Our garage, therefore, makes me happy now; this Elevate and the XUV300 TurboSport.

BHPian naadopaasaka recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Our 2017 S-Cross Sigma with the 1.3L MJD engine has been replaced by a golden brown Honda Elevate ZX CVT in October 2023. The replacement was occasioned by the fact, primarily, that my father was getting tired of driving a manual around town on a daily basis. Our garage, therefore, makes me happy now; this Elevate and the XUV300 TurboSport (I’ve written about that here: (Mahindra XUV300 TurboSport | Ownership Review).

Here's what I think of the Elevate.

• The much-marketed lane watch camera is useful but really isn’t as useful as you think it might be. The number of use cases is too few – going close around a kerb/ footpath, changing lanes in particular circumstances, and some kinds of parallel parking. However, in the parallel parking, it doesn’t come on automatically and I haven’t actually tried using it, because the reverse camera is on mostly. In the darkness, the lane watch camera doesn’t deal very well with headlights and you see more glare than video. We picked the ZX for the 6 airbags, and this is a nice feature to have which I’d have been happy without. The reverse camera is satisfactory.

• Considering that I do most of my driving on a really torquey small-capacity turbo petrol, it took me a bit to understand that the 1.5 i-Vtec isn’t as sensitive in terms of fuel efficiency to driving style. If you don’t understand this, you tend not to get the most out of the engine, particularly with the CVT gearbox, and begin to believe that the engine simply lacks torque in the bottom and middle. If you manipulate throttle inputs just right, with a firm but not too firm beginning from a standstill, to later ease out on it as the car picks up speed, the pull will surprise you. It isn’t exciting and doesn’t give you a kick in the pants or anything, but it is more than sufficient for normal conditions. Mated to the CVT, this isn’t an enthusiast’s choice at all. The i-Vtec’s zone is said to be at the top, but I don’t see us using that often. To get about the city, it is good enough.

• Having said all that, fuel efficiency in choc-a-block Bengaluru traffic is disappointing at about 8.5-10 kmpl with the AC on and the vehicle on at all signals. But this is the worst of Bengaluru traffic.On the highway, cruising at about 100-110, I got about 15 kmpl.

• There is an abstract sense of comfort about the whole experience of the car. My father, who is the primary driver of the car, took a few months to get used to our S-Cross in 2017 and then would whine about it a bit throughout its life. The S-Cross isn’t that hard a car to get used to. In the Elevate, however, he took only 10 minutes to get used to it and praised its comfort immediately. I call this comfort abstract because it isn’t clearly attributable to any one dimension of the car: It is remarkably easy to drive and doesn’t demand too much attention, the ergonomics are great and everything is exactly where your hands expect them to be, the aesthetics of the interiors are calming, and the car just generally makes you breathe slower, which is a good thing. It isn’t quirky in any way and doesn’t require you to get used to it. It is just as it should be; it seems to adjust to you and doesn’t expect the opposite.

• The telescopic steering adjustment is available more in form than in substance. It simply doesn’t have enough range.

• As others have pointed out, the front passenger footwell doesn’t have enough flat ground before the incline for the wheel well, the front passenger seat is too low, and under-thigh support is hopelessly insufficient on both front seats. While some have complained about too much lumbar support on the front seats, as a rather thin man with a history of some problems with my spine, I am very happy with it.

• The official review describes the suspension as being soft with a firm edge, and I fully agree. It is extremely good at handling potholes and bumps but does certainly have an undertone of firmness.I think the ride-handling balance is about as good as you can expect from a car of these dimensions. There is body roll (markedly more than in the XUV300 TurboSport) but I suppose the two cars have different use cases and philosophies. I like the steering.

• The dark golden brown colour is a dust magnet but looks fantastic. It seems like it is more than one colour

• There are some disappointing things. First, there is now a light sound from some vibration in the dashboard when the vehicle is at idle. Second, cabin insulation is simply not sufficient. It is true that the engine is extremely refined. However, at higher speeds on the highway, tyre/ road noise can get annoying. Vibration and harshness are, however, sufficiently contained. Third, the rear armrest doesn’t get a flap with which to pull it out of its slot. Fourth, the child lock seems to get on rather easily. I think it gets on almost every time our car is cleaned.

