MM550 Army 4x4 Jeeps

4x4addict · 15th December 2007, 11:26

I have just won a bid on a couple of MM550 4x4 Jeeps at an army auction in Delhi.

I plan to keep three of them and sell the three 1999 model year MM550s. I don't know what condition they are in and as I haven't seen any of them. I will be making a trip to Delhi shortly to see them. If anyone is interested in buying the three 1999 model year jeeps let me know. We can work out the price after we see the jeeps.

It will take me about a month to finalize the transaction and take possession of the Jeeps. They will be available for sale in delhi. I will be trucking the three jeeps that I am keeping to chennai.

Arka, I will probably want an introduction to your mechanic to help me strip these puppies down to the chasis and re-condition them.

Please PM me if interested. I can't upload pictures until I make the trip to delhi. If any bhpian in delhi can help me out it will be great.

Regards,
TK.

4x4addict · 15th December 2007, 20:21

I just wanted to add that the last time I won an auction, they send me a notice to make a 25% deposit. I had the DD ready and after three days, they notified me saying that the auction had been canceled without a reason.

I suspect some connected people may have wanted that lot of jeeps. Who knows. Anyway, I am keeping my fingers crossed that this time they wont' pull the rug from under me.

16th December 2007, 21:00

hey 4X4, your profile says cochin, but you're taking these bad boys to madras. why?

4x4addict · 16th December 2007, 21:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by rippergeo

hey 4X4, your profile says cochin, but you're taking these bad boys to madras. why?

The reason I am taking it to madras is that I have a good friend who had his MM540 completely stripped down to the chassis and restored. He did an excellent job and it looks and drives better than new.

Besides our resident jeep expert Arka is also there. I am planning to get help from their mechanics with my restoration project.

s0uljah · 16th December 2007, 23:32

The 550 is a great model. Hope there's a few gems in the lot.

Only thing you got to watch out for w.r.t army stuff is that they will salvage every possible spare from the vehicle and replace it with phaltu "gujri" maal.

What you saw at the auction is not what you always get.

IronWolf · 17th December 2007, 00:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by s0uljah

The 550 is a great model. Hope there's a few gems in the lot.

Only thing you got to watch out for w.r.t army stuff is that they will salvage every possible spare from the vehicle and replace it with phaltu "gujri" maal.

What you saw at the auction is not what you always get.

souljah.. Are you sure this happens? Cause I have heard otherwise that the jeeps are in pretty well kept condition and the delivered ones dont have much issues.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4x4addict

I just wanted to add that the last time I won an auction, they send me a notice to make a 25% deposit. I had the DD ready and after three days, they notified me saying that the auction had been canceled without a reason.

I suspect some connected people may have wanted that lot of jeeps. Who knows. Anyway, I am keeping my fingers crossed that this time they wont' pull the rug from under me.

Dammit !!!!! those connected people. This would have been an interesting thread with some interesting pics.. Never see 3 Green MM550s lined up together. was even contemplating placing my bid with you via PM

Yahhh to Chennai and not Delhi

Keep us posted.

flipsyde · 17th December 2007, 01:38

i know a friend in calicut who was looking out for army jeeps. i'l find out if he is interested. pls post pics.

17th December 2007, 06:42

pardon my ignorance, but how is a 550 4wd different from a 540 4wd. what makes them so desirable compared to the garden variety MM540s?

4x4addict · 17th December 2007, 10:10

More powerful and more modern engine compared to the 540. The 550 XDB also comes with a 5 speed (5 Forward + Reverse).

The army version has a few modifications to meet army spec. Other than that the 540 and 550 are the same.

S@~+#0$# · 17th December 2007, 11:34

@rippergeo: This link below should point out the differences between the 550s and the 540s.
Mahindra Mm,Mahindra Mm Reviews,Mahindra Mm Suv In India,Mahindra Motors,Mahindra Mm 540/550 Dp

17th December 2007, 15:41

thanks 4X4 and santhosh, now i know what model to look for. but i've never seen a 550 on the road, is that because its purely for the army? all i see around here are the 540DPs, of which we owned one.

S@~+#0$# · 17th December 2007, 16:23

Most Army Jeeps that you see today are MM 550s\Gypsys. I am sure you would have seen them but mistook them for 540s. The MM550s look identical to the 540s but are taller. This is because they are equipped with 16" wheels and MRF Sandgrip tires.

@4x4addict, as discussed via PM, I am interested in one of these.

nitrous · 17th December 2007, 16:37

Arka's jeep is a proper 550 spec.
Even the rims and tyres are from the army.

DirtyDan · 17th December 2007, 18:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4x4addict

I have just won a bid on a couple of MM550 4x4 Jeeps at an army auction in Delhi.

TK.

Who do we see, where do we go to put in a bid like yours in Delhi?

