The road till Mandi was okay-ish but the road after Mandi till Aut tunnel was simply too good!

BHPian H0RSEPOWER recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Purple haze in snowy Himachal

Our last trip to the Himalayas in the northern part of our state in October was just finished. And soon an itch to go to the Himalayas again started. This time I wanted to go a bit further, to the North western parts. Time was during the Christmas holidays. Initially thought of Spiti, but had only 8-9 days in my hand starting from Calcutta to Calcutta. So skipped Spiti & planned for some other places in Himachal itself.

Even 10 days prior to the travel, we did not make any booking! Then, I eventually booked for one night in Narkanda, next night in Shangarh & next in Manali. Rest were not booked. Well, booking on the go has its own share of excitement during any road trip! I was already super excited but just a week prior to the trip, a huge roadblock arose!

Due to the bad AQI, GRAP 4 was implemented in the NCR region, banning all BS4 diesel vehicles there. And I was planning the trip with my BS4 diesel Ecosport! Then I had to plan a route bypassing the NCR. For the planning of the routes around those areas, I took help from various TBhpians. Many thanks to Bonniver, Predatoronwheelz, Samba, Mile_Breaker & others who helped me a lot with the planning for the alternative routes without which the trip would have been really very tough to plan!

Posting a few teaser photos from the trip-

Narkanda

Shangarh

Manali

23rd night & 24th December

Finally, we started on 23rd December night. And our return was planned on either the 31st night or on 1st Jan. Our first stop was at a gas station somewhere in Bihar. For car lovers, it’s likeable to spend their time in the car as much as possible, well I implemented it very deeply indeed during this trip! I have bought an inflatable bed & had set it up in the back seats. I took a nap for a couple of hours there while my wife was sleeping in the front seat. (This bed really helped us a lot during the journey!).

Then we started again & in the early dawn. We were on the fringes of Varanasi & I again felt sleepy, so quickly parked the car in another gas station & took another round of nap, this time my wife went to the rear bed & I was sleeping in the front seat. Then after getting freshened up we had some sandwiches that we brought with us & continued our journey. We took the NH19 instead of PEW as suggested by both Bonniver & Predatoronwheelz. Our lunch break was just after crossing Kanpur. Then we continued till Agra. Road conditions of both the NH19 & ALE were superb. Only in Bihar, some stretches were in bad conditions. After reaching Agra in the evening we tried to visit the Taj Mahal, but it was closed for the day already. So chose a nearby hotel & finally checked in a room after a 1300 km long drive in the past 24 hours!

25th Dec

We woke up early in the morning. We had plans to reach Himachal on that day but did not have any booking & moreover, as we had to avoid entering NCR, we planned to go via Alwar in Rajasthan & then take the trans-Haryana expressway till Chandigarh. But before starting with the journey I really didn’t want to miss to visit the Taj Mahal! It was my first visit to the Taj Mahal & I was really spellbound with the beauty of Taj! I have seen so many photos of the mausoleum earlier, but visiting that marvellous piece of art in person was really superb!

Well after getting out of the Taj Mahal we started our journey towards Himachal via Rajasthan. During the drive, I enquired of the snow chain from a store called Halte in Chandigarh. They earlier told me that they could arrange it for my wheel size, but on D-day, they informed me they don’t have it in stock! Then as suggested by Mile_breaker, I went to the motor market in Chandigarh to search in the shops. Finally, in the evening I found a shop where they told me that they could make it but they would ship it to Narkanda the next day by bus. And I need to collect it in the middle of the night there!

Anyway with no other option left, I ordered it, & then started to plan for the place to stay in the night. I searched the HPTDC site & booked Ross Common in Kasauli. The road from Chandigarh to Kasauli after finishing our dinner at Chandigarh. The road was good apart from the last few kilometres to Kasauli. Well, the thing I least expected was a group of policemen checking for the offenders with a breath analyser on an empty road in Kasauli at 11:30 pm!

Anyway after passing that test (well, in my mind I was murmuring that hey I didn’t come all the way from Calcutta just to do some drink & drive here!), we eventually checked into the hotel. It was an old colonial bungalow converted to a hotel. Even after driving for more than 2000 kilometres in the last two days, billions of twinkling stars in the backdrop of dark sky compelled me to gaze at them standing outside shivering in cold! I was trying to find the Orion. It was awesome!

The bed in the car to take some rest while feeling too sleepy to drive!

The marvellous Taj Mahal!

Look at the work of art!

The HPTDC Kasauli

Inside HPTDC Kasauli

Continue reading about H0RSEPOWER's road trip for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

Ford is expected to announce its final decision in late summer.

Ford has been contemplating a return to the Indian market. However, the company is yet to confirm its re-entry plans. As per the latest reports, Ford is currently reconsidering its India plans and is expected to announce its final decision in late summer.

Ford’s top decision-makers reportedly discussed the matter in January, but refrained from making any announcements. It is said that the company is using the time to rethink its India strategy.

Reports suggest that Ford’s indecision over its re-entry plans could be partly due to the current political climate in the US. The current administration is more inclined towards bringing automotive manufacturing back to America.

Moreover, restarting full-scale operations at Ford’s Maraimalai Nagar plant would require significant investments. Re-engineering the factory to build EVs is estimated to cost between $100-300 million.

Source: ET Auto

This year is special for my car since it is on its 10th Year, Hit 1,00,000 KM on the ODO and i think I did give it a much-deserved attention.

BHPian peterjim13 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Quote from BHPian ABHI_1512:

The steering came with factory fitted leather wrapping and I just put on a cover to protect the original one after some rough edges showed up.

