Warranty - Null & Void due to modifications

[bromers]

Had an extended warranty on my car now for 5 months - couple of issues with the running of the car so went into the dealer for some work (could be expensive). Car's been at the dealers for a few weeks and have now just been told the warranty is now null & void because of a Milltek exhaust.

Anyone else experienced this ?

They (BMW Warranty) are adamant that any modification invalidates the warranty.

[glendog74]

Some dealerships are just twats and very anally follow the small print in the Warranty documentation to the letter...

It depends where you go of course, but my experience of BMW dealerships so far have been that they are fine with my modifications so long as they have not had an obvious contributary effect on the issue causing the fault in question. They even knew that i track the car (occasionally...) :whistle:

My advice would be to say "thanks but no thanks" to them and then take your car to a more welcoming dealership which will carry out the work without question; e.g. Murketts.

[_Nathan_]

What does the policy doc say?

[bromers]

Dealers been as good as gold - its the warranty company themselves saying this.

[glendog74]

What does the policy doc say?

IIRC, any non-BMW modifications or any hint of track use will invalidate the warranty.

Or words to that affect...

[glendog74]

Dealers been as good as gold - its the warranty company themselves saying this.

I would tend to disagree with that statement - the dealership obviously hasn't blamed the fault on a warranty related aspect, or sold it as being as such strongly enough to the Warranty company - otherwise they would have already have approved it...

[bromers]

What does the policy doc say?


"an insured vehicle that has been subject to alterations, has had experimental equipment fitted or has in any way been modified from BMW's approved specification"

It also says :

"an insured vehicle used for courier or private hire services, TRACK DAYS, off road use, competitions or racing of any kind"

Car actually doesn't have the exhaust on anymore all back to standard - but it had been noted on the last service in March 09 that one was fitted. Its a bit of a get out for them as they (me now) are potentially sitting with a big ish bill.

[_Nathan_]

Take it to Murketts ;)

[s.mac]

sounds bollocks to me, the exhaust isn't a part covered by warranty
I would say its the dealer who has flagged it as they are the ones that advise the warranty claims dept if its valid or not.

[shane@mbtech]

Warrington by any chance, halliwell jones, bunch of fucking amature fuckwits, jobsworth wankers that know fuck all.

Ive posted loads about the fuck ups they made and their attitudes, nearly twatted the head tech but he was hiding in the workshop.

(if not hj my rant was for nothing but I feel better:hahaha:)

Had a similar problem when they told me my warranty would not cover an abs sensor after "ON THE COMPUTER IT FAILED AT 196MPH, AND I HAD OBVIOUSLY BEEN RACING ON TRACK" according to the prick that phoned me. I asked if maybe the reason the abs logged as failed was maybe all the rest were reading 20mph when the light came on (I was doing 20mph) and maybe the 196mph was a faulty reading! Fuckwit. He said they would not honour the warranty. Quick visit to the service manager and all was well again, but I wont go back, EVER. I had an incident re the flap at an earlier date which they were completely wrong on too. WANKERS full stop.

[_Nathan_]

lol, how did he think an m3 would hit 196mph?

[shimmy]

lol, how did he think an m3 would hit 196mph?

I haven't given up hope yet!

[outnumbered]

What's the potential fault ? If it's really nothing that could be affected by a backbox change, then you might be able to pursue them successfully by threatening legals or whatever.

The dealer's being a tw@ though for even mentioning the previous presence of the Milltek to the warranty co.

[csl_mba]

:hahaha::hahaha::hahaha: Lawsy 20mph - 196mph in a split second :thumbs:

[Bounce]

The dealer is at fault here,how did the warranty know about the exhaust,as they rarely visit the dealer,as said take it to another dealer.:banghead:

[Bounce]

Warrington by any chance, halliwell jones, bunch of fucking amature fuckwits, jobsworth wankers that know fuck all.

Ive posted loads about the fuck ups they made and their attitudes, nearly twatted the head tech but he was hiding in the workshop.

