[gd1418]

First free service of The Bull II

The odometer was reading 4700 kms and I was getting a bit jittery. I was extremely busy and would not get time till the 22nd of May. On 24th May I was to leave on a short vacation. That would leave only one day on 23rd to get the vehicle serviced. To top it an encounter with the famed (or is it notorious) ASC.

I was certainly not going to go to Sterling Motors, Gurgaon for the vehicle service. My dear friend Roshun, in the past, spoke greatly about the new service centre by Koncept at Sector 63, NOIDA as he takes his Fox there for service & maintainence. This is an exclusive service centre catering only to XUV & Scorpio and no other vehicle from the M&M stable.

I requested Roshun for help - could he take my vehicle to Koncept, NOIDA and get it serviced? Without batting an eyelid he responded in affirmative. Mutually the date for service was decided for Friday the 11th May. We were to swap cars on Thursday evening.

On 10th morning I emptied TB II with all the stuff that I carry everyday except the Service manual, RC book & the insurance. At evening I drove to Roshun's home and exchanged cars. We were to swap back the cars on 11th evening.

A list of do's & don't's for the ASC was handed over to Roshun who in turn would instruct the SA to adhere very strictly to the list. Since Roshun was personally overseeing the TB II's service, let me reproduce verbatim his account of the service experience.

11th May, 2012

BCG's TBII had its first service on Friday. Thursday evening BCG dropped of TBII at my place and took Fox. Friday morning, I wheeled TBII to Koncept Noida, Sector 60 at 9.21 am. Job card was opened about 10 minutes later. At 9.32 am TBII was wheeled into the shop floor for first service at 4941 km.



Jobs done:

Engine oil changed
Oil filter changed
Air filter changed (BCG wanted it done)
Differential oils (front and rear) change

AC filter cleaning - ??? No AC filter in TBII. Apparently LX 4x4 does not have an AC filter (although the provision to install one is there)

Headlamp focusing

Wiper streaking check

Silencer bracket noise

General checkup

Washing

11.26 am TBII was out of the shop-floor and sent for wash. 12.15 pm, TB-II was ready. Now the drama. Since this was the first time TBII was visiting the ASC, Koncept had to update the customer details in this Mahindra Dealer World system. There was some error in the system, which refused to recognize TBII - as it was still showing its temporary number instead of permanent number in the system. That was sorted out with a mail to Mumbai (to their central datacenter). After that it still refused to generate a bill. Why? Because it wouldn't show which type of service TBII had come for. Software error. So finally, gave the service advisor Rs. 4K and drove TBII out at 1.10 pm.

TBII then went for a video shoot, and the video should soon be appearing on CarToq.

After a small Off road jaunt. Only got its feet muddy



Smart looker



As for its performance, will let BCG update, post-service performance.

15th May, 2012

Today, I went and picked up the proper bill for TBII.


Total cost: Rs. 3,416

Roshun Povaiah
-------------------------------------------------------

I went to Roshun's to pick-up my vehicle on 11th evening. The engine was more refined and silent than before. The odo reading was 5017 kms. The drive back home was a pleasure. I was scheduled to go to Sariska on 13th. The performance would be evaluated then.

After my Sariska run the the mileage I got was 12.8 kmpl with full AC on.

The silencer bracket noise could not be rectified by the ASC. I had to take TB II to my FNG. The truck was ramped up and two sharp taps with a hammer was administered somewhere near the bracket and the clatter stopped. The missing AC filter has been ordered by my FNG and shall be installed in a day or two. So much for cost-cutting by M&M.

The cost breakdown:

1. Foam Air cleaner - Rs. 490.75

2. Oil Filter element - Rs. 146.26

3. Maxximile Diff Oil EXL - Rs. 817.80

4. Maxximile Crown 6 ltr - Rs. 1443.18

5. Windscreen Glass washer additive - Rs. 112.00
---------------------------------------------
Total - Rs. 3009.99
Vat @ 12.5% - Rs. 376.23
SAT @ 1 - Rs. 30.08
--------------------------------------------
Grand Total - Rs. 3416.30 (rounded off to 3416)

BTW, what is SAT?

