Ok when it gets warm out i have planed to fix scraches and swirls. I have been her lond enought to know that you wash and then give "acid bath". But after that do i rewash? And I wana put so scrach X on my hood. Now I also wana put the meagrues 1,2,3 on. Will I have to re acid bath it or just use dawn on it?
BMW voided my warranty...
- Thread starter hkross
- Start date
I had my car in for routine (free) service and I asked them to check a couple things. My service advisor called me this afternoon to say they have voided my warranty because of all the performance modifications I've put on the car. The way his "story" goes is that they had a regional BMW Tech Manager in the shop today and he selected "my car" to compare against another 2007 335i coupe. When they uncovered my ECU cover they saw the software. Additionally, one of the issues I wanted them to check was the turbo wastegates rattling. When they went in to look at those they found my 3" catless downpipes and that closed the deal for him. The advisor didn't mention if he found my aftermarket intercooler or my cold air intake!
What bugs me is the dealer knew I had this stuff on the car during previous service visits but apparently they couldn't overcome the watchful eye of a corporate type poking around. Oh well. I only had about 3 months on the 4 year warranty anyway.
I live by the rule that you have to pay to play and I'll get my repairs from a very good independent shop here in Tampa. I've already talked to them. I can also understand BMW North America's position on warranty claims resulting from non OEM stuff.
Just had to vent a bit and I came to my "home" on the internet to feel a little more comfortable.
Oh well, no worries.
What bugs me is the dealer knew I had this stuff on the car during previous service visits but apparently they couldn't overcome the watchful eye of a corporate type poking around. Oh well. I only had about 3 months on the 4 year warranty anyway.
I live by the rule that you have to pay to play and I'll get my repairs from a very good independent shop here in Tampa. I've already talked to them. I can also understand BMW North America's position on warranty claims resulting from non OEM stuff.
Just had to vent a bit and I came to my "home" on the internet to feel a little more comfortable.
Oh well, no worries.
bmw5541
New member
I fully understand where you are comming from. When I still had my 330xi, I wanted to change the brake pads to ceramic, and the service manager told me that that would void the warrenty. Any mods would void the warrenty.
SIDetailing
New member
Wow i have a Infiniti G35 with twin turbos and everything. Everything you can think of including a built motor is on my car. I go to the dealership ever few months or so to have basic maintenance done and ive never had my warranty voided because of of what i did. I honestly think thats bull for a dealer to do such a thing. We buy the car at a certain price which includes warranty and they refuse to service the car. IMO i think they would make a bit more money.
Sorry to hear about that.
Sorry to hear about that.
imported_JSFM35X
New member
I had an 1988 M3 and I chipped the car. it was obvious from the idle and the throtle response to anyone who iknew what was familiar with the car. I had a straight pipe, Adjustible Koni's in all 4 corners and a aftermarket air filter. I got all my service under warranty. Whwn my Fuel Injectors needed cleaning at 15K I was told the mods caused this covered item to be disallowed and i had to pay. Normally at 15K if you have a rough idle cause by fuel system blockage they cover it. One the portion of the warranty effected by the MODs get voided. A/C, electrical all stay intact. Believeit or not i did not change teh stereo becasue i had a friend whos alarm or stero cause huge electrical issues.
Another frustrating element in this is that the wastegate actuator assembly was recently covered under a Service Bulletin and they would've certainly covered that but not now. They also discovered a bad fuel injector and they would've replaced ALL 6 under warranty.
There is the Magnusson Moss action that an attorney can work for you but I don't think I'll put the gloves on over this. I'll get the items fixed at my favorite shop and they'll be the benefactor in this whole deal. I was headed for them anyway in about 3 to 4 months!
There is the Magnusson Moss action that an attorney can work for you but I don't think I'll put the gloves on over this. I'll get the items fixed at my favorite shop and they'll be the benefactor in this whole deal. I was headed for them anyway in about 3 to 4 months!
Nutbread
New member
I am not a lawyer, and I've never stayed at a Holiday Inn Express (or whatever).
But I have gone through a couple of "will void your warranty" episodes with a dealer. And I don't think they can void the entire warranty over a modification.
But they can refuse to pay a claim if they think a modification caused the problem in question. On the other hand I don't think they have a leg to stand on if they try to void the powertrain warranty because you had ceramic brake pads.
Although they will try to make you think they can do that just to scare you off from making a claim.
But I have gone through a couple of "will void your warranty" episodes with a dealer. And I don't think they can void the entire warranty over a modification.
But they can refuse to pay a claim if they think a modification caused the problem in question. On the other hand I don't think they have a leg to stand on if they try to void the powertrain warranty because you had ceramic brake pads.
Although they will try to make you think they can do that just to scare you off from making a claim.
Thanks, guys, for the responses. After hearing from you guys and a decent night's sleep I feel better today.
I'll sort this out one way or another but like I said, I was only looking at 3 more months of warranty coverage anyway. They've covered a few things within the warranty and I love the car (with the mods). No worries.
I'll sort this out one way or another but like I said, I was only looking at 3 more months of warranty coverage anyway. They've covered a few things within the warranty and I love the car (with the mods). No worries.
Due to the fact you aren't too worried about the remaining couple of months, I'll just toss this in.
The BIG factor about the M-H Act is that THEY (meaning the Mfg, dealership or whatever) HAVE TO PROVE that ANY modification caused that (whatever) problem. The onus is completely on them not the vehicle owner. It is one H of a great consumer safeguard.
Bill
The BIG factor about the M-H Act is that THEY (meaning the Mfg, dealership or whatever) HAVE TO PROVE that ANY modification caused that (whatever) problem. The onus is completely on them not the vehicle owner. It is one H of a great consumer safeguard.
