Does anyone know if there is an issue with attending a High Performance Driving Event and the factory warranty? I've read some threads about people who have been denied warranty coverage for tracking their cars. Do schools like Phil Wicks or BMWCCA events count as "tracking" your car? Should you wait til the warranty expires? I tried doing a search but didn't find anything relevant.

 

I went to a Phil Wicks event where my dealership was a sponsor. In my case, I was never denied warranty after participating in the event.

 

How would your dealer even know you had done a DE??
I doubt they can void any part of it for how you drive the car.

 

I had a failure of the supercharger bypass valve at the track last summer.
First green lap of the first session of two days at my favorite east coast track.

No problem with warranty repair.

 

As long as you aren't "racing" you're ok, and I know some who have done dealer sponsored autox and kept their warranties. Also MINI supports racing through a reward program (check MINIUSA.com for the exact title) so unless a part failed as a result of "racing" which they would have to prove, I think you're ok.

I've showed up to the dealer with nice big numbers on the window and discuss my HPDE and dragstrip experiance with the SA and never had it mentioned as posssibly voiding warranty and they were more than happy to do a dozen or so warranty foxes for me.

 

Thanks for the info. I wasn't sure whether a HDPE would be a prob or not. I'm not planning on racing (at least not until it's paid off), I just want to get to know the cars limits in a relatively safe & sane way.

 

I think its only fair to warn you, ther eis a high probability you'll become addicted after just one track day!!

 

One way to be sure, as mentioned, is not to race. I know from an insurance perspective you can sneak by as long as you are not participating in a timed event and if you have an instructor...if its good enough for the *!*! insurance companies, its good enough for MINI who puts racing as an "endorsed activity" on their website... Treat HPDE's as "drivers training" and its hard for people to fault you....

 

I've had both my engine and my transmission replaced under warranty. I don't think it's an issue.

 

Good to know - I agree, if its good enough for the insurance companies it should be OK w/ MINI. I actually had a chance to drive my car up at Virginia International Raceway as part of their parade laps deal (give $20 to Red Cross & you can drive on the track for ~ 20 min. w/ other cars with a pace car out front & no passing). Had a ball since we still got up to some decent speeds & got to wring it out in the corners quite a bit more than you usually can on the street . I am more than ever now convinced that I really want/need to attend something like Phil Wicks or a BMWCCA event.

 

there is a BMW CCA school at VIR July 8-9th. Come out and check it out. I'll get you a ride along with one of the instructors. Doesn't cost a thing. I'll be there with a bunch of buddies but only know of one other MINI that will be there. Can't ride with me yet. i'm one level below instructor.

 

Bluesmini - That sounds pretty interesting. I may just have to take a quick trip up there to check it out (& a ride w/ an instructor would be pretty intense). Sounds like BMWCCA doesn't get too many MINIs (although I imagine that varies from region to region). I assume there's no charge just to have a look-see. Where abouts do you normally set up? I've only been there once but I got a map & got to explore a good bit while I was there.

 

At a PDA event at Pocono in early May, Mitsubishi had a representative noting all the VINs of the Mitsubishis that were participating. Just like insurance companies now do concerning claims at the track, DEs apparently void the Mitsubishi warranty.

 

I heard rumor of Subaru doing something like this with an STI event they sponsored. They took down VINs and later denied engine repair claims. I can't for the life of me remember where I ran across that, so it might be just rumor.

 

but didn't witness it the way I did with the Mitsubishi rep.