• The sales experience was reasonably good. We bought our car from Dakshin Honda, Lavelle Road, Bengaluru. Our SA was Shri Farhan. We made the booking online on the first day early in July. The vehicle was ready for delivery in early/mid-October. We chose not to take delivery then because of pitru paksha/ mahalaya paksham, and ultimately took delivery in late October. Did a PDI, and Dakshin Honda was extremely cooperative with that. There were no hassles. The PDI went off very well. The car had only single-digit kilometres on the odometer then. Shri Farhan also has been extremely helpful. He has never dodged a phone call, never lost his patience with our persistent questions, seemed always available, and remained cooperative with us much after the delivery until he ensured we received our RC a few days ago. Dakshin Honda sold us a PayTM FasTag and he is now helping us out by changing to a different provider consequent to the muck PayTM finds itself in. The only time he tried something dodgy was to ask us for full payment in advance if we wanted a cancelled booking car to be allotted to us. We didn’t agree because we refused to pay in full before the PDI. To be fair to him, he didn’t persuade us any further. However, we promptly got a car allotted to us the next week. So, I wonder what was going on there. We paid ₹2 lakh before the PDI. Overall, a good experience.

• Service is, of course, through Wheels Wisdom. I have nothing but nice things to say about them. After the first service, the folks at Whitefield Honda put a sticker on the car that is rather impossible to get off. I have no idea why they did this, and it doesn’t seem appropriate at all. Wheels Wisdom told me that it was to indicate that work was complete. I don’t find that a satisfactory explanation to do that. Here’s a picture of that sticker:

• As to missing features, I really think they should have offered TPMS with the car. Honda charges I think about ₹12,500 for that as an accessory which is clearly overpriced. The dashcam is also a single-channel camera with no dual-channel option.

• I know that the Koreans are probably better at this, but I think the touch and feel of materials inside the cabin is, overall, very good. I like the brown theme and entirely appreciate all the aesthetic choices that Honda has made here. One day, I was searching for something I had dropped in the driver’s footwell and was pleasantly surprised by the lighting in the footwells – a nice touch. I also really love the design and usability of the instrument cluster.

• The ADAS features are annoying. I haven’t figured out if I can use cruise control without the adaptive bit yet. The adaptive cruise control is extremely defensive in that it leaves too large a gap between you and the car in front of you. It is also extremely aggressive in its braking and acceleration. The lane keep assist is a useful feature, but the lane departure warning system can get annoying if you want to weave through traffic on the highways (which, I suppose, you shouldn’t be doing). Collision mitigation braking is an annoyance within the city, but I would rather have it on.I now understand why people complain about the absence of that one button (as in the City e:HEV) to turn off the ADAS features.

• Visibility is outstanding, particularly on the front. Permits precise manoeuvres and is confidence-inspiring. Makes parking easy.
• Overall, it is a Honda. Nothing remarkable, nothing wrong. It is doing well. Close to 3,000 kms thus far.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

As I explore potential upgrades, I have yet to find a worthy upgrade.

BHPian bharathdonti recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

• Year of Purchase: 2017
• Kilometres driven: 1,13,000
• Average Fuel Economy: 20.58 km/l
• Driving Conditions: 80% highway, 20% city

Modifications

1. Wolf Remap Stage 1 at 69,000 km
2. Replaced headlights with 100/90-watt bulbs
3. Hella Horn

Tyre Changes

1. Primacy 4ST at 57,000 km
2. Continental UC6 at 98,000 km

Driving the S-Cross has been an incredible journey, and I couldn't be happier with my ownership experience. In the six years of owning the S-Cross, I have developed a deep appreciation for its dependability, fuel efficiency, and all-around performance. This car has been a loyal companion on my travels, providing a comfortable and enjoyable driving experience. Its reliability and durability have surpassed my expectations, making it a vehicle I can trust even after extensive mileage. As I explore potential upgrades, I have yet to find a worthy upgrade that matches the S Cross's performance and value for money.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I sourced all the new parts myself and gave the car for service in-person.

BHPian govigov recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

130k kms came up late last week and the car headed to service. I have slowly acquired the parts for the service since July 2022. Having a parts manual helped. With the rear suspension replaced in the previous service, the car had stopped wandering around in the expansion joints of the over bridges. So, this time, it was the time for the front shocks. 130K km was a good time to replace the front shocks, considering the pathetic condition in which the rear shocks were during the 120K service.

Parts acquired in July:

• Front disc
• Front suspension and all its parts
• Rear parking sensor

The cost is about Rs 10,500 in all.

