'Official' Word on 'un-official' Engine Mod's from BMW UK regarding Warranty

[Adventure_Man]

Having read lots of stuff on here over the last month or so about performance tweaks - like ECU re-mapping and Exhaust and Air Intake modifications - i thought i would get my dealer to get the 'official' word from BMW UK on what the situation is over Warranty when you have this type of 'un-official' work done on the MINI.

Their reply was that the Warranty would stand UNLESS the problems/damage could be proven to be a DIRECT result of the 'un-official' modifications and/or parts fitted.

For example - if an Induction Kit was fitted and it made the car run too 'lean' and caused some engine damage - this would not be covered by the Warranty.
If however, after fitting the Kit the water pump went on the car then this would be covered as its completely un-related.

This seems fair enough - as most of the best 'garages' that do these kind of modifications give a Warranty on their work - and the bits they fit usually come with one too.
Getting a reputable place to do the work seems like a very good idea then!!

Just thought u would like to know.

Anyone who knows any different or has had any experience with this issue please let us know...

[Paul]

This has been said before, but I'll say it again.

Lots of dealers say lots of different things, and being independent, you will get different answers from different dealers.

The bottom line has to be that you should:
a)Talk to your dealer first (before any mods) about warranty and TLC etc. but more inportantly:
b) If your engine blows up or has a horrible fault and it's diagnosed by BMW HQ and you've fitted/had fitted ANY aftermarket engine mods, you have to be preparred that they may be able to trace it back to those mods, and you could pay a hefty bill.

[Adventure_Man]

Hey Paul if u read my thread properly u would see that i was not interested in what my Dealer thought - i wanted the 'Official' word from BMW UK.

Your Warranty is not with your dealer - it is with BMW UK. You can have your car fixed/serviced at ANY BMW MINI dealer in the UK for instance .

If the 'worst came to the worst' and your dealer refused to fix something you thought was covered by your Warranty it would be BMW UK who you would be taking to court - not your dealer.

One of the tuning specialist garages i have spoken to have had this occur on a few occations and all they do is get a letter from their Solicitor stating that the modifications they made could not be linked to the faults/damage in any way and that the manufacturer was shunning their responsibilities. Non of these instances has ever made it to court.

[KenL]

Did you get the "official" word in writing from BMW UK? Would be good to have that if your car was modified.

There is a statement in the warranty booklet about modding the car and the effect it could have on warranty. I know this as the dealer was careful to point it out to me when I was collecting the car.

[Paul]

Quote:

Originally posted by Adventure_Man
Hey Paul if u read my thread properly u would see that i was not interested in what my Dealer thought - i wanted the 'Official' word from BMW UK.

Your Warranty is not with your dealer - it is with BMW UK. You can have your car fixed/serviced at ANY BMW MINI dealer in the UK for instance .

If the 'worst came to the worst' and your dealer refused to fix something you thought was covered by your Warranty it would be BMW UK who you would be taking to court - not your dealer.

I appreciate that, but basically, on warranty issues, I would not even take the words of a dealer 'relaying' what MINI UK have said.

What they have said, and you have said, is pretty much the regualr official line. Unless the fault is with the modified part, or can be traced back as a result of the modified part, then your warranty shouldn't be affected.

HOWEVER, it would seem that on past records, if you cant prove the modification didn't cause the faults, manufacturers are very good at tracing fauts to modifications.

I'm sure you could win out in the end, but there is always a risk involved.

While the warranty is with BMW/MINI, the warranty work is carried out and initially diagnosed by the dealer, which is why it's well worth talking to your dealer first. Most it would seem will just get on with it, regardless of mods, others I wouldn't be so happy with.

You may keep your warranty, but you may be in for a fight for it.

[LMB]

I remember way back when the Works Cooper came out, I was shown a directive issued by BMW to the dealerships stating that should the Mini come in for engine repairs they had to contact BMW HQ first. And the Works IS covered by the warranty. Read into that what you will.