Just managed this today, and I am yet to take he car out for a drive. Sure that the wheel feels a bit chunky. I got this wheel cover for 350 from Amazon

Quote from BHPian lord_almighty:

Hence, reposting the image.

Would love to know how you managed this. Can you suggest?

----

Sharing a quite a deserved update for my Silver Ford. This year is special for my car since it is on its 10th Year, Hit 1,00,000 KM on the ODO and i think I did give it a much-deserved attention.

In the last couple of years we did managed a few exclusive family trips across to a select few favorite hill stations, and gave the car some decent ride on the ODOs. We did two Munnar Trips, One Vagamon, Couple of the usual Bathery - Kochi rides and end of Nov this year,did a decent 750KM drive in 4 days through Kochi - Ooty - Mudumalai - Bandipur - Sulthan Bathery and then back to Kochi.

Our regular pitstop onroute Munnar at Farmyard, Adimali

Munnar Gap road, in Oct 2023

Parked in front of our room at a resort in Chinnakanal, May 2024

Right in front of our room at Arcadu, Ooty

But when the roads aren't motorable, we switch at Vagamon. Right on tracks were Mahindra, Isuzus and Gurkhas test their new off roaders at Vagamon Heights.

Family get bigger and when big brother visits, we have the space problem

Now getting into a few updates to the car.

1. Under Hood cover replaced - the hood costed only 1900, but a set of clips came up to 1000
2. Rear wheel inner cover replaced at around 3K.
3. Added dual channel dash cam - 70Mai A500s
4. Added a basic cover for Gear lever & Handbrake as the gear knob cover was peeling off.
5. Fighting cockroaches, my steering wheel had afew rough edges - added a steering wheen cover again from Amazon.
6. Child bolster seats: One of the best additions, for my elder daughter who is 8 - now the front seat seat belt is much comfortable and she can enjoy those long drives.
7. Sourced a set of wiper blades through the local ecosport owners club and that happens to be the best wiper blades I ever had.
8. Replaced the whole 5 tyres with another fresh set of Yoko Earth1s, though my older ones had a decent 5K + left in them.

Inner Wheel cover did some decent 1L KM

Inner wheel arch when the cover was taken off. My Monroe rear suspensions are also showing its age and may have to replace - kept aside for 2025

Missed the 1L mark on a long drive and realised that when I reached home.

Gear knob with the cover.

Steering wheel with new cover

So the new dash is like..

Fresh Yoko Rubbers

joining the A star who had its new upsized Earth1s a year back

This is one well deserved post I owe this car on completing its 10th year with us
Attachment 2699937

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I have thoroughly enjoyed my vehicles, but each has faced its own set of challenges.

BHPian Akash_1806 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Hello everyone,

I thought it was time to update the thread since it's been a while. This post is a mixed bag of emotions; I have thoroughly enjoyed my vehicles, but each has faced its own set of challenges. While it's a common fact that not all incidents on the road can be avoided, I believe some of this was just bad luck. Without further ado, let’s dive into the details of each vehicle.

The Baby GS - Nicknamed 'Grizzly'

The 310 has covered around 6,000 km in total, with about 2,000 km since the last update. I had the annual service done in May 2024, which cost ₹9,870 and included brake bleeding for both the front and rear brakes. The fork seals had gone bad, but BMW Motorrad replaced them under warranty, and I had to leave the bike with them for around five days. I’m extremely happy with how BMW Motorrad handled the warranty claim—it was a seamless process.

Grizzly is a fuss-free ride, and I have no complaints. I have a few modifications planned, including an engine and crash guard from Zana and knuckle protectors from Barkbusters, which should be installed next month. The rear brake pads might need replacement in the next 1,000–1,500 km, and I’m considering switching to ceramic pads. Any suggestions would be welcome.

Jimny Zeta AT 2023 - Nicknamed 'Billauta'

My trusted daily driver, which I affectionately refer to as my new off-road companion, has covered around 19,000 km and will be going in for its 20k service in the first week of November. I’ve been using it for daily office runs of around 65 km and weekend off-roading in the Aravali Hills. It’s extremely comfortable for daily driving, although the turning radius is reminiscent of the old Safari DiCOR. It’s also a highly competent off-roader, nimble, and has decent fuel efficiency—around 12 km/l in the city and 15 km/l on the highways. Plus, it’s affordable to maintain.

Unfortunately, Billauta was involved in a small accident on October 12, 2024. While parked in the basement of Ansal Plaza, Andrews Ganj, New Delhi, a drunk driver in a maroon Endeavour with an off-road bumper scraped the entire metal sheet of the passenger-side front door while trying to maneuver out of the parking space. It was a depressing sight. I tried asking the staff in the basement about the responsible vehicle, but they were clueless. After reviewing CCTV footage three days later, I identified the driver, but by then, I had already had the door repaired and painted at one of my trusted workshops. As usual, the workshop worked its magic, and the car was ready in about four hours. I didn’t take any pictures of the damaged door; it was too upsetting to look at.

One of the off-road runs,

One with the buddies,

Right after 10k service,

Turbo Power, 1.0 Ecoboost - Nicknamed 'Wolfy'

Wolfy has covered around 85,000 km in total and has undergone several major maintenance items that had been pending for a while. The suspension was due for replacement, so I decided to go all out and chose Bilstein B6. After a lengthy search, I found an importer who had a set available, originally ordered by someone who never paid. I jumped on the opportunity. Although the new suspension is a bit stiff, the handling has improved from excellent to heavenly.

