I'm taking my MINI in for service soon- oil change and whatnot. Unfortunately, I don't know how mod-friendly my dealer is (Princeton BMW). If I get asked any questions about my intake/exhaust, what should I say?

Has anyone gotten into a situation where they're getting grilled or something? Should I say nothing? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

If its just an oil change you'll be fine. If theres something wrong with the car you might catch flack depending on what went wrong.

 

Will they bring up anything about the mods?

 

My dealer never has.

 

How bout "Yeah, I got mods, wanna fight about it?"

Hasn't been a problem for me, either. Yet.

 

don't bring it up. If they bring it up just say... it's my car... we will discuss that issue when it becomes relavent/necessary to discuss

 

Modded MINIs are common. I doubt they will have anything to say, unless they find some code that can be related to the mod. I bought my 04 at Princeton and I noticed several heavily modded MINIs in their service lot.

 

+1

 

Yeah, I got yelled at for going back there one time. That's good to hear from someone with Princeton dealer experience.

 

My dealer here in Mountain View Cali. actualy noted my pulley and flash and put it down in their records and on my invoice stating that my warranty would be canceled. Back then I only had like 7 more months left so I didn't care.

Now I wish there was a warranty company just for us mod headed monsters.

 

I have a few normal mods (pully, intake, damper, one ball) and the two dealers I have gone to have not said a thing.

Don't worry about it, they probably won't say a thing.

 

There is: it's called the "Self-Insurance Warranty Program" I pay premiums every time I mod my car! The only reason I go to the dealer is to shoot the breeze...

 

I just took Zippy ('05 MCS) in for Inspection I (30,000 mi). I have a modified intake and a cat-back exhaust. They put in a new clutch, pressure plate, and throwout bearing. They also replaced a defective motor mount and there was a fix for the squeal when both windows roll up/down. I got to drive a new '07 convertible for the duration. I am Zippy's second owner. There was no mention of the mods by me or anyone else. For all this I paid nothing. Zip. Nada. (I read on this board that a new clutch out of warranty comes in somewhere between $2000-$2500.) Needless to say, I am quite pleased.

 

How did they know you had a flash?

 

The #1 thing you can do is to know your rights. A dealer can't legally throw out your whole warranty. What they can do is refuse to do work that is the result of or on aftermarket parts – ie., if your shocks failed prematurely because of lowering springs, or if your aftermarket cat-back has an exhaust leak.

But of course they can always be twits. My dealer tried to blame a belt noise on my engine damper and M7 STPs! The only two visible things I had in the engine bay at the time..

If it's just a scheduled service, I wouldn't even bring anything up. They'll notice what they will.

 

the most problematic thing has been the pulley as they say it effects the engine/SC if it isn't done by the dealer's authorised parts like the JCW hence not covering the engine/SC failure should it happen.

 

My dealer installed my Alta pulley in '05 a year later after I bought the new car. I think I was their 5th customer they have installed a pulley. They were OK and never mentioned any warranty issues.

 

I took my car in for warranty work with a check engine light due to not having a cat. I just told them to ignore it and as far as I know, they did. They did indicate on the invoice that there was an SES light and that they didn't look at it though.

 

They scanned my computer when doing the tune up. I had to go back to the shop to get my custom flash again since the dealership reflashed my cpu to stock.

 

I know that they might have beef with a pulley if there is engine failure- that is understandable. But what about an intake (alta w/ silicone tube). If something went wrong with the engine would they be able to pin it on the intake? (lets say it was not caused by the intake)

 

the burdon of proof is on you. You are technically guilty until proven innocent.

 

It's just like the IRS- "guilty until proven innocent".

 

You wouldn't go into the IRS and say "I found some money and want to know if you want some" would you? So, no need to bring up the mods with the dealer....