews of the new Teana (Altima in America) and hence eliminated it because of quality control issues and resale here in Thailand.

Thanks, that's interesting to hear. I like the Camry interior too, although I would have said that the centre console is very plasticy and also the fake aluminium corner pieces which ascend up into the dash, plus the matt black plastic panel that surrounds the temperature controls. Nevertheless, I don't like the Honda dash at all, as it looks unweildy with no consistent form, rather like each section has been appended as an afterthought. That said, I hadn't noticed it was plasticy as you say. I may not have looked closely at it. The DVD navigator in the Camry is touch-screen style with larger screen and better placement.

Do you not find that the Camry is too bouncy and just will not settle on anything except a flat road and also the steering imprecise? I was surprised at how well-mannered the Honda was on the road but quite honestly there may be things I don't like about the Honda, once I start to use it regularly.

The Teana is difficult to sell here, as you say. There has been a V6 for sale nearby for longer than I can remember.

Agree, I like the Nissan Teana better.

I did like the interior of the Teana, I agree with you, but when I looked under the front wheel arches, the flimsy plastic was a bit of a shock. It was even more inferior than Toyota's qualty, which is really saying something. The driver I use sometimes, said that the Teana was a very nice drive indeed however and so I imagine it is a nice car to own.

Frankly I feel that all these large Japanese cars are unsatisfactory and too overpriced for what they are. Nevertheless I've bought them, for want of better choices, but never really been that happy. There's no point me bemoaning what I drove in Europe, at a fraction of the cost, and with a V12 6.0 engine!

Has anyone owned a Camry and found that when accidentally flicking up a stone or debris in the road, it breaks the plastic flange from the rear wheel arch? It happened almost every two months, when I was driving long distances.

Thanks Ace, it's good to get a positive reply! All the best.

Does anyone have personal experience of having had ownership of both the current models of Accord and Camry? I'm not looking for opinions but owners' real experience, if anyone can please.

I'm interested in changing my Camry 2.0 Extremo, 2014 model due to disappointments with build quality. I went to test drive a Honda Accord Navigator today and felt that it was a better designed vehicle with more precise steering and more attention to detail than the Toyota.

The only thing I didn't like so much about the Accord, was the placement of the navigator/DVD system, high up on the dash and which isn't a touch-screen display, unlike the Camry. I also like the interior of the Camry a lot.

However, it is my second Camry and when I decided to buy it, it was on the basis that it was the new model and hopefully with improvements in drive and technology. I've been disappointed however, because after getting to know the car well, I've drawn the conclusion that the car is almost unchanged from the 2006/2007 model. For example, the engine is tinny and noisy, the same as before. The steering and handling is poor for a modern car, with a flimsy feel and poor adhesion to the road, when turning at moderate-to-full lock at slow sleep. It wallows over speed bumps, as though the suspension has seen better days, although I have covered only 4,000 km. The suspension is boat-like, for want of a better description. Again, it's a trait that it shares with the previous model.

The thing I do love about the Camry is the interior. It's just a personal thing but visually it is very appealing, with the centre console merging into the dash with pleasant lines. The Honda on the other hand, has a strange array of angles, which have no coherence and no sporting look.

The Honda does have some nice standard features though. Even the base models have a rear-view camera, cruise control and memory seats. I also found that the boot lid feels strong and opens to a firm halt, whereas the Camry boot lid hinges feel very weak and flimsy, almost like they are going to break off under the weight of the lid.

I noted that the Honda has steel sills, whereas the Camry has plastic covered sills. Many things about the Camry are plastic. I would appreciate anyone's experiences if able to give first-hand comparison of having owned and driven both. Thanks.

The best thing to do is ask for the chassis number and contact BMW. Your paying a premium for a car here so if it were me I'd expect it to be fully serviced at BMW Bangkok.

Great idea about the chassis number check, I never thought of that. Thanks. Yes, completely agree about the full service history. It was first on my list of needs. It's normally reasonably priced here for a main dealer serivce, so if they can't show a complete history of that, then I look elsewhere.

If you're considering a relatively recent and expensive (E66?) 7-series I'd suggest that you stick with the dealer network, particularly if you are paying the sort of money that a decent 5 year old 7 will cost. A BMW service history on newer models will be advantageous if you need to re-sell it.

