[avira_tk]

I went to PPS Jeep on Hosur Road for my service at 152k, the last one was at Vecto before they shut shop. The service was expensive as most authorised centres go but the train wreck was with the interior cleaning. I was charged around 2k (opted for it) , they broke the parcel shelf string on one side and scrubbed the leather with some acid that wrecked the feel of the leather, this, after nine years. It feels like I paid for vandalism.

Concorde and Vecto were much better in that never did any damage occur with either of them. I can't imagine compass owners having their new and much more expensive cars being treated like this. Overall, a good motivation to plan for a new car, this kind of service doesn't inspire much confidence.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by avira_tk

Overall, a good motivation to plan for a new car, this kind of service doesn't inspire much confidence.

Just shift to a friendly neighborhood workshop?

I'm actually wondering why I didn't do it myself earlier - had good experiences with both Pride Cars and Kriti Car Care.

[Reinhard]

Originally Posted by blackwasp

I'm running a similar setup using Sinolyn projectors (Aliexpress). Initially I used to have white-ish lights (closed to 6000K), but later swapped out to Osram XENRAC 4300K bulbs and ballasts sourced locally (from India).

HID Projector fog lights.
Completed this project on the brother's Punto EVO 90 HP diesel (in the impressive Rosso Corsa Red of course) yesterday. The image where you have removed the fog-light shroud panel helped in quickly undoing the clips without much fiddling. Thanks!
Some observations -

1. The Punto's engine bay is nice to work in. Well put together. The car doesn't show age anywhere at all. It just doesn't age at all in fact. Just like the exterior timeless design.
2. Accessibility is quite good.
3. The only tricky bit was finding nearby grounding bolts in the body to connect the limited length ground wires from the ballasts / projector solenoids. Had to patch the projector wires a bit longer using Polycabs.
4. High beam implementation was extremely convenient. Unlike most Marutis, the car runs on negative-earth (like Tata, Mahindra and other European cars.) & the fuses don't stay powered unless the car is in ignition. So the high beam was a 1 minute installation with tap into the high beam fuse in the engine bay fuse box.
5. Like Honda City - the Punto's stock fog lamps are 55W H11 halogens and wiring is good. So in theory they could have directly powered the HID fog lights also. However - to avoid flicker during other load conditions (loud music etc.) via BCM, I implemented it with the separate H4 harness anyway. Safety coming with that is useful too.
6. Hooked up the relay harness to LHS stock fog light socket. So the OEM fog light switch in the dash board works fine.
7. The stock lighting is really poor on Punto Evo I must say. Saying low-beams are inadequate in rains on our unlit highways is an understatement. And when on high beams as a last resort - there is a large dark spot from bonnet to about 50 meters where there's no illumination.

Result is as expected, fantastic with 4300K CrystalEye HIDs in IPHCar projectors. When we took the car out for a spin, upon switching the fog lights off - bro thought all lights went out & we couldn't realize that the primary head-lamps were even on. They feel so dim now that they are barely recognizable. He was further flabbergasted to imagine that he was driving with just those candles all these years. We noticed that the RHS cut-off is a few inches lower than LHS when out on the street. So we'll align it next weekend. That's just a 5 minute job of adding a pair of washers under the lower 2 holes of the mounting brackets on RHS.

[kedar3223]

Crossposting from User car price check thread.

Fiat Punto Pure Diesel(old body style)
2019 registered.
22k Kms done

What would be a good buying price for the the same? The car i am looking at is quoted 3.6L. Its dealer listed.

Additionally would like to know if it came with abs.
How much would it cost to fit a central locking system and upgrade tyres to 15inch 195 on linea's steal rims.

It is going to be a lateral upgrade to Figo 1.2 2011 zxi variant with 60k on the odo. Im the 2nd owner. What kind of resale do i expect on it? Looking for an cost effective upgrade on a 10 year old car as my running is low.

