On 11th August, my BE6 crossed the 10,000 km milestone, which meant it was time for the second free service
BHPian adithya.m.bhat recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
The second free service also had some pending niggles, so I reached out to the area manager to check on the availability of the replacement steering wheel button panel. To my delight, he arranged a quick callback from the dealership and helped set up a service appointment. I chose Wednesday and dropped off the car at India Garage, Whitefield at 9:30 AM.
At the reception, I was greeted by a new Service Advisor. I explained him the steering panel issue (long story of buttons triggering the horn – details in #85) and also pointed out another problem that had been bugging me, the ambient lighting in the driver’s cockpit. The setup has three strips, but the one immediately to the right of the steering wheel had developed a mind of its own. Whenever dual-colour mode was selected, it simply refused to follow the command and retained its older colour. However, in single colour mode, the panel changed colour perfectly to any colour set.
The car spent the day at the workshop, and I returned in the evening around 6 PM. Here’s how it went:
- Steering wheel panel: They attempted to fit the new part, but the connectors wouldn’t clip in properly. The right replacement wasn’t in stock, so the old panel was reinstalled and a fresh part was ordered. Ironically, since then, the buttons have been working flawlessly, no random honking and the buttons have a confidence-inspiring click to it now. Seems like the act of removing and reinstalling fixed whatever misalignment was there before. Maybe the car is just continuing its streak of fixing itself! Whatever the reason, I’m fine waiting it out for now.
- Ambient lighting: The faulty strip didn’t improve; instead, it’s now blinking between the dual-tone colours post-service.
The SA admitted they couldn’t figure this it this time but assured me that they’ll take a deeper look at it on the next visit. If needed, they’ll replace the entire unit under warranty. Honestly, I don’t consider this a big deal since that patch sits hidden behind the steering wheel, and my hands are most of the time anyway. So, I’ll wait. The final bill was ₹1,084, primarily for the AC filter replacement.
As luck would have it, just as I collected the car, the skies opened up. Looks like I’m destined never to enjoy a clean car for more than five minutes!
Once home, I inspected the old AC filter out of curiosity. The downstream side looked almost spotless, while the upstream side had browned a bit. It even carried that faint “new car” smell.
AC Filter Downstream side (cleaner side):
AC Filter Upstream side (the dirtier side):
Given that the filter had only ~3 months of usage, I’m not entirely sure it really needed replacement. Even before the service, the cabin AQI levels were steady between 1 to 4, which is as good as any other day. I am no expert in the filter aspects and would love to hear your thoughts on this one.
The perks
On a happier note, I pre-booked the Annual Pass on the 14th, which went live
the very next day. Loving the new freedom!
And on an even happier note, ChargeZone had a pleasant surprise in store. As part of the Independence Day celebrations, they offered a 20% cashback on all wallet top-ups. I quickly did the math. ₹10k is roughly good for 6–7 almost full charging sessions, something I’ll easily use up in the coming months. So, I went ahead and topped up ₹10k, and now have ₹12k sitting in the wallet. A nice little bonus!
The Wishlist to Mahindra
With 10,000 km now under my belt, I thought it’s the right moment to share a wishlist of features that could make the BE6 ownership experience even more special. These aren’t radical changes, but thoughtful additions that feel very doable and would go a long way in delighting owners. Hopefully, Mahindra is listening!
Here’s what I would love to see:
- Show the usable kWh alongside Battery SoC %: A plain % number doesn’t tell the full story. EV efficiency is measured in km/kWh, and charging is billed in kWh, so it makes far more sense to show the actual usable energy left in the battery. The % format likely carried over from smartphones, but in cars, it adds ambiguity. 100% charge means very different things across EV models depending on battery size. Displaying the usable kWh would not only make trip planning easier but also give owners a clear picture of their vehicle’s true capacity.
- Show Battery State of Health: Battery SoH is one of the most critical metrics for EV ownership, directly reflecting long-term battery life and usable capacity. Yet, it remains hidden from owners. For instance, Tata EVs already allow SoH to be read via the diagnostic port, and I’m sure Mahindra’s EVs track this internally too. So why not take it a step further and make it visible on the DID (Driver Information Display) or CID (Central Infotainment Display)? Providing SoH upfront would add huge transparency, build long-term owner confidence, and help customers make informed decisions about their car’s health.
- Rear light panel usage: Beyond just projecting short messages (a feature I’m still eagerly waiting to see rolled out), the rear light strip could be used more innovatively by visualizing accelerator and brake inputs. This would allow trailing drivers to better anticipate the vehicle’s behaviour, enhancing safety while also adding a unique design element. A perfect blend of functionality and flair!
- Range prediction with driving styles: A single distance to empty (DTE) figure doesn’t tell the full story. In my own tests, I have calculated the range to be anywhere from 360 km at an average speed of 120 km/h to 766 km at 60 km/h (see #70). Clearly, the range varies drastically with driving style. Since the current DTE is already derived from past consumption patterns, why not take it a step further and show three parallel estimates: optimistic (defensive driving), balanced (normal driving), and pessimistic (aggressive driving)? This simple addition could give drivers a far clearer picture of what to realistically expect and go a long way in making range anxiety a thing of the past.
- Auto screen capture at milestones: I personally would so much wish for this as I missed taking photo of some prominent odometer readings like 2222, 2285 (my vehicle number), 3333, 5000 and so on. I usually remind myself when I am 20–30 km away, but by the time I reach the milestone, music or the drive itself takes over and I miss the snapshot. Since the car already has internal memory, it should be possible to let owners pre-select milestones and have the system automatically save screenshots of the DID (Driver Information Display), CID (Central Information Display), and even snaps from the interior and exterior cameras. Beyond milestones, this feature could also auto-trigger whenever a warning or error message appears, creating a ready log for debugging. A small addition, but one that would delight owners and make after-sales support much more effective.
- Detailed “Engineer Mode” / “Tech Mode” / “Geek Mode”: It would be fantastic to have an optional mode that shows more granular data like values with extra decimal places and deeper technical insights on energy, efficiency, and system performance. For enthusiasts who enjoy going beyond what the car readily displays, this would open up a new dimension of engagement. Even better, brand it as Engineer Mode / Tech Mode / Geek Mode, a tribute to the engineers who built this brilliant machine, while giving owners like me the joy of exploring it in greater depth.
These may be small changes, but they can have a big impact in elevating the ownership experience and truly differentiating Mahindra’s EVs in the long run. Considering the encouraging pace of updates already rolling out for the BEV twins, I am optimistic that some of these ideas could find their way into future OTA updates.
And to wrap it up, here’s a parting shot from a recent nearby excursion:
Current Odometer reading: 10873km
Cheers,
From Annual Pass convenience to ChargeZone perks, hitting 10k km feels like just the beginning!
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