mods and warranty

veeaReSS · 12-03-2007, 19:55

I've done a search, which has confirmed my main fears

it seem all the fun stuff to do will invalidate my warranty!

I was just wondering what mods i can do without voiding the warranty?

Someone mentioned a new headunit as the current one doesnt do the speakers justice?

Alloys also, thinking of maybe getting the octy vrs alloys. If i buy em from skoda would they be classed as an approved part?

also open to other suggestions on mods that can be done

thanks for any help!

Emily-Elizabeth · 12-03-2007, 20:28

Get an AMD or REVO switchable remmap. When warranty work comes, turn it back to standard and back to remmaped as soon as you are out of site of the dealers*. Some do offer a superchip which doesn't invalidate your warranty if it approved by them.

Panel filter and Cupra intake? Doubt they will quibble over them either.

I wouldn't buy otcy alloys off Skoda as you will be totally ripped off. I can't see why they would invalidate any warranty so long as you make the right adjustment to the tyres.

*AT NOT POINT MENTION THAT YOU HAVE HAD THIS WORK DONE NEXT TO A PICTURE OF YOUR REG PLATE ON THIS SITE.

Lummox · 12-03-2007, 20:29

Octavia alloys will not be type approved for your car so in theory a no no.

As is just about anything that isnt an approved accessory,

WW_VRS · 12-03-2007, 20:29

Expect to have to pay for any 'related' work on the vehicle. That's the bottom line.

If you go down this route, also I'd suggest checking out if you have independant specialists near where you live so you can take your car there for servicing etc

mat-vrs · 12-03-2007, 20:46

I think virtually anything, but it would depend on the warrenty claim.

Say you put a strut brace on and had issues with front suspension I guess they could blaim the strut brace.
Same goes for remap and Engine work.

Depends on the individual dealer mind. I was told if I put a towbar on I would invalidate the warrenty by one dealer. Went to another and they said it would be fine.
Got this site to thank for finding out a towbar can be fitted as skoda had no idea.

veeaReSS · 12-03-2007, 21:28

waaah

What about the Head unit?

Looks like she might have to stay unmolested for a while then

cheers

markyvrs · 12-03-2007, 21:45

Talking to my Skoda dealer today as it goes, who will remain un-named!!!!

He was highly recommending getting the vRS chipped and is even giving me the number of a guy in my area who will do it for less than £300.

When i asked about the warranty he said "just don't tell us. keep it quiet"

He went on to say that unless they have a rolling road, the service centre has no way of detecting a re-map. I nearly bought a pre-chipped one a few months back before i bought this one (a lot of fun to drive), from a dealer and they said the warranty would stand as long as i brought it to them for servicing. And it had been lowered.

Best thing to do is go to your dealer and build some rapport with the guys there. Test them with hypothetical situations to see how far they will bend. I'm gonna get mine chipped. Won't tell the dealer but WILL tell my insurance company.

corradoboy · 12-03-2007, 21:51

To invalidate a warranty claim, it has to be provable beyond legal doubt that any non-standard part fitted is directly attributable to the failure necessitating the warranty claim. If you have a remap and a damper fails, then they must repair the damper as the remap has nothing to do with it. Similarly, if you change the alloys and the exhaust falls off, the two are unrelated and so the claim would be upheld.

The usual situation is that any reasonable dealer will overlook anything that they can fix without the warranty holder needing to approve, as they get paid for it no matter what. If it requires approval, such as for major engine repair/replacement, then the warranty holder may want a full inspection report prior to commencing work, and that's when you need to have hidden the evidence of tampering.

The T&C's of warranty's generally state that servicing needs to be undertaken at a VAT registered company whom possess the required skills and use parts of OE quality or higher. Therein lies the get-out clause for modders. The stuff we fit is usually much better than OE, but proving that is open to interpretation and personal discretion, which is their get-out clause.

Dave_Fox · 12-03-2007, 22:34

Balls to the warranty. Do what you want with it!

Mouse · 12-03-2007, 22:56

Interesting topic. I have remap (NUTS) ,off topic BUT, had it serviced at 10,000 and mechanic rings me up and says
"Your car is ready Sir! That is a seriously fast car. What you done to it.? "I can tell you done summat cos you got the front strut brace and rear ARB and it goes like stink."

"Just run it in well." Says I.

