Hi...

I just got my 2010 S hardtop and there are a few things I'd like to do to it. I've already noticed how HOT the engine compartment/hood get (and this is December!) and want to add things to increase airflow etc. like a modified intercooler cover and the M7 Aerogel Turbo Heatshield (R56). What I need to know is how far can I go before it affects my dealer warranty?

Is there any kind of list or guideline that sez... you can do this and this and this, but NOT THAT! B-)

 

Keep in mind that if a part fails, the dealership is "supposed" to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, that the aftermarket part caused the failure. Now that being said, some dealers will take a look at a modded car and just simply refuse to touch it because it has mods and tell you that the mods will need to be removed before they can touch it. Then there are other dealers that will have no problems and do the warranty work. Depends mostly on the dealer, and the type of mods you will be doing. There is another member on here that put a heat shield on his car and his valve covers started warping. He took his car to the track and it started happening again and when he took it to the dealership they found out his car had been tuned and wouldn't touch it https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...621-post7.html now depending on the dealership, they could come to this forum and even look up the posts made by this member, see his posts, that he takes his car to the track and completely void any remaining warranties that he/she has. (not saying that they have, or will, not picking on anyone, just stating facts)

 

The best thing you can do is ask your dealers service dept about this. Some like previously said will not touch anything with any mods and others will have some grey area. You don’t know till you ask. Develop a good working relationship with your service dept and it will go along way with many things. It is amazing what can be done with professional courtesy and being nice.

In my opinion the only thing that is going to all and out kill that warranty is ANY ECU modification besides the JCW factory tune.

 

Everything once it screws the car up. But before that nothing. JCW FTW does not affect the warranty at all and is acctually covered under warranty.

 

It greatly depends on the dealer. On my VW Gti most dealerships are insane. They even give hand out when you get service saying they will void your warranty for any aftermarket item. It doesn;t stop me from Boosting 21psi mwahhahaha If something went on my car id just take the time to remove whats installed before I went to the dealer. Ive noticed most of the BMW/Mini dealers in my area are very tolerable of mods. But its a different story if you re-flash or chip the car. Just enjoy the car and mod it!

 

Seems MINI USA has no issue with auto-cross, and a least certain mods, as they are a sponsor of this event;
http://www.abfmotoring.com/index.html

Mark

 

Being a sponsor of an event doesn't mean that it wont void the warranty. Read the warranty. IIRC, the 2nd Gen warranty says participation in a competitive event will void the warranty. My reading of it was that AutoX would void the warranty.

 

I agree with you. Makes it hard to determine what will and won't void the warranty.

Does this mean that all the cars MINI brings to such an event have no warranty?

Mark

 

My local dealer used to do a tuning kit at the dealer that would keep the warranty in tact(R53s). Most of the techs i've talked to have said that anything that they used to install, even if it's from a different manufacturer wouldn't affect the warranty.

 

Mini of Honolulu didn't care that I had an intake on my car but they did warn me that it could possibly through a SES. Tom Bush MINI here in Jax doesn't mind either. I actually have mine in for service right now because the car is running lean from the intake. Hopefully they will be able to fix it.