Hope you have recieved my PM stating my interest in your MM550s.

susan3004 · 17th December 2007, 23:40

I have a submission to make in regards to MM550s.
The 550s inducted in army prior to 2005 had a terrible wobbling problem which resulted in the breakage of knucle bearing. This problem couldn't be rectified even by the dealers themselves.
Believe me on to this as I would have driven 550s more than any one on this forum and also in the most inhospitable terrains in India and abroad.
I must add that I have never driven a 540, so it is difficult to say that what I have quoted for 550 also goes for 540.
I sure hope that the mechanics can employ some modification and rectify this problem.

15th December 2007, 11:26	#1
4x4addict Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 4,497 Thanked: 4,650 Times View My Garage	MM550 Army 4x4 Jeeps I have just won a bid on a couple of MM550 4x4 Jeeps at an army auction in Delhi. I plan to keep three of them and sell the three 1999 model year MM550s. I don't know what condition they are in and as I haven't seen any of them. I will be making a trip to Delhi shortly to see them. If anyone is interested in buying the three 1999 model year jeeps let me know. We can work out the price after we see the jeeps. It will take me about a month to finalize the transaction and take possession of the Jeeps. They will be available for sale in delhi. I will be trucking the three jeeps that I am keeping to chennai. Arka, I will probably want an introduction to your mechanic to help me strip these puppies down to the chasis and re-condition them. Please PM me if interested. I can't upload pictures until I make the trip to delhi. If any bhpian in delhi can help me out it will be great. Regards, TK.
	() Thanks

15th December 2007, 20:21	#2
4x4addict Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 4,497 Thanked: 4,650 Times View My Garage	I just wanted to add that the last time I won an auction, they send me a notice to make a 25% deposit. I had the DD ready and after three days, they notified me saying that the auction had been canceled without a reason. I suspect some connected people may have wanted that lot of jeeps. Who knows. Anyway, I am keeping my fingers crossed that this time they wont' pull the rug from under me.
	() Thanks

16th December 2007, 21:00	#3
rippergeo Posts: n/a	why madras? hey 4X4, your profile says cochin, but you're taking these bad boys to madras. why?
	() Thanks

16th December 2007, 23:32	#5
s0uljah Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: BLR Posts: 2,222 Thanked: 26 Times View My Garage	The 550 is a great model. Hope there's a few gems in the lot. Only thing you got to watch out for w.r.t army stuff is that they will salvage every possible spare from the vehicle and replace it with phaltu "gujri" maal. What you saw at the auction is not what you always get.
	() Thanks

17th December 2007, 01:38	#7
flipsyde BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 643 Thanked: 84 Times	i know a friend in calicut who was looking out for army jeeps. i'l find out if he is interested. pls post pics.
	() Thanks

17th December 2007, 06:42	#8
rippergeo Posts: n/a	pardon my ignorance, but how is a 550 4wd different from a 540 4wd. what makes them so desirable compared to the garden variety MM540s?
	() Thanks

17th December 2007, 10:10	#9
4x4addict Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 4,497 Thanked: 4,650 Times View My Garage	More powerful and more modern engine compared to the 540. The 550 XDB also comes with a 5 speed (5 Forward + Reverse). The army version has a few modifications to meet army spec. Other than that the 540 and 550 are the same.
	() Thanks

17th December 2007, 11:34	#10
S@~+#0$# BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 700 Thanked: 43 Times View My Garage	@rippergeo: This link below should point out the differences between the 550s and the 540s. Mahindra Mm,Mahindra Mm Reviews,Mahindra Mm Suv In India,Mahindra Motors,Mahindra Mm 540/550 Dp
	() Thanks

17th December 2007, 15:41	#11
rippergeo Posts: n/a	thanks 4X4 and santhosh, now i know what model to look for. but i've never seen a 550 on the road, is that because its purely for the army? all i see around here are the 540DPs, of which we owned one.
	() Thanks

17th December 2007, 16:23	#12
S@~+#0$# BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 700 Thanked: 43 Times View My Garage	Most Army Jeeps that you see today are MM 550s\Gypsys. I am sure you would have seen them but mistook them for 540s. The MM550s look identical to the 540s but are taller. This is because they are equipped with 16" wheels and MRF Sandgrip tires. @4x4addict, as discussed via PM, I am interested in one of these.
	() Thanks

17th December 2007, 16:37	#13
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,964 Thanked: 333 Times View My Garage	Arka's jeep is a proper 550 spec. Even the rims and tyres are from the army.
	() Thanks

17th December 2007, 23:40	#15
susan3004 BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kapurthala Posts: 384 Thanked: 268 Times	I have a submission to make in regards to MM550s. The 550s inducted in army prior to 2005 had a terrible wobbling problem which resulted in the breakage of knucle bearing. This problem couldn't be rectified even by the dealers themselves. Believe me on to this as I would have driven 550s more than any one on this forum and also in the most inhospitable terrains in India and abroad. I must add that I have never driven a 540, so it is difficult to say that what I have quoted for 550 also goes for 540. I sure hope that the mechanics can employ some modification and rectify this problem.
	() Thanks