Model Code for Pre-Facelift Toyota Alphard MZG

I have previously writes about the model code for new-facelift Toyota Alphard MZG. During my visit to two dealers this week while helping a reader of mine to search for his MZG, I also found the model code for pre-facelift MZG.

The Alphard G MZG carries the following model codes:

MNH10-PFPQK-G for 2WD model
MNH15-PFPQK-G for 4WD model

The Alphard V MZG carries the following model codes:

MNH10-PFPQK-P for 2WD model
MNH15-PFPQK-P for 4WD model

I think with these information I am ready to compile a list of all the model codes for 1st Gen Toyota Alphard as I mentioned in my previous post.

Watch this space for the table pretty soon.

Update: I have uploaded the table here. Click the link to download it.

Toyota Alphard MZ/MZG Model

The MZ/MZG are high specification model of the 1st Gen Toyota Alphard and both are 3.0L engine model.


The MZ has cloth seats while the MZG comes standard with leather seats. The cloth in the MZ has a slightly different texture from those cloth used in the AX and MX model. The photo below shows the cloth used in the MZ (left) compared those used on the AX/MX model (right)

The MZ model comes in either 7-seaters or 8-seaters arrangement. It has wood panel on the centre console, the left and right side of the dashboard, and the top/bottom of the steering wheel. Shown below is the interior of a PFL MZ.

The interior of a NFL MZ is shown below Again the difference between the PFL and the new NFL model are in the HU and the lighter colour of the wood panel.

Electric driver seat is a standard feature on MZ and MZG.

The MZG is the top of the range model. It has all the features of an MZ with the following additions:

• Beige-colour Leather seats
• Auto curtain
• Cruise control
• Mini-table in 2nd row on 7 seaters
• Footrest (odoman) on 7 seaters
• Heated Driver and Passenger Seats

Also most owners of MZG would normal specify the option of 5.1 theatre sounds system, power boot, VSC and TRC when they purchase the car. Therefore most of the MZG landed here would have the most complete specification of a Toyota Alphard. It is therefore not surprising that the MZG is the most expensive of all the Toyota Alphard model.

Toyota Alphard AS/MS Model

The AS/MS is the sporty version of the 1st Gen Toyota Alphard. It is differentiated from the AX-L/MX-L in the exterior as well as the colour of the interior. The AS/MS model comes in 7-seaters arrangement only. The exterior difference was covered in this post previously.

The AS/MS have all the following features:

• Head Unit with CD/MD - PFL only
• Head Unit with DVD, MD, MP3, Bluetooth and 30GB Harddisk (HDD) - NFL only
• Smart door lock system
• Front and rear camera
• Black-wood panel centre console
• Black interior colour
• Black colour seats
• 17-inch wheels
• Aero bumpers and side skirt
• Larger diameter tail pipe
• armrest and back pocket on middle seats of 7-seaters
• Round-shape front fog lamp

The AS/MS also comes in Alcantara package where the seats are fitted with Alcantara cloth. Shown below is the interior of a PFL AS/MS model.

The interior of a NFL AS/MS model is shown belowLi

The NFL model comes with a larger HU with LD display.

Since the AS/MS has a sporty exterior, a lot of buyers would like to go for this model but unfortunately the supply of these models are quite low. Hence once a unit is available in any of the dealer it will get taken very fast by those eager buyers.

In the next post, I will cover the MZ/MZG model.

Toyota Alphard AX/MX model

The Toyota Alphard AX/MX edition is the most basic trim available. It comes with minimum features fitted and has beige-colour interior and beige-colour cloth seats. It is only available in 8-seaters trim only. It has orange-wood panel centre console.

Shown below is the interior of a PFL AX/MX model.

The NFL AX/MX interior is shown below

The main difference between the PFL and NFL interior are that the wood panel colour in the central console is lighter on the NFL, and the NFL comes with a large HU with DVD/HD/LCD display while the PFL model has a standard CD player fitted.

The AX-L and MX-L is considered the Luxury edition. They are available in either 7 or 8-seaters arrangement. The 7-seaters arrangement is also specifically fitted to cater for those owner who need a side lift seat (or what is called a wellcab).

The AX-L and MX-L have all the following features:

• CD Player - PFL only
• Head Unit with DVD, MD, MP3, Bluetooth and 30GB Harddisk (HDD) - NFL only
• Roof mounted LCD - NFL only
• smart door lock system
• sonar sensor
• Front and rear camera
• Orange-wood panel centre console
• Beige interior colour
• Beige colour Seats
• 16-inch wheels
• No body kit
• armrest and back pocket on middle seats of 7-seaters
• Tray table on the back of the middle row of 8-seaters
• Left Power Sliding door (standard)

If the AX/MX has any of the above options fitted, then it is an option that the original owner has chosen when he/she purchased the car in Japan.

In the next post, I will cover the AS/MS model.

What's the ruling on privacy glass?

Recently several members of the AOC was given an inspection notice (Arah Periksa Kenderaan) in several road blocks set up by JPJ (our Road Transport Department) on the privacy glass in their giant (Toyota Alphard). It seems JPJ now deems that the privacy glass in our giant doesn't meet the specification for tinting.

