This is a quote from MINIDivision in the Yo-Yo Chronicles Thread, and it's such a riot that I thought it deserved it's own.

"I'm with MINI USA. An important reminder : Modification of your vehicle or installation of any non-approved aftermarket performance accessory will void the MINI new passenger car limited warranty. Components attached to the vehicle which alter the original engineering and/or operating specifications will void the MINI new passenger car limited warranty. Components attached to the vehicle that result in damage to other original components will also void the MINI new passenger car limited warranty coverage. Feel free to call us at 866 ASK.MINI if you need any further clarification. "

This is so vague I'm interpreting it as if I do something as benign as use a piece of chewing gum to to fix a rattle in my dash, MINI reserves the right to void my entire warranty. What a joke.

Flame on.

 

I think that MINI would prefer you bring your car in to the dealer service organization to have the rattle repaired using MINI-approved OEM chewing gum.

 

I asked my service department about the warrenty issues. He asked specifically what I had in mind. I went with extreme caution (hoping to get a 'no problem' response with my first mod) so I said hardwiring a radar detector. I was told that it will adversly affect the current / voltage that is going through the computer and thus "YES, hardwiring the radar detector will void the warrenty". I was in such awe that I didn't even go onto the next mod. I've been meaning to call ask-mini but haven't gotten around to it yet. Just out of curriousity, a V1 requires the power from Chirnoble to run it, right? The dealer said when I picked it up that window tint is classifies as a mod and it will void the warrenty also and they'd do it for $475; I paid $225 and got a lifetime guarentee on it elsewhere.

This will be very interesting how it all plays out.

 

Next, MINI is going to say that driving your MINI, and especially getting it dirty, will void the warranty! Imagine all that dust and dirt getting into everything; they didn't design the dirt as part of the car, why should they warranty it? After that, flooring it while in the driveway will void the warranty, and then the next statement, using your turn signals will void the warranty. OOOPs, almost forgot, don't even think of starting your MINI, otherwise your warranty will be void!



I could almost puke right now :evil:

--->elbee, just so you know, wire the V1 where ever you like; this is why the car has FUSES!

 

I put EBC green pads on to reduce brake dust. After 10K miles the front rotors are slightly warped. Warranty denied due to aftermarket parts. I also tried to get the rattles fixed in the doors and seat belts, denied due to H-Sport lowering springs. In neither case did they PROVE their case. Still denied the warranty claim. Even if the power output is the same as the JCW kit they can and will deny a claim because the parts installed are not theirs. Can you afford to get a lawyer and sue? I couldn't. The local mini club is having a tech session at the dealer this weekend and invited Alta and Mini Maddness to show off their products. Is there something wrong with this picture? How can the dealer promote aftermarket parts and then deny warranty claims???

 

I have been a rider of BMW motorcycles for many years. My experience has been that the BMW motorcycle dealers are much better than the BMW/MINI car dealers. Most motorcycle dealers want your repeat business and bend over backwards to fix warrranty related problems even if you have modifications that by reading the fine print void your warranty. Mischlers in Beaver Dam, WI and Nick's in DePere, WI are examples of excellent motorcycle dealers that the car dealers ought to visit.

 

It's a pretty simple concept really. The manufacturer warranties their product, their parts, their engineering. You change that, they no longer warranty the product.

I'm not sure why everyone here seems to think that the manufacturer is required to offer a warranty at all, nevermind honoring a warranty after you bastardize their car.

In the case of the JCW kit, the warranty is honored by BMW/MINI...paid for by John Cooper Works...it's an agreement between the two companies...similar to that of Dinan and BMW. MINI isn't providing the warranty, JCW is.

Also, the dealer isn't the final arbitor of warranty claims, the manufacturer is. Some dealers are more strict than others depending upon their relationship with the manufacturer, or how stringent the manufacturer's area rep is in that particular region.

Some dealers have no fear that they will be found out for repairing items under warranty that should be denied, others don't wish to take the chance.

Also, to be paid for warranty work, the faulty parts have to be returned to the manufacturer for review. There are certain things that a manufacturer will chaulk up to good will, and others they will deny as abuse. The dealer is in business to make money, if they feel anything you did to the car will cause the manufacturer to deny a claim they file, they won't do it.

 

MINIGUY99,

all that being said, my installing a new intake does not affect the braking system, windshield or anything not related to the intake. Big brakes do not affect the transmission etc.

BMW seems to be saying touch it and no more warranty. AND at the same time they are saying YO YO what YO YO to all and we all know there is a problem.

All manufacturers say the same, FORD refused to fix my transmission saying there is nothing wrong with it. When I went to trade it in the Toyota dealer would not take it as a trade due to MAJOR transmission problems. and that is not the only problem there are too many to list with too many cars Dodge - no there is nothing wrong with your carb -- oops a recall for bad carbs - will i'll be darned...and many others over the years. (i'm an old guy)

Earl

 

Also, as far as affording an attorney, there is small claims court and if enought people took them there they sure would not like it.