"Oh OK, but i`m gonna ave to log it, cos it`s nuts!"

Which is one of the reasons why i have now got a tame re-map, being a company car and all. Lol! (will buy it at end of lease)

But yes, it looks like it`s the dealers interpretation on the warranty status that counts, would be interesting to hear if anybody on here has had warranty work declined because the modifications have been declared to null and void the warranty.

Lummox · 12-03-2007, 22:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by markyvrs

He went on to say that unless they have a rolling road, the service centre has no way of detecting a re-map.

Balls, give me a car and our diagnostic machine, 5 mins and i'll tell you if its been mapped or not.

fordfan · 12-03-2007, 23:20

Quote:

When warranty work comes, turn it back to standard and back to remmaped as soon as you are out of site of the dealers

And leave yourself open to criminal prosecution for fraud.

skudmissile · 12-03-2007, 23:24

as ross has said if a dealer knows what to look for they can easily find out if a car is mapped, even if it has been put back to standard, something to do with the encryption of the standard map being hidden by a yyyyyyyyyyy yyyyyyyyyy.

once the car is mapped the software version number is shown. when the car is back to standard the software version is still displayed.

think thats how they do it anyway

good job mines completely standard

Chrispy · 13-03-2007, 13:26

How's about doing other things, like turning on anti hijacking and fiddling with the steering weight using VAG-COM? If the settings are non standard, what will they say then?

ScoobyChris · 13-03-2007, 13:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrispy

How's about doing other things, like turning on anti hijacking and fiddling with the steering weight using VAG-COM? If the settings are non standard, what will they say then?

They're just codings though, rather than changing the underlying way the coding work. I suspect there is potential if you fiddle and damage something whilst trying to set the codings that they may invalidate the warranty, but as long as you're sensible, chances of that are very small

Chris

chris22 · 13-03-2007, 14:13

When buying my vRS I asked the manager (who happened to be dealing with me) I asked about getting the car chipped and he said yeah its easily done.
So I asked what about the warranty? He also said don't tell us.
But I have a feeling that as soon as the engine went bang he would deny that conversation.

ScoobyChris · 13-03-2007, 14:15

The other problem you could be faced with is if they went bust or the service manager changed to one with a stricter view on mods!

Imho, if you can't afford to pay out, then don't mod

Chris

skudmissile · 13-03-2007, 15:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrispy

How's about doing other things, like turning on anti hijacking and fiddling with the steering weight using VAG-COM? If the settings are non standard, what will they say then?

no i think you would be ok with these setting as the dealer can also change these settings with his diag comp. obviously if u break something it wont be covered.

software changing is completly different tho as it actually changes the info stored on the eprom.

veeaReSS · 13-03-2007, 20:04

I think it was the manager who finalised the price with me when i bought it! As we were waiting for them to get it ready he mentioned the remap. did didnt mention anything about the warranty though.

All the performance stuff i want to get done at the same time anyway, so that wont be for a while yet anyway :p

just really wanna change the alloys and maybe lower it on eibachs.

Might just bite the bullet with the alloys as theres not really alot that can go wron with fitting new ones!

cheers for all the help!

Monks85 · 18-03-2007, 15:34

People have mentioned to me that buying those bolt on chips would be a good idea whilst under warranty, you can remove them whenever you want, such as when it goes in for service or repair. I've also heard that the performance gains arnt always as good using these though.

Does anybody know whether changing the air filter panel will void the warranty?

12-03-2007, 19:55	#1
veeaReSS Silver Furbia Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bristol Posts: 203 Members Car: Thanks: 3 Thanked 14 Times in 4 Posts	mods and warranty I've done a search, which has confirmed my main fears it seem all the fun stuff to do will invalidate my warranty! I was just wondering what mods i can do without voiding the warranty? Someone mentioned a new headunit as the current one doesnt do the speakers justice? Alloys also, thinking of maybe getting the octy vrs alloys. If i buy em from skoda would they be classed as an approved part? also open to other suggestions on mods that can be done thanks for any help! __________________ 3 Years - plenty of time to save for go-faster stripes

