[Zero.7]

Originally Posted by turkish335

this is probably some of the best advice i have read on this forum!

+1

I honestly do feel bad for OP and any one else who has to deal with warranty issues b/c he modded his car. Having said that, it has been said many times on various forums...when you mod your car with non-BMW OEM parts, you will ALWAYS be at risk of having your warranty voided. I have considered a chip for my car in the past, but will never do so b/c of potential issues like this. And, I don't want to have to remove "everything" every time I go into the dealership. That's just me though.

[Terrance28]

Originally Posted by chromisdesigns

I guess my question was more like, with all the work it entails, is it worth the bother to mod your car while it's still under warranty, given how eager BMW is these days to deny warranty coverage on any pretext. I understand the performance boost issue, I really do. I did an ECU, intake, and exhaust upgrade on my M3 -- but after it was out of warranty. And that was back when they took a much more permissive view of mods. I can't imagine myself spending hours wrenching on the car just to take it to the dealer, and hours more afterwards. Especially with how often these cars need to visit "Daddy".

I prefer driving it it to crawling under it with tools...

It takes me a total of maybe 1-2 hours max with breaks and bullshiting in there to yank everything out of my car and hide anything else, so its not that big of a hassle. If you are good with a wrench it shouldn't take you that long at all. I just got through installing dps but those aren't coming off at all. The only thing I use to leave in was the intercooler and occ.

[willybeen]

in for updates.... good luck dude.

[chromisdesigns]

Originally Posted by Terrance28

It takes me a total of maybe 1-2 hours max with breaks and bullshiting in there to yank everything out of my car and hide anything else, so its not that big of a hassle. If you are good with a wrench it shouldn't take you that long at all. I just got through installing dps but those aren't coming off at all. The only thing I use to leave in was the intercooler and occ.

I don't see an exhaust system in your mod list, extensive though it is. But the other guy was talking about pulling and reinstalling a complete exhaust system (twice per dealer round-trip). That's gotta take a few hours, at least!

[D335I]

Buy a aftermarket warranty, I was talking to a guy in the parts line and he purchased a aftermarket warranty and the shop he uses has been really helpful. Unless its something that needs BMW's attention they put on his DP, exhaust, BOV and intake, he needed some work done and the warranty co. had no clue, didn't ask.

But its not active until your original warranty is up.

Go me thinking months ago why go BMW extended, the less time my car is at BMW the better.

[MaxBoost335]

Originally Posted by D335I

Buy a aftermarket warranty, I was talking to a guy in the parts line and he purchased a aftermarket warranty and the shop he uses has been really helpful. Unless its something that needs BMW's attention they put on his DP, exhaust, BOV and intake, he needed some work done and the warranty co. had no clue, didn't ask.

But its not active until your original warranty is up.

Go me thinking months ago why go BMW extended, the less time my car is at BMW the better.

If you have performance mods, it is your best interest to purchase a 3rd party warranty. I bought a 3rd party warranty and couldn't be happier. I can pick and choose to take my car to a local dealer or any independent BMW shop. I prefer the local independent shop as most are owner operated and will not snitch you out on your mods.

[Quisp]

They can not void the entire warranty.

[305coupe335i]

BMW of Fairfax told me to drive on a RFT (2" bubble) till it exploded then come back... have tire insurance for a reason....used it several times in the past with my old SA....At the end of the day the manager apologized about 40 times and got the front and rear tires replaced.... To OP, BMW of Fairfax has changed

[ianthegreat]

Originally Posted by Terrance28

It takes me a total of maybe 1-2 hours max with breaks and bullshiting in there to yank everything out of my car and hide anything else, so its not that big of a hassle. If you are good with a wrench it shouldn't take you that long at all. I just got through installing dps but those aren't coming off at all. The only thing I use to leave in was the intercooler and occ.

+1

I removed a tune, intake, spacers, dv's, intercooler, and catch can in about 3 hours total.

[RoundelM3]

I've got stock exhaust with the "golf tee" mod...have had that since I bought the car, and have never once had anything said to me. The notion of getting "particles" into the intake stream from a vacuum line that would cause serious engine problems is completely preposterous. If you can't get them to reverse the voiding, I'd start dancing on someone at BMWNA's desk, get ahold of the local TV stations and newspapers (get their investigative reporter in on it) and see how they like the ride.

[nosey]

quick question..so if i have a section 3 aftermarket muffler and unplugged the vacuum line i can get this problem?

Should everyone with an aftermarket exhaust plug this up??

[thatg]

punch the tech in the head first, with a hammer, then proceed with the rest of your plan

[ianthegreat]

Originally Posted by Quisp

They can not void the entire warranty.