I was not sure if it is a placebo or not, but the front had a bit of bob and nodded at times which I was not comfortable with.

Come to the Nov-Dec time frame, post a Calicut trip, the front strut started making the classic link rod sounds. kat-kat over uneven roads. Dr N had just given the links to his upgraded Monroe link rods and I just ordered a set for myself as well. In one of the Coimbatore, trips went to shell and got a can of 5w30 at a premium price that I later regretted.

By Jan mid, the classic glow plug warnings started and I also noticed a leak from the EGR area.

I went in person to book the service yesterday and then today morning headed over to Nexa service centre with a boot full of parts.

Reached around 10.30 and was promptly attended to. Requested jobs:

• Front suspension
• Link rod replacements
• Front brake disc
• Front brake pads
• EGR cleaning
• Intercooler cleaning
• WA /WB as the link rods/suspensions are getting changed.

I was at the service centre till about lunch and then returned home. The SA did a great job and WhatsApp'ed me the below pics.

The total at the service station came to Rs 10,450

Overall I am satisfied.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I got all the new parts myself, before heading to the Nexa centre and getting them replaced.

BHPian govigov recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

130k km came up late last week and the car headed to service. I had slowly acquired the parts for the service since July 2022. Having a parts manual helped. With the rear suspension replaced in the previous service, the car had stopped wandering around in the expansion joints of the over bridges. So, this time, it was the time for the front shocks. 130K kms I felt was a good time to replace the front shocks, considering the pathetic condition in which the rear shocks were during the 120K service.

Parts acquired in July:

• Front disc
• Front suspension and all its parts
• Rear parking sensor

The cost is about Rs 10,500 in all.

I was not sure if it is a placebo or not, but the front had a bit of bob and nod at times which I was not comfortable with.

Come the Nov-Dec time frame, post a Calicut trip, the front strut started making the classic link rod sounds. kat-kat over uneven roads. Dr.N had just given the links to his upgraded Monroe link rods and I just ordered a set for myself as well. In one of the Coimbatore trips, went to shell and got a can of 5w30 at a premium price that I later regretted.

By Jan mid, the classic glow plug warnings started and I also noticed a leak from the EGR area.

I went in person to book the service yesterday and then today morning headed over to Nexa service centre with a boot full of parts.

Reached around 10.30 and was promptly attended to.

Requested jobs:

• Front Suspension
• Link rod replacements
• Front brake disc
• Front brake pads
• EGR cleaning
• Intercooler cleaning
• WA /WB as the link rods/suspensions are getting changed.

I was at the service centre till about lunch and then returned home. The SA did a great job and WhatsApp'd me the below pics.

The total at the service station came to Rs 10,450.

Overall I am satisfied.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Over the years, the car has received multiple upgrades, including Stage 2 Wolf tune, lowered suspension, brake pads, lights & audio; among a few others.

BHPian Dr.Naren recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

1 lakh km with S-Cross 1.6: Quick review on modifications, Brief summary on replacement of parts/reliability!!

I have driven 1 lakh+ km. The car was purchased in May 2016. The only reason this car found its way to my garage was because of the 1.6 diesel engine. Frankly, I didn't have any plan to modify this car to what it is today.

Modifications

Performance

1. Tune O Tronics Stage 1 remap: This was the first performance mod in my car. Tuning S-Cross 1.6 was a challenge then. TOT too faced issues, but they did manage to give me a decent stage 1 map. I drove around 10k km with this map and there were no issues. But, they couldn't support me when I wanted to go high on power.
2. Blackworks decat downpipe: I have run more than 85k km with this downpipe now. No issues at all. It is a well-designed solid downpipe. There is decent improvement in the mid and top end.
3. Wolf Moto Stage 2 remap: My journey with Wolf moto started after I got the decat downpipe. I found TOT not very supportive in offering me a stage 2 remap. Back then only a few ECU tools could support the S-Cross ECU properly. Wolf had a tool which could easily read and write my ECU. I learnt a lot too, thanks to Rajiv. He would answer all my questions and even explain the process of tuning. We tried a lot of tunes, it was a fun experience. I drove around 30k km with Wolf stage 2 map, with no issues whatsoever.
4. Wolf Stage 3 remap with Garrett turbo and intercooler upgrade: I have driven 55k+ km on stage 3 now. This has really exploited the potential of 1.6 MJD. Garrett turbo and intercooler upgrades are also nice and reliable. I had tried different iterations of stage 3 tunes from Wolf. Overall, very impressed with the support from Wolf. They take the feedback positively.
5. Engineering exponent's performance muffler: This is a nice mod. The exhaust doesn't sound very loud inside the cabin, you would hardly make out. But the sound is prominent outside, but it is not too loud to attract cops haha. I could notice mild improvement across the rev band.
6. HPI open air filter: No big gains as such. I like the induction sound. Throttle response did improve.