12-03-2007, 20:28	#2
Emily-Elizabeth Briskodian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Essex Posts: 3,650 Members Car: Silver Fabia vRS with cruise and 5 disk CD changer as the 6th slot has stopped working. Thanks: 21 Thanked 23 Times in 22 Posts	Re: mods and warranty Get an AMD or REVO switchable remmap. When warranty work comes, turn it back to standard and back to remmaped as soon as you are out of site of the dealers. Some do offer a superchip which doesn't invalidate your warranty if it approved by them. Panel filter and Cupra intake? Doubt they will quibble over them either. I wouldn't buy otcy alloys off Skoda as you will be totally ripped off. I can't see why they would invalidate any warranty so long as you make the right adjustment to the tyres. AT NOT POINT MENTION THAT YOU HAVE HAD THIS WORK DONE NEXT TO A PICTURE OF YOUR REG PLATE ON THIS SITE. __________________

12-03-2007, 20:29	#3
Lummox Partner Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Newport Pagnell Posts: 22,981 Members Car: Mk2 Golf GTi 16v and building a 20VT MK2. Images: 2 Thanks: 29 Thanked 835 Times in 702 Posts	Re: mods and warranty Octavia alloys will not be type approved for your car so in theory a no no. As is just about anything that isnt an approved accessory, __________________ www.unit18.co.uk Remapping Service now available, PM for details.

12-03-2007, 20:29	#4
WW_VRS Escorted Estate Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Oxfordshire/Berkshire Posts: 9,965 Members Car: Ford Escort 1.6LX + Fab Estate Thanks: 51 Thanked 92 Times in 82 Posts	Re: mods and warranty Expect to have to pay for any 'related' work on the vehicle. That's the bottom line. If you go down this route, also I'd suggest checking out if you have independant specialists near where you live so you can take your car there for servicing etc __________________ WW --->> Project Journal (pic links in first post there) Lummox'/Ross thread on Unit18 Automotive progress on my car: here

12-03-2007, 20:46	#5
mat-vrs Briskodian Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 91 Members Car: Fabia vRS SE (ordered at least!) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: mods and warranty I think virtually anything, but it would depend on the warrenty claim. Say you put a strut brace on and had issues with front suspension I guess they could blaim the strut brace. Same goes for remap and Engine work. Depends on the individual dealer mind. I was told if I put a towbar on I would invalidate the warrenty by one dealer. Went to another and they said it would be fine. Got this site to thank for finding out a towbar can be fitted as skoda had no idea.

12-03-2007, 21:28	#6
veeaReSS Silver Furbia Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bristol Posts: 203 Members Car: Thanks: 3 Thanked 14 Times in 4 Posts	Re: mods and warranty waaah What about the Head unit? Looks like she might have to stay unmolested for a while then cheers __________________ 3 Years - plenty of time to save for go-faster stripes

12-03-2007, 21:45	#7
markyvrs Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South Wales Posts: 290 Members Car: Fabia vRS Diamond Silver Thanks: 1 Thanked 18 Times in 18 Posts	Re: mods and warranty Talking to my Skoda dealer today as it goes, who will remain un-named!!!! He was highly recommending getting the vRS chipped and is even giving me the number of a guy in my area who will do it for less than £300. When i asked about the warranty he said "just don't tell us. keep it quiet" He went on to say that unless they have a rolling road, the service centre has no way of detecting a re-map. I nearly bought a pre-chipped one a few months back before i bought this one (a lot of fun to drive), from a dealer and they said the warranty would stand as long as i brought it to them for servicing. And it had been lowered. Best thing to do is go to your dealer and build some rapport with the guys there. Test them with hypothetical situations to see how far they will bend. I'm gonna get mine chipped. Won't tell the dealer but WILL tell my insurance company.

12-03-2007, 21:51	#8
corradoboy Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 689 Members Car: 05 Fabia vRS Thanks: 4 Thanked 50 Times in 35 Posts	Re: mods and warranty To invalidate a warranty claim, it has to be provable beyond legal doubt that any non-standard part fitted is directly attributable to the failure necessitating the warranty claim. If you have a remap and a damper fails, then they must repair the damper as the remap has nothing to do with it. Similarly, if you change the alloys and the exhaust falls off, the two are unrelated and so the claim would be upheld. The usual situation is that any reasonable dealer will overlook anything that they can fix without the warranty holder needing to approve, as they get paid for it no matter what. If it requires approval, such as for major engine repair/replacement, then the warranty holder may want a full inspection report prior to commencing work, and that's when you need to have hidden the evidence of tampering. The T&C's of warranty's generally state that servicing needs to be undertaken at a VAT registered company whom possess the required skills and use parts of OE quality or higher. Therein lies the get-out clause for modders. The stuff we fit is usually much better than OE, but proving that is open to interpretation and personal discretion, which is their get-out clause. __________________ Diesel - Goes like stink

12-03-2007, 22:34	#9
Dave_Fox Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,027 Members Car: Vauxhall Astra VXR Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: mods and warranty Balls to the warranty. Do what you want with it!

