The VW Beetles are even worse than the Bugs, especially the New Beetles.

 

First off to the OP: This is a crappy scenario for you for sure. My apologies you have to deal with it at all.

Second: The general consensus here is CORRECT that the parts didn't cause the problem, the problem obviously existed PRIOR to the installation of the ALTA items as the OP mentions the temp light being on etc. etc.

Third: The law is certainly on his side.

Fourth: The mfr. can't just blanket the warranty being void on the car. (And they the mfr. doesn't do that. But the SA and techs seem to jump to that hymn right away. It is always the scare tactic they choose. But again not true and not legal.)

What needs to happen (in my opinion) is the client needs to request the vehicle be repaired under warranty. If they balk, then leave the vehicle at the dealer. Be sure to document EVERYTHING you have done to the car, when it was done, etc. Also, document each person you speak with, the comments made etc. I would even go so far as to record the conversation (but you may need to check your local laws.)

Then if they do NOT warranty the repair, do not pay for it out of pocket. Then contact the arbitrator listed in your books that came with the car. Each state handles it differently. The mfr. requires (and you likely signed and agreement to this when you purchased the car) that you go to arbitration prior to a court of law. Generally the arbitrator is going to work to your advantage.

Also, keep in mind the reason why dealers sometimes balk at repairs has to do with the monies paid for warranty work vs. repair. Meaning the mfr. only pays a flat rate amount and at a far lesser per dollar per hour, than if you are forced to pay out of pocket. Hence the reason they try the "warranty is dead" "MINI won't cover it" etc.

The head gasket being blown REALLY has nothing to do with the mod list you posted elsewhere. For sure a fluke in assembly and no reason for wide spread panic.

Lets work together to help the OP out instead of just giving him a barrage of ill will and half hearted good lucks!

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I CAN HELP IN ANYWAY!

 

Thanks, Adam; I knew you'd be constructive.

 

you increase boost and blow something out..


uhhh
i don't think the warrenty will cover that..

if your tranny went.. i'd say its not related..or electrical.. etc..

but..

sounds connected.. i don't think you will win this one..

good luck to you however

 

are you for real?

 

Yeah seriously. I am going to give him credit that he doesn't understand that with the mods he made, that boost level is unaffected.

Lets hope he comes back and asks a question we can help him with!

Adam

 

Adam you sure the boost tubes dont add 10lbs of boost?

 

I for one can say the resolution of this issue most definitely is in the aftermarket's favor. Given my love for mods, anything which would make me stop and re-consider further bolt-on parts is clearly significant. I'm probably being overly dramatic, but I can totally see myself being in this guy's shoes and I'd frankly be screwed.

For better or worse I already have the part in question (ALTA boost tubes) installed on my MINI, so that's a moot point. But if you take a look at my sig I have a number of other ALTA parts planned. Seeing this definitely makes me want to wait and see what turns out with this guy's case before I proceed. Yes, I know his outcome doesn't dictate what mine would be in a similar scenario, but it does give me a hint.

At the same time, I knew what I'd be getting myself into when I first even considered putting non-OEM parts on my MINI. It's just quite disheartening to see a case like this come to light. It's the first one I've seen so I guess it's a reality check of sorts. You mess around under the engine bay and you have to deal with the consequences.

That said, I have a very hard time believing that the boost tubes did in fact cause the head gasket to blow. So best of luck to the OP. If it is true that the dealer must prove the tubes caused his failure, before denying the warranty claim, then things should turn out fine.

 

And racing stripes can add at least 5whp...

 

I'm going to ask that everyone respectfully temper their comments with restraint - this is an important thread and it does demonstrate a couple of issues:

The OP had CE lights and also installed aftermarket equipment.

This would be similiar to saying because I installed a 15 percent reduction pulley on my supercharger and my head gasket blew.

So let's find out what the outcome is and offer helpful comments and suggestions to the OP.

The whole point of these forums is to give constructive comments and feedback - not to attack someone.

Thank you.

 

how is it similar to installing a pulley which increases boost? He didnt increase boost.

 

Oh and I do apologize for calling mcevok an idiot. I shouldn't resort to name calling.

 

Thanks for the constructive responses posted. Adam, I'll be in touch re: some sort of literature on the product showing that it doesn't increase boost and couldn't have caused the head gasket to blow (pretty obvious IMO).

Also, I spoke a little more to my service tech and he told me that he wasn't saying that Mini wouldn't cover the repairs, he just wanted me to be aware that a Mini rep would be inspecting the car prior to the work being approved (as it's very unusual to have this happen at 5k miles) and simply wanted to prepare me in advance in the event that they try to deny coverage. He said that he would bat for me as best he could and he's been pretty good to me thus far so I'll have to take him at his word.

I guess all I can do at this point is hope for the best. Thanks again to everyone that posted w/ help. I look forward to getting my baby back ASAP.