[benvsben]

Originally Posted by avira_tk

This should have been changed at 6 years max regardless...

Originally Posted by dksv

You don't want to delay this replacement after its become noisy...

Originally Posted by dmplog

...On recent visit to Fiat Authorised service centre, I was told that I need to replace Timing Chain as it's become noisy...

Totally agree with avira_tk and dksv. You will see a lot of difference once this is done. I did this in Bengaluru. It was a timely intervention.

[Micki9559]

Forgive me for the OT post, I own a 2011 Grande Punto 90HP Emotion, and noticed that some forum members have posted on this thread saying consult the Elearn manual from Fiat for exact data. If someone has the Elearn for the Indian version of the Grande Punto, could you please upload it and share the link? I am sure it would help a lot of other owners as well.

[gopikb]

After the Linea Tjet was included in my stable two years ago, my Punto MJD was purely doing only city runs while all the highway was completely taken over by the Linea. Over the last weekend, I had to drive to Chennai on Sunday and back to Bangalore yesterday. Since the luggage was light and expecting heavy traffic for the long weekend, I decided to take the Punto instead of Linea after two long years on the highway.

It was a mixed feeling as the Punto MJD is serving me for the last 11 years and given us numerable memorable trips with the kids growing up. Still an absolute fun to drive on the highway and one major difference i noticed compared to the Tjet is the ease in which I can overtake the vehicles when the traffic is heavy. Some sharp over taking maneuvers at speed could be taken with Punto with confidence because of the shorter length of the vehicle.

Overall, both my fiats are going anywhere soon. Will continue to use them as long as they are fit and good.

[ghodlur]

Originally Posted by gopikb

Will continue to use them as long as they are fit and good.

Once a Fiatian always a Fiatian I guess. Good to hear that the Fiats are giving you maximum driving pleasure. Where do you maintain the Fiats in Bangalore? I own a MJD and my experience with KHT Fiat Yeshwantpur wasn't that great at all. Their service advisor missed out many things during annual service, spares weren't available. A strong mail to KHT customer care and Fiat did yield some response but needs to be ascertained.

[gopikb]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

Once a Fiatian always a Fiatian I guess. Good to hear that the Fiats are giving you maximum driving pleasure. Where do you maintain the Fiats in Bangalore? I own a MJD and my experience with KHT Fiat Yeshwantpur wasn't that great at all. Their service advisor missed out many things during annual service, spares weren't available. A strong mail to KHT customer care and Fiat did yield some response but needs to be ascertained.

Absolutely. Once we take the vehicle on the highway, we just dont want to change it. Such is the confidence that the FIAT gives to us. I have had a couple of close calls with both Linea and Punto when someone just came out of the blind in front of my car. The poise and control with which we were able to brake and have things under control is amazing. Luckily both times there was no car behind me in immediate vicinity. Otherwise, I would have been rear ended.

I give my vehicle to FNG Pride Cars Uttarahalli which is nearer to my home. They have been maintaining both my FIATs since the last three years. 99rpm is there for spares ordering when there is a need. Worked out pretty well so far. You can contact Harish and i have never seen them charging extra or chnging parts unnecessarily. Very honest guys in my opinion.

[gopikb]

I had driven to Chennai on my Punto MJD couple of days ago with family to attend a family function. Was supposed to start yesterday afternoon and drive back to Bangalore. Yesterday morning while driving to the wedding hall, the car hit a deep pothole and I scraped the bottom. Post this incident, the engine sound became gruffy and too noisy. But I did not see any onboard diagnostics warning come up. The car was moving normally. Only the engine sound was different.

My wife started complaining that I am sticking to a 12 year old car and am going to leave the family stranded out of the city we live. I dropped the family in the wedding hall which was just 2 kms away. Called RDC Fiat Service Chennai. They said not to drive the car and they will arrange tow vehicle for Rs.5K and then diagnose the problem and recommended me not to drive the car as I could damage the engine.