12-03-2007, 22:56	#10
Mouse Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 453 Members Car: Furby VRS Thanks: 88 Thanked 35 Times in 34 Posts	Re: mods and warranty Interesting topic. I have remap (NUTS) ,off topic BUT, had it serviced at 10,000 and mechanic rings me up and says "Your car is ready Sir! That is a seriously fast car. What you done to it.? "I can tell you done summat cos you got the front strut brace and rear ARB and it goes like stink." "Just run it in well." Says I. "Oh OK, but i`m gonna ave to log it, cos it`s nuts!" Which is one of the reasons why i have now got a tame re-map, being a company car and all. Lol! (will buy it at end of lease) But yes, it looks like it`s the dealers interpretation on the warranty status that counts, would be interesting to hear if anybody on here has had warranty work declined because the modifications have been declared to null and void the warranty. __________________ Black Magic Fabia v/RS *Skoda Fabia VRS ! Practical & Exciting !*

12-03-2007, 23:24	#13
skudmissile Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 3,144 Members Car: Thanks: 419 Thanked 181 Times in 161 Posts	Re: mods and warranty as ross has said if a dealer knows what to look for they can easily find out if a car is mapped, even if it has been put back to standard, something to do with the encryption of the standard map being hidden by a yyyyyyyyyyy yyyyyyyyyy. once the car is mapped the software version number is shown. when the car is back to standard the software version is still displayed. think thats how they do it anyway good job mines completely standard __________________ Run out of CASH

13-03-2007, 13:26	#14
Chrispy Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Normanton, West Yorks Posts: 1,766 Members Car: 2004 Fabia vRS Thanks: 38 Thanked 68 Times in 57 Posts	Re: mods and warranty How's about doing other things, like turning on anti hijacking and fiddling with the steering weight using VAG-COM? If the settings are non standard, what will they say then? __________________ Silver '04 Fabia vRS. Jabba Custom Remap, Seat Surgeons Leather interior, Whiteline RARB, Cupra Console Bushes

13-03-2007, 14:13	#16
chris22 Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Swansea Posts: 83 Members Car: Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: mods and warranty When buying my vRS I asked the manager (who happened to be dealing with me) I asked about getting the car chipped and he said yeah its easily done. So I asked what about the warranty? He also said don't tell us. But I have a feeling that as soon as the engine went bang he would deny that conversation.

13-03-2007, 14:15	#17
ScoobyChris Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Andover Posts: 18,270 Members Car: Fiat Panda Thanks: 16 Thanked 354 Times in 305 Posts	Re: mods and warranty The other problem you could be faced with is if they went bust or the service manager changed to one with a stricter view on mods! Imho, if you can't afford to pay out, then don't mod Chris __________________ Holding up the traffic in a little Italian..........

13-03-2007, 20:04	#19
veeaReSS Silver Furbia Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bristol Posts: 203 Members Car: Thanks: 3 Thanked 14 Times in 4 Posts	Re: mods and warranty I think it was the manager who finalised the price with me when i bought it! As we were waiting for them to get it ready he mentioned the remap. did didnt mention anything about the warranty though. All the performance stuff i want to get done at the same time anyway, so that wont be for a while yet anyway :p just really wanna change the alloys and maybe lower it on eibachs. Might just bite the bullet with the alloys as theres not really alot that can go wron with fitting new ones! cheers for all the help! __________________ 3 Years - plenty of time to save for go-faster stripes

18-03-2007, 15:34	#20
Monks85 Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 10 Members Car: Fabia VRS Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: mods and warranty People have mentioned to me that buying those bolt on chips would be a good idea whilst under warranty, you can remove them whenever you want, such as when it goes in for service or repair. I've also heard that the performance gains arnt always as good using these though. Does anybody know whether changing the air filter panel will void the warranty?

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