Suspension

1. Eibach lowering springs: I drove around 25k km on these springs. I was surprised to observe that the ride quality wasn't bad at all. It was in fact better than OE when you go fast on bad roads. Good handling improved braking and high-speed stability. I reverted to stock a few months back, thanks to the rains and Bangalore city roads. It was difficult to judge the depth of potholes filled with water. GC was hardly 130 mm with these springs. I will install these springs back soon.
2. KYB Excel-G dampers: These are OE replacement dampers from KYB. The good improvement compared to OE. I am still running KYB in front. I replaced the rear KYBs with Monroe. Thanks to the lowering springs, there was an oil leak from the rear KYB. Yes, lowering springs can affect the life of dampers.

Braking

1. Dixcel slotted front rotors: There was a good improvement in braking. Too expensive though, cost more than 30k. Not sure if it's normal, the rotors were fully plain in 30k km. I do a lot of high-speed braking, so will give these rotors the benefit of doubt here.
2. Dixcel brake pads: I had tried ES and M-type pads at the front. EC type was installed at the rear. Overall mixed experience with Dixcel pads. M type was the worst, not at all meant for high-speed braking. The pads were destroyed in 3k km. ES type was decent. EC had a low life.
3. EBC brake pads: I had tried YellowStuff and Greenstuff in front. Ultimax-2 was installed at the rear. Overall good experience with EBC. I would say YellowStuff was the best and perfectly meets my requirements. However it's too expensive at 12k, but I do not find it worth it for fast street usage. GreenStuff and Ultimax-2 are decent and work as claimed.
4. Cheaper brake pads: No matter what brand it is, I get 6-7k km brake pads in front. Hence I started to explore cheaper options. I tried various brands like TVS, KBX, Roullunds, Ferodo, Rane, Supercircle, ASK, Gomechanic, Hella, etc etc. All these pads cost less than 1.5k. Out of these, I would recommend Ferodo, TVS Elite, and KBX.

Light Upgrades

1. Xenon planet / IPHCAR Bi-xenon fog projector: They were basically IPHCAR projectors with XP stickers. Not sure what they use now. Fog projectors were a good, a huge improvement. I had used them for almost 5 years. Do note that HID projectors won't last a lifetime. The reflector bowl will get burn marks due to heat and output will reduce. I replaced them with another pair of IPHCAR HID fog projectors.
2. IPHCAR Bi-xenon headlight projectors: I got this done at Xenon_It Mumbai. They are working well. Massive improvement in light output. I hope they last long.

Tyres

I have tried Continental MC5 , MRF Perfinza, Michelin P4ST, And Kenda Komet SPT-1.

1. Life: P4ST > MC5 > Perfinza
2. Comfort: P4ST> MC5 = Perfinza = Kenda SPT-1
3. Grip: Perfinza > MC5 > P4ST = Kenda SPT-1
4. Steering: MC5 > Perfinza > P4ST = Kenda SPT-1
5. Noise: P4ST> Kenda > MC5 = Perfinza

I would be installing Continental UC6 soon.

Wheels

I was running with machine-finished MGA wheels of Brezza, switched to Lenso Jager Dyna after 4 years. The car looked hot with lowering springs and Lenso wheels. Currently running on SX4 OE alloys. I will switch back to Lenso soon.

Audio

Good experience with Muneem (Galaxy Kochi). All the details are documented in a separate thread. I need to update on the new 3-way active setup consisting of Mosconi amplifier and Helix DSP. I couldn't believe that I had spent most of the money on audio mods haha.

