Quote:
Originally Posted by n.devdath OT: Is the ride quality of the 4WD different from the 2WD versions? Also, do you have the new door pads now offered by M&M or the old ones? |
Quote:
Originally Posted by SS-Traveller If I may answer that - yes, the ride quality is stiffer up front, and the car tends to nosedive less. And yes, 1100D's door pads are of the newer material (harder) as compared to mine, as also his internal lock lever, which is in black (door pads being beige) and has the lock as a separate button, unlike mine which has the Ford-style push-into-lock, pull-out-to-open lever in a tan colour. The new lever also felt more flimsy, though they may turn out to be durable. |
1100D's doorpads are quite old!!
Anyway Thanks for answering the questions, moreover post no 24 of this thread (page 2) has pics of the door pads. Although this is the only
vehicle of mine whose door pads have been picturised, what an irony!
As SS-T says, the Lever looks flimsy, but have checked it for durability. Although cosmetically does not belong to a
vehicle that costed upwards of 12 lakhs to procure. It must be the worst looking of all the cars I have owned so far. But
then a Honda or a VW of the same price bracket would not seat the sixth passenger and the Toyota wont look this handsome
and boast of a 4WD system!!
Anyway, coming back to the service center experience
Checked in to the Royal Motors service center at the agreed time. Was met by a semi-service advisor, wasted time explaining
that I need the service done, this is a 4wd vehicle, besides this I need denting painting done, asked around for the right
front alloy center cap, negative response, asked for the rear left mudflap, negative response.
Then he chanellised me to the service advisor, who was busy convincing the driver of another hapless owner and wasn't doing
a very good job at it. Had to wait for the convincing to be over.
Asked around for the body shop guy in the interim. He was more forthcoming. He went, checked the whole car, pointed to me,
all this is very minor. The rear left door, that had the dent from another scorp, he was recommending to omit. Why? It has
the graphic that he cant procure. I said, thats the only dented panel, if there is only 1 panel I needed done it would be
this one. He said okay, I should forget the graphics, said okay give me the estimate. The estimate he gave me was
exorbitant, but then, came down to acceptable levels once arguments set in, that most of the panels need only half of it to
be painted. Portions underneath the cladding need no attention at all. He asked me to speak to the service advisor to hand
him over the car once service is over. Should that not be their internal process? They looked at me with disbeleiving eyes.
Anyway, seemed like they still get things done.
Went back to the service advisor, he was wrapping up his convincing skills and it was my turn to be convinced.
He asked me if this was a new car, had to tell him that since its come for its first service so it must be a new one.
Then he took out a piece of paper, "internal job card", I thought to myself, with little knowledge that this would be my
work reciept. He started scribbling on it. Then came the explanation as he wrote the following.
Oil Filter (pronounced as oil philter), Engine oil (pronounced as Mobil), Gear oil, Differential oil, D Carbon, Injector
cleaner.
The last two, I protested, the guy went upto saying, that this is Mahindra recommended and has to be done, I said I havn't
seen it in the service booklet. He said, not everything is written there.
I asked for a minute from him and right at his desk, gave a call to Behram Dhabhar. Spoke to him and he reminded me that my
vehicle is a 4wd, get the axle oil and Transfer case oil looked into. He also asked me to check if these fellows have the
right allen key for the front diff and TC.
But seeing that I was speaking to someone, the Service advisor visually dropped his body language. The Mahindra recomended
items now became optional. Then he suggested not to do it since the car is new. Was simply smiling back at him that you
were strongly recomending it a few seconds back. Told him about TC, Front diff. He said yes he knows, they have been in
business since long and has the right knowledge to do the job. He said they have handled many automatics!! Had to remind
him that Marengo was not an automatic but a 4WD. He did not seem convinced 4WD is different from Automatic. Then insisted
that I meet the mechanic that will do the job.
All this while, I really wished to drive out Marengo from there, but I did not have KM's to go, neither I had time before 3
months were over.
Mechanic comes in, he says, 4wd, they have handled many. I said fine, show me the bleeding point and that you have the
right tool for the job. He kept on saying they do as they have been in business since long and factory people always think
dealers dont have the right tools. He said, he has the procedure manual to look into, he has the tools. So I insisted on
seeing the procedure manual!!
He comes back with a service schedule, turns out that at 5k its only the front and rear axle, transmission and TC is at
10k. So asked him to show me the manual, if not hoist the car up and show me that their tool fits. That they have the right
allen key.
He asked me to wait around to get the vehicle on a lift. All this while the clock was ticking, was getting horribly late
for work.
Long wait later, the vehicle was hoisted, the allen key was brought and voila, it did not fit in. They tried couple of
other ones, none of them seemed to be of the right dimension. Some more precious minutes wasted and they informed me that
they will go to the market to buy the right key!! Will be here in the next 2 hours.
I had to leave at that point. Was successful atleast in letting them know that they dont know enough. Asked for the service
manual, they said they keep it during service and hand it over with the vehicle.
As I took a walk back to the point I could get a Cab, was reflecting about the contrast to Ford service. Those guys have
become friends now.
Came back to work and then I called up the regional sales person telling him the whole story. He sympathised and guided the
Mahindra service person to speak to me. Within late afternoon, I had the workshop service manager call me up. He was more
responsive and actually helped me get all the items that I was told as unavailable, including the alloy center cap. However
the service advisor also called informing me that the service is done, they had taken quite a bit of pain to get the fronT
differential oil in. He mentioned, lathe, machining, steering rack. On noting that I was becoming hyper, he said, saar all
machining/Lathe work was done on the tool, nothing on your car.
On Friday (Mar 4) took delivery and wanted to see the tool they procured for the front differential. Here it is!!! (A bolt cut in the shape of an allen key, welded to two rods)
Trying to fit it to the filler, I couldn't. It would foul with the steering rack bolt.
They politely informed that the steering rack housing had to be dismantled for
it.
Anyway, atleast the front diff seemeed to have a oil streak from the filler point, which confirmed that atleast the job was
done. Cleaned the diff there, and have observed for the last 2 days to see any signs of dripping, there isn't any.
Then as I was about to leave, asked for the service manual, the service advisor said that its in the car. Walked back to
the car and found it to be not there. Went back asked for it. The service advisor started looking for it. Could not find
it. Then started giving me a story that he had given it back to me on the day I brought it for service. I politely told him
that is not the case. He kept on debating. He asked me to take the vehicle home and check it at my place. He said he is
confident that he had given it back, that I can't recall the whole incident. He walked back to the car one last time,
opened the glove compartment, could not find anything but just as he was about to close it, the thing wouldn't close.
Realised that the manual had slid into the gap between the glove box and the dashboard inner. The guy was jubilant, saying
"see sir I told you that its in your car". I simply brought this to his notice that a few moments back, he was argueing
with me, that he had actually given it back to me and was hell bent on convincing me, that I have a memory problem. As if,
I cant recall something that obviously happened. The semi-service advisor too was echoeing his lines. All this and there
was not even a simple sorry from them.
Drove out. Service done, car in showroom condition, lot of debates, lot of points learnt, proven, a stronger man now!!
Will have to figure out which workshop will I take for the next service at 10k. Till then, hopefully Marengo gallops on.