(if not hj my rant was for nothing but I feel better:hahaha:)

Had a similar problem when they told me my warranty would not cover an abs sensor after "ON THE COMPUTER IT FAILED AT 196MPH, AND I HAD OBVIOUSLY BEEN RACING ON TRACK" according to the prick that phoned me. I asked if maybe the reason the abs logged as failed was maybe all the rest were reading 20mph when the light came on (I was doing 20mph) and maybe the 196mph was a faulty reading! Fuckwit. He said they would not honour the warranty. Quick visit to the service manager and all was well again, but I wont go back, EVER. I had an incident re the flap at an earlier date which they were completely wrong on too. WANKERS full stop.Dont hold back Lawsy,say it how it is.:thumbs::thumbs::hahaha:

[shane@mbtech]

Dont hold back Lawsy,say it how it is.:thumbs::thumbs::hahaha:


I invariably do;)

They replaced a viscous fan, less than 50 miles later it fucking fell off. They did not tighten it. Thats the main reason when I visited the service manager they backed down. As I reminded them of there previous fuckup which I had complained about. I'm sure I remember telling Bromers not to use them when he visited our garage once. ?


Murketts for me now, its a trek but I know.........

A) theres no jobsworth wanker deciding if my airfreshener hanging from the rear view mirror has invalidated my warranty

and

B) the jobs done right:thumbs:

[shane@mbtech]

lol, how did he think an m3 would hit 196mph?


Thats exactly what I said, I told him 175mph max, his response was "well I have been on to BMW motorsport this morning who said it would do 183mph"

I then told him in a flury of swear words how the fuck could I be doing 196mph then?

As I said Nathan, Fuckwits of the highest order:banghead:

[shane@mbtech]

I haven't given up hope yet!

On a tow rope behind a veyron maybe:hahaha:

[XKaLiBaR]

Unless the modified part has effected the part that has gone wrong, then they have to warrant the problem. Thats what i thought!?

[bromers]

My car went into 'slow down' mode on the motorway on my to work, came off at the next junction and it was fine again. Did the same on the way home and engine management light came on.

Drove it to the dealers, workiing fine apart from running a little rough. After 4 weeks they had replaced 2 DME control units, iginition packs, an actuator and a sensor. Car still wouldn't go so a week later, they then find out no compression on two cylinders - 2 pistons have gone and cylinder head needs replacing. Car had been hooked upto Head Office for a few days and then this week they came back and said warranty invalid because it had had an non standard exhaust fitted at some stage (was noted on the last service).

Car's been with them 8 weeks now. Still a slight hope of some goodwill - car's done 28k - full BMW service history (every 12-18 months).

Does anyone think a Milltek backbox (probably on the car for 3 yrs) could have caused all of the above faults ???

[outnumbered]

Does anyone think a Milltek backbox (probably on the car for 3 yrs) could have caused all of the above faults ???

No... I don't think it could have caused _any_ of them.

Was it remapped, or could it have had a map that you didn't know about ?

[Bealo]

I'm feeling for you Bromers.

Hope it gets sorted. Maybe give Andy Pressland a call at Murketts there isn't much he doesn't know about CSL's and the warranty he will point you in the right direction i'm sure. :thumbs:

[Mark CSL]

BMW are just trying to get out of a big bill if you ask me the backbox would never do any damage to the engine.

But the warranty we all have now does say no madifications so if they dig there heals in there is not much you can do but if you keep at them and i would also tell them you changed the back box as soon as they made you aware it was not the 1 for the CSL :whistle:

[grumps]

Why don't you talk to milltec and see what they say! And in all the years i've been working on cars i've never had a problem with a modified exhaust causing engine failure unless the monolith breaks up! And one more thing how do bmw sell modified cars and warranty them! as when i was buying mine i found a few dealers selling with warranty and retro fits ; Exhausts,suspension and brakes, Might be worth checking the dealers forecourts for upgraded cars.
P.s Don't yeild! and good luck.

[Kev.H]

really feel for you hope it gets sorted :(

[bromers]

Forgot to add, that they think the piston has hit the spark plug and caused it to break up.

How could that happen ?