Replacement of parts

Warranty

1. Steering column (sticky steering issue)
2. Front right strut (oil leak)
3. Rear dampers (bouncy ride)
4. Rear suspension beam (rear alignment: toe was bad)
5. Brake switch (CEL)
6. Glow plug x 1 (CEL)

Out of warranty

1. Glow plug x 1 (CEL)
2. Timing kit at 1 lakh km (Preventive maintenance)
3. Aux belt and supporting parts (Preventive maintenance)
4. Clutch, slave cylinder, and flywheel at 90k km (mild sound on the half clutch / preventive maintenance)
5. Engine torque rod (wear and tear)
6. Lower arms x 2 (wear and tear)
7. Stabiliser link rods x 3 (wear and tear)
8. Brake caliper sliding pins: front and rear (caliper sticking issue)
9. Tailgate balancers
10. Minor parts like fog lamp covers, cladding, mud flap, AC vent knobs, and gear knobs.

Body Repair

I had a minor accident, Alto had rear-ended. The rear bumpers and rear panel were replaced. The tailgate dent was removed and painted.

The car never let me down anytime, not even a single breakdown to date. S-Cross 1.6 is the fastest and most reliable machine in my garage.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Replaced the Maruti crossover with the 2022 Hyundai Alcazar SUV.

BHPian narayans80 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Final update of the 2018 S-Cross at 85,000 km

After I had posted the 76,000 km update. It seemed I was well on course to my maiden 100,000 by this year-end. Discontinuation be damned, this was a keeper.

But that was sadly not meant to be :(

We welcomed another human into the household, whose seat meant, we were suddenly space constrained. The search was on for quite some time, gaining a newfound urgency after Cyrus Mistry's accident.

The S-Cross left our household on the 22nd of September 2022 after nearly 4 years of incredible ownership. I must say, myself and missus was a bit emotional before the final drive.

This is the car that made us a Car Family (yes, that's our family Whatsapp group name). She took us to Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and dozen times to Maharashtra like we were visiting our neighbours. Could have seen Punjab if not for the cattle encounter and a long backlog of flooded vehicles at the Porur workshop.

She has seen bad roads, no roads, and waded in knee-deep water without any fuss.

Maintenance and part replacements

I had to replace the 8 glow plugs and glow plug control module between 28000 to 63,000 km. The glow plug replacement exercise stopped after the control module replacement at 63000.

One puncture/sidewall cut at Narara at 30000 km on the JKs. The Spare was replaced.

The JK UX Royales gave way to Continental UC6 at 58000 km. Still had good tread depth at the time of sale.

Needed a clutch plate and front suspension work on the upcoming 90K service.

All services were done at Nexa Porur. Just the mundane service consumables. No hard selling. The only thing I avoid is wheel alignment/balancing during service, which I get done outside.

Fuel Efficiency

This was something that the MJD was very good at. Lifetime FE was 21.3 km/l. Was getting 22-23.x during the suburban commute this year. Not much variation on highway runs, which was around 24-25.

My suburban drives are done at odd times 7 am-2 pm. It rarely saw B2B traffic. Was predominantly run BPCL normal diesel, one-off Shell refills and IOC COCO diet towards the last 3 months, including one Xtragreen refill. Xtragreen did not affect FE.

Was getting consistent 1 km/l higher FE using IOC COCO normal diesel over BPCL (Ekayars and MM Nagar COCO).

The worst FE of 14.62 was recorded when the car was idle during Covid. 400 km in those 6 months of vanavas

Other significant observations

This was the car I researched for the longest timeframe. I was reading this official review and every ownership thread since 2015. Really wanted to get the 1.6, which was retailing at a measly 14.7L in July 2017. Eventually got to own this darling in 2018, when the Corolla decided to shock and awe.

The best handler I ever owned. Steering was precise for a EPS. Might be a tad heavy if you are coming from light steering. Did not experience the infamous steering rattle.

The hard but forgiving clutch was a joy to use. This was my first manual transmission after a 6-year hiatus. Takes some real talent to stall this one.

Boot space might be theoretically smaller. But you can haul 2 weeks worth 2+2 family luggage and all things you buy from such a trip.

The national engine is a gem. Not meant to be driven in an enthusiastic way. Has enough grunt to be driven as a family workhorse. Gets to 80 in a quick time, with no complaints on the urban, suburban and highway runs. Saw 120 about 2-3 times on the Tumkur-Chitradurga and Chitradurga-Hospet-Bijapur stretches, when it is hard to resist. On those 80-100 kph runs, clatter levels are acceptable, but can get a bit loud after 100.

As an October 2018 manufactured piece, mine had 80-120 speed alarms. 80 was easily ignorable, 120 will wake up the family from sleep.

Sales and service have been stellar. A giant leap from my mediocre Toyota experience.

