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-   -   Mahindra XUV300 TurboSport | Ownership Review (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-drives-initial-ownership-reports/260817-mahindra-xuv300-turbosport-ownership-review-3.html)

I am planning to buy the XUV 3XO AX5 L which has the same engine as the XUV 300 turbosport. I am bit worried about the long term reliabiliy of the TGDI engine that Mahindra is using here. I got to know from Engineering Explained video that TGDI engines are prone to carbon buildup at the inlet due to exhaust gas recovery system and no fuel at the inlet.

Can the long term users of this car provide their opinion, whether they are facing issues with carbon buildup?

Also whether you are using a higher octane petrol due to the higher cylinder pressures?

My car has just completed 21000 km in 17 months. It is a treat to drive. I watched the Engineering Explained video on TGDi engines. While most of what he says are a problem, they can be, to a large extent, overcome by two common practices:
1. Do not rev the engine till it reaches the operating temperature.
2. Get the oil changed regularly.
I do not think Mahindra would've thought through all this before mentioning their choice of oil or change schedule. I'm saying this because they use the same oil across engines and pretty much the same oil change schedule as well. (There's a MPFI and a TGDi XUV300 in the family).
Coming to point 1 above, I can't stress enough the importance of getting the right operating temperature. I do it out of habit worrying about the turbo and its lubrication all the time and that comes from the time I designed parts of turbo diesel engines for a living.
I've had considerable improvement in fuel economy when I tried XP95 by IOCL. Although not big enough to justify the unit economics. Nothing noticeably different in engine performance.
I'm facing other issues like the AC compressor sounding louder by the day as if a retarder is engaged every time the car slows down. Maybe I'll get it inspected one of these days. It wasn't all that pronounced during the 20k service.
Overall I rate the car and the engine highly. It can outpace a VW Polo GT TSI, KIA Sonet TGDIs and most others on the highway and the torque continues to be addictive. It's a long stroke engine and it expects to be driven like one.

20,000-Kilometre Update

This was meant to be an update at 15,000 km. However, quite some driving together with the burdens of my profession mean that I am now at about 20,000 km. I did take a picture of it ticking over to 15,000, but didn’t get one at 20,000. So here is 15,000 and where it is presently.


Here’s what I have to report.

Annoying Things

1. The front parking sensors stopped working. They had been a little troublesome for a while, working whimsically whenever they felt like it. At one point, they stopped working altogether. The MID told me as much. Here’s a photo of that.
   
   
   
   At the third free service in June 2024, I raised this concern through Wheels Wisdom. Wheels Wisdom informed me that the left sensor did have some issues, and may therefore stop working at some point, but did not warrant replacement immediate. Since the service, the parking sensors have been mostly working fine, although I have, on occasion, seen the same error message on the MID. I don’t actually know what was done in the course of the service.
   
   
2. There was some rattling in the middle of the dash; it seemed like it was coming from right behind the AC controls/ the touchscreen. It began very mildly but then became much more pronounced. At the third service, I raised this concern. It was found that the AC controller knob cable was touching the dashboard – a simple fix. This was fixed. There were no rattles for about a week after the service. However, now, the rattles are back. They aren’t too loud or intrusive, although I would like it if they weren’t present. But, just to avoid the burden of service procedure all over again, I’m not going to raise the issue, and will simply live with it.
   
3. There’s an interesting problem I faced: Apple Carplay would shut down on some occasions when I used the volume control on the steering wheel. It didn’t happen every time, which means I did not identify the precise set of conditions in which the error would occur. But I do know that it happened when I had a podcast or something on on YouTube with the phone connected to the ICE. It seemed to happen more often when I attempted to increase the volume than when I attempted to reduce it. On one occasion, when something like that was playing and I received a call and then increased the volume so I could hear the other person better, I got a message on the top of the touchscreen saying that modes could not be changed when a call was in progress, or something of that sort. This problem wasn’t clearly diagnosed at the third service. However, since then, thanks to a software updated, I haven’t had this problem occur.
   