Bill
mikeyg402
New member
I completely understand where you are coming from. Not that I've been in this situation before, bc I have never owned a 'new' car before. But I have had lots and lots of friends battle these issues. For example my friend Steve, he had a 2004Ford Lightning. He had just about every mod on it too. The thing was a rocket! But all of his mods were 'Ford Factory' mods i.e.--he bought them at the dealer. He was racing it on the highway against a 2005 M3 and he blew up the motor. A rod went right through the side of the block and had a whole big enough to fit your fist through! :cursing: Brought it to the Ford dealer and they said no way on covering the engine under warranty. It was literally brand new (less than 10k miles, this was in 04). He fought it and won, just because they were Ford Factory installed aftermarket parts.
I've had lots of friends with Subaru WRX's and STI's that had issues with dealers when aftermarket items were installed. Subaru is probably the worst when it comes to this stuff. They told one guy he couldnt get his drivers window fixed ( the regulator broke and wouldnt go up/down) because he had a cold air intake on it! :cursing:
When the new Nissan GTR's came out, Nissan was voiding warranties left and right for people that launched those cars out of race mode. When they did launch them 9 times out of 10 the transmission would blow (even if it was the 1st time launching it).
Car dealers are scandalous, I worked for a few selling cars and they will do whatever it takes to void a warranty. Just because if it something significant they usually cant recover costs (replacing the engine, major services, etc...) BS--yes very much so. If I ever do own a car with a warranty and i install mods on it, I will take them off before it goes into service!
I've had lots of friends with Subaru WRX's and STI's that had issues with dealers when aftermarket items were installed. Subaru is probably the worst when it comes to this stuff. They told one guy he couldnt get his drivers window fixed ( the regulator broke and wouldnt go up/down) because he had a cold air intake on it! :cursing:
When the new Nissan GTR's came out, Nissan was voiding warranties left and right for people that launched those cars out of race mode. When they did launch them 9 times out of 10 the transmission would blow (even if it was the 1st time launching it).
Car dealers are scandalous, I worked for a few selling cars and they will do whatever it takes to void a warranty. Just because if it something significant they usually cant recover costs (replacing the engine, major services, etc...) BS--yes very much so. If I ever do own a car with a warranty and i install mods on it, I will take them off before it goes into service!
Old Pirate
AMG Classic Car Detailing
Sorry to hear this Paul, it happen to me in 77 when I had a new TA and had it modify alittle and the dealer wrote me off the warrenty list. That's back when one only got a 12 month or 12000 mile warranty for new cars.
Junebug
JAFO
Hey Zoom Zoom, I bought a new 1980 Z-28, yep - 12 months/12K miles and it was standard practice to take that new car back after a week so they could fix all the crap the factory left off, installed wrong and or hosed up. My how times have changed!
Thanks again, guys, for the consolation. No big whoop for me today. I'm over it. As I mentioned, I have a great independent BMW shop here and talked again to them today. No problem, they'll take care of anything wrong and at a substantial savings.
I hear ya Mikey. Take your mods OFF THE CAR before dropping it off for warranty service. Lesson learned the hard way. I read volumes of online info on the GTR launch issues!!! At least I got 3 years and 9 months of warranty coverage on a 4 year warranty. :hurray:
I hear ya Mikey. Take your mods OFF THE CAR before dropping it off for warranty service. Lesson learned the hard way. I read volumes of online info on the GTR launch issues!!! At least I got 3 years and 9 months of warranty coverage on a 4 year warranty. :hurray:
imported_User Name
New member
Well, I am an attorney (one that once returned a car as a Lemon and got me a 1 year newer model for free - LOL) and the dealership is wrong but they are banking on people not going to the wall with these issues.
Since you only have a few months left on the warranty, you are exactly the type they prey on.
Depends on how hard you want to fight it, but suffice it to say, they cannot blanket void a warranty. They have to make a direct causal link between the problems and the mods to void not performing a specific task under warranty.
Since you only have a few months left on the warranty, you are exactly the type they prey on.
Depends on how hard you want to fight it, but suffice it to say, they cannot blanket void a warranty. They have to make a direct causal link between the problems and the mods to void not performing a specific task under warranty.
Old Pirate
AMG Classic Car Detailing
I do remember those days Junebug, everyone had to bring the car for repairs after a few weeks to fix or the stuff that was miss, and you didn't get a loaner car either.
imported_Sal329
New member
Every BMW dealer I worked at we were very mod friendly unless it was obvious that the mod caused the problem we did not void anyones warranty. Strange the regional rep was there and chose your car to look at? Reps only come in and look at problem cars when called.
Basically that was my experience too as I've had the car at that dealer 3 times before with the same mods on the car and they never said anything. Up to this point this particular dealer has been fairly "mod friendly". Then again, I haven't been up there till now with a couple of problems to report (#3 cylinger misfires and a rattling wastegate actuator).
The SA was extremely apologetic and simply admitted they couldn't get beyond the regional rep's edict. Again, I understand but my luck simply ran out.
The SA was extremely apologetic and simply admitted they couldn't get beyond the regional rep's edict. Again, I understand but my luck simply ran out.
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switerajaya
New member
IMO these dealers that voiding warranty without any make sense reason(s) are FOOL! Usually i'm relying on reputation that a dealer at my area that carry specific make ( & model that i've interested to buy) has before making a purchase. And if its reputation is bad, then i will choose another make and model from another dealer, period. Fortunately, my experience has been nice ones from a dealer that i trust. Even when i got couple of months left from my 3 year warranty they still take it as serious as i just bought the car (i once had canceled a part replace since i thought that was my fault even the dealer willing to replace that with no question asked attitude!) . This kind of practice has build a dealer loyalty in me (and brand loyalty too!) and i keep spreading the good words about the dealer everywhere, Win-Win condition!