[Guderian]

Originally Posted by gd1418

SAT ?

A tax you paid because they "sat" on your jobs for the whole day and yet did not rectify the rattle ?!!
Congrats on recording 5 K on the odo.
Have you yet tried the 4X4 system ?

[gd1418]

Lol.. I tried the 4x4 at Sariska where I did a bit of hill climbing on 4H. It was a breeze and effortless. Need to do a proper OTR in slush, soft sand & 30 deg inclines.

Rosh too did engage the 4x4 albeit very briefly after the vehicle got serviced but nothing spectacular.

Originally Posted by Guderian

A tax you paid because they "sat" on your jobs for the whole day and yet did not rectify the rattle ?!!
Congrats on recording 5 K on the odo.
Have you yet tried the 4X4 system ?

[n.devdath]

Originally Posted by gd1418

Grand Total - Rs. 3416.30 (rounded off to 3416)

BTW, what is SAT?

Not bad for the first service since all the major oils were changed. The 12.8 kmpl that you got, what speeds was it at?

You don't know SAT?? Scorpio Attention Tax. It is like the tip you pay to an attentive waiter at a hotel.

[CARDEEP]

S.A.T. ~ State Additional Tax (over VAT), I guess (get it confirmed so that you can claim input, if applicable).

This us UP dear, & definitely they will take out the money from your pockets one way (Tax) or other. BTW Rs.30 is merely 1% of your pre-VAT bill total.

[gd1418]

Average speed of 90 to 95 kmph. Dev, are you by any chance hinting that this amount was paid to Roshun for attending to my Scorpio?

Originally Posted by n.devdath

Not bad for the first service since all the major oils were changed. The 12.8 kmpl that you got, what speeds was it at?

You don't know SAT?? Scorpio Attention Tax. It is like the tip you pay to an attentive waiter at a hotel.

[n.devdath]

Originally Posted by gd1418

Average speed of 90 to 95 kmph. Dev, are you by any chance hinting that this amount was paid to Roshun for attending to my Scorpio?

Hmmm, so some sedate speeds then.

Thank you for the input, and how did you degrade Roshun to this unacceptable level of accepting INR 30.00??

Also, could you let me know the price of your insulating material please? I was also looking forward to installing on Hariya.

[gd1418]

Ask Rosh...

It is mentioned in detail in one of the first posts..

Originally Posted by n.devdath

Hmmm, so some sedate speeds then.

Thank you for the input, and how did you degrade Roshun to this unacceptable level of accepting INR 30.00??

Also, could you let me know the price of your insulating material please? I was also looking forward to installing on Hariya.

[gd1418]

15th June 2012 - 7941 Kms

With reference to post #: 106

At the first free service at 5k Kms, Koncept NOIDA had changed engine oil and had put Maxximile. I wasn't very happy but could do nothing because of warranty issues. Spoke to my FNG and he advised me to run on this oil for about 5K kms and then replace with oild of my choice. The next oil change as per the manual was scheduled at 20k Kms.

But I wouldn't wait till 10k Kms. As soon as I completed 3000 kms after the first service, I decided to change the engine oil.

The first free service was done at 4941 kms and now TB II has run 7941 kms. Almost 3000 kms.

Today morning TB II wheeled in FNG's garage around 9:30 am and was out in an hour after the oil change & air filter cleaning.

I used this oil:

GS Caltex Kixx D1 Platinum - API CI-4 SAE 15W-40

After this TB II visited the spa of my accessories guy (Deepak Batra) for a teflon coating. My FNG had strongly advised me against the underbody coating. By evening TB II would be ready. I borrowed Deepak's Vento and went to my office. Returned in the evening and picked up TB II. The engine sound had a bit more refinement with the Caltex oil, and no, it wasn't psychological.

The IInd free service is now due at 10K kms.

Given below is the maintainance schedule:

[Off Roadie]

This is really late, but congrats on your 4x4.
I have not gone through your entire thread but I am just posting this as my 2cents worth.
If you have not really engaged 4wd (high or low) and driven around a bit in your 1st 5000 kms then changing your front differential oil was quite pointless from a practical point of view.
It was still required to keep your warranty intact so no harm done there.
once you have used the car in 4WD mode a bit do get the front differential oil changed, coz that's when your differential gears would have really run in and the oil change would be beneficial.

[gd1418]

July 12, 2012 - IInd Free Service - 10408 Kms

TB II completed 10k Kms on Friday, the 6th July and as per the manual was due for its second free service. According to the manual nothing was to be changed and only inspection was to be done. Roshun booked the vehicle for me for the 12th at 9:30 am and informed me that Manoj would be the SA.

Since Roshun was going to be in Munnar doing a TD of the Duster (all expenses paid), I was scheduled to go to Koncept, Noida. My first visit to an ASC in so many years.

With God's name on the lips I wheeled in TB II at 9:40 at Koncept. Asked for Manoj and he appeared in a flash. Threw the names of DesertFox & Rosh around and the glint of recognition in Manoj's eyes was unmistakable. He immediately got the job card and the process started:

Manoj: Car lubrication needs to be done.

Me: Aha, what's it? Will you grease the Prop shaft & U-joints as well?

Manoj: No sir, that is not required. This is a spray which we do for the doors & the hinges etc. Rs. 430/-

Me: Hmmm... not required.

Manoj (crestfallen): Sir, injector cleaning Rs. 500 odd.

Me: How do you clean the injectors? Do you remove them and do?

Manoj: No, we put a special liquid in the fuel tank that cleans the injectors.

Me: Not required (subah-subah main hi mila hoon kya?)

Manoj (more crestfallen): Sir underbody silencer spray Rs. 700

Me: (have not yet lost my mental balance) What is this for?

Manoj: Sir there is a white paint on the silencer that gets burnt due to immense heat. This spray will keep the silencer rust free.

Me: I've a 2004 Scorpio and have never done this on its silencer and it hasn't caught rust as yet. So let it be.

Manoj (a big exhale): Sir engine care Rs. 690.

Me: what is this now?

Manoj: The mass air filter blah-blah needs to be cleaned. Must for mhawk. I know Sir it is not in the book but good for engine health.

Finally I succumb and say go ahead. Manoj is happy; he thinks he has finally conned me.

I had gone with a vow that I shall not loose my cool come what may. Roshun ki izzat ka sawwal hai.

Manoj: Sir, engine oil will be checked and if required will be topped-up.

Me: I checked this morning and the level is ok. But in any case you can do the check but call me before topping-up.

Manoj: Washer fluid Rs. 112.

Me: What is this now?

Manoj: this is a small bottle of fluid that is put in the windshield washer container.

Me: Oh, you mean that small bottle containing the blue liquid? Ok, Ok, go ahead.

Manoj: Wheel rotation & balancing will be done, breaks will be cleaned and adjusted, underbody nut-bolts shall be checked & tightened if required. Anything else Sir?

Me: Ya that's fine. Check & clean the air filter and replace if need be. Clean the AC filter too. Focus the headlights properly. Am not happy with what has been done last time.

Manoj: Ok Sir. Please have a seat and the vehicle should be ready by 1 pm.

I looked at the watch and it read 10:05 am. That was wonderful. A mechanic was summoned and handed the job card, a copy was given to me and at 10:10 TB II was parked in the service bay.

One Mr. Bhagwandass is the service head of Koncept Noida. Roshun had told me to meet him as well. I went to his room, he had not arrived and I sat there waiting for him. After sometime when he had still not arrived, I got up and went to the service floor. The foam air-filter had been removed and a new one installed. I asked the mechanic the reason. He said it was completely choked and showed me the layers. It indeed was.

The air-filter was changed during the last service and had run only 5k Kms. North of India, this year, was unusually hot and very dusty. I had done a couple of runs to R'bhore and Sariska and ingested quite a lot of dust. This must've been the reason. Silently I was happy that the filter was changed.

