all4corners

Hey All,

Whilst this reply is not fully appropriate to the thread (apologies), it may help/relax people obtaining Tourist Visa from London before travelling to Thailand after 12th August, or other Western Countries.

My situation:

Last 3yrs I have 4 visa except border run stamps whilst travelling across neighboring countries.

Also stamps from many other countries in Asia as well as India, Nepal, & a few Chinese monthly rollover visas.

Between November 2013 to June 2014 I received 3 back to back Tourist Visas including X2, 30 day extensions.

I left one month into the 3rd visa to return to the UK where I spent 2 months.

This month and for the first time, I decided to visit London Thai consulate for a 2 month Tourist Visa.

Friendly Thai staff, was seen within 5 minutes, transaction took under a minute. 

Following day passport handed to me.

No questions asked during both days Consulate visits.

Flew out a few days before 12th August.

At Suvarnabhumi Airport, immigration chap checked passport, typed computer, checked passport again briefly, typed on computer, then told me to proceed.

No questions asked, though I was carrying various documents to validate my tourist status and a planned itinerary.

Also had 25k cash on me though I hear you can bring in 50k Baht, more would strengthen your Tourist case.

Have to say the guy organising the immigration lines was chirpy & friendly, the 12-15 immigration lanes were stacked with queues with no visible issues....ching ching!

I had no return ticket, as my plans will change & I dont return to UK until June next year, though was planned to explain all this if necessary....

I was considering a new Passport from the UK, though they have huge backlogs, whether this helps who knows...... best not to unnecessarily worry, until it happens and that appears a huge IF imho.......storm in a teacup maybe?

Good luck & thanks all!

A4C

Visited Transport Dept by BTS Banchak train station...

UK Car Driving Licence used to obtain a Thai driving licence, critical document was the UK photo card...... then took 3-4 basic practical simple tests...

I could not obtain my Thai motorcycle licence as I only had a 125cc Test certificate valid for only 2 years, with NO photo card, but was current and valid.

Fortunately I did not have to queue at 4 am as appears having the Thai Car licence photo prevented this.

Motorcycle licence = 30 multiple choice questions, computer test upstairs on level 3, open at 9am, pretty empty

Contrary to the answer I received from the booking clerk there, there are English info books & a video to watch on the ground floor behind counter 7 i think, you walk through behind the counter look for 2 Televisions.

You then come back at 1pm and do the scooter test while a load of car licence test people are anxiously waiting.

Tiny driving circuit, 4 stops at giveway signs, and slow riding around cones... simples...

If you dont have your own scooter maybe you have to hire one for the day or borrow one of a friend?

Waited for approx 90 mins and got phot card motorcycle licence.

The beauty is the licence is for unlimited motorcycle engine size!!

& check the name on the card as the name is written twice, and my lower name was in Thai....!

Went back the next day and as I didnt notice mistake on same day they charged me another 100bht to process card, no bother, i didnt queue as went straight to the same lady who made the error, as usual a helpful local was there to translate...

So I got motorcycle licence the following day after obtaining Thai car licence, as the Thai car licence prevented me from queuing at 4am to be in the days quota... result!

A4C

Thanks firstly to a couple of other posters recommending "Procorner", in the Fortune Building, next to Phra Ram 9 Metro line....am very grateful to you....

To find as its a little tricky if its your first time, go into the main entrance & turn right & up the escalator to the very top (think 3rd floor) & look for Banana computers on a corner, and its 15 metres around that corner....

As someone else mentioned, Neil there speaks perfect English & extremely helpful....

Samsung in Bangkok said they couldnt recover my data.....

Neil said 50/50 & recovered 100%.....

Replacement hard drive with Neil was 700bht cheaper than Samsung & he increased the capacity to 500gb...

Major result.....!

Total confidence in their repair and service and he also helped me with new features hed updated the Notebook with.....

Cheers

A4C

Nope not confused , as I wrote Showtime was closed but I plan to visit next week....but great that both places are a stones throw from each other....and ta very much for the google maps, worked wonders!

Interesting what the other VW place are up to, no wonder they were working late!

Im only interested in the old VW vans, do you guys know if its easy to buy and register an old vehicle in Malaysia and bring it into Thailand permanently?

Or is it a dont bother due to customs officials....?

I did a search for VW in Malaysia & prices look the same if not more on VW Vans, though appreciate theres probably better websites out there I dont know.....

Indonesia looks another interesting place as a source, anyone had experience of bringing an old van from there into Thailand, a chap in the UK has 2 VW split screen vans which are actually type 2 Bay window vans, a VW specialist garage in Java convert it into a split screen, looks very professional, he has 2 of them for hire in England, but normally UK customs wont let a modified vehicle in, unless they didnt realise!

Thanks again chaps,

A4C

Found Showtime, unfortunately closed by the time we found it, though chatted to a Mr Chet running the other VW garage around the corner from Showtime one on the main highway................plan revisit next week.....

Also for the record this outfit look pretty professional, project VW being refurbed and photos on their website, no job to big by the looks of it, and its not just old VW's.....

http://www.sai2autohaus.com/ just a few clicks southe east of Bangkok......

Cheers again all,

A4C

AA Insurance Brokers Pattaya, great service, English speaking, newly purchased scooter and vehicle both with them, Peter there is a gent, total reassurance & peace of mind.....

Quick question guys,

I only have a photocopy of my UK licence. oversight....

Is this suffice to flash to police if get routinely stopped, all other paperwork is legal & produced on the spot, if the situation arose....

