The Call Has Come - My Volkswagen Vento

[Kichu]

mates wonder of wonders - i had parked my car at my friends house after getting it started. yesterday morning when he cranked it, it fired to life. again today it started. i have brought it back home and will have the battery checked at my friends garage tomorrow. i think i might have simply drained the battery by unknowingly keeping some component on.

Have you checked it with your friend, what he saying?

 

[smooth rider]

yes checked it the voltage was 12.68. but the starting capacity was only 65%. the next day morning the car didn't start. replaced the battery with Amaron flo. today paid the amount inr 5400.

 

[smooth rider]

got my baby back today after the service at 58000 kms. the bill amount has come to INR 14500/. the right had side RVM was damaged( crashed with the mirror of a swift dzire.
the details is as follows-
labour details
1) Periodic mainteneance charge - 1500
2) wheel alignment and balancing - 500
3)mirror housing replacment - 600
4)vehicle pick up & drop - 350
parts details
1) oil filter element 334
2)fuel filter 2 1124
3)air filter 343
4)pollen filter 580
5)drain plug 144
6)rear view housing 2014
7) mirror 224
8)wiper blade 214
9) wiper blade 255
oil and lubricants
1) engine oil 4131

total 14499/

work pending -
the steering had become wee bit tight, some defect has been detected hence the whole column is to be replaced under the extended warranty. its cost as told me by the service personnel INR 60,000.
the left rear wheel bearing is to be replaced- no warranty. will come to INR 10000/. the parts have been ordered and will reach the ass only after 12 days.

 

[Kichu]

What happened to your old drain plug?

Congrats for winning your Extended warranty lottery worth 60k.

10k seems to be too much for a wheel bearing. AFAIK it should stay somewhere around INR 1-4k for an average car. .

 

[smooth rider]

they always change the drain plug on every service. kichu -but i am apprehensive, what if the same thing happens after the extended warranty expires?? i have asked another garage guy to get me the price of the bearing from out side. he hasn't called me back yet.

 

[smooth rider]

today i went to change 2 tyres of my baby at kannur. was in a dilemma which brand to buy i had already used appolo accelere which was on the car when i bought it lasted 32& 34 K KMS. then upgraded to mrf zlo 195/ 65 R15. lasted 37 k kns. should i go for the mrf or bridgestone ? or some very cheap taiwanese brand Kenda- which cost only 3250 inr / tyre. good looking one, highly recommended by the local tyre wallha as many tourist vehicles were using it. the bridgestone 250 price being 5150. had along talk with the owner of the MRM tyres at kannur and he showed me the continental comfort. cost 5200/ tyre. but on inspecting the tyres he suggested that only one of the mrfs was good. so changed all 4. total bill came to 21700 inr including alignment, wheel balancing and changing all 4 valves. i have down sized to the original size 185- 65 R 15.

 

[smooth rider]

now that the warranty period is over i am thinking of upgrading my head light bulbs. suggestions needed please.

 

[Kichu]

Hi SM, :)

At first, go for a simple and easy upgrade. 100/90w bulbs with relay.

You can choose Philips Essential Vision 100/90W if you want Whitish Color or else go for Philips Rally 100/90W its color is of a normal halogen light.
I'm having the later one in my A-star.

Cost can be somewhere around Rs.1200-2500.

Regards.,

 

[Tornado]

@smooth rider, can you please give an account of tyres (apolo, MRF, Conti) on handling especially while taking turnstile at good speeds , ride, comfort & dry & wet braking fronts?

 

[smooth rider]

apollo acelere the riding comfort is good but i lasted only 34k kms only. the braking and cornering was good too. the MRFs comfort level was bad compared to appolo and continental. the continentals were very comfortable, the cornering at high speed are very good, mileage i got till date is 37k kms and it seems good for another 10 k kms. go for the conti continentals with eyes shut. the only grouse that i have with it is that the front left tyre developed a micro hole on the side wall and i had to put a tube in it. i think i had accidentally grazed it on a truck tyre while negotiating a jam

 

[Tornado]

Which size Conti your car is on?

 

[smooth rider]

165- 65 r 15
i had forgotten to post that i had completed 1lakh kms on my vento few days back. the best car i have used till date. no regrets.

 

[Tornado]

165?
Are you sure? I see most of Ventos running on 185/60 R 15, and people upgrading to 195 /60R15, 205/60 R 15.

 

[smooth rider]

sorry its 185. i too had upgraded to 195 mrf but except for the looks comfort level was drastically reduced

 

[Kichu]

165- 65 r 15
i had forgotten to post that i had completed 1lakh kms on my vento few days back. the best car i have used till date. no regrets.

Replying to a bit old post. You must have completed atleast an another 20-30k kms by now. Any info about the major service costs.

Regards.,