Conclusion

This was a tough car to let go of. The longest ownership we had enjoyed. It is also a difficult car to upgrade/replace without significant compromises.

The 2022 Alcazar Prestige has replaced the S-Cross in the garage. The ownership review just went live.

Full ownership stats including service are available here.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara replaces the S-Cross in the Indian market.

Maruti Suzuki has delisted the S-Cross from its official Nexa website. The carmaker’s Nexa range now consists of 5 models – Ignis, Baleno, Ciaz, XL6 and the recently launched Grand Vitara.

The Maruti Suzuki S-Cross was launched in 2015. Initially, it was offered with a 1.6-litre diesel engine. This potent powerplant was sadly discontinued after 2017. Until recently, the crossover was offered with a 1.5-litre mild-hybrid powertrain.

The fact that S-Cross has disappeared from Maruti’s website doesn’t come as a surprise, as it was already announced that the Grand Vitara would replace it.

The Grand Vitara is available with two engine options, including the familiar 1.5-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine. The second engine option is a 1.5-litre strong-hybrid.

Thanks to BHPian neeraj08 for sharing this information with other enthusiasts!

After multiple checks, there is no conclusive result as to what the source of the issue is, with the check engine light still ON.

BHPian sumit1609 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

My S-Cross 1.3 2015 70K km on the odometer left me in a horrible situation. I was cruising around 90 km/hr (going to Goa from Mumbai). The moving vehicle suddenly stopped while I was in the right-most lane (between Kolhapur and Belgaum). The steering was jammed, and somehow, I managed to park by the side.

On starting, the check engine light came on. The vehicle started and after 1/2 km, stopped suddenly. The same thing happened thrice before I went to a local mechanic. With nothing to identify, he checked the error codes and it was related to the Fuel Pressure Regulator Performance. The vehicle now was not starting at all.

I waited for 1 hr with my family while calling Nexa roadside service but there was no help. I finally sent my family to our hotel in Goa via cab. I then called Sai Service and they asked me to open and close the fuel cap. Did that, and the vehicle started; I somehow reached the Sai Service centre. They checked as well but nothing was found conclusive. The Check Engine Light was always ON. They convinced me to slowly drive towards Goa. In Goa, I went to Sai Service and gave the vehicle a thorough inspection. Their suggestion is attached. The part was not available but the cost is around 35k plus others. Please review and advise. The repair cost is going to be really hard on the pocket with the car at 70k km on ODO.

Here's what BHPian govigov had to say on the matter:

I had replaced this in my car under warranty. What was the fuel level in the car when the car had the issue? I was asked to maintain at least 1/3rd tank at all times and the issue will seldom occur. Apparently, it was a common issue in the old beat diesel and this was the workaround that those owners used.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I have driven more than 2000 km after this change, including a trip to Yelagiri.

BHPian Dr.Naren recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The ODO is up by 2500 km since the last update. I also got a few parts changed.

Clutch Kit, Release bearing, and Flywheel

I sourced the clutch kit and release bearing last year itself from Boodmo. Since there was mild noise on pressing the clutch pedal, thought the bearing is bad and decided to get the parts replaced.

Headed to my trusted and most experienced garage in Bangalore for S-Cross 1.6.

WIP

The clutch release bearing was in good shape. Even the pressure plate and clutch disc were fine, really surprised that these parts handled so much torque and also 150+ launches.

Oh, wait, so what was the sound? It was the flywheel

The flywheel cost is around 30k and it's very difficult to source. Maruti has 35 backorders for the flywheel. We checked at an MGP store in Bangalore and even they had 5 backorders. There was no way I could source a new flywheel. All the parts were removed and it didn't make sense to install only the new clutch and bearing. Jayant at EE comes up with a solution, he says let's try getting a used flywheel in good condition. He was able to source a used flywheel in good shape within 2 hours from a total loss S-Cross.

Pics of old parts:

I could have easily driven more without changing these parts. All the parts are made by Valeo.

The culprit - Dual Mass Flywheel.

It's a well-known fact that DMF is not very reliable. So this was expected. The flywheel had slightly more play. Also if you observe the pics closely, the gap around the centre bearing has increased.

Let's compare the used flywheel sourced by EE vs mine.

The one on left is the used flywheel which we got from a total loss car. This one doesn't have uneven clearance around the centre bearing. The play was also lesser. I was really lucky to get this flywheel at less than half of the price of a new and mainly, the car would be drivable. There was no point in keeping my car in the garage and trying my luck waiting for the new flywheel. I will anyways try to source a new flywheel and keep it as a spare.

I didn't click any pics of the installation as I had to leave the workshop. But, EE will do the job right and they have experience in dealing with almost all kinds of jobs in S-Cross 1.6.

I got the car back the next day. The sound was gone for good and also the shifts were a lot better. I have driven more than 2000 km after this change and everything looks good. Excellent job by EE as always.

A quick trip to Yelagiri after clutch + flywheel change.

I was easy on the clutch as it needs bedding in. The car performed well, with no issues climbing up the hill.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I also got to experiment with a new Stage 3 Wolf tune

BHPian Dr.Naren recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Brakes:

I have lost the count of brake pads changed in 90k km. Approx life is 8k km for front pads, thanks to high-speed runs and high-speed braking. Dixcel slotted rotors were installed when the ODO was 45k km. They are fully plain now and worn out. I have experimented with different brands when it comes to brake pads. Be it super cheap 800 bucks pads or the expensive 12k brake pads, the life was the same. EBC Yellow Stuff was the best, I would say.

What was installed this time?

1. Front rotors: K-Tek
2. Rear rotors: MGP
3. Front brake pads: Gomechanic
4. Rear brake pads: Super circle

Front rotors: K-Tek

Bought it from Boodmo. The packaging looks good, also do not miss the detailed instructions given on the box. I was impressed with the quality too, feel wise.

Rear rotors: MGP

Rear braking is minimal in S-Cross, this is the first time I would be changing the rear rotors.

Front pads: Gomechanic

These are semi-metallic, and temperature resistance is rated at 600 degrees. Not sure if it's real, anyways decided to try it out.

Rear pads: Super Circle (pics taken from Boodmo)

Installation at Engineering exponents, Bangalore

Left: 45k km run Dixcel slotted front rotors, can't even believe these were slotted rotors. Right: 90k km run MGP rear rotors

I have driven more than 2000 km after the brake pads and rotors change. The braking felt very average and also the bite was weak for an initial 300 km. It eventually got better after bedding in period. I am happy with the parts used. Braking is predictable and the initial bite is good.

However, I do not believe gomechanic pads have a temperature resistance of 600 degrees as claimed.

I did observe brake fade, it was just slightly better than OEM pads. EBC Yellow Stuff was just brilliant when it comes to temperature resistance, but too expensive at 12k for a set.

Tyres & Wheels:

I had run more than 25k km with Michelin P4ST. Even at the end of life, the grip, comfort, and noise were as good as new.

I ideally change tyres when the tread depth is 1.6 mm. Continental UC6 215/60 R16 was sourced a few months back during an Amazon sale, good deal at 7500 / tyre. I was about to get these tyres installed, but dad came up with an idea. SX4 was not used much and Kenda tyres in SX4 had 5 mm tread left, So.....

Dad helped me with this swap. I cleaned all the wheels. Lenso wheels are lighter by 1.5 kg compared to SX4 OE wheels. I had a good experience with Kendas in SX4, it was time to test them in S-Cross. I drove almost 1000 km with Kendas (Kasaragod to Trichy to Bangalore). The tyres performed well in terms of dry grip, comfort, and noise levels. The wet grip was average though. I met a few S-Cross 1.6 owners and they were surprised with Kendas, nobody expected these tyres to be this good haha.

MGA Valve Caps:

I wanted to try ordering accessories online, decided to buy some minimal value parts. I ordered MGA tyre valve caps on the official website and paid using loyalty points. I was contacted by the dealer the next day and informed that the part would be sourced in a week.

New Stage 3 Wolf Tune

Rajiv asked me to try out a new map. This was based on his learning experience from VAG and BMW diesel. He told me that the feedback was very good from the customers and wanted to try to implement the same in other diesel cars too. I am always up for remap experiments and happily agreed haha.

At Engineering Exponents (Yes, they are Wolf Bangalore dealers)

The new map was flashed and we went out for a drive for logging various parameters like injected fuel quantity, rail pressure, MAF, boost, IAT, etc.

How's the new tune?

1. Engine is very refined
2. Super linear but strong power delivery. It doesn't feel like an aftermarket tune at all, very mature and OEM feels.
3. Significant drop in smoke levels

Ok, I am done with the updates. Need to get the timing kit changed, will be doing it at Engineering Exponents.

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