Thanks, that's very helpful. Yes, the vehicle I've found is an E66. There seems to be some confusion here with local owners not quite knowing what they're selling. In many cases they advertise what they say is an E65, which turns out to be an Li-badged car. Others advertise an E66 Li, which turns out to be an 730i (which I take to mean therefore an E65).

More worryingly perhaps, several sellers seem to show pictures of the pre-facelift model of c.2004, with the double round cut-outs in the front bumper, which follow the line of the headlamps and the small rectangular rear lamps in the tailgate, yet claim the year to be 2007, 2008 and astonishingly, one as a 2011.

The vehicle I've found is clean and doesn't seem to be misadvertised, let's hope!

May I ask, is there a choice of BMW dealerships franchises in Bangkok, or are they all the same company?

Many thanks to wprime and bazmlb for the replies. To answer your questions, I have found a 730 Li which is in good condition and if all is well with an inspection, I will buy it. However, my concern is that I might be left exposed on repair costs, when parts need replacing.

I'm based in Hua Hin.

Normally back home I would do my own repairs, but I've noticed here with Toyota (just by way of example) that they don't have a parts order counter. Whenever I ordered something, they try to force the customer into having it fitted by them. Are local repairers able to order parts from the main dealer? I got the impression before that dealers may be acting with anti-competitive measures.

Obviously if my only choice is the main dealer because local repairers are not allowed to order parts from them, I could find myself at their mercy - which in Thailand, is asking for trouble!

Apologies for the typo -- I meant to say "Could any BMW owners give me advice".

Could any BMW owners give me advise please on where to have a five-year-old 730 Li serviced and for minor repairs? Are there good aftermarket specialists, or is it advisable to use only the main dealer?

If using the main BMW dealer, can they usually be trusted in respect to the repairs themselves and transparency of pricing?

Also, is the main dealer the only establishment which is able to reset the service indicator, or can others do that? Thanks for any information.

Just to follow-up on this. I have fixed the problem. It was caused because the e-mail client in Android requires that the security certificate be viewed and accepted, even though there isn't a certificate on my server.

I'm not sure if this is the answer to your question, but I use my iPhone's personal hotspot

Many thanks Fredlk, this has helped me to make further progress. I was inspired by your idea of using the phone as a means of connection for a computer (although in my case I used USB) and as a result of that, I successfully proved that the DTAC connection itself does not prevent the SMTP from being used, because it allowed my PC to send using two other e-mail clients.

It is therefore the software in the Android phone that is preventing the mail from being sent. I found that DTAC allows other SMTP services to be used quite happily, although the SMTP1.DTACNETWORK.CO.TH works equally well. I was unable to use SSL port 465, or the alternative port 587. But port 25 was fine.

I'll have to concentrate on solving the problem with the phone, but at least I now know where the problem lies. Many thanks.

I have been a DTAC customer for some years and successfully send SMTP mail to various servers anywhere using port 25 or 587, but since purchasing another Internet package last week (and an Android phone to go with it also), I haven't been able to send any SMTP. It just remains in the outbox, and yet I can successfully use 'verify server' to ensure that I get an authenticated login to it.

I know that TOT (for example) blocks other SMTP servers and one has to use its own, but until this new package, I have never experienced the problem with DTAC.

I called customer services at DTAC today and the chap asked me to go all the way to Siam Parragon to the smart phone specialist shop (200km away 555). Totally unrealistic, just to find out if DTAC has an SMTP server I can use.

Note: My smartphone sends SMTP mail when I'm connected to my home Wireless-LAN, so therefore I know that it is the DTAC mobile data that is stopping it from working.

Any ideas?

I'm pleased to read the information from KoreaElite just now. I understand from a colleague in the legal profession that the consumer law is extremely well written.

It may be worth remembering also, that the Thailand Elite Programme is Government-backed, as the image below claims. This was copied from the Thailand Elite web site just a few moments ago. The web site appears to indicate that the programme is still open for new members.

Given the claim of Government-backing, this influences potential members' perception of the viability and stability of the programme.

Here is the OCPB form.

ComplaintFormForForeignerOnly_081254.pdf

I strongly recommend that all members consider raising an official complaint with the Office of the Consumer Protection Board, whose web address is ocpb go th However, it may be that members need to wait until it becomes official that Thailand Elite is withdrawing the benefits members paid for. At present, to a large extent, services are still available.