[alexk]

Forgot to add, that they think the piston has hit the spark plug and caused it to break up.

How could that happen ?

The backbox made the pistons more horny, they expanded and ... crack.

The general term for this is called Sci-Fi.

[Mark CSL]

The backbox made the pistons more horny, they expanded and ... crack.

The general term for this is called Sci-Fi.

:hahaha::hahaha::hahaha:

[Bealo]

The backbox made the pistons more horny, they expanded and ... crack.

The general term for this is called Sci-Fi.


Funny :thumbs: :hahaha::hahaha::hahaha:

[Bounce]

The backbox made the pistons more horny, they expanded and ... crack.

The general term for this is called Sci-Fi.:hahaha::hahaha::thumbs:

[shane@mbtech]

Forgot to add, that they think the piston has hit the spark plug and caused it to break up.

How could that happen ?


Dont listen to a word they say, They only know their arse from their elbow because their heads are so far up their own arses. :clown:

If you are having to pay get it out of there, they will pull your pants down shaft you with a big dildo and charge you for the lube which they wont use. ;)

[mattCSLnut]

The backbox made the pistons more horny, they expanded and ... crack.

The general term for this is called Sci-Fi.

:smt082 :hahaha: :smt082 :hahaha: :smt082 :hahaha: ... now that's funny :thumbs: :beer:

[thegingerninja]

All of this seems very unfair - but legally, they may have point if you read the small print (although no-one ever does) Would be interesting to know what their position would be if you had AP brakes?

[alexk]

All of this seems very unfair - but legally, they may have point if you read the small print (although no-one ever does) Would be interesting to know what their position would be if you had AP brakes?

I guess they would suggest therapy with an exorcist :whistle:

[DuncanR]

sounds bollocks to me, the exhaust isn't a part covered by warranty
I would say its the dealer who has flagged it as they are the ones that advise the warranty claims dept if its valid or not.

+ 1 on that fooker !
Ditch the dealer mate,its all about how the dealer presents the facts regarding the warranty claim to the guys in the Fatherland, when my engine spun a shell Murketts were asked to send photographs etc., which they did, they are not asked by BMW to even investigate the probable causes, as this would incurr additional labour which Murketts dont get paid for. Now, ...if BMW had of asked for a couple of pictures of the cockpit... it might have been a different story !!and now BMW are about to market a car with roll cage, harnesses and BBK already fitted, bit hypocrytical really !

[DuncanR]

Unless the modified part has effected the part that has gone wrong, then they have to warrant the problem. Thats what i thought!?

This is true ...in the USA for sure, after a Court ruling along these very same lines, the ruling was that as long as the after market part contributed in no way to the fault of the OEM part, then the warranty claim should be honoured.

[DuncanR]

Murketts for me now, its a trek but I know.........



Spend the night with me Lawsy !!...:gayfight:

[shane@mbtech]

Spend the night with me Lawsy !!...:gayfight:

Ive just popped outside, sabotaged the csl, so a night in duncan towers is on the cards:smt055

[DuncanR]

Ive just popped outside, sabotaged the csl, so a night in duncan towers is on the cards:smt055

Im off out to buy me a new frock !!:gayfight: ... cant wait to feel your strong arms wrapped around me ... ah !

[glendog74]

I guess they would suggest therapy with an exorcist :whistle:

That's what Fuchs would suggest too... :hahaha:

[dpsoden]

Bit of a thread resurrection but thought I would update on my recent experiences. Have a 53k mile CSL with AP Brakes and, previously, Intrax 1k2 suspension.

Warranty company initially said that modified parts would not be covered which was, from reading the threads on here, the accepted position.

However, having spent 3 weeks trying to confirm with them in writing that the warranty would be valid in the event of a claim, they have now replied to say "the claims department have advised that they would not be happy to cover the brakes, steering, suspension due to the modifications fitted" and "for the reasons outlined we would not be in a position to offer you the product".

i.e. I cannot get a warranty at all!

