Within a year of purchasing the electric car, the battery started to misbehave and was replaced under warranty.

BHPian Prabh recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

We own the Nexon EV Dark Edition, bought in April 2022. However, within a year the battery started to misbehave where it went from 30% to 0% in a matter of few kilometers.

Now, with the battery replaced under warranty (which took 2 weeks). Firstly, on return, the EV kept showing "Limited Performance Mode" activated. The car was sent to the service station again for a software update.

We put the car on charge on its return as it was completely drained. It was charging normally upto 30% and then it went up rather quickly. See attached gif.

The battery software is completely out of order. The service center folks have instructed to charge the battery from 20% to 100% for at least 2 more cycles before the BMS re-calibrates.

The Tata Motors zApp has stopped tracking vehicle movements. So I have written to them to check what seems to be the error.

Service Station - Auto Vikas Moti Nagar, New Delhi

Great to hear if anyone else has experienced something similar with their Nexon EV.

Here's what BHPian ferrarirules had to say about the matter:

What happened with your charging post-battery change is completely fine. I will try and explain the reason.

When your battery was replaced, the BMS software didn't know how much battery is present. During config, the service center adds a low value for battery percentage in the BMS. There is no way for a BMS to accurately get the battery percentage from the current state of the battery. Why this is so because this is an LFP battery, and an LFP battery has a very minimum nominal voltage variation (range from low to high is 3.2 to 3.6V). So you cannot say that it is at 3.3 v so it will be 50% full. And the BMS is designed to stop charging the moment the cells touch 3.6V.

Now your battery would have carried more charge than what your dash showed. When you put it on charge, the battery reached the max voltage and the graph showed 100%. Their recommendation is also correct, you should do a minimum of two charges from below 20% to 100% so that BMS can adapt to the new battery.

If the jump still happens post the two charge cycles then the battery still has a problem.

Here's what BHPian ashokabs had to say about the matter:

Like any of the new batteries the charging system or BMS must be properly calibrated to know correctly battery charge at 100% and of course, at 0%, It takes a couple of cycles to do that. The same is true of mobile phones. Especially the ones when we could remove and replace the battery with a new one. Laptops particularly on battery replacement need battery calibration.

Here's what BHPian Atul Kolekar had to say about the matter:

The explanation provided by BHPian ferrarirules is spot on. Tata Motors should have explained it to you instead of just giving instructions about charging.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The SUV offers an amazing driving experience. It feels planted on highways even at high speeds.

BHPian negi15 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Time flies and the first anniversary of Wanderer arrived. So, I thought about sharing my overall ownership experience (till now) on this occasion and sharing my perspective in a nutshell.

My Use Case:

• Any opinion is based on personal requirements. Opinions differ for the same thing based on different requirements. In my case below were the requirements.
• Pleasure to drive
• Comfortable long drives for a family of four. Occasional short drives with two families.
• All essential safety features
• Easy to drive for office-commute i.e. automatic. The only solo drive time.
• Should have enough utility spaces.
• No new launches. Did not want to spend energy on teething problems of new launches.
• Decent music system. Wireless Android Auto Support, steering mounted controls. - Did not want advanced electronics in a car like ADAS.
• Available off the shelf.
• Panoramic sunroof was a must. (Family Wishlist)

Of all the contenders, we finally unanimously selected Safari Dark XZA+ and bought it home last year in July 2022.

Dislikes:

1. Fit and finish for such an expensive vehicle
2. Even for top end variant, there is no front parking sensor and camera. Official accessory also did not look good solution to me.
3. Reverse camera quality is not good. Camera also sits out in the open and gets dirty with ease during rains causing inconvenience during reverse motion. For such a huge vehicle, two additional corner sensors are a must to give more confidence. Just two placed towards the centre are not enough.
4. Infotainment with android auto has issues at the start. However, with software and Android auto upgrade, it's much more stable now. But still, at this price, the touch screen has to be more slick and responsive.
5. Software is too buggy. They fix one issue and plant a new one in the new SW upgrade.
6. No auto boot opening mechanism in the top variant. At least if it's manual, there has to be something substantial to hold on for opening the boot. During rain, it sometimes gets irritating if your hands are wet. Do note, that I am not complaining about the heavy boot lid here. I think it's required for third-row passenger safety.

Likes:

1. Robust and sturdy build. Provides a sense of safety inside it.
2. Airy cabin. Command seating for front two rows. Even the third row is usable for short trips. Kids spend a lot of time switching between the second and third rows.
3. Great ride quality. At higher speeds, you glide over bad roads without much undulation being transferred inside.
4. Comfortable and wide seats: Seats are not too soft. It has perfect cushioning for long drives. Second row accommodates three grown-ups easily sitting side by side without anyone needing to bend their shoulders.
5. Amazing driving experience. Good road visibility. Planted on highways at higher speeds. Braking is solid and confidence-inspiring.
6. Ample utility spaces on doors and between the front two seats. Third row seat has its own blower control along with a bottle holder.
7. Dark interiors have a premium feel.
8. Good Music and sound system.
9. Terrain response modes are useful. I have used WET mode frequently during Pune rains.