But what is the guideline on the specification on privacy glass for imported car like the Toyota Alphard? The JPJ website doesn't has specific guideline on this and the only way to read the above ruling is listed in theis page. Unfortunately it is written in Bahasa Malaysia which translate to "all the glass at front must have vehicle light transmission (VLT) >70% while side and rear glass must have VLT > 50%". If this is the ruling apply by JPJ then I guess all Toyota Alphard imported into this country would not pass the specification. Also, without a clear guideline, they are only issuing the inspection notice rather then issuing a summon to the owner for violation.

Then the question would be if JPJ doesn't allow imported car to have privacy glass that doesn't meet the specification, why would the dealers are allow to import these vehicles into the country.

The logic goes that our Ministry of Trade International (MITI) issues permits for vehicles to be imported. Its permits specify brand, model, etc but does not go into details regarding specification for privacy glass. Then our Customs Department is only interested in whether the cars have a legal Approved Permit and determine any payable tax. With these two conditions met, the cars get into the country legally and cannot actually be stopped since they meet importation laws.

The issue starts when the cars are sent to JPJ for registration. JPJ will evaluate the cars on technical specifications which must comply with our Vehicle Construction Rules, which include permissible levels of tinting. This is where the problem starts. JPJ will find that the tinting is beyond permissible levels but because it is not a film and actually the glass itself, it cannot be changed just like that. But the importer has already sold it to the dealer and the dealer has a customer who has paid a deposit for it.

To get around this ruling, the dealers will change these dark glasses (temporarily) to clear glasses before sending the car to Puspakom for inspection. After getting the report back from Puspakom verifying that the glass has passed inspection, the dealer changed the glasses back to the original dark one before delivering to the customer. From the customer perspective, since there is an approval by Puspakom, then there shouldn't be any problem with JPJ. The recent operation by JPJ seems to indicate that they are strictly enforcing their ruling on privacy glass.

There has been many attempt by JPJ to enforce the ruling on tinting before and their efforts was stopped by the Government several times. I am wondering if this is an indication that they are going all out to target all Toyota Alphard owners.

The privacy glass on the pre-facelift model is actually darker than those on the new-facelift model. Therefore if this new "ruling" by JPJ is strictly enforced, then all pre-facelift model owners will have to change the privacy glass to clear glass. I don't know if the new-facelift model privacy glass will pass the specification but very unlikely.

Another AOC member who recently bought a 2nd generation Toyota Alphard was also "caught" in a recent operation and was also asked to change the privacy glass. I don't know how long all Alphard owners can hold out before they see the next JPJ Operation and get a notice in their hand. I am not looking forward to that day myself. In the AOC forum, many members have started a discussion on putting up community voice to the media to highlight this concern.

I heard that our Transport Minister also drive a Toyota Alphard. I wonder if he has to change his privacy glass!

Pre-Facelift and New Facelift?

In my last post, I show you how to determine the year of manufacture on the unit you are interested in. I also mentioned that from May 2005 onward, the Toyota Alphard receive a minor face lift. In this post, I will show you how to differentiate a pre-facelift unit from a new facelift unit.

Exterior

On the exterior, there are some changes in the head light cluster at the front and at the rear.

In the photo below, it show side-by-side the front head light cluster of a pre-facelift (left photo) and new facelift model (right photo).

The new facelift front light cluster has two extruding white lip at the side. The pre-facelift light cluster has an orange signal light at the back portion of the light cluster while the new facelift has clear glass at the back. If you view from the side, you'll see the different as shown below.


Since the front light cluster is different in size, the front grille size is also different but it is not easy to see through the naked eye. The easiest way to identity the different is that the new facelift top grille is thicker as shown in the right photo below.


Anyway one should not use the grille as the absolute way to differential the model because the previous owner might have change to after market grille.

At the rear, there are changes on the appearance of the signal light cover and the reverse light cover.

The new facelift rear signal light cover has two white strips (right photo) while the pre-facelift has only one large strip (left photo).


The pre-facelift reverse light cover is smaller (left photo) while the new facelift model (right photo) has a larger cover with distinct round shape internal light element.


Interior

The major change in the interior is the head unit. In the photo below, the left photo shows the new facelift unit has an 8-inch head unit while the pre-facelift unit has smaller head unit.


Since the new facelift model come out in May 2005, by looking on all the features at the exterior mentioned above, you can be certain that a it is a NFL unit.

Is it possible to upgrade a pre-facelift unit to a new facelift look? The answer is a resounding YES. However, the cost is also very high because the entire front light clusters, the grille and the side panels has to be changed. At the rear, the entire rear light cluster and the center panel also needs to be changed. Last I heard it will cost RM8K upward for the facelift to be done locally.

Even if the owner has change the exterior from pre-facelift to new facelift, the interior such as the head unit cannot be easily change. The wiring harness from the pre-facelift model cannot be fitted into the new facelift hear unit. I have seen cases where the dealer posted the ad for a NFL unit but then the interior clearly shows that it is a pre-facelift model.

My next post will go cover the front and rear camera operation.