   
4. On occasion, cruise control simply wouldn’t work. There would be no response from any of the controls on the steering. Upon turning off and restarting the car, things would return to normal. At the third service, this problem couldn’t be reproduced and was not diagnosed. I haven’t driven on the highways enough since the service. The symptom therefore hasn’t been observed since.
   
   
5. The boot lid has always required a little more than a soft shut to close properly. This has been the case since the car was brand new. I haven’t really raised this issue with anybody.
   
   
6. From when the car was new, one of the keys’ lock button would work, but wouldn’t click. So you’d have to press the button a little harder than normal, and wouldn’t know if it had actually been pressed without noting the response of the car. Interestingly enough, at the third service, Wheels Wisdom’s email tells me that the key fob’s cell was replaced and the problem was solved. My suspicion is that the problem was merely mechanical with something not quite sitting in place as it was expected to. I wasn’t charged for this part, and there is nothing said about this on India Garage’s invoice.
   
   
   
   Nice Things
7. A feature I noticed much after I began my use of the car is the light in the space in front of the gear lever where a wireless charging pad might have been. It turns on only when the headlights are on (irrespective of whether the headlights are on automatically or manually). I find that to be extremely thoughtful design and just generally a cute feature. My phone, connected to the ICE system is usually placed there, and when I, at the end of a drive past sunset, look there to pick it up, the light is very helpful. In the picture below, you can see the light along with my dashcam cable.
   
   
   
   
   
8. I already pointed out in an earlier post on this thread that I had some tar spray on the car when driving along the West coast near Mangaluru. I chose to ignore it then because it was only on the front panel above the right wheel, and a little on the driver’s door. This panel was replaced thanks to the unfortunate accident I have already mentioned earlier on this thread. To my bad luck, thereafter, in December 2023, the car was almost completely clothed in tiny little dots of tar. Drove to Shivamogga on holiday and, on an impulse, decided to get that dealt with at a Detailing Mafia outlet there. A wash and a ceramic coating with 6 months’ warranty cost me ₹8,000. Here is the car with the tar and then gleaming in the freshness of its spa treatment.
   
   
   
   
   
   
9. Another well thought-out feature of this car (remember, this is a feature they brought out in 2019) is how power supply to the car’s equipment behaves. When you unlock the car and open the driver’s door, the power windows can be operated for a while even once you shut all doors. I suspect that is about 1 minute. Thereafter, even if the power to the windows have turned off, if you open the door, the clock begins again and power supply resumes. This also extends to being able to use the power windows for some time after turning off the car. This power supply also reaches things like the USB ports on the dashboard, which is something I’m a little concerned about, although the loss of charge can’t be too much.
   
   
   
   New Thing
10. Early in 2024, I installed a 70mai A500S 2.5K Front and Rear Dashcam. Here is a random YouTube video about it: Link I think there is enough said about dashcams on team-bhp’s dashcam thread, and I don’t wish to add too much here. Thus far, I have been satisfied with the experience, and I think the clarity is more than sufficient to meet all possible emergency requirements. This cost me Rs. 13,000 inclusive of installation. I purchased this and had it installed at EVO Custom Car Audio near Cambridge Layout in Bengaluru. I have, earlier, had a Pioneer touchscreen ICE installed on our old S-Cross at the same establishment. I find them to be competent, reasonable and easy to deal with. Here is a maps link to them: Link .
    
    
    
    Desirable Thing
11. The one accessory I wish to add now are window visors. I am somebody who tends to feel cool/ cold under normal circumstances, so I don’t always need the AC. I would like to drive with the windows a little open, and am hoping the visors will address the issue of wind noise.
    
    
    
    A Nice Thing
    
    In fine, this car is a nice thing to have. I have not noticed any variation in performance whatsoever. It is still a peppy engine, it is still a good handler for its dimensions and in its segment, it’s ride is still a little firm (just how I like it), and all of that. What is impressive is that but for the AC control knob cable issue, there has been no rattling. The rear parcel tray at the back left of the car has rattled since the car was new when it has no weight on it. But that is too small a flaw and easily condonable.
    
