Intakes, downpipes, tunes and warranty....?

Malaka1 · 01-24-2015, 02:18 PM

Everyone who has installed an intake, downpipe or tune on their car do you still have a warranty?

I recently took my car to the dealer for a cracked stock chargepipe. I removed the JB4 stage2 and left the AFE intake on the car. They called me and asked if I had tuned my car I said no, later they called back and said they could tell the car was tuned based on the clips and plugs showing signs of being tampered with. They then said we can try to have BMW cover the work but to be honest they will most likely void parts of your warranty, so I instead chose to go ahead and pay the $752 to do the work. So now my plan is to install a stock intake and have the JB4 as my only mod. Next time I will try a different dealer in hopes that when they see no mods at all they wont start looking at plugs and such for a tune.

Anyone else have any experience with their dealers?

Mike_L · 01-24-2015, 02:23 PM

Why were they looking for stuff? Thats a scummy dealer. If they don't say anything, BMW doesn't know anything.

Malaka1 · 01-24-2015, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike_L

Why were they looking for stuff? Thats a scummy dealer. If they don't say anything, BMW doesn't know anything.

Ya they said that my warranty is still there. They also said that a cracked charge pipe is commonly related to running higher than stock boost so thats why they went looking...

tboooe · 01-24-2015, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malaka1

Ya they said that my warranty is still there. They also said that a cracked charge pipe is commonly related to running higher than stock boost so thats why they went looking...

Not sure if it was worth it but you could have tried to fight them on this and make them prove that your tune was a direct cause of the damage. It may have been more trouble than its worth but its up to the manufacturer to prove that whatever mod you did caused the damage.

Jeff@TopGearSolutions · 01-25-2015, 10:38 AM

All dealers are different. Some don't care about mods. Clearly this dealer does.

I would have sooner recommended just buying an aftermarket charge pipe and picking up a stock one second hand for dealer visits.

I always encourage folks to return to stock if they are not familiar with their dealer and how they feel about modifications.

cryptz · 01-25-2015, 11:56 AM

i am guessing they saw the cann tap? otherwise not sure what evidence a jb4 would leave behind

M-terkait · 01-25-2015, 12:12 PM

would placed stock with ER chargepipe for half price :x

Malaka1 · 01-25-2015, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M-terkait

would placed stock with ER chargepipe for half price :x

Yes, but I was reading that on the F30 it requires removing the intercooler and that just seems like too much work for dealer visits.

My hope is that with a stock intake on the car at a different dealer they won't start looking for mods as it will look completely stock. I will have the JB4 stage2 as my only mod on the car, intake doesn't do much anyways.

M-terkait · 01-25-2015, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malaka1

Yes, but I was reading that on the F30 it requires removing the intercooler and that just seems like too much work for dealer visits.

My hope is that with a stock intake on the car at a different dealer they won't start looking for mods as it will look completely stock. I will have the JB4 stage2 as my only mod on the car, intake doesn't do much anyways.

i know but you know it won't hurt ever? since it won't make issues they will be fine.. usually if my car is fine i just go in with my mods.

obriennathaniel · 01-25-2015, 06:06 PM

It does NOT require removing the intercooler to remove the charge pipe lol Granted it might be a tad bit easier, but not required. Removing/installing the charge pipe is a PITA either way, BUT you will need an aftermarket chargepipe with the JB4 or youre just going to crack your factory one again, its happened to other people with no tune and its a known issue. They screwed you on that deal, especially for that much money.

Also I would have fought that, unless u did a sloppy job of hiding where the wires tap into the can wires, or one of their techs knows about it, theres no way they were gonna find out, clips and plugs "being tampered with" means absolutely nothing and they can eat shit with that excuse (although they were correct lol). Ive had multiple sensors and things replaced on my car for free that went bad when i was dealing with a melted catalytic converter on mine. I told them it wasnt tuned, but i listed everything else i had on there, DP, exhaust, charge pipe, FMIC, CAI, lowered, basically everything u can bolt on and they still covered everything(I removed the JB4 before I brought it in).

So in conclusion, NO they cannot void your warranty, UNLESS they can specifically prove that your modification is causing the malfunction, and even then it only voids it for that one issue. The rest of the car is still under warranty, and the stuff they fixed unless your modification is still present.

rickinaz · 01-25-2015, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tboooe

Not sure if it was worth it but you could have tried to fight them on this and make them prove that your tune was a direct cause of the damage. It may have been more trouble than its worth but its up to the manufacturer to prove that whatever mod you did caused the damage.

Of course the added boost was the source of the problem. A cracked charge pipe is THE most common fallout from increased boost.

Malaka1 · 01-25-2015, 08:41 PM

I guess I will need an aftermarket chargepipe.. Hopefully if i bring it in with that being my only mod I can just tell them I got tired of the stock one cracking so I made a permanent fix myself.

obriennathaniel · 01-25-2015, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malaka1

I guess I will need an aftermarket chargepipe.. Hopefully if i bring it in with that being my only mod I can just tell them I got tired of the stock one cracking so I made a permanent fix myself.

I would HIGHLY recommend it, just be prepared for a tedious install if you're going to do it yourself. And make sure you tighten the rubber connector between the two pieces nice and snug lol, blew mine apart when i did the test drive. Retightened it and I haven't had an issue since then, been about a year or so.

obriennathaniel · 01-25-2015, 11:26 PM

Oh and BTW, i have a brand new Challenge HFC downpipe for sale, the JB4 will definitely put it to some good use.

Earthmaster · 02-02-2015, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by obriennathaniel

Oh and BTW, i have a brand new Challenge HFC downpipe for sale, the JB4 will definitely put it to some good use.