Overall, the likes above have higher credits as those are what create travel experiences. Dislikes are more like complaints of features being not provided even after paying for the top end variant.

Issues faced in the last one year:

• One TPMS sensor went bad. Was replaced under warranty.

For reference, below details should provide how the vehicle has been used for a year:

17K on ODO

• 40% for solo office commute
• 60% for family trips outside the city.

Fuel Economy (AC always ON, default CITY mode):

• Average 11-12kmpl in city runs
• Average 17-18kmpl outside city

Drive modes usage:

• 80% CITY mode, 10% SPORTS Mode 10% ECO mode.
• Manual Mode used only once(for trial).

Terrain response Mode usage:

• Wet mode frequently used (during rains)
• Rough road mode (never used)
• Traction control never switched off.
• Hill descent used only once for trial (on office parking ramp )

Average speeds:

• City - 20-25kmph
• Highway - 80-90kmph

Overall Experience:

It has been a fun-filled one year with great family outings (both short and long). Ride comfort is great and family members never reported fatigue after a long 8-10 hours drive. Seats are not very soft and are perfectly cushioned for long drives. It's a pleasure to drive and handles very well on highways. Family really liked the commanding seating position it offers for the first two rows. For me, it provides all the usable features. Service centre experience is satisfactory. Things get done but at slow pace.

Hopefully, the good experience continues.

Keep revving!

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I checked the service interval table printed on the Tata Tiago EV owner's manual and the jobs listed there are something I could do on my own.

BHPian Sensible_Speed recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi all,

I am considering the prospect of owning an EV sometime in the near future. My options are limited to the Tata EV lineup for now, as they offer the most value for what you pay (relatively).

I went and test-drove the Tiago and Tigor EVs and found the driving experience quite pleasant. But when I did some additional digging around, I found out that the Tata EVs have a 6-month service interval! For an EV, I think that is unnecessary and I found it a bit difficult to digest.

One of the biggest advantages of the electric automobile is that, with fewer moving parts, the maintenance would be proportional too. While other manufacturers offer 1-year service intervals on most IC cars, I don't see why Tata decided that one should bring their low-maintenance EV twice as frequently as other cars into the shop and spend all that money and time for nothing.

I checked the service interval table that was printed on the Tiago EV owner's manual and the jobs listed on there are all something I could do on my own with a flashlight at home unless something major goes wrong (in which case, I would take it to the ASS anyways).

Can someone explain to me why this is so? Because skipping a service could mean voiding the warranty, and that is a harrowing thought on a relatively new and unproven piece of technology. As someone who would rather avoid the shop altogether if I could and spend the time and effort DIYing repairs big or small, how do I convince myself to go ahead and purchase a "high maintenance" EV? Also, is there any way Tata will increase the service interval period in the near future, as then, I could defer my purchase to match that?

Thanks in advance!

Here's what BHPian Jaggu had to say about the matter:

Most likely they are keeping a tight watch and control of the system performance and applying needed updates (software) to the vehicle. One should slowly see increased service interval levels as the platforms stabilise.

On the other hand, a manufacturer has to think from a common user perspective, you might be an exception to this with DIY knowledge and skill level and till the right to repair takes off big time, things may not change with any of these manufacturers.

Here's what BHPian Alfresco had to say about the matter:

We own a Nexon EV and have driven it more than 40000kms in less than 2 years! It is giving a range of around 220-240kms. I live near Sariska National Park and so do trips to Delhi and Jaipur regularly (I keep speeds around 75kmph on highways).

Full service interval is every 15000kms and check-up is every 7500kms. Your car shall start giving you service warnings when you approach 7500kms since the last service. During check-ups, I am generally charged around Rs.1000-1200 for washing, checking some nuts and bolts and running diagnostics and, I believe, getting a data dump in the process.

15000 kms service will cost you around Rs. 1500-2000 max.

I get servicing done at either Classic Motors, Alwar or Roshan Motors, Jaipur. Never had a problem with service or unnecessary billing with either.

The cost of maintaining and running an EV is incredibly low! Reminds me of the original Hero-Honda ad; Fill it, shut it, forget it!

Here's what BHPian cijoalex had to say about the matter:

I had a chance to test drive a few electric cars recently. And was pleasantly surprised with the service interval of the Volvo XC40 recharge, which is 30000 Kilometers. And more importantly, they offer the first three services (ie up to 90000 KM's) service as free.