 

Good luck Joshk, this sucks no matter how you slice it, I hope everything works out ok for you. Also, make sure you get the info about who this "Mini rep" is so you can at least work with (him/her). Might be really easy to saunter up to a car and see red tubes in it and quickly come to an assumption. I'd make sure they at least give you a contact number, name, id .. something to follow up if they deem it unworthy of a warranty claim.
Good luck!

 

Just to shed a bit of light on the Mini Rep being contacted & coming out to look at the car, this is normal & not because someone called & tattled on you for having aftermarket parts installed...

basically whoever the tech was, they couldn't find an obvious/normal cause for your problem, so they would have had to call the tech line. Any time standard troubleshooting procedures don't give an immediate answer, you have to call in to the manufacturer tech line to establish a case, otherwise the manufacturer isn't going to pay the dealership for the extra diag time and any repairs that're made. Likewise, even if you find the problem, but it's a big ticket item, you may be required to call in for authorization, either way the tech line will have you answer a crapload of questions and follow a long ladder of troubleshooting steps. Sometimes a Rep is sent out because it's a new problem that they're worried about, sometimes it's because they just don't like paying or are suspicious of the dealer/tech's claim.

VW was horrible in this regard (computerized guided fault finding).

 

Best of luck joshK! At the very least it's great news that you have your MA behind you and knowing it's not a sure thing that they'll deny the warranty claim.

 

Mini has to look at this as well from a perspective of PR to their repeat and future buyers ---
The online community is growing. The Mini community is growing, and it's a chatty community at that.
If a brand that is beloved for making a mod-friendly car were to become mod-unfriendly, they there'd be lots of people buying Mazdas soon...

I think that you'll be okay. And since you had warning lights prior to the event, serious warning lights that your dealer was unable to duplicate, I think that the Mini rep will actually bend over backwards to help you out. Look at it objectively; they should be happy that you're not hitting them with a lemon suit.
They should fix your car and give you a nice 525i to drive around while they're doing the work.

 

If it was only tubes, Id of uninstalled them BEFORE CALLING THE DEALER!!!! Warranty work costs money, if they see aftermarket parts, they automatically assume the factory components are compromised and use it to their advantage, the dealer doesnt want to chase down money to recoup their loss if they can pass it on to you. They warranty covers STOCK CONDITION, anything extra can void warranty. GOOD LUCK, keep us posted

 

Actually, by his argument, chrome and wheels wouldn't have to cause any problem; just putting them on would be enough --- absolutely wrong. As noted elsewhere, MINI would have to show a causal relationship between the mod and the failure. Even if you didn't mod anything the manufacturer could say "how do we know you didn't do something?" Absurd argument.

 

Interesting thread, to say the least. I'll guess that the OP will get his car repaired under warranty, because there was a history (EL overheat) almost from the start, and he documented it. What that had to do with the final outcome is anybody's guess, but it's not normal, and the dealer couldn't explain it. Then something bad happened. Boost tubes, while not OEM, shouldn't in any way cause a blown head gasket. The only unusual thing to me is that the OP put the boost tubes on the car when there was an unexplained overheating problem ongoing (I would have held off on the mod myself). Then it started sputtering (problem got worse). Then he took the tubes off and it finally crashed. Because this is so rare I can see why the dealer needs some 3rd party to come in before they fix it under warranty. I think they will. Good luck!

 

yes. i'm for real ? what he did... didn't raise the boost ? maybe i misunderstood.. i am new to the mini world.. coming from the corvette world, where guys build up a vette.. put a supercharger on it and keep adding boost.. and then she blows.. because they didn't beef up the bottom end. , then its usually not covered.

maybe i don't undersand the boost tube thing...

someone enlighten me.. please.. please..

i want to start doing some mods on my mini.. i am trying to learn a little.
my comment was intended to say, if you mod a certain thing.. and it breaks.. you will probably not win..
my local chevy dealer and honda dealer are both mod friendly.
i had intake , exhaust, nos etc on my z06, they never had a problem. The BCM module "computer" went out , it was 700 bucks. .they replaced it , it controlled the locks, security etc, and they said my mods had nothing to do with that part of the car.

hope you get it fixed.. free is even better

 

hoses are just that, hoses, the alta ones are smooth and pretty looking, the oem ones are ribbed, while they might flow air through them in a more efficient manner, they don't have any real affect on the engine and certainly not on the computers controlling of the wastegate/boost from the turbocharger.

 

aahh.. i stand corrected..
i thought it had something to do with the pully.. increasing boost..
its just purdy.. LOL
should not affect the warrenty as you guys said..

thanks
i was just on the altamini site. .they have some cool stuff.

 

This confuses me as well. Granted the tubes give a nice gain in performance and look quite nice under the hood, but I just can't see putting them on when I'm already experiencing engine problems. Especially knowing that mods almost always have the potential to jeopardize warranty claims.

 

They're silicone hoses. Come on. They don't do anything negative. His car will be fixed and he'll be fine.