[Schoudhury]

Originally Posted by hemanth.anand

I have caught the culprit!

It is the BETL Electronic pass (or OBU as they call it)! The battery life is coming to an end and this was a warning and not a time bomb set

Now, that is some serious investigation you have done to find the root cause .
How did you find it ?
Bdw what happened to the smoking of the headlamp , when are we going to see the new look of your punto .

The Adrives does look skinny than any other tyre in the same size, where as the ZLO and potenza G3 looks broader than their original sizes.

Like 195 ZLO looks similar to 205 tyre .

One more thing , 205 tyre on punto 1.2 , is it not a overkill ?
Also is there any chance of the tyre touching the wheel arches on full wheel lock .

Could you please let me know how much you paid for getting vinyl work done on the sides of your car , as I am planning to get something similar to my ritz .
Something like this

[hemanth.anand]

Originally Posted by Schoudhury

Now, that is some serious investigation you have done to find the root cause .
How did you find it ?

I did no investigation. The Era of social networking helped me out. Just posted in one of the forums and I gotan answer from another BETL-ian!
It seems he heard the sound for the first while he was cruising at around 100kmph. His heart must have skipped a beat

Originally Posted by Schoudhury

One more thing , 205 tyre on punto 1.2 , is it not a overkill ?
Also is there any chance of the tyre touching the wheel arches on full wheel lock .

I don't know if its an overkill or not because, apart from a little harder steering, I had not seen any difference 2 years ago when I first got 205s with the alloys.
and after using 205s from almost the beginning I didn't want to shift to a slimmer tyre.
And the 205s will not touch the wheel arches at full lock

Originally Posted by Schoudhury

Bdw what happened to the smoking of the headlamp , when are we going to see the new look of your punto .

Many thanks to you Schoudhury for guiding me to this guy.
Here is what happened over the last week...

First the removal of the headlamp unit...it consumed an hour's time because the wheel arch cover has to be removed to get access to one of the 3 bolts of the headlamp unit.


Tough nut this!


Finally the eyes were removed

He told me to come back in the evening to collect the smoked headlamps.
I was totally free that day so I told him that I'll stay there till he completes the work.
After some minutes he started to open the glass cover...after many trials he was unsuccessful.
He told me that this lamp and the cruze lamp were the difficult ones sinze the plastic used is hard and glue is difficult to remove.
He asked me to come in the evening by which time he would send it to some other guy who can open such covers.
I was not so confident and also afraid that some damage may occur. But he was really confident and I left hoping that I would be proved wrong.
My poor car looked like this the whole day.


Poor thing!

Then in the evening I got a call from the guy stating that the glass was not removed and since the next day was a sunday, he told that they would be ready by monday evening. I was not happy at all but had no option but to wait. I was forced to use the vehicle only during day time.
On sunday however I had to go out...so I had to use my BIL's Polo 1.6. Not a bbad vehicle to drive for Punto 1.2 user eh!

I decided to go on tuesday so that I can be sure that they will be ready. So after office I reached his place by 6PM and it was ready.
Before anyone raises questions about visibility issues, I would like to say that apart from the funtional reflectors, other areas only were painted.
Wow! was what my mind said when I looked at the result and the quality of work


Finally it was done

Some photos. very low resolution though. My naughty nephew had set my phone's camera to 640x480 which I realized only now. Will plan a good photo shoot sometime next weekend


How are my new eyes?


Eye contact!


Before and after

And here's how my car stands in comparision to the real thing!


Somebody gift me those alloys please!

[srinath34]

Super fan job Hemanth. The car is smoking hot now. Where did you get this done in Bangalore?

[Vik0728]

Originally Posted by hemanth.anand

And here's how my car stands in comparision to the real thing!

Ssss...ssmoking Hot Bro !!

Hemanth, now you owe me some time for 2 things, you know the first and this is the second.

[KarthikK]

Fantastic job there Hemanth ! It looks really the same as the Grande Abarth version's headlamps!

I had a similar wish, tried tinting my headlamps but they made the car look like a blind lizard, ROFL! Anyway, that's because they became all black. Yours headlights are perfectly done with the reflectors still intact, it looks very, very elegant! Kudos once again

I had my eyes set on one Punto replacement headlamp manufactured by Dayline, picture below:


They have DRLs and H1 projector lamps in-built, which should solve Punto's headlamp strength woes as well. Problem is these things cost ~25k, which I cannot afford to blow up now. I might go the same route as you - will PM Schoudhury or you for guidance. How much did the painting cost you?

Another suggestion for you to make it look exactly like the Grande Abarth version - that fog lamp bezel area is a bit wider in the Grande Abarth. You could consider getting CF vinyl around the fog lamp bezels in the exact same shape and size on your car. That will make your car identical to the Grande Abarth in all angles *thumbs up*

[hemanth.anand]

Originally Posted by srinath34

Where did you get this done in Bangalore?

Thanks srinath34. I got it done in Koramangala

Originally Posted by Vik0728

Ssss...ssmoking Hot Bro !!

Hemanth, now you owe me some time for 2 things, you know the first and this is the second.

Thanks Vik0728
Both the things are not possible on a sunday. Sorry for delaying this...let me know if next saturday is fine, we'll go. I'll alter other plans if anything comes up!

Originally Posted by KarthikK

Fantastic job there Hemanth ! It looks really the same as the Grande Abarth version's headlamps!