Next on the list was the clutch. I plan to remap the car to Stage 2+ along with supporting hardware, and I felt it was best to upgrade to a performance clutch now. I’ve heard great reviews about Sachs, so I decided to go with them. The clutch was arranged in about two weeks and was fitted two days ago. I haven’t driven much since my dad is currently using it, but I can already feel the difference in the pedal—it’s a bit stiffer than the stock one, which is to be expected from a performance clutch.

As I mentioned earlier, Wolfy was involved in an accident last Tuesday near Sector 25. My mother was making a turn when a delivery rider on a Splendor rammed into the left side C-pillar at a speed of around 60-70 km/h. The impact was so strong that it bent and deformed a section of the chassis, which my trusted mechanic later repaired. The delivery rider initially blamed my mother, and when we tried to address the issue, around 40-50 delivery riders gathered, threatening us and hurling abuses while the at-fault rider stood behind them. In the end, I had to call 112, and the police responded within 10-15 minutes. They took strict action against the delivery rider and the 6-7 individuals who were causing trouble. I sincerely appreciate the swift response of the police in managing the situation and holding those responsible accountable.

Once Wolfy was back with our trusted mechanic, we decided to replace the suspension and clutch as well since she was already there. Everything was sorted out within a few days. The next service is likely to be next month, around the 88,000 km mark.

The accident

Getting her repaired,

And finally after spending 2 nights at the workshop, ready to go home.

Old Skool Stuff, 1.3 MPFI - Nicknamed 'Candy Truck'

The "Candy Truck," as my friends like to call it, has covered around 25,000 km, nearly all of which has been off-road or during special events, including the Team BHP Independence Day Drive. She is running strong, and I have addressed most of the issues. However, a few things are still pending:

Body tinkering—there’s a bit of rust around the rally cabin and wheel well that needs attention.
Spark plugs—already ordered.
Ignition wires—already ordered.
AC servicing.
As much as I hate to say it, she also went through an unfortunate incident in July. I was close to home when a driver of a cargo EECO van, with about 6-7 people inside, thought it would be smart to cut between my car and an approaching divider from the left to make a U-turn. Realizing he couldn't make it, he braked hard, and I did the same, but the absence of ABS and the subpar brakes of the old Gyp didn't help. I rear-ended the van at around 50 km/h. By the time I moved my car aside, the EECO had already left—only three tires remaining, as they had lost one. They may have been under the influence, but they fled. The truck's main frame was bent, protruding into the front left tire. I had to leave it there overnight and towed it to the workshop the following morning. It took about four days to source parts from Mayapuri and get her sorted. While at it, I replaced the rotors and pads, performed a full service, cleaned the throttle body, and replaced the tachometer.

I have driven her around 4,000 km since then, and aside from the small issues mentioned, she is running perfectly. I’m in a dilemma about whether to keep her or sell. It’s been almost five years since I brought her home, and the urge to upgrade is starting to itch. I’ve done nearly everything I planned for this car, and any further investment would require a significant commitment—something I'm not ready for due to limited practicality. I might sell it; I might not. Only time will tell, but for now, she is the pride of my garage and holds a special place in my heart.

The unfortunate incident -

Denting, Frame work completed

And finally painted, awaiting cosmetic parts from Mayapuri.

Meanwhile Jimny waiting for it's elder sibling to come back home.

And its time to catch up with friends after the tiring ordeal has come to an end.

Conclusion

To conclude this lengthy and emotionally mixed post, I want to reflect on the title of this thread. This garage, my Dream Garage, took a considerable amount of time to materialize. Many days were spent procrastinating, and countless sleepless nights were dedicated to motivating myself, but in the end, it happened—much more than I expected five years ago. I won’t say that pursuing your dreams is easy; it never is. But if you want to achieve them, you must put in the effort. As President Kalam rightly said, "A dream is not what you see while sleeping. It is something that does not let you sleep." This resonates with me deeply, as this journey has certainly kept me awake at night.

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I have completed 80% of the mods which I had intended, with the help of fellow enthusiasts

BHPian jithin23 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Hey All, it’ s been a quite a while since I’ve given an update on the EcoSport. May-now is kind of a sabbatical for me career wise as I wanted to explore India again (which I did in June and scaled Umling La at last on my EcoSport! Talk about utilizing the 90-day notice period to my advantage ). The current odo stands at 140,000kms. The bug for mods hasn’t dwindled yet and somehow I have completed 80% of the mods which I had mentioned as pipeline mods with the help of fellow enthusiasts who are like family to me now (Mad4Bhp – Raghu TE and Nightraven – Satya Chand Bandaru and many more [The list is loong enough and I’ll mention their names as and when necessary!], can’t thank you guys enough) !

Bhpian Mad4bhp (he’s actually crazy when it comes to automobiles. The man has done Chennai-Leh circuit on an RD 350 back in 2007 and currently owns 4 RD 350s, 1 RX135, 1 Estilo, 1 Alcazar, 2x Ecosport(both in Canyon Ridge) and 1 Eon. Huge respect towards him! ) and I have spent sleepless nights and days in verifying part numbers and validating if these parts will actually fit in our cars. Both our cars have the same mods as well. Since we had ordered parts randomly across the globe and some in India itself, the part numbers can vary and once we have compiled all the part numbers, I will share the document here once it’s completely compiled.

Here's a recap of our Pipeline Mods which are complete now:
Sliding Armrest from the UK/US spec EcoSport
OE rear disc
OEM cooled Glovebox
Sync 4 and B&O setup (Wild Card Mod)
Custom maps for drive modes (drive modes are working at last at all speeds)

Now let’s get into the heart of the content. How we did it?