Earl

 

>>The dealer said when I picked it up that window tint is classified as a mod... >>

DREW

 

>I'm not sure why everyone here seems to think that the manufacturer is required to offer a warranty at all, nevermind honoring a warranty after you bastardize their car.<

I think they offer a warranty because they couldn't sell any cars without it. I don't think the reason for the warranty is that the manufacturer just wanted to be nice.

There is plenty of room for the dealer to be reasonable when considering warranty claims. Those who aren't should be pointed out so that new buyers may avoid them.


R.E.

 

>>MINIGUY99,
>>
>>all that being said, my installing a new intake does not affect the braking system, windshield or anything not related to the intake. Big brakes do not affect the transmission etc.
>>
>>BMW seems to be saying touch it and no more warranty. AND at the same time they are saying YO YO what YO YO to all and we all know there is a problem.
>>
>>All manufacturers say the same, FORD refused to fix my transmission saying there is nothing wrong with it. When I went to trade it in the Toyota dealer would not take it as a trade due to MAJOR transmission problems. and that is not the only problem there are too many to list with too many cars Dodge - no there is nothing wrong with your carb -- oops a recall for bad carbs - will i'll be darned...and many others over the years. (i'm an old guy)
>>
>>Earl

Hmmm...okay...so you increase the overall performance of the car by changing the intake, therefore, the braking system is affected because you're now putting a heavier load on the brakes during spirited driving. An altogether reasonable conclusion, because if you weren't interested in abusing the car, you wouldn't have changed the intake to increase performance. Joila...warranty claim denied.

It's pretty simple, you mess with the engineering of the car, you sacrifice the warranty. If you want the warranty, don't change anything until the warranty runs out, then have at it, but if anything goes wrong, it's your dime.

 

It really all depends on your dealer/service advisor. I asked about installing a cold air intake. I was told that it wouldn't necessarily void the warranty by installing it. BUT if the check engine light came on and the cause was my engine had been sucking in way too much dirty air because I didn't properly install the intake hose.... THAT would void the warranty.

I installed it. Even took it out and reinstalled the OEM box after a month(sold the intake for competition reasons) No Problems. I knew what I was doing. If you're worried about doing mods and voiding your warranty, have a "Professional" install them and guarantee/warranty their work.

-V--V-

 

>>>I'm not sure why everyone here seems to think that the manufacturer is required to offer a warranty at all, nevermind honoring a warranty after you bastardize their car.<
>>
>>I think they offer a warranty because they couldn't sell any cars without it. I don't think the reason for the warranty is that the manufacturer just wanted to be nice.
>>
>>There is plenty of room for the dealer to be reasonable when considering warranty claims. Those who aren't should be pointed out so that new buyers may avoid them.
>>
>>
>>R.E.
>>

Res,

Absulutely on target. They offer a warranty to back up the design and engineering of the car they market to the end user, not a car that is then taken and changed to boost performance.

There is a reason why the manufacturer doesn't hyper tune these cars...because they would have to offer a warranty, and they know if they take it too far, they will be on the hook for some pretty big bills when things break.

So they carefully consider the performance/cost scenario and bring a car to market that they feel will withstand what the average driver will do to it with minimal warranty claims.

It would be very easy for MINI to produce a 250 horsepower version of this car, but it would be cost prohibitive for them to do so with the current pricing scheme.

Yes, there is room for a dealer to be "reasonable" with what they will fix under warranty. It's called good will. Most dealers have a certain amount of leeway in this area. But, it really does end up with the manufacturer to reimburse the dealer. Some dealers have more room than others depending upon their relationship with the manufacturer.

It all really boils down to whether or not it is worth the risk on the consumer to modify the car knowing that they may jeapordize the new vehicle warranty. Some people get away with running a red light, and some don't. It's the classic risk/reward scenario.

I'm just tired of hearing all the complaints against MINI or thier dealer when a warranty claim is denied, when in reality there is a perfectly reasonable denial because of certain mods.

This is not including the yo-yo or windsheild issues we've all heard about. This is when something breaks that can be traced to an actual mod and the consumer is screaming like hell that it didn't have anything to do with this or that failure.

You'll notice that most aftermarket suppliers only warranty their product for defects, not how that product may or may not affect other parts of the vehicle.

You roll the dice and take your chances.

There's another thread going about alternates to the JCW kit that boasts a savings of $1000.00 over the install price of the kit. Is the warranty worth $1,000.

 

Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act a dealership cannot legally revoke your entire warranty for a modification. They can, and likely will, revoke the warranty on the parts of the car directly effected by the modification, such as brake rotors for aftermarket pad use.

If they attempt to tell you that your warranty is void, inform them that you would be happy to use your right to sue under the Magnuson-Moss Act, and remind them that one of the provisions of said act is

 

Lesson learned? Sounds like your dealer just plain sucks! Find another one within a day's drive if possible!!!

 

AAAHHH, it's all too much. I just want a couple of simple little mods...but jes, it's a brand new car and losing the warranty would suck.

 

You said it whisenant...................................