    I am happy.
    
    I’ll leave you with a couple of pictures of the car from May 2024, at Chandgad, on my return from Goa to Bengaluru.
    

The typical symptom of carbon build-up is lower output. I haven't experienced this in about a year and a half and 20,000 km. On a lighter note, maybe an Italian tune-up every now and then will help both engine and heart.

As to fuel, I have consistently used Shell's regular petrol, except when I don't have access to a shell outlet.

As to the reliability of the engine, in 20,000 km, I have had no difficulty whatsoever, but I don't think that is long-term enough to really comment on reliability.

What did you end up doing? Did you buy this engine?

Some Updates and Issues

Issue 1

I heard the problematic clicking noise from the front right suspension that would suggest a link rod issue. I heard it for a couple of days when I was driving in the hills in the Nilgiris. And then the sound just stopped. The last time the sound stopped, I was also in the hills, a little North of the Nilgiris, and it turned out that the link road had completely come off!

Details of what happened then are here at para 12.

See also:

Wiser for the experience, I took the car to India Garage, ITPL Road (near Prestige Shantiniketan and Aster Hospital) today.

They informed me that the suspension was otherwise fine, but that they would (and did, apparently) re-torque the suspension. They pointed out that the link rods had been subjected to yet another recall, and replaced them free of cost. The part number of the new link rods is 0401BBC01502N. This, happily, matches the part number on subramanyam84’s post on this thread.

Minor Issue 2

My car is being kind to me in ways I did not anticipate: This morning, as I started the car to take it out, it told me that my key’s battery was weak. India Garage replaced it at ₹100.

Minor Issue 3

The clip on the right side AC went to the right of the steering wheel used to move the went from left to right, and up and down simply came off with my hand one day. India Garage said they didn’t have the part, but that it would be covered by warranty, and that they’d call me when they got the part. They said they’d order it today. Pictures below.

Desirable Thing (D)one

I said this earlier: I’d heard the folks on Motorinc say that rain visors on the windows were a good idea as you could drive at highway speeds with the windows open a crack and the AC turned off, and there wouldn’t be as much wind noise. I asked India Garage about the rain visors and installed them. They cost me about ₹2,715. Pictures below. I don’t like the blue streak. But I don’t strongly dislike it either. Let’s see how I feel about it in a few months.

Happy Coincidence

Seated in the customers’ lounge at India Garage, I heard somebody say “team-bhp” when I was lost in my laptop and my work. I promptly enquired as to whether the speaker of those holy words was a member of team-bhp. Turns out that it was distinguished bhpian Red Liner (link here). He had some work to be done on his Thar CRDe’s 4WD system. It was nice to have run into him.

Conclusions

India Garage ITPL offered a surprisingly pleasant experience. Not too crowded, courteous service advisor (mine was Vishnu), generally efficient service, clean ambience, generally pleasant staff, a quick appointment, etc. PPS Thanisandra’s next available appointment was a week away.

Being rather disappointed by the end of Wheels Wisdom, I’m hopeful that I’ve found a good service station that I can trust. Wheels Wisdom, for the record, took my car here too.

The car itself is doing just fine. It is doing rather well, actually. I am enjoying it as much as I did in the beginning. Some tiny little rattles have begun. But I am not particularly concerned. I learn more about it with each drive, and our relationship is stronger than ever.

That blue tint on the window visor is just a protective cover. You may peel it off =)

A vents have been a perpetual thing with MnM. Ask any thar 2022 owner. Simply snaps off.

For the noises I suggest using combinations of - sofa foam, a damping sheet (any accessory store - just pay for one and cut per application), a cotton fiber sheet (Blaupunkt has one) for all door panels and finally, RTV gasket maker - it toughens up and yet is not permanent, and can be removed. Used with caution, it's made my Thar silent.