Here's what BHPian aim120 had to say about the matter:

This is a trend all manufacturers will start following since the main revenue for dealers and even car manufacturers is in service and spares, where the profit margins can exceed 1000%.

The main reason we service ICE-powered cars every 6 months to 1 year is to change engine oil, and oil filter. The oil is in direct contact with the combustion carbon, outside air and fuel.

An EV motor like some of your household pumps can be oil-cooled, coolant-cooled and dual-cooled but is sealed from outside elements. Even in a Honda ICE powered car like Jazz the coolant filled has to be replaced every 2 lakh km or 10 years.

In all inductive devices like motors, transformers etc which are oil-cooled, you don't change the oil until there is a leak.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

My car remains in the same sad state thanks to their malicious practices.

BHPian viXit recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Just read the post by Altrozed about his Tata Nano and felt like updating here.

Update:

TL;DR

Tata and one of its service centres remain thick-skinned and unapologetic.

The Team-BHP article about this thread made its way to many Google feeds and social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram with pictures of my car and a link to this thread. I had friends and family recognise my car from various sites send the article over and ask "Is that our Safari?!"

It came down from Tata Motors to the heads at the specific dealer. I was contacted by the CEO, GM, SM, SA of this dealer, and some customer care executives at Tata Motors regarding the "Concern raised by me on social media".

I will be forever grateful to TeamBHP and the team behind this amazing forum, take a bow, guys!

They immediately stepped into damage control mode and offered to replace all the seat covers in the car free of cost as a way of expressing their regret. I politely refused because I did not want any substandard work in my car. I was 100% sure that this work would be no different than anything done before.

I was going to accept only an OEM replacement. But they mentioned that the seat cover, although an OEM part, is not available separately. They offered to get proper seat covers made to replace the ones that they damaged. I agreed on one condition that I would check it in person and only then put it.

That as usual didn't happen, it was delayed for months and some substandard slip-on covers were brought home to put on the car when I repeatedly asked about the covers again. They not only blatantly lied about the "Factory Fit" but also promised "Nappa Leather" which was another joke in itself.

All that notwithstanding. No other complaint was addressed. The frame they broke around the music system remains like that.

They messed with my amplifier and tampered with its mounting despite me telling them explicitly not to touch any of it.

My speakers stopped working repeatedly. They tore open all my wiring and spliced stuff together. They tried to Bypass crossovers and wire the speakers directly. It can cause serious damage to my component speakers. Thank God I caught the idiots' incompetence in time.

I fixed all these problems on my own time and cost. Along with a lot of repair work. I am yet to fix the rattles in the doors because I have to purchase all the clips now that they broke. It is going to be quite an expensive affair.

I have given up on trying to get any support from Tata in this matter and despite the help of this great forum in getting the posts on FB and Insta (Forever grateful for the coverage), they seem not to budge. My car remains in the same sad state thanks to their malicious practices.

And the best part, they closed my complaint again without my discretion. Shame on you Tata for encouraging such practices.

Dear Tata, don't try to contact me. You have lost a customer of 2 decades. The Tiago and Safari we have right now will be the last.

They have requested me to remove my posts, but I'm not even sure it can be done, This thread shall remain up here for eternity. And I shall ensure it.

Note- Everything that I have mentioned in this post has been documented with pictures in my previous posts on this thread.

Here's what BHPian 2TR-FE had to say about the matter:

Such a sad state of affairs in a big city like Hyderabad. Interestingly, this Tata service centre has a good rating on Google Maps. No wonder how they manage to do it!

I sincerely wish that every dealer must undergo a strict series of tests by their respective manufacturers to keep the service levels in check. Or else, they will hit their toes with their axe!

Hope VAG SVCs learn something after reading this thread.

Here's what BHPian UD17 had to say about the matter:

I could sense a great pain in these words. Precisely for this reason, I have always made an arm's length with Tata vehicles. Whatever their sales number, I would never buy their vehicles, Reason- I keep on coming across Quality/Dealerships/ and other ownership trouble-related issues for Tata Vehicles.

As a working professional, peace of mind is the biggest thing for me rather than showing off a pedigree which will get you stranded anywhere in the world.

I wish you all the best in restoring your vehicle. Rightly so along with DIY, take help from FNG guys rather than going back to the dealership which has proven a futile exercise till now.

Here's what BHPian som9729 had to say about the matter:

I purchased 2 cars from their Banjara Hills outlet a very long time back.

Servicing was at their Tolichowki service center.

1st was an Indigo VX or something (2004 Model) and 2nd was an Indigo XL DICOR (2007 Model).

Maintenance was an absolute disaster. The XL's turbo would never run. It was always like driving an ambassador!

Looks like nothing has changed, even after a decade! Escalations & repeated complaints never gave any results.