Ok...

They void the only thing that really matters.

[Quisp]

What is the only thing that matters?

[scheherazade]

Originally Posted by ak335

Do not go to Bmw of Fairfax

I've been saying this forever...

These are the same people that refused to fix my wastegate rattle (6K miles on the car at the time), because "bmw doesn't fix wastegate rattle".

When I asked them to write that down, they said they "can't put it in writing because they can't prove it's wastegate rattle without doing the work of fixing it".

They tried to show me a TIS that says wastegate rattle is a no-fix... but the TIS that was out didn't even cover my model year.

They were basically giving me the finger - Nice.




And they told me when I ordered the car that my car comes with an oil cooler... and it didn't.
When I mentioned it, all they could say was : "So?"

They have no problem trying to later sell me the $1500 oil cooler upgrade...
But telling me that the new car $600 18" wheel option would have gotten me an oil cooler was not worth mentioning.


BMW of Fairfax makes you feel duped.


If I get another BMW, it'll be from Tischer.

Simply because their parts prices are way lower than the other dealers in DC metro. They come off as less of a rapist.


-scheherazade

[vase330]

Originally Posted by 305coupe335i

BMW of Fairfax told me to drive on a RFT (2" bubble) till it exploded then come back... have tire insurance for a reason....used it several times in the past with my old SA....At the end of the day the manager apologized about 40 times and got the front and rear tires replaced.... To OP, BMW of Fairfax has changed

Change we can believe in? I used to go there got tired of getting bent over and... well. Once an SA told me it would cost $900 to change a crank position sensor they diagnosed as having gone bad on my E46. I said no thanks. I am no dummy know enough about cars to know when someone racking me over the coals. Worse the car was out of warranty. So I scoot over to BMW of Arlington, and what do you know, same diagnosis, SA comes overt goes, "Sir, its going to be $115 parts and we will charge you $45 labor, we can throw it on in 15 minutes if you will wait.."

As you might guess that was the last time they ever saw me over there.

[vase330]

Originally Posted by scheherazade

I've been saying this forever...

These are the same people that refused to fix my wastegate rattle (6K miles on the car at the time), because "bmw doesn't fix wastegate rattle".

When I asked them to write that down, they said they "can't put it in writing because they can't prove it's wastegate rattle without doing the work of fixing it".

They tried to show me a TIS that says wastegate rattle is a no-fix... but the TIS that was out didn't even cover my model year.

They were basically giving me the finger - Nice.



And they told me when I ordered the car that my car comes with an oil cooler... and it didn't.
When I mentioned it, all they could say was : "So?"

They have no problem trying to later sell me the $1500 oil cooler upgrade...
But telling me that the new car $600 18" wheel option would have gotten me an oil cooler was not worth mentioning.


BMW of Fairfax makes you feel duped.


If I get another BMW, it'll be from Tischer.

Simply because their parts prices are way lower than the other dealers in DC metro. They come off as less of a rapist.


-scheherazade

Yeah "tischer" thats where I got my 335 too. I have no complains about them. I can pick on their car wash, but meh...

[Ramos]

To the OP, your warranty is not voided, all they did is flag your car on the system...
No big deal, my car was also flagged but I still got major warranty repair done as long as you bring the car back to stock and it is obvious that the problem is not caused by any manipulation you did.

[fluidkaos]

Even if they did void it, they can't void the whole thing, just the parts affected by the after market exhaust. So, electrical, brakes, etc, still covered. Either way it's BS, especial, as mentioned before, when BMW's own Perf Exhaust leaves the vac hose without a connection.

[E92-Lighting]

Originally Posted by Kroy

this is the first i've heard of warranty voided because of exhaust

likewise, this is a first

[shifterboy45]

Originally Posted by fluidkaos

Even if they did void it, they can't void the whole thing, just the parts affected by the after market exhaust. So, electrical, brakes, etc, still covered. Either way it's BS, especial, as mentioned before, when BMW's own Perf Exhaust leaves the vac hose without a connection.

it does include a small rod welded on the tailpipe, and instructions that the vacuum line is to be installed on it ..

[shifterboy45]

hopefully he took the route that is told him about..

this is becoming more and more common, "voiding" limited warranties..... based on what the dealer says.. the dealer is ONLY a representative for BMW. They are not, and never will be the final _say-so_ --

its unfortunate that Service Managers, and Service Advisor alike take a adversarial position with customers. it solidifies the belief that "all" service departments want is to get into the car owners' pockets..

there are dealers that care about their customers -- somewhere