Disclaimer: The pricing I’ve mentioned is for the prices we paid at the time of purchasing our parts and it can vary from country to country, vendor to vendor and even on eBay I can vary. 80% of all our parts are bought from eBay! Also, some of the mod pics will be from one of our cars as we have executed the mods on our cars together.

1. Sliding Armrest

Initially, we had ordered a few child parts from the UK and we tried to to fit it in our existing armrest slot. That wasn’t possible. So we had to keep that one as a dummy one and then we had to import the entire assembly. The entire assembly consists of the armrest assembly and the frame as one unit. Then we had to get the side trims and the rear cover for the armrest assembly. Fortunately, these were available in India and we could execute this. Though we had to remove and refit the parts twice, it was worth the effort. The fore and aft sliding range is sufficient. The internal storage is deep with two layers of storage and the Key transmitter slot position changes(applicable for Titanium and above variants). However, while installing this, the entire AC panel and the center console needs to be removed to replace the armrest assembly.

Stock Console removed. See the Airbag module below the handbrake.

The new armrest slots in perfectly. This in its normal position

This is the extended position of the armrest

The stowage space is deep and has another layer to keep some knick-knacs or a swiss knife

Total Gandhis spent for this mod:
Armrest assembly- about 15k INR (imported though)
The side covers and rear covers – 5-6k INR (sourced in India)
Total = 20k approx

2. OEM Rear Disc

This was at the back of our heads for quite a while and Fortunately we cracked a good deal on the export spec axle from the US for the rear axle. Importing it was a task though but we wanted the part to reach home. The reason for changing the rear axle is to mount the calipers as we both have an OCD for everything being the OE way rather than using an aftermarket adaptor plate(after getting the axle home we then found out that we have an OEM adaptor plate available for the 4wd Ecosport models). The Stock ABS pump and wiring can be used with a config change in UCDS. The calipers, rotors, caliper bolt and pads can be sourced in India itself. We had changed the hub to a disc compatible one as well but the stock hub too will suffice.

The Stock Rear Axles

The OEM Adaptor plate

The Rear Axle which is compatible for the disc caliper to be seated

One will need a ramp to remove and refit the axle. The drums have to be removed regardless it’s an axle swap or an adaptor swap. Some amount of brake oil is also required as we will need to bleed the brakes. If you’re planning to change only using the adaptor plate a jack stand is more than sufficient. The adaptor plate can be used for the Figo triplets as the hub and PCD is same for Figo, Freestyle and EcoSport.

The Caliper

The Axle with the Caliper mounts

End result, the brakes have a sharper bite and most of us in our group have our cars tuned, the rear discs do really aid in bringing the car to a halt faster!

Finally Mounted on the EcoSport

Side View

Disc compatible hub(even the stock hub can be used)

Dr.Manoj was the first one to get rear discs imported from Taiwan for his 2014 EcoSport(his EcoSport is a piece of art!), then Isai ettan (@drivethrulenz on Instagram) got the aftermarket rear discs on his 2020 Ecosport At and the braking difference was evident and we got the OEM ones now. Yet again we are one of the first ones to get an OEM disc brake setup.

The Gandhis spent for this mod :
Axle: 20k (Import and customs are additional and I do not remember the exact cost)
Rotor, Caliper and Pads: 23-25k
Hub : 12k ( however hub isn’t required)

Total = About 62-65k including customs

3. OEM Cooled Glovebox

This was a random mod which we stumbled upon while having a quick peek into one of our friend’s pre facelift EcoSport. We then realised that if it’s there for the old EcoSport, even our car will have a provision to install it. Initially I had bought the entire glovebox but later realised that the blower comes a child part and the duct pipe which is routed to the blower is also available as a child part as confirmed by Mad4Bhp! This was a relatively an inexpensive mod and we got it unde under 1000 Rs. The function is only to keep chocolates and cold drinks cool, not to freeze them, so we cannot expect a fridge like performance, but does the job of not melting dark chocolates! Unfortunately couldn't click a pic during the mod as we had worked on this in the middle of the night with no proper lighting.

4. Sync 4 and B&O wiring

The Sync 4 APIM. Looks very similar to the Sync 3 APIM. 2 suppliers for the sync unit - Flextronics and Panasonic

Once you remove the APIM connector, these 2 white wires need to be removed with the help of a pin to ensure sync 4 works

Sync 4 was not even in my radar but Raghu anna was like he wanted wireless android auto. I told him as he always goes the OE way, why not sync 4. Let’s just experiment with it. I did refer to Cyanlabs for the wiring diagram and knew that it was a direct swap. However Ford being Ford, it did not work in my Dad’s Titanium variant as it did not have the ground and shield for reverse camera as it did not come with a reverse camera from factory. However, in my Titanium+ and Mad4Bhp’s Titanium+ and S the module worked.It wasn’t an out of box installation. In Mad4Bhp’s car we had the 12” sync 4 orientation(his APIM make was from Panasonic) and it took us a day to fix the issue and we took help from an international source. Whereas in my car the unit part number was different and the supplier was different(Flextronics make) and my sync screen acted like it had fits and used to shut off every 3-4 minutes. It took me 3-4 days to decode the issue and finally it was due to a disabled canbus line the system was shutting off frequently. 3 days after I finished the mod, Forscan and Cyanlabs release a notifitcation stating that cyanlanbs has a tool to compare the asbuilt files and we can read sync 4 data using Forscan.

Cyanlabs sync 4 Database file comparison:
https://cyanlabs.net/asbuilt-db/sync4-apim/

While installing, be mindful to open the SYNC/APIM connector and then slowly remove the wire terminal from pin number 53 and 54. For the Endevaour with sync 2, pin no. 16 and 17 too need to be removed along with 53 and 54. The screen, USB and APIM has to changed from sync 2 to sync 3 or 4. From sync 2 to sync 3, the wiring is plug and play and one need not remove any pin.