I understand from acquaintances who used the OCPB to excellent effect against a corporation, that the Board is powerful, protects the interests of all, irrespective of nationality and has powers which it can exercise over companies, service providers and others. The Board has the power to arbitrate between the consumer and the organisation and does this through face-to-face meetings. The outcome was very positive. Furthermore, the Board operates under a very strongly written consumer law, which has been well thought out and serves the interests of consumers.

There is a form for foreigners... If you click on "Complaint Form" at the top-right, it will take you to a login page. However, just click Complaint Form Foreigner Only and it will download a PDF in English, which you can submit. It is attached with this post also. I recommend, given some of the members' examples of English on this forum that the form is completed not necessarily by a legal professional but at least someone who can interpret the claims of the Thailand Elite programme and convey these eloquently in a form which can add weight to the member's claim.

To add a comment regarding one of the member's posts about a potential claim being unsuccessful against the Thailand Elite Company because it is not part of the Thai Government, please note that the Company is funded by TAT, the Tourist Authority of Thailand and in any case, benefited from the backing of Government when it was promoted.

I hope this helps and that all members who care to do so, exercise their rights and do not assume that as foreigners they will be immediately disadvantaged.

Yes, it will definitely be using the Ranger's drivetrain options, but feature a shortened chassis and coil rear end. Also, we do have a fair idea of what it will look like.. The T6 Everest design project is being lead by the same guy that instrumented the 2010 (MY2011) US Market Ford Explorer (Todd Hoevener), and he's been on record stating the the next-gen Everest will be receiving styling cues and hand-me-down tech from the Explorer.

Thanks. Can you provide any sources for this information as I'd like to make an informed decision about the forthcoming Everest based on verifiable facts. I note that you mention the change to rear coil-springs and I wonder if this will have a taxation implication, given Thailand's categorisation for this type of vehicle.

The next generation Everest is due next year

After a long search and being somewhat bored and disappointed with the ubiquitous Japanese cars, I am also interested in an Everest. Could the poster give any indication of exactly at which point next year the new generation model is to be released, as it would be unfortunate to find that a new model appears only a short time after purchasing.

Also, if anyone has ownership experience of the Everest, is there anything to report with regard to problems? What is the warranty period? What is the fuel economy?

I'm sorry to see that the choice of colours for the Everest is as limited as many Thai-built products, even though Ford's saloons seem to have some bright and happy colours including reds, blues etc., unlike the many that are essentially just plain metallic choices of white, black and two others. Can one order a custom colour before delivery, in Thailand? Thanks

One point for future reference: don't go to the doctor alone, especially not for a procedure. Bring someone who is knowledgeable, smart, and assertive, if you know such a person.

In the US doctors and hospitals kill approximately 100,000 patients per year through treatment errors, which is more than gunshot and highway deaths combined.

Thanks. I shan't be going back to Bumrungrad again, and as a result I doubt that I'll entrust the Thai hospitals with any serious matters again.

The difference of course is that US has a functioning legal system that hopefully offers some recourse. In Thailand there is a dysfunctional legal system that service providers are able to hide behind, viz-a-viz the signing away of patients' rights at Bumrungrad prior to undergoing any procedure.

Is Bumrungrad all that it cracks itself up to be and value for money? Not in my dozen or so experiences there.

As is shown with my case, Bumrungrad's standards are far from being acceptable. If it were just the misunderstandings such as urology and neurology, that would be one thing, but having surgery performed by someone who hasn't been sufficiently taught what to do, is another.

In view of the typical low standards of communication and safety, I find these Thai hospitals to be very disconcerting. I do not feel that they place a high value on patients' health because they leave too much to chance and do little to resolve the matter.

...alongside those Bulbous Black Slugs called Tunas.It looked refreshing, cheerful and smart without the Brash Spiv look.I m a confessed Anti Flash Truck Person

I love your observations khun wandrinstar. "Black slugs" and "Brash Spiv look"... excellent. But you make me scared to venture out on the three-lane highway again.

It would be a great help if you could let us know the final outcome asd this issue often arises (and by no means specific to just that particular hospital)

Yes, I shall certainly do that for the benefit of other patients. I have found out some quite shocking facts today but will digest them properly and report back.