But to my mind, I know the sound was not coming from engine bay and there is something wrong with the exhaust system which could hve caused while the underbody scraped it. Hence I drove the car to an independent service station about a km away and told them the issue and asked to check the exhaust system.

They were trained people who first opened the bonnet and saw the engine sound while idling and concluded nothing wrong with engine. They jacked up the vehicle and looked at the underbody and immediately found that the metal guard plate has bent while the underbody scraped and has come in contact with the exhaust system. All it took was less than a minute with a plier and screwdriver to remove the bend and that's it. The car was back to normal. Costed Rs.200 at this local garage.

Lesson learnt : Dont just come to the conclusion that the car has given up on you blindly and start panic. With this experience, my respect for those independent garages has increased even more.

Drove back to from Chennai to Bangalore yesterday evening and reached home safe and sound at 9.30PM.

[avira_tk]

Originally Posted by gopikb

I..
Lesson learnt : Dont just come to the conclusion that the car has given up on you blindly and start panic. With this experience, my respect for those independent garages has increased even more.

Drove back to from Chennai to Bangalore yesterday evening and reached home safe and sound at 9.30PM.

I faced the same issue with my already damaged engine guard, have to be careful over speed bumps as the guard gets pressed in if you scrape. I think it gets aggravated if the shocks are weak.

I am going to miss the brakes of my Punto once I get the Sonet.

[KPR]

Originally Posted by gopikb

All it took was less than a minute with a plier and screwdriver to remove the bend and that's it. The car was back to normal. Costed Rs.200 at this local garage.

Almost 4 times I've been through this procedure. Last was about 2 months back. I felt peculiar vibration with sound at about 1800-2000 rpm. Straight away went to local WA WB centre. Asked the guys to bring a long spanner. Cleared shield plate contact points. Costed ₹50

I've not stopped or worried about venturing out of road into rough given high GC this hatch has. I've never felt need for a SUV or a pseudo one.

[puntOOs]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

Where do you maintain the Fiats in Bangalore?

I have been using Wheels Wisdom for the last 3 years. It does take time to source spares.

I just did 1,10,000 kms on my 2011 Punto 90HP.

I changed the following recently.

• Timing kit
• Power steering belt
• Battery

It runs great now. The combo of performance, handling and ride is superb on the highways and twisties.

Sadly, I'll be letting it go shortly. Need at auto box with more space.

The interiors have been solid even though it is 10 years old. The Michelin Primacy tyres work well for this car (I have previously tried Apollo and Yokohama).

I have installed the handrest from the Linea, better speakers on the front doors with soundproofing and an aliexpress android HU.

Anyone in Bangalore who'd want a pre-loved Punto can PM me.

[ghodlur]

Originally Posted by puntOOs

I have been using Wheels Wisdom for the last 3 years. It does take time to source spares.

Will connect with Wheels wisdom for the servicing part. The infotainment systen looks nice though the colour doesnt gel with the original which was actually putting me off for an upgrade.

All the best for the sale, I had seen some stupid quotes when I tried to sell my MH registered car in Bangalore so decided to keep the car for another couple of years.

[puntOOs]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

All the best for the sale, I had seen some stupid quotes when I tried to sell my MH registered car in Bangalore so decided to keep the car for another couple of years.

I got used Jetta this month. I had just submitted the ad for approval to team-bhp. But I sold the car before the ad got approved! Our apartment estate manager brought his friend who confirmed after a 10 min test ride. This guy would have never thought to look at a team-bhp ad but he was a total fan!

Later 4 different people reached out before I could remove the ad. I think I could have got 10% more if I had waited but for the buyer this was a dream car and he was quick to take it off my hands. A quick transaction during COVID times is worth it I guess. He's super-happy with it!

I totally underestimated how many people love Fiat cars! In the general used car market it is treated as junk but for fiat lovers it is different.