Carplay and Android auto work flawlessly on the EcoSport and there are no loss of features on the EcoSport. Sound quality has a slight dip compared to sync 3(B&O will sort this issue though). However, on the Endevaour we lose out on touchscreen enabled climate control and parallel park assist. If the 12” Sync 4 screen is used, then there are no loss of features on the Endevaour.

The operation of Sync 4 is similar to sync 3 except for a few niceties which I’ll cover in a separate post or create a video and post here soon!

It merges perfectly with the stock 8" sync 3 screen

Coming to the B&O aspect, we just wanted it for better sound quality. We used the OEM subwoofer and AMP and got the ACM(Audio Control Module) wiring imported. We haven’t found time to sit and configure the B&O AMP yet, but we have installed the wiring in Mad4Bhp’s car.

B&O Amp for Ford(pic from ebay for reference)
Compatible across all Ford EU models

B&O compatible ACM for the EcoSport

The Sub sits snug onto the rear wheel well slot in the boot

The Finished Subwoofer

With the custom speaker grill

Unfortunately, we cannot use sync 4 on the Freestyle and Aspire as the minimum supported screen size for sync 4 is 8” and the Freestyle/Aspire has a 6.5” screen.

Total Gandhi Spent on this mod(including import costs):
Sync 4 APIM about 20k
B&O ACM about 14k
B&O Amplifier about 7-8k
B&O rear subwoofer about 10k

5. Custom Drive Modes

This was a dream of mine from the day I had that Puma ST cluster. I had done some research on how the drive modes work in a Puma by reading across Ford internal sites and over there it was mentioned the ABS, PSCM/EPAS(Steering Module) and of course the mode switch(some are placed on the steering and some beside the HVAC console. And, yes, this is one the first EcoSport globally to have all the drive modes working efficiently without the use of any additional canbus OBD or piggy back devices. Everything works as per OEM standards

The Puma/Fiesta ABS module which is required for this mod

The Puma/Fiesta/Focus wiper stalk with Lane Keep Assist is another pre-requisite for this mod

The Line Items which have been loaded from a Puma using UCDS

A short video on how it works on the EcoSport
https://youtu.be/GQBoWM3zeA4?si=zU4FHlML5DHHPcAc

Before I start on how I got it done, let me give everyone a gist of how drive modes works in real world scenarios and its operation principle.
Drive modes alters the throttle, brake and steering sensitivity based on the mode selected. In certain cars, it alters even the suspension and exhaust settings.
Then I started collecting and adding parts one by one over a period of 1.5 years. First the speedometer, then the Puma/Focus/Fiesta/Escape ST steering with drive mode button, Puma/Focus/Fiesta/Escape wiper stalk with Lane Keep assist, ABS module from the Puma/Focus/Fiesta/Escape and the steering motor (this is optional in order to improve steering sensitivity as per each drive mode) from the Puma/focus/fiesta/escape. I’d suggest parts from the Puma as the part compatibility rate is the highest with the EcoSport in terms of configuration.

The main challenge was in configuring the ABS module. I did try with UCDS but me being the quirky me tried to change all the values at once. Drove the car without a functional ABS module for 3 weeks . Collateral damage was the reverse sensors too weren’t working (no beeps either) as it is dependent on the ABS module partially( seriously an over-engineered car which is good!) Then I reached out to Satya for help in configuring the ABS module. I had a donor Puma VIN in place and he did his magic with the settings of the ABS module in UCDS, voila Drive modes started working. Since I hadn’t installed the steering motor, we had to switch off the drive mode settings for the steering wheel for the drive modes to work across various speeds. The braking response is evident across different modes, however the accelerator response has subtle changes though.

The Transition is smooth and nice

I’ll explain the modes and its functions as well. There are 5 Driving modes in total.

Normal: The car behaves as a stock car with stock settings from the factory. Braking , Steering and acceleration are as per factory spec

Eco: As the name suggests, the braking bite is slightly on the spongier side, steering is lighter at lower speeds(not feather light though) and throttle response is a bit dull in this mode. I wouldn’t drive on this mode.

Sport: My Favourite Mode. Justifies the Eco’Sport’ tag and my car’s character. Steering weighs up perfectly as per the speed you’re driving, brakes are 15-20% sharper than the normal mode and throttle response is more crisp. I like the black and red themed dial too.

I'm giving a subtle hint for my next mod

Slippery: Didn’t find much difference between this and sport mode but I believe this gives better control in slippery or icy road conditions. The theme too is in ice blue color. Damn, I should have had this mode while descending Baralacha La

Similar color scheme as the eco mode in the slippery mode too

Trail: Throttle response is similar to Sport mode but with the traction control turned off. You get a nice topographic map contour in green color. Useful for mild trails and off road.

Lesson learned: Get the top most variant in anything you buy and I improvised on my dad’s vision by getting the highest variant car which is my car. Else, I wouldn’t have gotten the drive modes done as the ABS module and wiring is different for vehicles without traction control. I will change the engine wiring which is compatible for traction control and install hill assist in my dad’s car by using my stock ABS module (that has the gyro in built I believe). But why Ford, Why couldn’t you democratize the wiring and modules at least!( I can go on for days on their shortfalls and gaps) No wonder they had losses.

The Total Gandhi Spent on this mod(I’ll focus only on newly acquired parts as I already had the meter long ago):
ABS Module(Imported): About 10k
Wiper Stalk: 8k
Steering with mode switch: About 20-21k

Well the Total no.of mods in my car I do not have a count of. All I know is that the no.of mods will keep adding and will not reduce anytime in the future.

Pipeline Mods:
OE cooled seats -Much needed
Driver Alert System – Much needed for me as I drive 600-800 kms sometimes in a day
A full Engine+ 6 speed MT gearbox swap to the 1.5 EcoBlue 4x4 diesel from Europe – Working on sourcing the mechanical parts such as subframe, independent suspension. Need to find a totaled EcoSport in Europe and I’ll get it shipped in a container.
Diesel Automatic Transmission in my Blue car – The Ford Focus, C-Max and Kuga had the 1.5 TDCi 6 speed AT. So I believe the engine, gearbox and its related wiring needs to be changed. Or if the 6F15 gearbox on the EcoSport Petrol and Figo Petrol can handle 300-350 nm torque, then why not?

Can you guess this mod? This too is in the pipeline. I thank my International source for giving this unit away for free for testing purposes

Wait, before I sign off for this set of mods, we have a bonus mod too in place. I will share the details of that mod in the next 3-5 days(Hint: It is a very important accessory but an OEM one).

People might think why am I or we are spending a bomb on a brand that’s defunct in India. Simple, this car helped me reclaim my life back by giving me a ton of memories, travelling across the country, gave me a car community across the world (Yes, I have made friends globally due to this car from Argentina to Australia, not just across India), A group of friends who turned into family apart from my biological family and had my own share of personal and professional waves, but yet the moment I look at my car, everything fades away and that car has channeled the insane me into a sane Jithin we see today! I wish Ford India had realised this potential and hopefully they stumble upon these threads which have captialized the potential of their cars and resurrect Indian operations. On a side note, I'll keep posting pics and documents pertaining to part numbers as and when time permits. Till then I’ll need to complete that Umling La Travelogue :P.

Have a Happy Dusshera and Deepavali!

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All in all, it has been a mixed bag for me, but I am sure once I start racking up the miles, I would start liking the Ford more than now.

BHPian ManasN95 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

So, after driving for around 1000-1500 KMs in a week, here are my first impressions, some might be in comparison with the Honda City 2012 (HC) model.

Pros:

1. Ground Clearance - The biggest pro for me, I don't have to worry about scraping anything anymore.
2. Features - Sync3 ease, Android Auto and Auto dimming IRVM have been the biggest features for me. Other good to have features over City are auto headlamps, automatic wipers, etc - which for me, are good to have as features, but I wouldn't have missed them if I didn't have them. Other features like Hill Start Assist, MyKey etc, haven't been explored by me yet to comment.
3. Steering - In city, it doesn't feel as light as the Honda City, but on higher speeds, it's feedback and weight feels really good. Especially on highways, I feel like having more control over the car, somehow.
4. On highways, it's so assuring to have a stable car, while HC would feel a little under confident on EWays around 100 kmph and more.
5. Because I am sitting high, the view is great, feels commanding. I like this sitting on a bench posture more than sitting on a couch posture in the HC.
6. The mileage economy and hit on the wallet hasn't taken a big dent, it's almost similar. Below are the figures I am getting (only first calculations in all scenarios) 
   6a. In complete city driving, with poor roads and intermittent traffic, I am hovering around 13-14 kmpl 
   6b. In free flowing City traffic - I got 17.7 kmpl 
   6c. In one trip from Dombivli - Pune - Mumbai I got exactly 20 kmpl for the 350+ kms trip, which included insane Mumbai bottleneck traffic as well during a Saturday evening, which is good in my books. 
   Compared to the HC (which was on CNG and Automatic), I would have gotten atleast 2-3 kmpl lesser than the above figures for sure. So that more or less cancels out any difference between running on CNG vs Diesel.
7. No more waiting on long CNG lines for out station trips (where I would generally get 180-200 km on tankful). Visits to the pumps would be so much lesser.
8. Suspension feels better for higher speeds, takes a lot of undulations and rumble strips in it's stride.
9. Overall the quality of interiors is good, the steering buttons feel tactile, good to use, same is the case with the center console. All are within reach, and once I get the hang of what is where, I would be able to operate most of the things without taking my eyes off the road.
10. Music system is good for my taste, after tuning a little bit. I am not an audiophile, so the current setup is going to be untouched. Call quality is also good enough for me, crystal clear audio.
11. Having an adaptive rear reversing camera is helpful, and the convex ORVMs are a plus point, also being big and wide enough to see the world behind.
12. I always wanted a rear wiper, and now I have got one. So I would definately list in my likes as it also comes with a wash and wipe.
13. I like the diesel clatter, it does feel like now I am driving something, Honda City was extremely quiet (I am taking about the engine noise and vibrations and harshness in the cabin which was next to none). There is evident clatter on starting up, and overall, the harshness is present, but I LIKE it. During the Pune Mumbai trip, I couldn't help but notice that I am feeling less sleepy than I would have in the HC because I needed to be more aware for the gear shifts and the vibrations and engine noise help me in that.
14. Internal space is okay, 1L bottles fit in all 4 doors, 2 cup holders near handbrake and on the rear arm rest
15. The pull of the diesel motor is addictive in the torque band, especially coming after a CNG car.

Dislikes:

1. The lag around 1500 RPM is terrible, almost feels like engine is gasping for air. The first gear and second gear in some scenarios are tricky, where I do not understand if to stay in 1st gear or up to 2nd, but then it lags horribly. I have heard Stage 1 map will solve this to an extent.
2. The low speed ride quality is horrible, to the point where I almost question my decision. And my Ecosport is with 16 inchers. I can't imagine what 17 inchers must be going through. It's extremely wobbly and feels like a low quality boat getting bashed around waves. Any suggestions, or do I live with it? I am feeling it more so coming from a sedan whose low speed ride is now feeling like a carpet.
3. The intermittent rain sensing wipers feel chaotic, or I am using them wrong. (I haven't had the chance to read the owner's manual yet). They more often than not, work well, but when there isn't lashing rain, but a slow accumulation of droplets, they just don't wipe for a long time. Will read up more about this, but I would have liked a simpler mechanism like my HC here.
4. Now, this car was meant to be 30% Ciy and 70% highway use, so we kept manuals open as an option after using a smooth Automatic for 4 years. Man, am I struggling or what!! The clutch is hard, (might have started to wear out), and although driving on EWay for most of the time was okay, that 1 hour of driving in intense bumper to bumper traffic has given me a minor swollen ankle. I agree, that I am not in a best of physical conditions to not let this affect me, but this is going to be a worry for me. But I think all I can do about this now is start doing ankle strengthening and mobility exercises and get it checked with another Ford ASC to see how much the clutch play and hardness can be improved. (When I got her checked before purchase at Ford, they said that it's normal hard for the KMs run - 90,000, and replacing the clutch unit would only make it 20-30% better not more.) So I have to take this in my stride I guess.
5. It feels like the car is missing a 6th gear on highways. I observed that she does 95 kmph at around 2k RPM which feels gruff, also highlighted by the fact that I am accustomed to the smoothness of the petrol automatic. Going beyond 100-110 kmph would mean even more roughness, but then I guess this is to be expected of a diesel, but as I said, a 6th gear would have been nice. I may try putting in a better engine oil, using some products like Liquimoly Ceratec so see if it gets a little smoother.
6. The sitting position is a little hard to find, because the car is used both by me and my Dad, so each one struggles to find the settings they want in the first instance of getting in.
7. Doors do not open full 90 degrees, which my Mom would have liked for better ingress.
8. Strictly 4 seater, compact dimensions means no 5th healthy adult allowed. Doesn't matter to us as we rarely travel with the need of carrying 5 people.
9. Half the boot space (feels like) compared to the City. Not sure about how much luggage would she really gobble unless we go on a multi day trip - so comments about scarcity or not only after we do.
10. Contrary to the common opinion on this forum, I do not like the all black interiors of the Ecosport. Unfortunately, I can't even change the seat covers due to air bags, but I would have absolutely loved putting tan coloured seat covers which would have looked really good on the blue body shell. Any options?
11. A-pillar view blockage, as is highlighted by everybody.

Mods Planned:

1. I have already installed the 70Mai A510 which was pending from a long time.
2. Stage 1 Map
3. Cosmetic modifications aplenty - grill, body stripes, rear spoiler, some contrast styling in the interiors, maybe tinting the headlamps and fog lamps to look like S variant (I am unsure of this).
4. Maybe better looking alloys, I hate the current flower type alloys, but beggars can't be choosers, right? Although I can choose a different alloy design, maybe also go for 15 inch alloys if that improves the low ride quality by a good margin.
5. High beam and fog light bulb to better ones. The previous owner had installed HIDs in the low beams and they are fantastic (pending some fine tuning). I would like to have all the best possible bulbs in the high beams and fogs as well.
6. Some small things like a vacuum cleaner, good upkeep chemicals, tyre inflator etc - whatever required basics to get her ready for cross country trips I have been dreaming of.

All in all, it has been a mixed bag for me, but I am sure once I start racking up the miles, I would start liking the Ford more than now.

My next update would be of a separate ownership thread combined with travelogues hopefully.

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The change from Petrol + CNG automatic to Diesel manual, 165 mm GC to 200 GC, basic features to so many features that I am still grasping, and from a Japanese to an American.

BHPian ManasN95 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello everyone! After dilly dallying on whether to keep the Honda City 3rd Gen, we finally took the plunge and got ourselves a 2018 Ford Ecosport Titanium+ TDCi on 16th August.

The car was immaculately maintained, has all the service records for the entirety of it's 90,000 KMs age, and the price was also fantastic to let go of this deal.

So it all made sense, and the change from Petrol + CNG automatic to Diesel manual, 165 mm GC to 200 GC, basic features to so many features that I am still grasping, and from a Japanese to an American, has been exhilarating to say the least!

I hope to add much value to this thread with my experiences, and will post a small first impressions as soon as I put some 1000 KMs under the belt!

I have a hoard of modifications planned, and I would love to have your inputs for the same!

I am keeping her as it is for now, but the mods will start kicking in soon.

Parting with a recent photo of her, where in we friends took a drive of 150 KMs just for a Misal, and I am hoping my travels with her would be exactly the same - just point in the direction and shoot.

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I know that the RSA service providers are third party and that it is not ford who provides the service, but the Ecosport keeps giving me reasons to be happy everyday.

BHPian Combustion29 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Just wanted to share a recent incident with my Ford Ecosport SE TdCI 2021.

Yesterday I had gotten out in my Ecosport to run errands, and once i got back into the car, the car would not start, this has never happened in my 73,000 km ownership. It seemed like a battery issue and, rightly so the battery symbol had lit up in the MID, since it was raining, finding a nearby mechanic to jumpstart my car was not possible, then it just hit me that I still had RSA (Road Side Assistance).

I called my service advisor from Fortune Ford (kondapur, Hyderabad), he gave me the RSA helpline number and I called them, the call got connected to IVR and it said I will get a message with a link to fill in the details. The link had me fill basic details like location, Registration etc, filling up the form hardly took 2 mins, and within 5 minutes I got a call from the customer care, confirming my issue, she said that help would be there soon.

