Tuned car warranty?

[chan61922]

Hi guys probably a silly question but worth a try, any 3rd party companies out there who aren’t so strict on covering a tuned car under warranty? I’ve waved goodbye to my dealer warranty after having my car mapped stage 1 and I intend to go stage 2 fairly soon, just always have the thought playing up in the back of my mind that something could eventually go pop, horrible feeling as I can’t fully enjoy the car. Always having to be extra cautious etc

[Evolved]

Sure you’ll find companies who will happily take your money, getting them to pay out is whole other ball game.

If you’re worried about reliability I’d suggest modding isn’t the route to follow. Essentially you’re going outside of the manufacturers safety zone and things WILL fail. You make your bed and sleep in it with this one.

Best bet, if you’re so worried is start your own slush fund for when something does happen.

[chan61922]

Very true, knew I shouldn’t have got myself into this palava, but it’s just so cheap and easy to make big power with just a few bolt ons, it’s almost rude and daft not too lol my biggest fear is the turbo failing and doing some serious damage if debris from it makes its way into the engine, besides that I’m okay...I think. Have every faith in the tuner as he’s a very reputable guy in the VAG scene, just the turbos a weak spot on my car and it’s the first turbo I’ve owned so slightly worried... hmm

[Raven Flyer]

You would be better off self insuring.

Stick £100+ away every month and hope nothing major goes wrong.

If you are sensible with the power upgrades (it's easy to not be) then you could be OK.

[the tribester]

Is there a turbo upgrade that your man could fit to give you peace of mind?

[chan61922]

Yes mate there’s a few companies that offer a hybrid turbo which is good for a stage 3 and 550 bhp, Varies price wise- anything upwards of 1400 quid plus fitting. My tuners currently working on a solution to strengthening the stock turbos core so hopefully eliminates the Problem, me and a lot of others in the same boat are patiently waiting for this. I don’t see why this issue isn’t rectified by the manufacture as a safety recall, fair enough not all cars will fail and a lot of people will go ahead and void there warranties but this issue can potentially cost the dealer 1000s in repairs worse case scenario, engine replacement etc etc

[xjay1337]

chan61922 said:

Very true, knew I shouldn’t have got myself into this palava, but it’s just so cheap and easy to make big power with just a few bolt ons, it’s almost rude and daft not too lol my biggest fear is the turbo failing and doing some serious damage if debris from it makes its way into the engine, besides that I’m okay...I think. Have every faith in the tuner as he’s a very reputable guy in the VAG scene, just the turbos a weak spot on my car and it’s the first turbo I’ve owned so slightly worried... hmm

Let me guess
R-tech and a Golf 7 R.

[Trevor555]

chan61922 said:

Yes mate there’s a few companies that offer a hybrid turbo which is good for a stage 3 and 550 bhp

Crikey, I'd be worried about the gearbox as well.

[chan61922]

The gearbox has also been mapped, it’s a dsg car and Xjay yes spot on mate lol any more info on it?

[Mr911lover]

Any warranties will be a waste of time, as others have said have a contingency and make sure the car is well maintained (Millers oil and changed every 5k)

Stage 2 on the EA888 is fairly safe if done properly but there doesn't seem to be a pattern if/when a turbo let's go.

What other mods do you have at the moment?

[chan61922]

Currently stage 1 tuned car ecu and dsg, had tuner map it in such a way that the turbo isn’t stressed too much. Had the car mapped completely stock, since then I’ve added a intake, intake hose, bigger turbo inlet/elbow and a resonator delete. Currently getting carried away with doing cosmetic bits on her (as you do) but a upgrade turbo was on the cards until I discovered tuner is working on a solution which should be Rolled out early this year and at fraction of the price, so no brainer I guess. Once I have this piece of mind I will upgrade intercooler, spark plugs and get a sports cat/de cat then move onto stage 2. Think a big brake kit would be on the agenda next. And then I’d either wrap it around a lamppost or get bored and Go stage 3, or even decide to sell as everyone else does haha (ignore that part) I think stage 2 is as far as id go, it’s my daily

[Andeh1]

How badly is the insurance impacted by all this?

[chan61922]

Just shy of 200 quid extra a year

[xjay1337]

Mr911lover said:

Any warranties will be a waste of time, as others have said have a contingency and make sure the car is well maintained (Millers oil and changed every 5k)

Stage 2 on the EA888 is fairly safe if done properly but there doesn't seem to be a pattern if/when a turbo let's go.