End result - I was forced to sell off the Indigo XL, and this time after some research, bought a Toyota. Never looked back!

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

One can munch miles effortlessly. Also, the AC is a chiller and the engine performance is more than adequate.

BHPian rahulcmoulee recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Completed a 1200km trip last week

Routing : Bangalore->Dindigul->Tirunelveli->Bangalore

Driving was split 85:15 between Highway and City use.

Car performed admirably well. The real highlight was the chiller AC unit which kept the cabin cool even in the harsh TN summer. Combined with the ventilated seats, the drive was absolutely comfortable.

Highway driving is a breeze in the Harrier. The suspension is perfect and the car stays rock solid. One can munch through the miles effortlessly.

The engine performance was also more than adequate and overtaking was a piece of cake. Did the entire journey in City mode and never felt the need for sports mode.

Maintained a steady cruise between 80-90kmph for the majority of the journey. Got an MID indicated 17.4kmpl, which came up to 16.4 in tankful to tankful calculations.

Car didn't throw up any surprises or niggles and performed as expected. Looking forward to adding many more miles to this beast.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I was now feeling confident and was hell bent on searching for the car. I found the owner and his family members on Facebook and messaged all of them multiple times.

BHPian 300 KMPH recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello Team-Bhpians! I hope everyone is doing excellent. As you might have read the title, you must have realized that I bought my Tata Indica back. At this point, you might be having multiple questions in your mind. Some of the questions could be as follows:

• Why buy back an old car again?
• Tata Indica? Seriously? There are so many other options available, so why this one?
• You could have a bought a nice nimble sporty car, what is the point of driving a car which was never desired by any enthusiast?

Well, many such other questions might have come to your mind. Buying an old car back itself is a rare thing, buying an Indica back itself is something which cannot be digested. In the era of the internet, we shall go back to the days which could be a time travel for many old Bhpians out there. So sit back, relax, and let me take you 20 years back when cars were more than just machines and features.

Time to buy a new car:

So it was 2003 and we were looking for a new car. Our Premier Padmini Deluxe BE had really become outdated and was really not healthy anymore. So we started our search with Fazalboys (used car dealer in Prabhadevi).

There was a beaten up grey Opel Corsa inside the showroom without mirrors. I did not know what we were buying but as a 6 year old kid, I was very excited. The only way to select a car for automotive enthusiast was an automotive magazine. My brother salilpawar1 (team bhp username) who was around 13 years old that time started researching and we finally test drove a Maruti Alto.

(We = Me, my elder brother, my dad and mom).

Maruti Suzuki Alto (Vitesse Dealership) - It was a blue Alto LXI with a cracked mirror glass. It was nice and nimble but very cramped for 3 people in the back. My brother was in the middle seat and he got a cramp in his leg because of the limited legroom. We therefore could not finalize on that car.

It was clear that we needed a big car and the options were limited. We had also checked out the Hyundai Santro Xing (but again, it was too narrow)

The unexpected shortlisted car: Tata Indica Petrol:

The Tata Indica as we all know, was plagued with issues and had a terrible image to begin with. The popular fanbelt noise was stuck in everyone's mind (including mine) and I could not even imagine us buying that car. But we anyway decided to have a look. So one fine Sunday morning, we visited Wasan Motors at Prabhadevi (now known as Puneet automobiles). Just as we enquired about Indica, the sales rep took us to the car and forced us to have a seat even when we were not really keen on buying the product. But that small step she took turned an enquiry into a customer. It was a limited edition Indica (dealer specific with beige interiors and wooden inserts).

The space at the back was unbelievable for a hatchback. Me, my mom and brother sat comfortably in the back. At that very moment, she declared that we are buying this car. There was a Indica DLE which was one popular variant for those who just wanted the AC and nothing else. The car was bare bones with grey plastics literally in every part of the cabin made the interior look very dull.

After some research from automotive magazines, we came to know about some interesting facts which might not be known to many people even today:

• The petrol Indica was the second fastest hatchback on sale in India with 1405cc engine producing 75 bhp and 110 nm torque just second to the Palio 1.6/S10
• Tata Motors stiffened the monocoque chassis and upgraded the brake booster. Some journalists called it the best handling hatchback just second to the Palio.
• Around the same time, there were articles of the Indica Rally and Indica Sport (which was getting ready for launch) which produced 85 bhp instead of 75.
• Most of the major issues were ironed out with the V2 and it only had niggles to deal with.

After test driving the car (which was a very small round of a Sunshine Gold Indica LSI), we had made our choice. My dad and mom also test drove a diesel Indica but they did not like it as the Petrol was a lot more refined and our usage was going to be less.