Within 5 minutes of my call I got a call from the agent who was assigned to me, he told me he was coming, and he was at my location within 20 minutes of me speaking to him, and he jumpstarted the car using a battery he was carrying with him using proper cables. I knew that RSA was free and i did not have to pay him anything, but i expected the agent to ask for some money, but to my surprise he did not.

To sum up the entire process of me calling me calling the RSA helpline to the agent coming to me took less than 35 minutes, and I don't live in the center of the city, I live towards the outskirts, (Osman Nagar, Tellapur. Fellow Hyderabadis might understand) I was surprised by the quick turnaround time and the prompt service.

I know that the RSA service providers are third party and that it is not ford who provides the service, but the Ecosport keeps giving me reasons to be happy everyday.

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As far as I know I need to swap the bonnet, headlights, grill, DRLs, bumper on the outside. On the inside, the radiator mount and AC ducts.

BHPian TheEcoBeast recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

An idle brain is a devil's workshop and whenever I am idle, my mind becomes my workhorse's workplace. Whenever I have some free time I resort to my parking lot, working on the interior, exterior, and under the hood.

It's been more than 2 years since I got it water-washed outside. I got an Agaro pressure washer. Got a blower, and an interior vacuum cleaner. Have all machinery for polishing and supplies from 3M and other brands to keep my Darkhorse immaculate inside-out.

Apart from general services on the dot, spares part changes whenever required, I got the suspension overhauled at Chennai Ford very recently. I also have replaced my 205/60/R16 Michelin P4STs (with >60000 KM on them) and with a brand-new set of Michelins but went with a wider 215 set-up as I had plans to bump up a few horses. Called up WolfMoto and enlisted my vehicle for a Stage 1 upgrade on their next visit to Chennai (In a month or so).

Well, to come to the meat of the topic now, I have been bitten by a facelift bug. Whenever I see a 2019 or higher Black EcoSport, my wife tells me to wipe off the drool off my face. I have no intention to swap my trustworthy mate being my first car and a strong emotional connection.

So, I am exploring the possibility of changing the facia to a 2019 or higher version. I have seen a video where a Kerala Youtuber did it and a person from Delhi.

As far as I know I need to swap the bonnet, headlights, grill, DRLs, bumper on the outside. On the inside, the radiator mount and AC ducts.

I have checked with a few garages in Chennai and they turned me down saying they wont carry out the job citing parts. My request to mechanically sound minds here is what are the other parts I should be looking at to change? Any idea on the estimate? Any references as to who can get the job done anywhere in India.

I am heading to Sepang MotoGP in Nov and is there any way I can buy parts and ship them here?

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This vanity mirror lamp assembly was fully imported and its cost reflected that.

BHPian ABHI_1512 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

1,80,000 kms Service Update:

Baahon just crossed the 1.8L mark and is now better than ever after some of the work that cropped up during the last month has been addressed and rectified.

During the first week of June, I went for an impromptu drive to Kalimpong with some fellow BHpians for a day. During the entire drive, there was this constant noise coming from the underside. The noise was prominent enough to all of us and it was more prominent whenever there was a change of gear. Anyway, turned out, that it was the left side shaft/axle that was the culprit.

Kalimpong drive mates in one frame, one night is all that we needed to add some drive miles to our belt.

Some of the other things also needed to be changed. The windshield cowl vent gave away after nine years and needed replacement and so did the heat shield insulator. During the fuel
filter replacement, it was found that the O ring inside the fuel filter assembly was in bad shape and needed to be replaced as well. One more small thing that needed replacement was the vanity mirror lamp assembly on the passenger side. It had broken some time back and I had pre-ordered the part two days before my service was scheduled. The most heartening part of the whole exercise was that some of the replacement parts had manufacturing dates as recent as March 2024. This whole talk of the availability of spare parts becoming an issue is so overrated. I haven’t faced any issues regarding spare parts to date.

Hood insulator after the fitment.

This vanity mirror lamp assembly was fully imported and its cost reflected that.

The clutch is doing fine as of now and is still going strong after almost 90k kms. The tyres have good life remaining still and need no attention as of now.

Some cosmetic changes were also made to freshen up the proceedings inside the car. The earlier seat covers were changed and new ones were put on. Must say, the quality of seat covers has come a long way and I am enjoying a little more comfort for sure. These were pre-ordered and took around twelve days to arrive.

Pocket pinch for the whole service and parts replacement are as follows-

• Shaft/ Axle replacement- ₹10,200
• Hood insulator - ₹201
• Cowl top vent & top- ₹ 273
• Vanity mirror lens assembly- ₹ 1615
• Fuel filter assembly- ₹ 2750
• A/C filter - ₹160
• Air filter- ₹350
• Oil filter- ₹145
• Engine Oil- ₹1150
• Transmission oil - ₹ 600
• Retainer Axle- ₹850
• Labour charges including service- ₹ 4000

So total pocket pinch came to around 26k which is fairly reasonable in my view considering the number of replacements. The car is good for the upcoming monsoons. Let’s see how that pans out in the coming months. A small plan to refurbish the alloys and give them a new look has now entered my mind. Will give that a try soon. Meanwhile, sharing some pictures as well for some colour to the post.

The first two pictures were from Ramsai where a few of the BHPIans and their families went for a weekend and it was crazy fun.

These next pictures were just randomly clicked near the famed Calcutta Maidan.

This picture is from a recent highway drive.

Leaving the post with a sunset shot from Baahon some time back. The Kolkata Gate is visible in the picture.

Until the next, drive safe all

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