Fluid levels were checked and the wheels removed for balancing. In the meanwhile Mr. Bhagwandass had arrived. Went to meet him, gave my introduction and Rosh's reference. Aha, dropping names do work.

Coffee was immediately ordered and I was asked if I would like to have some breakfast. Declined politely. We got talking, he was surprised that I had come all the way from Gurgaon to get the vehicle serviced here in NOIDA. After finishing the coffee I came out with him. He said he will look over the truck and asked me to make myself comfortable. I asked him if Koncept had wi-fi and could I use it. He immediately told some flunky to give me the password. I sat in the waiting room opened my iPad and started doing my office work. The second coffee came shortly.

Off and on I kept on checking on TB II and the work progress. Around 12:30 Manoj came & said - "the vehicle is in the bay for wheel alignment, you can check if you want to and then the car will be taken for a final TD and if you want, you can go along". I went to the bay and they had finished alignment. I asked for the results. The camber was slightly out and so was the toe. Both were corrected. Technical supervisor Ali was to take the TD. Sat with him and went for a TD. After a run of 5kms he declared that all was well. We came back and on the way near the workshop I saw a paranthewala making aloo & egg paranthas. Made a mental note.

The clock read 12:45 and the vehicle was taken to the washing bay. 8 cars were ahead of me. I came and sat in the waiting room again. Shortly Manoj came and informed that it was lunchtime (1 to 1:30) and the washing shall commence after that. Meanwhile an offer came from Mr. Bhagwandass for lunch that was again declined. Was watching TV when I suddenly felt very hungry and remembered the paranthewala's shop. Picked up my bag and walked to his shop. Asked him to make paranthas for me in butter as he was making in oil for others. Polished off three double-egg paranthas with Mirinda. My energy levels came back to normal.

Came back and went to the washing bay. Still 8 cars ahead...phew...! The waiting game started. Saw some news, some stupid Hindi movie, dozed off in between and then again went to check. TB II was being washed and it was 3:15 pm. Finally around 4 Manoj came and said that the car would be ready in 15 minutes and asked me to settle the bill. Saw the bill and saw an entry that almost made me see red. The windshield washer fluid quantity was shown as 2 bottles. I asked him why and he replied that two bottles were used as the levels were low and water is not added. Sigh..... These ASC guys will never improve. Well, settled the bill, wrote in the remark sheet that the washing took quite long and the car was driven out. Time 4:15 pm.

Drove off to my office. The car was smooth, pick-up had increased slightly as the air filter had been replaced.* Except for the long time it took for washing the overall experience was quite good.

Total Bill - Rs. 3114/-

1. Foam Air Filter - One - Rs. 490.75
2. W/S Glass WA - Two - Rs. 224.00
3. Wheel weights - Six -** Rs. 378.00
4. Engine care - One -***** Rs. 690.00** 
5. Wheel balancing -******* Rs. 381.00
6. Wheel alignment -****** Rs. 590.00
--------------------------------------------
Total** -****************************** Rs. 2753.75

Service Tax@12%****** * * * * * Rs. 116.52
Edu. cess 2% on Srvc Tax **** Rs. 2.32
High Edu. cess 1% on Srvc Tax* Rs. 1.15
VAT@...%*************************** Rs. 222.83
SAT@1******************************** Rs. 17.82
-----------------------------------------------
Grand Total********************** Rs. 3114.39
-----------------------------------------------

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by gd1418

Manoj (a big exhale): Sir engine care Rs. 690.

Me: what is this now?

Manoj: The mass air filter blah-blah needs to be cleaned. Must for mhawk. I know Sir it is not in the book but good for engine health.

Finally I succumb and say go ahead. Manoj is happy; he thinks he has finally conned me.

The windshield washer fluid quantity was shown as 2 bottles. I asked him why and he replied that two bottles were used as the levels were low and water is not added. Sigh.....

2. W/S Glass WA - Two - Rs. 224.00
4. Engine care - One -***** Rs. 690.00** 

So he did finally con you. Had talked about it earlier... There's nothing been done to the MAF sensor at all.

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Engine Care is that supposedly waterproof lacquer kind of coating that they want to apply to your engine to (supposedly again) keep all the electrics dry in water and maintain a shine on the engine (till the next application). I was offered that too (same price, Rs.600), but I turned it down vehemently - esp. since I don't like unknown stuff smelling strongly of solvents to coat rubber parts.

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

The lacquer appears to have some kind of strong solvent - smells that way, like car NC paint thinner. I wouldn't want that kind of stuff on rubber and plastic parts, inside the engine bay or outside. And especially not on my paintwork! Sorry, but I'm not convinced by Trust_in_Thrust's report.

The stuff seems to resemble something we used to use to coat chrome bumpers (of Ambys and Fiats, back in the good old days when bumpers still used to be steel and chrome) to prevent rust spots developing in the humid weather and rain of CCU.

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

No, I was talking about the liquid lacquer they use, before application - that has a strong smell of solvent. After drying it doesn't have any smell (like paint). I've had occasion to inspect the stuff a few times earlier. Everytime the garage had shown me the liquid in unmarked 5-litre jerrycans, and told me it comes from a bigger drum (from the company!), and that they cannot show me the label. All I have, to judge what the material is, is by sight, smell and touch.

Since I have no brand name, no label, no idea of the composition or actual purpose the material is supposed to serve, I've refused to have the stuff applied every time.

Would you pop a white pill from an unmarked box that smells nasty, just because the compounder said it'll make you live a 100 years? That's what I'm trying to say...

The windshield washer fluid requiring 2 bottles is again a bit of a hoax. One bottle of concentratd fluid is what they use, topped up with water. Ask for the bottle, and you'll know.

[gd1418]

I know that and still got conned.

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

So he did finally con you. Had talked about it earlier... There's nothing been done to the MAF sensor at all.

Sigh... I know this too and still paid..

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

The windshield washer fluid requiring 2 bottles is again a bit of a hoax. One bottle of concentratd fluid is what they use, topped up with water. Ask for the bottle, and you'll know.

[suman]

Nice update BCG, really enjoyed reading it. LOL at the cost of 3,114 for a "Free" service!

Sounds like "Manoj"s sole intention was to make a quick buck for the dealership, despite you giving him references. I shudder to think what the average customer would go through!

Originally Posted by gd1418

We came back and on the way near the workshop I saw a paranthewala making aloo & egg paranthas. Made a mental note.

Was watching TV when I suddenly felt very hungry and remembered the paranthewala's shop. Picked up my bag and walked to his shop. Asked him to make paranthas for me in butter as he was making in oil for others. Polished off three double-egg paranthas with Mirinda. My energy levels came back to normal.

Sigghhh....some things in life never change!

[gd1418]

September 19, 2012

TB II suffered its first ever problems in 7 months of ownership. Nothing mechanical, electrical or electronical that came with the truck from the company.

Two of the accessories that I fitted, were playing up.

The car tracker (GSM based) is not working and the company guy is going to come & rectify that tomorrow.

The automatic window roll-up feature, when the car is locked with the remote, is erratic. That also will be looked into tomorrow.

TB II has successfully run 13800 Kms giving a steady mileage of 12-13 kmpl in the city with AC.

September 20, 2012

20th was the Bharat Bandh and most establishments were shut in Delhi/NCR. Inspite of that the service engineer from the tracker device company came at 11 am and took about 15 odd minutes to rectify the problem. The device was replaced with a new one and it was found that the fuse that supplied power to the device was loose thus providing erratic power supply. Current status, the device is working.

Fortunately the office of RD (Rajatdeep Overseas P Ltd. - www.rdoverseas.com) was open and the complaint was registered for the automatic window-roll up device. I was informed that the complaint would be attended on 21st as the technician had not reported due to the bandh.

September 21, 2012

The technician arrived late in the evening and fortunately the problem held true in his prescence unlike most of the times when the problem doesn't occur in front of the technician and you pull your hair explaining how many times it has happened in the past. The technician checked thoroughly and after satisfying himself replaced the unit.

All of this was done under warranty. Now, all systems on the go..!

Happy Bull, Happy Owner.