Booking the Indica:

After finalizing our choice, I spent each and every day reading the brochure. My favourite line was 'child safety lock on rear doors'. Mind you, we were upgrading from a Padmini! So each and every feature was out of the world for a 6 yr old me. Following were the highlights:

• Air conditioning.
• Body coloured bumpers.
• Child Safety Lock on Rear Doors.
• Rear Seatbelts.
• Third stop light had become mandatory by law, but the Indica had it since the Indica 2000 (First Indica MPFI Petrol from Tata) mounted on a subtle spoiler.

Choosing the colour was the biggest challenge. We had shortlisted the following colours:

• Aqua Green
• Stone Blue
• Sunshine Gold

We were convinced to book Aqua Green. Later we realized that we were considering 'Mint Blue' as Aqua Green which we immediately rejected and were left a bit disappointed.

Tata Motors used to launch new colours on the Indica every 6 months.

Till the booking day, we had still not decided about the colour and we were confused between Stone Blue and Sushine Gold. On the day of booking, we were told that Aqua Green was also discontinued and a new shade was launched on the very same day called 'Coral Green'. The sales rep showed us a painted metal panel. My dad had a gut feeling that this colour was good enough and he booked the car! (This must be around 2nd October).

Details of the booking:

• Model: Tata Indica LSI Petrol
• Colour: Coral Green
• Accessories: Fabric Seat Covers, Wheel Caps, Bull Bar, Floor Mats
• Expected Delivery Time: 20 days
• Price: 3.6 lakh on-road (Cars used to be really cheap back then)

The maximum delivery time was 2-3 days for Indica in 2003. It was a hot selling product and all the dealers had the car ready in stock. So 20 days was a really long wait.. The reason was the newly launched colour which we had chosen.

PDI was done by our entire family and I did not even realize that it was our car. I came to know about that its my car when we left the showroom.

Finally, the day of delivery arrived. 21st October 2003. We bought Ambi Pur from our local accessory shop as we did not know how an air-conditioned car would feel over a period of time. We reached the dealership at 10 am in the morning. The dealership was split in hatchbacks/sedans & MUVs/SUVs. Right in the back side of the dealership which was visible from the entrance, I could see my car standing which was full of dust and bird droppings. A sales advisor asked me to move aside and the bucket washing began! (Fancy or memorable car deliveries was not a thing back in the day).

While we were completing the formalities, the staff was searching for the car keys in a huge tray including spare key with the help of barcode stuck on it. Once all the formalities were done, we got ready for the delivery of the car. There she was, our brand new Tata Indica V2 LSI in Coral Green shade was shining and the paint finish was exemplary. The car had as good as mirror finish. But sadly, the car already had a small scratch on the bumper which we decided to ignore.

We were expecting complete wheel caps but the LSI variant had partial wheel caps which we were not aware of. The dealership drivers used to be a lot rough. The driver spun the wheels in front of us and it was very common for them. All the rituals were done, Ambi Pur was fitted in the AC went and we started our journey with the ownership of our Indica! MH-01-MA-3146.

As we approached towards the petrol pump near my residence, the attendant congratulated us (he knew all of us well). After brimming the tank, we realized that the petrol gauge was faulty and would always show 25% less fuel than actual.

Soon, this became my everyday car as my mom used to drop me to school. I still remember our first journey to Pune which was we did in 1 week/month of purchase. Mumbai-Pune Expressway was a terrific road back then with traffic levels upto bare minimum. No traffic signals, no two & three wheelers made the journey blissful. We never liked having tea or coffee brakes and used to travel non-stop. I used to wear seatbelts in the back seat when occupants wearing seatbelts in the front seat was uncommon in the first place.

Attaching the first picture of the car taken on a roll camera (2003/04):

Some pictures clicked in Pune (2004):

As Pune was like hometown of Indica, I remember seeing Indica in Pune every 15 seconds. Unlike Mumbai, many of the Indicas sold in Pune were petrol.

Identifying a Petrol Indica:

Exterior:

• MPFI 16 bit Microprocessor 75 bhp Sticker on the Boot.
• Factory fitted spoiler with integrated LED stop-light.
• Exhaust with chrome tip.

Interior:

• White Instrumentation.
• Silver finished central console.
• Silver Gear Knob.

The approach towards the design of Indica was very similar to the Palio as both cars were designed in Italy after all.

I got a taste of the brutal Indian 2 lane National Highways in the Indica. This was the car when we actually started doing road journeys because of essential features like AC & Power Steering. It used to be a test of the driver and the car as well. Overtaking was not a problem with this car and there was sufficient power and torque at lower revs. The petrol motor used to sound really sweet unlike the diesel motor which was very rough and coarse.