How much you want for the HFC? I assume its 3.5 since your 2013.

obriennathaniel · 02-02-2015, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earthmaster

How much you want for the HFC? I assume its 3.5 since your 2013.

$500 sound good? and yup, 2013

01-24-2015, 02:18 PM	#1
Malaka1 General 102 Rep 919 Posts Drives: F30 335i 6MT Black Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Clearwater, FL iTrader: (6)	Intakes, downpipes, tunes and warranty....? Everyone who has installed an intake, downpipe or tune on their car do you still have a warranty? I recently took my car to the dealer for a cracked stock chargepipe. I removed the JB4 stage2 and left the AFE intake on the car. They called me and asked if I had tuned my car I said no, later they called back and said they could tell the car was tuned based on the clips and plugs showing signs of being tampered with. They then said we can try to have BMW cover the work but to be honest they will most likely void parts of your warranty, so I instead chose to go ahead and pay the $752 to do the work. So now my plan is to install a stock intake and have the JB4 as my only mod. Next time I will try a different dealer in hopes that when they see no mods at all they wont start looking at plugs and such for a tune. Anyone else have any experience with their dealers?
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01-24-2015, 02:23 PM	#2
Mike_L Banned 284 Rep 1,961 Posts Drives: 2015 335xi GT M-Sport MPPK Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: New York City iTrader: (2)	Why were they looking for stuff? Thats a scummy dealer. If they don't say anything, BMW doesn't know anything.
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01-25-2015, 10:38 AM	#5
Jeff@TopGearSolutions 3441 Rep 79,212 Posts Drives: C6 Z06, 09 335i, 10 335xi Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: www.TopGearSolutions.com iTrader: (37)	All dealers are different. Some don't care about mods. Clearly this dealer does. I would have sooner recommended just buying an aftermarket charge pipe and picking up a stock one second hand for dealer visits. I always encourage folks to return to stock if they are not familiar with their dealer and how they feel about modifications.
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01-25-2015, 11:56 AM	#6
cryptz Lieutenant 172 Rep 435 Posts Drives: 2015 m4 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: pottstown pa iTrader: (1)	i am guessing they saw the cann tap? otherwise not sure what evidence a jb4 would leave behind
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01-25-2015, 12:12 PM	#7
M-terkait Major 209 Rep 1,252 Posts Drives: F30 335i 3/13 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kuwait iTrader: (0)	would placed stock with ER chargepipe for half price :x __________________ Docrace 6266
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01-25-2015, 06:06 PM	#10
obriennathaniel @obriennathaniel_f30 on Instagram 515 Rep 1,063 Posts Drives: 582whp/596wtq '13 335i Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Houston,Tx ig:obriennathaniel_f30 iTrader: (0)	It does NOT require removing the intercooler to remove the charge pipe lol Granted it might be a tad bit easier, but not required. Removing/installing the charge pipe is a PITA either way, BUT you will need an aftermarket chargepipe with the JB4 or youre just going to crack your factory one again, its happened to other people with no tune and its a known issue. They screwed you on that deal, especially for that much money. Also I would have fought that, unless u did a sloppy job of hiding where the wires tap into the can wires, or one of their techs knows about it, theres no way they were gonna find out, clips and plugs "being tampered with" means absolutely nothing and they can eat shit with that excuse (although they were correct lol). Ive had multiple sensors and things replaced on my car for free that went bad when i was dealing with a melted catalytic converter on mine. I told them it wasnt tuned, but i listed everything else i had on there, DP, exhaust, charge pipe, FMIC, CAI, lowered, basically everything u can bolt on and they still covered everything(I removed the JB4 before I brought it in). So in conclusion, NO they cannot void your warranty, UNLESS they can specifically prove that your modification is causing the malfunction, and even then it only voids it for that one issue. The rest of the car is still under warranty, and the stuff they fixed unless your modification is still present. __________________ CG Precision VS-1 Exhaust\DR-1 DownPipe \| PS2 Turbo\Inlet \| PDU PI w/Fuel-it platinum kit & E sensor \| GFB DV+ Diverter Valve \| BM3 w/AIC2-V\|Tune CaryTheLabelGuy \| Full E85 \| ATM FMIC \| ER Chargepipe Inlet/Outlet \| AFE Intake \| BC Coilovers \| PSS 255/40-275/35 Velos Designwerks S3 two piece 19x9/19x10 \| Osram Xenarc \| LED retro \| AWRON digital AC gauge\|
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01-25-2015, 08:41 PM	#12
Malaka1 General 102 Rep 919 Posts Drives: F30 335i 6MT Black Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Clearwater, FL iTrader: (6)	I guess I will need an aftermarket chargepipe.. Hopefully if i bring it in with that being my only mod I can just tell them I got tired of the stock one cracking so I made a permanent fix myself.
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01-25-2015, 11:26 PM	#14
obriennathaniel @obriennathaniel_f30 on Instagram 515 Rep 1,063 Posts Drives: 582whp/596wtq '13 335i Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Houston,Tx ig:obriennathaniel_f30 iTrader: (0)	Oh and BTW, i have a brand new Challenge HFC downpipe for sale, the JB4 will definitely put it to some good use. __________________ CG Precision VS-1 Exhaust\DR-1 DownPipe \| PS2 Turbo\Inlet \| PDU PI w/Fuel-it platinum kit & E sensor \| GFB DV+ Diverter Valve \| BM3 w/AIC2-V\|Tune CaryTheLabelGuy \| Full E85 \| ATM FMIC \| ER Chargepipe Inlet/Outlet \| AFE Intake \| BC Coilovers \| PSS 255/40-275/35 Velos Designwerks S3 two piece 19x9/19x10 \| Osram Xenarc \| LED retro \| AWRON digital AC gauge\|
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