I had a similar wish, tried tinting my headlamps but they made the car look like a blind lizard, ROFL! Anyway, that's because they became all black. Yours headlights are perfectly done with the reflectors still intact, it looks very, very elegant! Kudos once again

I had my eyes set on one Punto replacement headlamp manufactured by Dayline, picture below:

They have DRLs and H1 projector lamps in-built, which should solve Punto's headlamp strength woes as well. Problem is these things cost ~25k, which I cannot afford to blow up now. I might go the same route as you - will PM Schoudhury or you for guidance. How much did the painting cost you?

Another suggestion for you to make it look exactly like the Grande Abarth version - that fog lamp bezel area is a bit wider in the Grande Abarth. You could consider getting CF vinyl around the fog lamp bezels in the exact same shape and size on your car. That will make your car identical to the Grande Abarth in all angles *thumbs up*

Thanks KarthikK.

In fact I also was planning to get such a headlamp which you've shown.

But because one, this cost me 1/10th of the price and two, this looks more original than aftermarket, I went for this.
The other 9/10th will also be spent on the car

There are 2 angles from which my car still is different to the original
The first one is definitely this area around the fog lamp. I'm still unsure if the CF treatment will give it the desired look. I'm still in search for something which looks better.
I've taken care of the other one and will update as soon as I complete it.

[hemanth.anand]

In today morning's drive to office, My punto noched up 41000!


40999

41000

[lapis_lazuli]

Congrats, and it is time to update your petrol/cost spreadsheet.
Hemanth, in the 41000kms journey, which is the one quality in the P1.2, that you have liked most? Of the total cost of ownership, approximately how much have you spent for detailing? I mean interior dry cleaning and exterior cleaning/polishing/waxing type jobs? Not accessories. For my oceanic blue, it is now quite a hefty sum! Especially after I got rid of the "loin cloth" cleaner guy for good. It will be a happily premature milestone again, for you, the 4th service/45k mark!

[hemanth.anand]

Originally Posted by lapis_lazuli

Congrats, and it is time to update your petrol/cost spreadsheet.
Hemanth, in the 41000kms journey, which is the one quality in the P1.2, that you have liked most? Of the total cost of ownership, approximately how much have you spent for detailing? I mean interior dry cleaning and exterior cleaning/polishing/waxing type jobs? Not accessories. For my oceanic blue, it is now quite a hefty sum! Especially after I got rid of the "loin cloth" cleaner guy for good. It will be a happily premature milestone again, for you, the 4th service/45k mark!

Thanks lapis_lazuli

The cost sheet extract is shown below


Single most liked quality in a Punto 1.2 would be its "Silence".
I'm a "avoid-horn" kind of guy so many times on the road many people have been taken by surprise that there is a car behind them
This, apart from the innumerable times that I have turned the key to see if the vehicle is on or not

More than this, I like the car's ability to go-anywhere (humps and rough roads alike) and the above all, the jaw dropping looks. But that’s a common thing to all Puntos.
I really don't understand how people say that the GC is a concern in a Punto

It's only fair that I also mention the most hated thing about the 1.2.
That would no doubt be the power. 1.2tonnes and only 68hp; not good at all...especially during the summer when the AC is always on

Coming to the cost of cleaning/polishing/waxing type jobs, I can say it’s close to zero!
The first year, I had a very good guy for cleaning my car so it was kept well. I later changed my residence and then it started picking u swirl marks.
6 months back when I renewed my insurance I got a complimentary carnation coupon and so got a nice exterior treatment. Till I go to 3M next, no expenditure on polishing.
This is one biggest plus point when you have a white car-it looks clean most of the times.

The 4th service will be at 43k since the previous service was done at 28k.
Next month there is a Pune drive on cards. So the next service would be 3 months premature.
That will be my first paid service...so looking forward to it

[hemanth.anand]

The last of the Fiat logos...GONE!




Thanks to bhpian theblack for showing me this place. Initially he quoted 80 rupees but it was without carbon fibre background.
I wanted the carbon fibre backround and he asked me 120.
Finally I purchased 3 and gave 300 rupees.
I purchased it as a spare or for any of my friends if interested.

[hemanth.anand]

THE TAURUS



Coming soon...
Keep watching this thread for more updates.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by hemanth.anand

THE TAURUS

Coming soon...
Keep watching this thread for more updates.

Nice... Tail lamps from the Evo, I believe. Now you mean real mean business! Keep it coming.

By the way, can you give the shop address- where you did the headlamp blackening?

[hemanth.anand]

On Monday, I finally got the much awaited item of this year yet.
The evo tail lights it is!

On Wednesday, I made time for this after returning from office and fixed it

Open the boot and remove the two screws and a little pull is enough to remove the existing tail lamps. don't forget to disconnect the connector before removing it completely.


Look at all the dust inside!

Repeat the same process in the reverse order and the evo lights are in place. As simple as that!

Time for some photos:


evo-lution


Taurus horns


In comparision


colleagues


NICE


Close up


Side view


Smoking is after all not injurious


From down under


Plain looks so bald!


Still under construction


A parting shot

[srinath34]

WOW!!! Hemanth, it looks fantabulous. The EVO lamps makes so much of a difference. Just the alloys are pending now and you will have shutterbugs chasing you for Abarth scoop pics. By the way, how much was the damage caused?

Cheers
Srinath

[DRIV3R]

Hemanth, are those evo tail lamps plug and play on the Grande? Also, were the pieces you bought brand new or used? Asking because Ebay mainly is selling used evo lights.