Here is a picture of the car on Mumbai - Agra Highway (NH3) which used to pass from Nashik:

26th July, 2005:

The unforgettable Mumbai rains. I was in my school classroom when the weather changed dramatically in 2 hours and within a few minutes, it felt like Mumbai was under some punishment by a natural spirit.

Though it was in the afternoon, it felt like 7 pm in night and we could hear the water flowing out of our classroom from the staircase. My mom and brother came to pick me up in Indica. My school was just around 2 kms from my house but it took almost 2 to 3 hours to get home. This time, the Indica earned my respect. There were multiple smaller hatchbacks, and luxury sedans stalled and awaiting help, but our Indica sailed through the floods. In some portions, the water level was upto the fender indicator but the car did not stall through the floods.

The car did stall near my house after driving it through floods for a long time. But within 5-10 minutes, the car started and reached home.

Just within a couple of days, the car's clutch was completely burnt and was barely moving. We knew that this was the aftermath of the floods. The bull bar was removed as the car had to be towed to Wasan Motors workshop and the car was back to normal after clutch change.

Rusty exhaust:

Petrol Indicas had a chronic problem of exhaust rusting within 2 years. Water dripping from the exhaust during cold starts would eat up the exhaust. We replaced the exhaust twice in 2005 (under warranty) & 2007. In 2007, we installed an aftermarket exhaust which was a lot better in quality than the OE.

My brother started driving!

Salilpawar1 happens to be my elder brother who is also a Team BHPian. He turned 18 in 2007 and started to drive this car. As die-hard car enthusiasts, we started to explore this car mechanically. Salil learnt his driving basics from this car and we often used to go for a spin at Worli Seaface mostly in the afternoon as there used to be no traffic and no traffic signals as well. Doing silly speeds was really possible on this short stretch of road. Apart from the ghastly unpainted speed-breaker which every new driver used to miss, there were no other surprises. The car had jumped the speedbreaker at 80-90 kph but the Indica did not lose its composure at all. Indica was known to be a rock steady car and I got my first experience that time.

Also, the car was restored cosmetically in 2007 when all the dents were repaired and installed new taillights along with new badges.

A few pictures clicked in Nashik in 2007:

Some pictures clicked in 2007-2008 at Worli Seaface:

Time for a Free-Flow Exhaust:

The Indica was now entering its 5th year. Good quality modifications were now accessible to the enthusiasts, Team Bhp was relatively new which meant more exposure towards the community. With the help of Viper Performance (run by Jignesh Goradia), the Indica finally had a full custom exhaust right from the headers to the tip (execution by BAR Exhaust - Afzal). It was a perfect mixture of bass and treble. The Indica was now a head turner. We even upgraded to twin horn (130 db) from our neighboring accessories shop.

Petrol Indicas were rare. Speeding ones were rarer. Free flow'd ones were non-existent

Pictures of the new exhaust clicked in 2008:

Some miscellaneous details:

The car was always serviced at Tata Service Centre during our ownership.

Tata Motors could never fix the fuel gauge.

The broken AC panel was awaiting replacement in warranty but the part never arrived.

The car never failed to start in our ownership which used to be a concern with Indicas.

No fanbelt noise ever apart from rainy season occasionally.

The first battery survived for 7 years. Alternator once developed a issue which was not charging the battery which was then repaired.

In our period of ownership, we only used Speed Petrol from day 1.

Our Indica was the 7th or 8th car to run on the Bandra-Worli Sealink. Salil had lined up the car in the morning in the queue to experience it. There were a lot of media photographers towards the end. My car might have been in multiple newspapers as well.

Picture of broken AC Panel which went on becoming worse:

The reason behind the AC panel breaking was because of the AC moisture getting trapped in the panel which weakened the brittle plastic over time.

Images of the first sea-link run early morning:

A few more pictures of the car in 2010 with young me in the frame as well! Co-incidentally, this was the last year when the car was driven out of Mumbai (to Nasik):

Exterior battle scars:

From 2012, my brother started daily driving this car to his college in the suburbs and that is when our Indica did not remain the cleanest anymore. The car now had battle scars at multiple places, rear Tata Monogram got stolen in Bandra, and the headlamps were also replaced as one of the headlights broke because of a scooter rider who hit the car from the wrong side at a traffic signal. Now, the original non-clear lens lamps were not available anymore and we had to settle for clear lens once which were sold locally costing Rs. 2,500/- .

Continue reading on BHPian 300KMPH's Tata Indica story for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

At the time of engine oil replacement, the level of the oil was much higher than the "Max" mark on the dipstick.

BHPian Sameer016 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi,

My 2021 Tata Altroz diesel BS6 model is experiencing a higher level of engine oil since purchase.

SVC are hopeless as usual. Last year they replaced the injectors but this year too, when the time came for an oil change the oil level was way higher than the Max mark in the dipstick (almost twice above the max mark).