[DuncanR]

they have now replied to say "the claims department have advised that they would not be happy to cover the brakes, steering, suspension due to the modifications fitted" and "for the reasons outlined we would not be in a position to offer you the product".

i.e. I cannot get a warranty at all!
Well thats about true really, BMW cant be expected to warrant the after market AP's and Intrax, but they ought to sort the steering out. Im with Murketts, but there is no way even I would expect them to carry out work on anything other than the OEM parts, Im very grateful for what they do at the moment tbh.:thumbs:

[dpsoden]

Have no issue with them not covering non OEM parts - that's reasonable - it was more that they would not cover the remainder of the car..!

[DuncanR]

Have no issue with them not covering non OEM parts - that's reasonable - it was more that they would not cover the remainder of the car..!

Ah..thats a different matter ! Simple answer, go to Murketts !:thumbs:

[Dan]

Well thats about true really, BMW cant be expected to warrant the after market AP's and Intrax, but they ought to sort the steering out. Im with Murketts, but there is no way even I would expect them to carry out work on anything other than the OEM parts, Im very grateful for what they do at the moment tbh.:thumbs:

So you bloody should be! I hope you haven't used up all Andy's good will for the rest of us! :smt079 :hahaha:

[DuncanR]

So you bloody should be! I hope you haven't used up all Andy's good will for the rest of us! :smt079 :hahaha:

And if I have used it all up ? ... do I have the face of someone who REALLY gives a fook ? :hahaha:;):birdman:

So much for me being accused of being a traitor !! .. how many posts by fookin Tankcommander today ?

[Dan]

And if I have used it all up ? ... do I have the face of someone who REALLY gives a fook ? :hahaha:;):birdman:


That can be changed! :ANAL::ANAL::hahaha:

[glendog74]

And if I have used it all up ? ... do I have the face of someone who REALLY gives a fook ? :hahaha:;):birdman:


Spoken like a true member of PGT! You've changed... :bigcry:

[shane@mbtech]

Bit of a thread resurrection but thought I would update on my recent experiences. Have a 53k mile CSL with AP Brakes and, previously, Intrax 1k2 suspension.

Warranty company initially said that modified parts would not be covered which was, from reading the threads on here, the accepted position.

However, having spent 3 weeks trying to confirm with them in writing that the warranty would be valid in the event of a claim, they have now replied to say "the claims department have advised that they would not be happy to cover the brakes, steering, suspension due to the modifications fitted" and "for the reasons outlined we would not be in a position to offer you the product".

i.e. I cannot get a warranty at all!


May I ask why you told them you had these parts fitted?

If you did not say a word they would be non the wiser.

[dpsoden]

May I ask why you told them you had these parts fitted?

If you did not say a word they would be non the wiser.

I wanted to be sure that if I was spending £1,200 on a warranty that BMW could not get out of it at a later stage claiming it was invalid for x, y & z reasons.

It started because the car has had one Insp II from Simpsons and I wanted confirmation that the warranty would not be invalid as a result.

I understood that modifications would not be covered, that was never initially the question. It was a bit of a surprise to find out that they would not offer a warranty at all, irrespective of the service history.

Had I not informed them and just bought the warranty, it would be worthless in any event?

[glendog74]

Have a 53k mile CSL with AP Brakes and, previously, Intrax 1k2 suspension.

the car has had one Insp II from Simpsons

Ahh, is that Kevin Bird's old car? Sounds familiar ;)

[dpsoden]

Ahh, is that Kevin Bird's old car? Sounds familiar ;)

The very same :)

[glendog74]

A good car ;)

[Great Pretender]

"an insured vehicle that has been subject to alterations, has had experimental equipment fitted or has in any way been modified from BMW's approved specification"

It also says :

"an insured vehicle used for courier or private hire services, TRACK DAYS, off road use, competitions or racing of any kind"



I must respectfully challenge this (at least with regards to the current/new warranty provisions).

Upon reading the terms of the BMW AUC Warranty (which typically I don't have here) I seem to recall that the exact wording of such explicitly excludes the use of the car for 'private hire', 'competition' or 'timed events on a race circuit', but not 'track days'.

