SGLR · SGL5 · SGLW · SGEW · SG5W · SGE3
Mazda Bongo Friendee SG import check
SGLR is the factory model code for the Mazda Bongo Friendee SG, built for the Japanese market from 1995 to 2005. Other versions carry SGL5, SGLW, SGEW, SG5W and SGE3. Every genuine car has a chassis (frame) number that starts with its code, such as SGLR-. That number is the one thing that links its Japanese history to its UK records.
SGLR at a glance
- Model code
- SGLR
- Make
- Mazda
- Model
- Bongo Friendee (SG)
- Body
- MPV
- Built
- 1995 to 2005
- Engine
- WL-T (2499 cc turbo diesel) or J5-D (2497 cc naturally aspirated petrol) or FE (1998 cc naturally aspirated petrol)
- Drivetrain
- RWD or 4WD
- Japanese trims
- Auto Free Top (AFT), RS, RS-V
- Chassis number format
- SGLR- then the serial number
From our own model library, compiled from public sources and not yet checked against a second source. UK records sometimes drop the hyphen or the leading zeros of the serial; our check allows for that.
Reading the SGLR chassis code
- SGL codes are reported to be the 2.5 turbo-diesel, SGE and SG5 the petrol cars.
| Code | What it is | Engine | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| SGLR | Bongo Friendee (SG) | WL-T / J5-D / FE | 1995–2005 |
| SGL5 | 2.5 dieselNot yet confirmed | WL-T / J5-D / FE | 1995–2005 |
| SGLW | 2.5 dieselNot yet confirmed | WL-T / J5-D / FE | 1995–2005 |
| SGEW | 2.5 V6 petrolNot yet confirmed | WL-T / J5-D / FE | 1995–2005 |
| SG5W | 2.5 V6 petrolNot yet confirmed | WL-T / J5-D / FE | 1995–2005 |
| SGE3 | 2.0 petrolNot yet confirmed | WL-T / J5-D / FE | 1995–2005 |
Have a chassis number? The chassis decoder reads it for you.
Is it a genuine SGLR?
Ford sold the same van in Japan as the Ford Freda; DVLA may list one as a Ford.
Known problems to check on an SGLR
- Rust on the sills, wheel arches, floor and around the roof
- WL-T diesel overheating and head-gasket failure
- Elevating roof (AFT) canvas, struts and motor
- Camper conversions: ask for the conversion paperwork, a gas safety certificate and an electrical check, and see whether the V5C body type has been changed
These are common issues for the model, not facts about any particular car. Ask the seller about each one.
Before you buy
- Check the coolant level and for oil in the coolant, then watch the temperature gauge on a long climb
- Raise and lower the roof, and look for damp in the canvas
The SGLR on a Japanese auction sheet
- The sheet names the van ボンゴフレンディ (Bongo Friendee).
- Cars from snowy northern Japan can have more underbody rust than the auction grade suggests: look underneath before you buy
Most imports were bought at a Japanese auction, and the inspector’s sheet records the grade, mileage and every mark on the body. Ask the seller for it, then run it through our auction sheet translator to read it in English and check the chassis number and mileage against the UK record.
Recalls in Japan for the SGLR family
Japan publishes every recall with the chassis numbers it covers. Run a recall check with the car’s chassis number to see whether any apply to it.
MOT record in the UK
Mazda Bongo Friendee
- 45% of 20,539 first MOT tests failed in 2024 and 2025, 23% higher than the UK average for cars of the same age.
- Most common advisory: Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive (16% of tests).
- Most common failure: Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (10% of tests).
From DVSA’s anonymised MOT data, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Kilometres, miles and the first UK MOT
An SGLR sold new in Japan has a speedometer in kilometres. When it is imported, the speedometer is either converted to miles or left in km, and the first UK MOT should record whichever the dial shows. Mistakes here are common, and they’re where mileage problems hide.
We put the Japanese auction mileage and every UK MOT reading on one timeline and check the crossing: whether the readings agree after converting, whether the km figure was written down as miles, and whether the first UK reading is lower than the car had already done in Japan. See an illustrative example.
What we haven’t confirmed yet
We only state what we’re confident of. We haven’t yet checked these points about the Mazda Bongo Friendee SG against a second source, so treat them with care:
- The engine and drive each Bongo Friendee code marks, so we list every engine for each code.
Know the answer? Email [email protected].
Questions
What is the chassis code for the Mazda Bongo Friendee SG?
SGLR, with SGL5, SGLW, SGEW, SG5W and SGE3 for other engines or drive layouts. A Japanese-market Mazda Bongo Friendee SG has a frame number that starts with its code, then a hyphen and a serial number. You’ll find it on the V5C and on a plate in the engine bay.
Which years was the SGLR built?
From 1995 to 2005, with the WL-T (2499 cc turbo diesel) or J5-D (2497 cc naturally aspirated petrol) or FE (1998 cc naturally aspirated petrol) engines and RWD or 4WD layout.
What should I check when buying an SGLR?
Rust on the sills, wheel arches, floor and around the roof. WL-T diesel overheating and head-gasket failure. Elevating roof (AFT) canvas, struts and motor. Camper conversions: ask for the conversion paperwork, a gas safety certificate and an electrical check, and see whether the V5C body type has been changed. Check the coolant level and for oil in the coolant, then watch the temperature gauge on a long climb. Raise and lower the roof, and look for damp in the canvas. Also check that the Japanese auction mileage lines up with the first UK MOT, because km and miles are easily mixed up.