Only explanation I can think of is somehow diesel is mixing with engine oil, causing its level to rise gradually.

Looking for advice on the future course of action.

Here's what BHPian ajmat had to say about the matter:

That is because extra diesel was pumped in to create higher temperatures to regenerate the DPF. The chances are that you use the car for short journeys. You need to give the car a good fast run once a week to let the DPF regenerate properly.

Here's what BHPian PrasannaDhana had to say about the matter:

Sorry to hear about this Sameer. But then the issue can be avoided if you follow what BHPian ajmat has said above.

In almost all Altroz diesel owner groups, over 70% of the owners have this complaint. BS 6 diesels need to run longer distances to stay clog-free.

My Altroz diesel has run 46500 km without a single DPF issue / diesel mixing with oil issue.

Here's what mine looks like

Avoiding short trips, taking the engine to 3000 rpm for a few minutes, a few times a week will be enough to stay trouble-free.

Once you start enjoying that punchy 1.5 turbo diesel in the 2750 - 3500 rpm band, you will keep doing it often. I do it almost daily and I still get 18 kmpl overall actual T2T fuel efficiency. From time to time, it's totally okay to accelerate hard.

Here's what BHPian Kosfactor had to say about the matter:

I would advise you to get some attention from the service manager and get a closure to this issue. Periodically check the oil level after it's fixed.

Previous thread on the same topic.

Here's what BHPian anjan_c2007 had to say about the matter:

Among the perils that come with BSVI diesels! Please get your car thoroughly checked up and have the diesel-oil mixture drained and the oil sump cleaned thoroughly, refilling the engine oil. Please replace the oil filter and other components if any, as required. Else, starting with the head gasket, other components could get damaged in the long run with excessive oil in the engine.

The engine needs to do a long run of at least 20 kms a week. The issue will be most likely resolved if the car is taken for a long drive every week.

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The SUV struggled in an inclined patch of slush. In comparison, a Mahindra XUV500 2WD climbed with no problem.

BHPian anshurao recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello All,

Here is a short review after 2 months and an 1800 Round trip to the Nilgiris from Goa.

Observations

1. Mile cruncher, can drive long distances before needing a break
2. City mode sufficient most of the times
3. Sports mode recommended while on ghats (Climbing up & down)
4. Extremely poor performance in even the slightest of slush+incline. All the traction control gadgetry kicks in and we are going nowhere. In comparison, the 2WD XUV500 MT climbed this patch with no problems. I had to abort and wait for the rains to stop.
5. Highway speeds attained in no time
6. 18" wheels in my XZA+ are a bit bumpy on uneven concrete roads
7. Handles well in winding mountain roads (for an SUV that is)
8. Braking even with all 4 discs is adequate
9. Average lighting, not recommended for long night drives
10. Good wet weather performance
11. Annoying beeps, too many of them (AQI is the most frequent)
12. Park Assist Error showed up once and cleared by itself
13. Infotainment is extremely buggy and has gone blank many times, CarPlay is more of a half-baked inclusion
14. Ventilated seats could have been better
15. Memory seats randomly adjusted to a position never set by me. 2 instances
16. Driver display keeps flickering once in a while
17. Overall FE during the trip 13.6Kmpl
18. The car was much more refined after the 2-2.5K mark

Note: Total Kms run 3500, completed 1st Service before heading on the trip.

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I did not sign on the delivery note but the SUV has already been registered to my name at the RTO.

Thanks to Mahesh Chandwani for sending this information in. Heartfelt gratitude for sharing it with other enthusiasts via this Team-BHP share page!

I am writing to share my unfortunate experience with Tata Motors and the purchase of my Tata Harrier XZA+.

On 27/03/2023, I booked a Tata Harrier XZA+ and paid Rs. 21,000 by cheque as the booking amount. On 30/03/2023, I paid Rs. 5,00,000 by cheque and was promised that the car would be delivered on 14/04/2023. However, this promise was not fulfilled, and I was informed that my car would be delivered on 22/04/2023. So, I paid the remaining amount (Rs. 21,39,000) on 13/04/2023.

Despite several attempts to check the car before registration, the employees refused and insisted that there was no need as the car was safely kept and in proper condition. On 22/04/2023, when I went to take the delivery of the car, I was asked to wait for 30 to 45 minutes, and when I asked them where my car was, they said it was on its way. One of their employees then asked me to sign the delivery note before I could check the car, but I refused and insisted on seeing the car first.

Upon inspection, I noticed several issues with the car such as the bonnet not being properly aligned, a dent near the edge of the tail light, uneven gaps around the tailgate, scratches on the body, poor colour finishing, etc. I refused to take the delivery and did not sign the delivery note. When I asked for a brand new car with no problems, the manager refused and said that I had no other option as it was already registered.

