It has been more than 2 years since I got this SUV and the vehicle has been absolutely bulletproof.
BHPian 84.monsoon recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
A quick update on my Thar. It has clocked a little over 12,500 kms at this point and has completed the second year service. Running is low as I recently got a BMW for long-distance drives and the Thar is primarily used only for short city commutes. Off-roading trips are also very infrequent – want to try and go more often in the coming months to off-road drives. Closed the 2-year lease I had on the car through my company and bought the car at end of the lease.
The vehicle has been absolutely bulletproof in the reliability department and almost completely trouble-free. The chassis does not make a single creak or squeak even on rough roads. The old problem – where the plastic ring stuck on the front A/C vent gives off a vibrating sound when accelerating hard, persists in spite of the dealership checking it and saying nothing is wrong. But other than this, the car is totally rattle-free. Despite short city trips as the only outings the car gets, DPF clogging issue has not come up other than just once about 4-5 months ago, which was easily resolved through “Park Regeneration” that I initiated.
Reverse camera (M2All accessory) procured and installed through the Mahindra dealership has been one of the best VFM accessories I have ever purchased in my life. For a little over Rs.3000, it provides a bug-free and fairly clear rear image and is fully integrated into the gearbox – turns on instantly when I engage the Reverse gear, and the image is clearer than many OEM rear cameras, such as the one we have in the last generation Camry hybrid in our family.
The Black “Mahindra” cladding strip on the front Grill has stayed stuck after my last update, despite a few highway drives at reasonably good speeds. This is a relief as it means that the tape that the dealership used the second time around is far stronger.
A minor problem I am facing is that the gear shift knob seems to have gotten a bit loose and I can rock it back and forth a little bit with just a touch. Need to get this checked out during the next service. Also the leather used on the gear shift knob is starting to show signs of wear and I hope it does not develop a tear in the future. The piano black around the gear knob also developed a lot of scratches. The similar piano black surfaces on my 2013 Ecosport never developed scratches despite long use – so I guess the material used by M&M is not very high quality there.
I am using this car as my daily driver for my 7 km round trip from home to the office and back. The majestic ride height and bold looks ensure I get right of way in many situations where I would struggle with my BMW. My brand-new M340i gets fewer appreciative looks and thumbs-ups than my 28-month-old Thar! This car is a perfect city vehicle, easy to manoeuvre and park, push your way through traffic and the massive claddings on all sides make sure that even if there are minor rubs with other vehicles, nothing happens to the paintwork or body panels.
The fuel efficiency in such short drives, with start-stop traffic, is poor as one would expect and hovers around 7 to 8 KPL. But when I am able to take a longer city drive of 15 to 20 km, the FE goes up to close to 10 KPL. A few Highway drives saw between 12 and 15 kpl depending on speed.
Purchased an extended warranty for Year 4 from the local dealership, it cost Rs. 16,500. It is possible to buy 5th-year warranty also, but this can be done prior to the expiry of the full regular warranty, decided to defer it as the vehicle seems quite reliable.
Have not added any further accessories, though the following are on my wish list:
- Front and Rear Arm-rests from M2All. Rear armrests are always out of stock! The front arm-rest seems functional, but it looks like it will eat away both the cup holders. What does one then do with that Starbucks coffee cup on long drives? So having second thoughts about this item.
- AVO suspension recommended by BHP-ian Shankar Balan. Seems to be a high value investment given I use the Thar every day! The cost works out to around Rs. 1.1 lakh, based on the quote I got from them. Mulling over this one.
- Wrangler-style LED headlamps. There are so many alternatives but they all seem to have flaws – either tampering with factory electric circuitry or emitting too much of a glare. Thar owners, please recommend high-quality alternatives on this one.
- Sound system upgrade. A must if I have to go back to taking some of the long trips on the Thar. During the rainy season, I will not be able to use my sedan to go to the hills and will need to take the Thar. The long 8-hour drive each way begs for some high-quality music played over a high-quality system, and the Thar’s audio system is far from that.
Keyword: BMW M340i owner shares his long-term experience with Mahindra Thar