The wording is very similar to that of the Porsche warranty which I was unfortunate enough to fall foul of. It's very cleverly worded, but explicitly excluding a car such as a GT3 from track use is ludicrous. Similarly BMW don't explicitly exclude "track days" per se from their warranty; the assumption being that the words, "track day" are in themselves, too vague and could cover anything from a show 'n shine event to all-out racing with the clocks switched off. Apart from which, what's to say that you couldn't extend the car as hard on the public road (read, repeated 0-VMAX-0 runs on the autobahn) as you could on the track?

Nevertheless, the wording of the warranty is open to interpretation and ultimately, should BMW UK feel they have a strong enough argument, you face the guantlet of battling them through the courts, which as I discovered with Porsche, is not something you take on lightly.

I could of course be talking total bollocks :hahaha:

[DuncanR]

I could of course be talking total bollocks :hahaha:

Thats my job around here ! I've spent years perfecting the art !;)

[DuncanR]

I must respectfully challenge this (at least with regards to the current/new warranty provisions).

Upon reading the terms of the BMW AUC Warranty (which typically I don't have here) I seem to recall that the exact wording of such explicitly excludes the use of the car for 'private hire', 'competition' or 'timed events on a race circuit', but not 'track days'.

The wording is very similar to that of the Porsche warranty which I was unfortunate enough to fall foul of. It's very cleverly worded, but explicitly excluding a car such as a GT3 from track use is ludicrous. Similarly BMW don't explicitly exclude "track days" per se from their warranty; the assumption being that the words, "track day" are in themselves, too vague and could cover anything from a show 'n shine event to all-out racing with the clocks switched off. Apart from which, what's to say that you couldn't extend the car as hard on the public road (read, repeated 0-VMAX-0 runs on the autobahn) as you could on the track?

Nevertheless, the wording of the warranty is open to interpretation and ultimately, should BMW UK feel they have a strong enough argument, you face the guantlet of battling them through the courts, which as I discovered with Porsche, is not something you take on lightly.

I could of course be talking total bollocks :hahaha:

Simon, Bromers extract from the warranty pages is spot on, for "his" particular warranty, and indeed mine, however, if they have changed the wording in the newer one, thats the one that applies to you. Until BMW officially send me another set of T&C's, im stuck with the following, which is pretty clear...and is exactly why I use Murketts.:thumbs:

[bromers]

I've had 4 weeks of discussions dealer/HO/warranty now and absolutely no joy at all.

Now stuck with a car that's had nearly 4k spent on it, still in bits, warranty people not paying up for any of it, no goodwill, potential new engine needed. All because it had been noted on a previous service it had a non std exhaust fitted - car was back to standard before warranty taken out too !!

Seems to me they are getting really tough on claims - took them 2 weeks of 'hunting' around to get evidence not to pay out.

[bromers]

Why don't you talk to milltec and see what they say! And in all the years i've been working on cars i've never had a problem with a modified exhaust causing engine failure unless the monolith breaks up! And one more thing how do bmw sell modified cars and warranty them! as when i was buying mine i found a few dealers selling with warranty and retro fits ; Exhausts,suspension and brakes, Might be worth checking the dealers forecourts for upgraded cars.
P.s Don't yeild! and good luck.

I mentioned that to them today, saw an M5 with aftermarket exhaust on for sale on AUC. Apparently BMW cover the first year of an extended warranty and then it goes to Mondial the year after if extended. They said they wouldn't warrant that car - ever because of the exhaust.

[shane@mbtech]

I've had 4 weeks of discussions dealer/HO/warranty now and absolutely no joy at all.

Now stuck with a car that's had nearly 4k spent on it, still in bits, warranty people not paying up for any of it, no goodwill, potential new engine needed. All because it had been noted on a previous service it had a non std exhaust fitted - car was back to standard before warranty taken out too !!

Seems to me they are getting really tough on claims - took them 2 weeks of 'hunting' around to get evidence not to pay out.


Just drag it out of there, get it across to us we will have a look for you.
Dont pay them a penny either.

[Bounce]

Thats my job around here ! I've spent years perfecting the art !;):hahaha::hahaha::thumbs: