[Doppelkuplung]

Hi Team. Wanted to share my experience of buying a 10-year-old Fortuner from Delhi and cosmetically restoring it since the previous owner had not taken excessive care of the bodywork and interiors.

I had bought an MM540 off OLX during Covid and changed literally everything except the bodyshell in a project that took 2 years only to find that the comfort and speed required for my usage would never be achieved. Used the Jeep during 2 vacations and sold it to a TBHPian from Telangana at a much lower price than amount spent.

Despite pressure from wife and kids to buy a new SUV, decided that spending around 30 Lakhs was unwarranted since my vacations in India are about 15-20 days max in a year. SUV needed to be AT and 4WD as the plan was to keep the vehicle as long as Gadkariji allows. We had test-driven a Grand Vitara, sat as passenger in an XUV700, also considered Scorpio, Scorpio N, Thar 4 door but all were dropped due to low space, higher price, no 4wd available etc.

Around then we started seeing YouTube videos of used car dealers in Kerala selling Fortuners from Delhi and Haryana at about 15 Lakhs price range and thought about it as an option. Most were driven 150,000 kms average and i was looking for something around 70,000 kms maximum, possibly with service history and only one owner.

I contacted a broker who supplied cars to dealers in Kerala. He would source cars from Trade-In deals, inspect them for damages and history and drive it down after applying for NOC. The guy seemed to be genuine, and I had found his address in Kerala as a safety backup. We discussed many cars and found one company owned example driven 79,000 kms and had service history. This was reconfirmed by a friend working in another Toyota dealership. The amounts were transferred, documentation completed, and car was on its way to Kerala in about 15 days. Overall a smooth experience except some issue with bank mortgage documents of the first owner.

Fortuner was delivered to my mom soon and my friends went to check the condition. There were scratches, tyres were at the end of life and seat leather was worn. The mechanicals seemed intact and a technician who worked with Toyota dealer confirmed this later.

I saw the car after a couple of weeks and used it during the summer vacation (July - August 2024) and decided that it needs some TLC. Mahesh, my friend owns HOT WHEELS tyre shop in our hometown (Ottapalam, Palakkad). All tyres were changed to Yokohama Geolandar G015. Bilstein shocks + King spring were installed next day at MOXIO CAR TECH, Palakkad. They also performed an oil change using Wurth synthetic 5W30. Their owner Manoj passed by the garage around tea-time and I recognized he was my senior at pre university 30 years back. Had a nice chat about good old times when he had a Roadking and I used to steal my dad's Bullet to show off at college arts day/sports day etc.

When I met Mahesh later for the Tyre payment, he mentioned that he had opened a paint booth in Chennai (TOUCH UP PEOPLE) and offered to do any paint jobs that was required. I did not think about it then because of time constraints, RTO inspection, Re-registration etc.

Vacation over, back to Dubai and watched some Insta reels of Touch Up People and contacted them to take the car to Chennai to inspect body panels for any rust etc and offer a quote for a full repaint. The initial plan was to keep the White exterior shade. Later we decided to change it to Ice Grey and rims painted to Satin Platinum (both Porsche options). Their team was on WhatsApp to discuss and execute the exact job. The body colour on the front grille shroud was my idea and I take full credit if anyone likes it.

I was discussing the purchase and jobs within TBHP Dubai WhatsApp group and Senior TBHPian Nitrous (Mahendra) offered to do up the interiors of the car and upgrade the audio system. These jobs were in the plan but I did not realize Nitrous had a shop in Chennai named AUTO EXPERTS (He has a shop in Alain, UAE which I was aware of) We went with the Porsche theme and got seat inlays in fabric and contrasting stitching in light grey. The audio was Nitrous' idea and I have no clue what he has set up except that it sounds good according to my friends.

I have not seen the car after the jobs but friends who have seen is really impressed with the results. I am personally happy that my car has been worked upon by people whom I know although it was not planned at all and happened like a miracle.

Please have a look at the images and let me know what BHPians feel about the outcome.

[car_guy1998]

What an impeccable job done by BHP'ian Nitrous and Auto Experts.

The colour you have chosen has suited the Fortuner well. Also, can I suggest you to get the door pillars blackened as it'll look much better IMO.

Also, I'm impressed with the work done on interiors.

[vredesbyrd]

Wow. That is some exceptional work! Looks absolutely new. The D4D goes like a hammer.


I wanted one of these at one point but it never happened.

[Haroon]

After the TLC, the car looks beautiful and very elegant. Very prudent decision to buy a pre-worshipped Toyota.

Btw, two of our company Fortuners used by our staff in Saudi Arabia have crossed the 400k kms mark and still going strong!

I am also in the same boat as you. Also a NRI. Wondering to replace my trusty and trouble free Terrano with a used Fortuner in Bangalore. I was also thinking a little differently at the option of 'upgrading' the used car from Autorounders or Brotomotiv in Pune etc but still undecided.

[AsphaltNomad]

@Doppelkuplung, congratulations on the acquistion and the car looks fantastic. The cosmetics (interior and exterior) are done up very tastefully and the grill looks lovely. Would you mind sharing the cost breakup, right from purchasing the vehicle to transferring it to KL RTO and painting, upholestry etc?

[Carmine_pepper]

impressive restoration @doppelkupeng! Just loved how meticulously the interior is done. My 15 year old fortuner is crying out out for an interior revamp. Can you share the details for the interior work. also what was the ball park figure you paid for the car and entire restoration?

[DIV17]

Great choice of colour. The old Fortuner still looks good even after all these years.
Can you provide more information about the suspension upgrade, on how it improves the ride comfort and handling? The car doesn't seem to be lifted and all the aftermarket options include a lift kit.

[NavtejS]

The color looks fabulous on the truck! They have done a fantastic job. The choice of grey is better than the original white in my opinion!

[Doonite]

The truck looks delicious in this colour. The paint job (including alloys) looks perfect, atleast in the pictures. Additionally, the interiors also seem to have been done well.

I personally prefer this version of Fortuner as it's just the right body shape and style for a brute vehicle. The ride quality never bothered me and still doesn't, so this beast will always be my preferred ride.

[MoJo_JoJo]

That looks like a new car & the color combination suits well, nice job!
What is the cost for the complete re-vamp along with the cost for suspension upgrade? Can you share some details?

[Doppelkuplung]

Originally Posted by car_guy1998

What an impeccable job done by BHP'ian Nitrous and Auto Experts.

The colour you have chosen has suited the Fortuner well. Also, can I suggest you to get the door pillars blackened as it'll look much better IMO.

Also, I'm impressed with the work done on interiors.

Thanks. B pillar will be blacked out soon. Trying to find good PPF material.

Originally Posted by AsphaltNomad

@Doppelkuplung, congratulations on the acquistion and the car looks fantastic. The cosmetics (interior and exterior) are done up very tastefully and the grill looks lovely. Would you mind sharing the cost breakup, right from purchasing the vehicle to transferring it to KL RTO and painting, upholestry etc?

Car purchased @ 12.5L
Driver + Diesel 30K
Tyres 40K
KL RTO 2.2L
Painting 1.5L (maximum parts dissembled)
Complete Interiors + Audio + Lights 1.75L
Bilstein + King 1.1L (bought in Dubai and custom cut 2" lift springs to .75" lift @ front axle and .5" lift @ rear axle.

Originally Posted by DIV17

Great choice of colour. The old Fortuner still looks good even after all these years.
Can you provide more information about the suspension upgrade, on how it improves the ride comfort and handling? The car doesn't seem to be lifted and all the aftermarket options include a lift kit.

I have not driven or traveled in a stock Fortuner, but one of my friends have owned Gen 2 and as a passenger he was impressed. There is mimimal body roll now but overall decent for an SUV. (Have owned multiple SUVs here Pajero/Montero, RAM, LC80, Jeep and Patrol Safari)

[B5glider]

Amazing colour taste and exceptional attention to detail by people who have executed the job. By the way, how is the ride quality post the shocks change? If I do try this way, then I will rob your idea!

[Doppelkuplung]

Originally Posted by B5glider

Amazing colour taste and exceptional attention to detail by people who have executed the job. By the way, how is the ride quality post the shocks change? If I do try this way, then I will rob your idea!

Bilstein 5100 is a bit soft and aims for comfort than their offroad models. The King blue springs are road going spec as well compared to their yellow offroad spec springs which are stiffer.

As a result ride is still SUV grade and not super stiff. Compared to stock it is handling well without being jarry. There is slight bias to rear axle which theoratically should reduce rear choppiness. I am not an expert in modification and went with info gained from talking to people who do this and some YouTube videos.

[RAHS]

Beauty and the beast! Very tastefully modified and one of the best looking Fortuners out there

Despite of all these changes, it still looks like a stock car which is just rolled out of the showroom

This generation of Fortuners have a timeless design and they are keepers. Enjoy your time with this truck

Cheers,
RAHS

[narayanang76]

Congratulations on your Grey Fortuner 3L 4X4, I have the same variant 2016 White Fortuner in BLR, with ARB suspension, nearing 67K Kms.

Check out these threads:
DIY: Windbooster AU Throttle Controller installation in my Toyota Fortuner - Team-BHP (DIY: Windbooster AU Throttle Controller installation in my Toyota Fortuner)
Satisfying DIY Premium Car Wash in my basement car parking - Team-BHP (Satisfying DIY Premium Car Wash in my basement car parking)

Few questions regarding your Fortuner:
1) Any height changes with the new suspension? It's not clear from the pics shared, but I felt height has increased.
2) Where are you in Ottappalam? My hometown is also close by
3) Looks like a good deal for Yokohama Geolanders. Are they easily available?
4) Do these Delhi car dealers charge commissions? How much commission and is it included in 12.5 L?
5) Did you get the Car color change endorsed on RC?

Cheers,
narayanang76