Further, I was promised free 3M colour polishing and floor mats, but none of these promises was fulfilled. I am extremely disappointed with the whole experience and requested a brand new car with no issues and with all the promises fulfilled, or else a full refund of my money with interest at 2% per month.

It has been more than 12 days, but still, no solution has been provided by the dealership or Tata Motors. The dealership is forcing me to take delivery of the car. I even asked the dealership to provide me with the PDI report, but they have failed to do so.

I would appreciate it if you could advise me on how to proceed further and take this matter up with Tata Motors. Thank you for your time and consideration.

I am attaching images of the car.

Here's what BHPian fusionbang had to say about the matter:

Can't do much now once the car is registered. First mistake is to make payment upfront to the dealer, without a PDI. At least, if the payment was made the OP should have made sure to let the dealer know that he would like to see the car and all these checks should have been made before the car was sent for registration, no matter what reasons they gave. I think the first red spot, was when the dealer didn't allow to check the car. Even if the car is deregistered at the RTO, there is no way RTO will return the registration amount in my opinion.

I would suggest OP to accept the car, get all the issues rectified by the dealer and enjoy the car if it is mechanically sound with no niggles.

Here's what BHPian BleueNinja had to say about the matter:

As a thumb rule, No PDI No Payment. If the dealer is being difficult about it then they can keep their beloved car with themselves for all I care.

The first red flag was when they promised OP a delivery date but didn’t deliver it on the date and then asked for the remaining amount before even being willing to let him see the car.

Therefore I have mentioned in one of my previous posts to check the car thoroughly before making the payment because neither of our Desi Automotive Giants is known for their QC.

Once bought It’s best to ignore these little issues and get it rectified by the dealer as a goodwill gesture on their part and move on. As being fixated on them will merely dampen your experience with the car after the fact that the car has been registered and brought home.

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I left my SUV at the service centre and was dropped off at my clinic in a Tata Tiago EV.

BHPian loneagl09 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Completed my first servicing a few days ago. This was at around 1700km and well before two months. The reasons were 3-fold -

• The driver-side latch was taking too much force to latch - I had to shut the door hard to the point the entire car vibrated.
• The infotainment system hung up two times on a longish drive.
• The instrument cluster would sometimes blink in and out within a fraction of a second. This was kinda scary. To me, it looked like a loose connection.

I called up the SA and arranged a service the very next day. We were given the very first slot so that the issues could be resolved without a hurry.

On reaching the service centre around 9:30, I was bid good morning by the watchman outside and the SA was waiting for us. I was escorted inside the service centre while a valet parked the car. After asking for a choice of tea, coffee or lemon tea, the SA called up a technician who came over with a checklist and asked about my concerns. Apparently, the door latch issue is common and would be resolved easily. Well, why not resolve it at the QC level? There was a new infotainment 'major' update that resolved all issues. Both the infotainment and instrument cluster were known issues and were resolved. On asking he promised to show the changelog (did not get to see it).

On a side note, do these companies keep any changelogs? Why does Tata update the software so much? Does Tata run a software wing dedicated to pushing out new updates all the time?

While sipping the rather excellent lemon tea, I did acknowledge Tata has seemed to come far in customer treatment. In fact, my Tata experience has been the best compared to my two previous experiences - Renault and Hyundai. I'm no Tata fanboy, but credit where it's due.

I was asked only two additional things by the SA - ceramic coating (no) and DEF topping up (maybe? I had no idea so I asked them to fill it up. 7 litres cost me 960/-.)

After this, the SA told me the car would be ready by afternoon and arranged a vehicle drop off to my clinic. I only half-jokingly warned him to clear all my issues and even gave them an option of not cleaning the car, and using the additional time to resolve any issues. I mean I can clean the car at any old washing centre. Who's going to help with the issues? 'No saar' says the SA confidently 'everything will be done '. I had my misgivings and wondered if this was the beginning of multiple pilgrimages to the Tata service.

They dropped me off in a Tiago EV, which is actually a nice car. I asked a couple of questions about the car to the driver, but my dude had absolutely no clue about anything. I complimented the absolute engine silence ('hehe yes sir') and wondered aloud if rattles and squeaks would be more audible in an EV (weird look). And so the rest of the drive was an awkward silence.

Remember how the SA promised everything would be resolved?

And would you know it, they actually did! No longer do I have to rock the car on its suspensions to get rid of the door open warning!! They even cleaned and polished her, bless them. 250km of driving the next few days and the infotainment did not hang, nor did the instrument cluster blink. I consider this resolved for now. As Calvin would say - further bulletins as events warrant.

One small minor thing - Tata has given watch faces to choose from! Did not see this mentioned anywhere.

Love these kinds of small details. Here are some parting shots -

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