What other mods do you have at the moment?

5k oil changes is complete over kill unless you are doing 2 miles a day driving with cold engine.

Problem with these engines is pistons fail usually do to ste fuel injectors.
Early turbos are weak, but it's not particularly expensive for a standard one with upgraded bearings.
If you want to push 550hp from a 2.0 then it's not going to be reliable I can tell you that from personal experience.
No warranty will ever cover a modified car properly.
That's why my engine is STANDARD.

[Gio G]

OP - don't make the mistake of tuning a financed car.. that could end badly.. I do wonder how many Stage 1 map's go undetected with manufacturers? I would love to map my S1 for a bit of fun, however have another 2 years warranty, which I don't fancy jeopardising..

G

[chan61922]

Thanks for input guys, I did think 5k oil services was a bit excessive, esp as I don’t hammer it 24/7 or track it etc. I was planning on doing an oil service every 10k miles or year (whatever sooner) and a full service every 20k miles or every 2 years (whatever sooner) this would change once I’m stage 2 ofcourse. I’m very careful to let car warm up fully before giving it some beans, literally drive like a granny the first 20 mins of driving. I agree it would be daft to push 500 bhp in a 4 cylinder 2.0T, that and the fact that it’s my daily. My cars a 2016 so fingers crossed it doesn’t have the same issues as the early models and luckily I didn’t finance car as this was a downsize from my previous car. I was so eager to see what all the hype was about with mapping it I thought F the warranty lol I’m now in 2 minds because I’m constantly worried something could give way, the piece of mind of a warranty is priceless because you don’t give a monkeys if a big component fails- it’s covered. I miss that feeling surely the turbo issue should be a manufacture safety recall? The turbos give way on stock cars, it’s just the nature of them

[TonyTony]

Apart from the few that work with the manufacturer like Mountune do with Ford, you won't have much chance of a warranty on a modded car.

Still though the warranty still covers any parts you can prove isn't effected by the mod you have done, but you still might have to fight for it.

[Mr911lover]

xjay1337 said:

Mr911lover said:

Any warranties will be a waste of time, as others have said have a contingency and make sure the car is well maintained (Millers oil and changed every 5k)

Stage 2 on the EA888 is fairly safe if done properly but there doesn't seem to be a pattern if/when a turbo let's go.

What other mods do you have at the moment?

5k oil changes is complete over kill unless you are doing 2 miles a day driving with cold engine.

Problem with these engines is pistons fail usually do to ste fuel injectors.
Early turbos are weak, but it's not particularly expensive for a standard one with upgraded bearings.
If you want to push 550hp from a 2.0 then it's not going to be reliable I can tell you that from personal experience.
No warranty will ever cover a modified car properly.
That's why my engine is STANDARD.

Overkill, not really on a modified engine and for what it costs for 6l of millers it's worth the peace of mind.

[xjay1337]

Mr911lover said:

xjay1337 said:

Mr911lover said:

Any warranties will be a waste of time, as others have said have a contingency and make sure the car is well maintained (Millers oil and changed every 5k)

Stage 2 on the EA888 is fairly safe if done properly but there doesn't seem to be a pattern if/when a turbo let's go.

What other mods do you have at the moment?

5k oil changes is complete over kill unless you are doing 2 miles a day driving with cold engine.

Problem with these engines is pistons fail usually do to ste fuel injectors.
Early turbos are weak, but it's not particularly expensive for a standard one with upgraded bearings.
If you want to push 550hp from a 2.0 then it's not going to be reliable I can tell you that from personal experience.
No warranty will ever cover a modified car properly.
That's why my engine is STANDARD.

Overkill, not really on a modified engine and for what it costs for 6l of millers it's worth the peace of mind.

It is overkill.

As I said unless you are doing lots of cold stop start driving or track days only then that's when you need to change the oil very regularly.

My Scirocco was 198k changed oil on average at 10k intervals. The car had over double factory horsepower. Rod bearings were literally what you would expect from a low mileage engine and bores unmarked.

When I was doing track days then the intervals would come down slightly.
When the car was doing longer journeys (IE when I was doing 800 miles a week on the motorway) and no trackdays the intervals would go up slightly.

It's not peace of mind, it's a waste of money!

[chan61922]

Your both right, but I agree for what it costs to change the oil and if you can do yourself, it can’t exactly do the car any harm, good maintenance practice. Just out of curiosity what is millers oil? I’ve only ever used Castro’s edge in all my cars