My thoughts are that I need a family member to mail my original motor car licence with photo + motorcycle licence asap.....

Cheers all!

A4C

Yeah I hear you crystal clear Warpspeed, im more than happy to hear your caution...... or anyones negativity for that matter, cheaper than choosing the ignorant option, and causing a monumental Royal balls up!

Terrific comments guys, seriously good multi feedback, great site this is turning out to be & Im very grateful, hope its helping others who are lacking knowledge & experience in these matters as its not there field......

I fully appreciate keeping it original too is the way to go, its just all speculation at mo....and I probably may just leave it original, just want to ensure what we do is the best option for us as its a minefield here in Thailand....

Remember a neighbor having a 12 yr old T4 at home, running an original Tickfords LPG unit (bizarre Aston Martin) VW subbed it to them before delivery to first owner, no issues in 12 yrs, 100,000 miles, he reg service started immediately in snow too ..... 2.5 petrol engine.... agreed you cant compare apples to oranges as it aint aircoooled....

If you were stuck in a heavy freak traffic jam lasting hours in BKK, LPG unit & engine running on idle is that taxing the engine? I know it wont have air hitting it as parked up stationary, & as MOK199 said (cheers!) run an external oil cooler and thermostatically controlled fan and bigger sump..... so that could eliminate potential overheating issues... i just thought that if you either have a solid engine, even though old has been treated like a lady, or you get it reconditioned from a reputable VW restorer so you have confidence in it, & with all this technology available, surely we can adapt anything old to suit whatever the environment you wish to run it in, whether blistering hot Nullabor SA, or cold baltic conditions, long as cost effective, and all precautions are nullified.....though maybe not?

Cheers in advance to any future input, though I think youve all nailed it!

Will let you know what & if I commit VW cardinal sin.....and if it was the right move....more research.... cheers all!

A4C

Yes warpspeed is an old aircooled engine, thanks guys for your concerns, you all make some serious points as I knew it couldnt be a case of just slapping on a new gas system to an old quirky engine.

Hence why we really need to find a garage that knows all the pitfalls and all the additional present mods to keep the engine cool and prevent unnecessary wear and tear....we think it will pay for itself so worth researching and pursuing...

Will PM ya VocalNeal.....

Cheers guys again as we are very grateful to your knowledge & wisdom!

A4C

Hi all,

Have read some threads on this site about LPG conversion and feel its worth doing.

A few owners in the UK people have added LPG to VW Bay window vans, appears no issues, though the climate is very mild in comparison.

Do any of you guys with expertise and first hand experience recommend against it?

Its a 35yr old bay window, 2000cc strong engine, pretty solid, though tad thirsty!.

Also concerned with long runs given the Thai temperature, but read these vans were built for it having operated in deserts to snowy conditions, as long as they are set up correctly, though it aint no youngster... someone advised fitting an extra fan inside the engine bay to prevent over heating if stuck in traffic jams..

Is there any fuel recommendations if I dont go for the LPG, is it best to stick with 91 or 95 as i dont want to damage the engine with the wrong fuel...or do a ratio with the E fuels though its a little confusing....

I read on this forum the cost to be 30,000bht for the closed loop system which is said to be the best, whos the best professional LPG converter to use either in or close to Bangkok (close to BTS Bangna) though happy to travel out of town.... and a system that will compliment this old engine if thats relevant?

Hear some insurers wont cover you if your running LPG....

Does anyone have a similar aged VW or other old vehicle with the hard to find theft cover?.......im really struggling to acquire ..... and if so is there an agreed value out there.....

Any advice is greatly appreciated....& cheers again in advance,

A4C

ha, that you all certainly do!

Yes absolutely, i did call showtime, helpful chap, though advised against cocktail version due to rain & leaks!

I mentioned cant they rubber seal it, his response was yes though was surprised they hadnt done a cocktail conversion before?

Approx 2 days labour at 300 bht an hour.....

But he requires the kit (gas struts & rubber seals, hinges, from UK = np)

We plan to pick up a bus on wednesday, then will catch up with him next week to discuss in person....

My main issue is ive seen converted VW baywindow cocktail bars around Soi 11 and the closing angle profile on most of them looks like it was done with an industrial tin opener,,,, hence why i want to find a conscientious guy whos using an appropriate cutting tool, steady light hands and a soft hammer.......

A really skillful guy called Pat who had a panel beater garage in Bangkok, sadly now closed would be the man, is he part of Showtime I wonder or just name coincidence?

If i can find out the guys who normally do these conversions in town I will get second and third opinions as I really dont want this to end in tears....

Cheers again guys,

A4C

wow what a tremendous unexpected response from you all...

with all those cracking leads we should be able to locate what we are seeking...no more head scratching...

were super chuffed, thank you so much VocalNeal, Warpspeed, BangkokBulldog & CTO....

Best.

A4C

Really grateful for that info Neil...cheers

is plenty close enough, as we are at the south east end of the BTS skyrial.

Would be really beneficial to know who in town does the cocktail modifaction to the roof as it would be perfect for camping holidays

Looked on several sites and only one offered with no blue book, feel it will be a long wait and need to get a solid van instead and pay for the conversion....so if any one knows where or who does it, even if its at the other end of Thailand its no problem....

Cheers in advance if anyone is in the know!

Hi all,

First post!

Looking for an up to date lead on where to get repairs on an old VW van, being mechanical and bodywork.

Did see previous topics though unfortunately previous garage referenced no longer exists.

Any ideas recommendations would be most appreciated.

Thanks!