 

You mean all of you who tinker around with your MINIs adding this mod and that mod want someone else to be responsible (i.e. BMW/MINI) when the mods you chose to add fail and affect OEM parts? It's a symptom of the letigious society in which we now live...it's always someone else's fault. When you choose to mod your car yourself, and especially when you use after market parts, why should MINI pay for problems you cause?

 

For me warranties have seemed to be a dealer to dealer thing. One dealer will repair it, one won't. Unless they can prove a part caused the problem they should repair it. The problem comes in with home office and interpreting if the problem as caused by an aftermarket product, or Abuse.

My brother works for a ford Dealer in the DC/Metro area, and he told me first of all mechanics and dealerships don't like doing warranty work because it doesn't pay as much, and IF home office decides that there was abuse involved or an aftermaket product involved that caused it the dealer has to eat the cost.

I drive a pontiac and my car has been out of warranty for 17,000 miles now and my dealer will still fix minor things for no charge, while other people with pontiacs have had to pay arms and legs for repair work.

Car warranties are to vague, and very open to interpretation. One dealership will tell you x, x, x, mods are ok, while another will tell you they will void your warranty.

On the performance parts at a car show by the dealer, Subaru has been handing out SCCA memberships to WRX purhasers then trying to deny warranty claims if they autocrossed, they later decided to wisely stop voding the warranties, even tho the warranty says "not responsible for damage incurred from motorsports events". But if the problem happened outside of the Event the warranty would still be void.

 

There is a LAW (federal, no less) that spells out the responsabilities and boudaries for modification and responsabilities for work. While really changing a car is cause for issues with what's covered, hanging fuzzy dice off the rear-view is NOT cause for voiding a warantee. And who would be surprised to learn that large compaines are impliing that anying gets them off the hook, when if fact that is not the case.

But MiniGuy99, really, no mods at all? That's not what the FEDERAL law says, no matter what your sense of what's right and what's wrong. Non OEM tires change traction changing loads. You don't see warranties getting denied for putting Michelins on a car that came with Goodyears!

In the case of the Mini, there are stories of vioding warranties for adding mods that THEY THEMSELVES SELL (JCW is pretty much a pully, ported head, a CAI and ECU flash). And they don't change everything in the car (I've never heard of a JCW clutch) to allow for the difference in power. How is using an ALTA CAI, MTH, and a Webb head any different than putting on Michlins instead of the Mini OEM rubber? Same power. Same stresses, so Mini SHOULD be behind the 8-ball for stuff that the JCW kit effects, and the stories are that they are not.

I'll admit that it varies by dealer, and that in it self is a problem....

But bying a car isn't a Take it or Leave it thing. There are ongoing responsabilites for both parties (owner provides maintenace, supplier provies warrantee) that are part of the social and economic contract.

Matt

 

While I think that window tint is an extreme interpretation of a modification where voiding a warranty is concerned, I think MINI is within their rights regarding performance mods. I'll just wait until the warranty expires before thinking about any mods. YMMV.

 

Very well said. I think it would be very unfair if MINI provided full warranty coverage for folks that extensively modify their cars vs those of us who choose not to and keep our MINIs stock.

If you chose to mod your MINI, you have to face the consequences of doing so. Higher performance comes at a price. If you brake it, you pay for it.


Case closed.

 

It's funny how all the denied warranty claims are coming out here in this thread but over in the threads where debate rages about JCW vs aftermarket everyone over there acts like they have never had a dealer deny a claim.

There is a Law and doing a search on magnesson moss act turns up plenty of reading material, But........ we all have three choices

1. leave the car alone until factory warranty expires and/or buy JCW

2. modify the car and take all that money you saved from not buying JCW and quietly pay for work when warranty claim is denied

3. modify the car and take all that money you saved from not buying JCW and sue MINI dealers and manufacturer every time the deny a claim. Fostering a hostile relationship with your SA/MA/dealer, create for yourself a big hassle over few hundred dollars after the manager refuses to give in to someone throwing an adult temper tantrum.

 

Don't some of the aftermarket companies now provide warranties on their parts and how have those been handled?

I can see the arguments on both sides here although many seem to be at the extremes. Window tint voiding a warranty for a drivetrain issue - well, you drove faster cuz you thought you looked cooler - and that caused your clutch to fail. That would cause an adult temper tantrum.

Rotors warping with aftermarket pads. Uh, seems sorta correlated, and the modder is at the dealers mercy.

The JCW argument also gets murky. Yes, the cars receive the warranty with the performance parts that are specifically approved by BMW and that is also why the cost is so damn high. You are paying for that warranty and BMW/JCW are taking that risk. With aftermarket, they aren't and the claims are likely to get denied. But if my HK stops working and they deny the claim because of my pulley, then I will quickly bone up on my Nordic languages, i.e., Magnussen Ross.

In short, the dealers have valid and fair reasons to deny correlated claims, but to those who are giving the dealers a carte blanche ticket to deny all claims because of your pine tree air freshener, you may need to work on your backbones a little.

Mike