Modified MM550XDP 4x4 my daily use "car"

[RedMM340]

Hi fellow BHP members,
I wanted to do a write up on my 1999 Mahindra MM550 XDP to share what all I have done.

I have done a long series of modifications on this vehicle, but will just give the details of the current configuration. It works well as a daily driver in Delhi. Great for bad roads and potholes. You really don't have to slow down for potholes...just aim straight and go! It is also great for adventure trips. I have taken this jeep on a number of trips to Leh, Sangla Valley, Srinagar, Rajastan, Corbett Park, etc. It pretty much a go anywhere anytime type of vehicle.

The XDP engine is the 2.5L naturally aspirated diesel with an aluminum head. It revs up really high with decent performance, but it really needs a turbo. The gearbox is the 5 forward speed with reverse. Nice smooth gearbox and hydraulic clutch. It also came with power brakes and front discs. Suspension is a bit soft and has a smallish front anti-sway bar. The ride is much better with the Bilstein shocks that I recently installed.

List of mods:
Hardtop (steel) with full lining.
Full internal roll cage
Air conditioning
Carpet interior
Maruti Esteem front seats
Rear seat facing forward with matching fabric
Front bull bar
Side nerf bars
H.D. roof rack with tire mount
Rear fuel can mount
Aluminum double pass race radiator
High flow Flexalite radiator fan
K&N air filter
Free flow exhaust
8x15 alloy rims with Desert Dueler 10R15 tires
Bilstein H.D. gas shocks
Rear LED tailights
Front Hello fog lights
Really BIG Roots Horns

Attached are some pics of the Jeep in Delhi and on various trips just to show what type of terrain it has been through.

Regards,

Gaurav

[HappyWheels]

Great one, Gaurav!

A wonderful vehicle and looks like you are making the most of what has to be offered!

Whats the ICE? Noticed the speakers in the last photos! :-)

[khaadu75]

Amazing pics ... Im hoping to get to see this in flesh in a day or two :-) !!

[rippergeo]

Hello gaurav!
any reason why the mm340 recieved the engine swap from the scorpio and not this one?
also,do you have any plans for a turbo in the MM550?

the suspension being soft in this jeep... how did that happen, is it because of the bilsteins?did you feel that the new suspension set up has taken away a lot of off road ability?or is it something we can live with as long as we dont do any extreme off roading?

the stock MM540 is very stiff. is the MM550 different suspension-wise?

sorry for all the questions, but a project like this has been a dream for me since I was in school.

Love the pics.

[S@~+#0$#]

Awesome Jeep you got there Gaurav. Very nicely executed mods.

Could you please post more pictures on the engine compartment and suspension, would love to see the performance stuff in there.

Is this an MM540 converted by using the Army-spec MM550 Engine\Gearbox or did you pick it up through an army auction?

Can we also have more pictures on the Red Jeep in your profile please?

[khan_sultan]

Hey Gaurav, Thats one mean machine you have got there.. I hope you are hooked up with the Delhi chapter of the 'jeep thrills' so that you can take your machine for offroading.!!

Again.. congrats and an awesome machine there.. do share more details of the red jeep also.

[vinod_nookala]

hi gaurav,

Really rugged looking jeep you have!!! POst more pics of it....

[RedMM340]

Originally Posted by HappyWheels

Great one, Gaurav!

A wonderful vehicle and looks like you are making the most of what has to be offered!

Whats the ICE? Noticed the speakers in the last photos! :-)

Sony CD player in the glove box, a pair of Sony 6x9s, 600W 4 channel amp, 12 subwoofer.

However, I removed the sub and amp last week. The sub was taking up too much room behind the rear seat. The amp was just getting abused with dust and water so I pulled it out before it gets destroyed.

[Samurai]

That's a wonderful Jeep you got there. Damn, you got two dream Jeeps.

[johy]

Man, I love your jeep - and those HORNS! Keep it up.

[Dippy]

Fantastic Jeep and from the looks itself it means business. Nice pictures too. How about more on your ownership experience?

[GTO]

Awesome Jeep! The 550 XDP is a superb engine + gearbox combination for daily use as well as for off-roading. That utilitarian carrier is really spoiling the look of an otherwise handsome Jeep, how about taking it off when not required?

K&N air filter
Free flow exhaust

On a diesel Jeep?

However, I removed the sub and amp last week. The sub was taking up too much room behind the rear seat. The amp was just getting abused with dust and water so I pulled it out before it gets destroyed.

Hook the amp up somewhere behind / below the dash. No worries with water getting there.

You know the review I am really waiting for.....yup, that of your Scorpio engined beast! Come out with it!

[bblost]

Love the complete no-nonsense look.

Made my day.

thanks.

[RedMM340]

Originally Posted by rippergeo

Hello gaurav!
any reason why the mm340 recieved the engine swap from the scorpio and not this one?
also,do you have any plans for a turbo in the MM550?

the suspension being soft in this jeep... how did that happen, is it because of the bilsteins?did you feel that the new suspension set up has taken away a lot of off road ability?or is it something we can live with as long as we dont do any extreme off roading?

the stock MM540 is very stiff. is the MM550 different suspension-wise?

sorry for all the questions, but a project like this has been a dream for me since I was in school.



Love the pics.

No problems with questions. I love discussing jeeps!

No turbo as of yet, but I definitely want to get one in. Just have not had the time. The Red Jeep has been the main project vehicle, and has taken up most of my time....it is like a r&d platform for performance enhancements with 40 hours of time on jackstands to ever 1 hour of driving.
Suspension is totally stock except the shocks and is very flexy and good for off road. I have had 3 sets of shocks on this jeep since I bought it. The first was factory units. Total junk. The next set where Rancho 5000s which are not very good and very stiff. The current set are Bilstein HD gas charged. These are the best by far and work awesome off and on road.

I can't comment on how stiff it is comared to an MM540 as I have never driven one. But my reference point is that of Jeeps and not cars. This MM550 XDP is soft compared to my Red Jeep which is really stiff.

Regards,

[RedMM340]

Originally Posted by S@~+#0$#

Awesome Jeep you got there Gaurav. Very nicely executed mods.

Could you please post more pictures on the engine compartment and suspension, would love to see the performance stuff in there.

Is this an MM540 converted by using the Army-spec MM550 Engine\Gearbox or did you pick it up through an army auction?

Can we also have more pictures on the Red Jeep in your profile please?

First of all thanks for the compliments on the jeep.

Pics attached:

This is a factory MM550 that I bought new in 1999 from a MM dealer in Faridabad.

Red jeep write up to follow a bit later.