Any experience of risks of modifying vs warranty/trade-in?
Discussion
After 1000 winter miles in my 'new' 07 V8vantage roadster I LOVE it BUT - long journeys give me backache (which puts me off long journeys) and to park at home I have to reverse up a steep hill - I smell the clutch and sometimes get the warning. This puts me off short trips.
I spoke to Mike from Bamford Rose who can solve both problems with a twin plate clutch and switchable suspension.
My instinct is to have the mods done at once so I can really enjoy my first Summer in the car... But it is under the Approved Used Aston warranty until end 2014
MY QUESTIONS:
-Has anyone had warranty issues fixed on BR modified car?
(I realise BR will warranty their work but what about all the rest - what if some sensor or starter motor or wheel bearings go? Is the warranty still valid? Do Aston dealers blame BR for whatever goes wrong?)
-Would I be able to renew the Aston warranty if I wanted (assume not)?
-What about the Aston Warranty Breakdown service -still valid?
-Would an AM dealer still service it and stamp the logbook?
-Would I still be able to trade in or sell the car at an AM dealer?
I can guess the answers, but does anyone have personal experience either positive or negative to help me make a final decision?
Thanks!
I spoke to Mike from Bamford Rose who can solve both problems with a twin plate clutch and switchable suspension.
My instinct is to have the mods done at once so I can really enjoy my first Summer in the car... But it is under the Approved Used Aston warranty until end 2014
MY QUESTIONS:
-Has anyone had warranty issues fixed on BR modified car?
(I realise BR will warranty their work but what about all the rest - what if some sensor or starter motor or wheel bearings go? Is the warranty still valid? Do Aston dealers blame BR for whatever goes wrong?)
-Would I be able to renew the Aston warranty if I wanted (assume not)?
-What about the Aston Warranty Breakdown service -still valid?
-Would an AM dealer still service it and stamp the logbook?
-Would I still be able to trade in or sell the car at an AM dealer?
I can guess the answers, but does anyone have personal experience either positive or negative to help me make a final decision?
Thanks!
Edited by NealCS on Friday 28th February 17:11
petop said:
If you have a Porsche Approved Warranty you only have to put a air freshener in from Halfords to invalidate your warranty! I kid you not!
So your lucky Aston take the sensible approach!
Just had a faulty compressor replaced on a Cayenne, 80,000 miles on an 07 plate. Done under a Porsche warranty, no complaints about Porsche here.So your lucky Aston take the sensible approach!
Before I embarked on major enhancements to my V8S and my previous one I asked about the warranty Issue. In fact I asked Ian Minnards whilst on a visit to Newport Pagnell. He said that there would Not be a problem. He stated that if for some reason the air con failed Aston Martin could hardly say it was because the manifolds had been changed. In other words Bamford Rose will warranty their work and parts . Your AM warranty stays intact.
robgt said:
Before I embarked on major enhancements to my V8S and my previous one I asked about the warranty Issue. In fact I asked Ian Minnards whilst on a visit to Newport Pagnell. He said that there would Not be a problem. He stated that if for some reason the air con failed Aston Martin could hardly say it was because the manifolds had been changed. In other words Bamford Rose will warranty their work and parts . Your AM warranty stays intact.
I had the same comment from Grange at Exeter when I bought my first Aston a few weeks ago. Thinking of changing the exhaust when funds allow and with 2 years of warranty remaining, they said as long as the warranty claim can't be linked to the non-approved part the all should be cushty. Who would take responsibility if something else in the power train failed e.g. gear box or some major engine component? I suspect Aston might well tell you to sling ya hook as it were, so would BR cover failure of parts that they didn't modify but ultimately are effected by the modifications they perform?
robgt said:
It wasn't sold cos it was written off. 
Oops sorry Rob! Thanks for your advice.Well it looks like I might be taking this onto the BR sponsored link and looking for a name for the project next!
Still wondering about whether there's any way, or any value, in keeping an AM service history after the BR mods?
I have BR clutch and exhaust mods on my car. Well in advance of having these done I had already decided not to extend the AM warranty so cannot advise you on cover issues if any.
I have had the car serviced at an AM dealer with no issues - the chief mechanic loved the mods by the way. They even asked me for BR's details as another customer was through an injury having issues with the pedal pressure of the OEM clutch threatening his continued AM ownership
As for trade in issues via the dealer network one of the reasons for looking at mods was the ridiculous value the dealer placed on the car which made me decide to keep it. Since the mods I have only loosely chatted to sales side about residual and when mods were mentioned it was clear this would be used as a bargaining point and therefore would effect i.e lower the value however of course each deal is unique so ultimate situation could be that its of no influence. So if your worried by this aspect and only ever see your car being traded at an AM dealer, non AM factory issue mods could be expected to cost you money.
I have had the car serviced at an AM dealer with no issues - the chief mechanic loved the mods by the way. They even asked me for BR's details as another customer was through an injury having issues with the pedal pressure of the OEM clutch threatening his continued AM ownership
As for trade in issues via the dealer network one of the reasons for looking at mods was the ridiculous value the dealer placed on the car which made me decide to keep it. Since the mods I have only loosely chatted to sales side about residual and when mods were mentioned it was clear this would be used as a bargaining point and therefore would effect i.e lower the value however of course each deal is unique so ultimate situation could be that its of no influence. So if your worried by this aspect and only ever see your car being traded at an AM dealer, non AM factory issue mods could be expected to cost you money.
Thanks guys... so in summary, going out of the dealer network for mods will probably:
A) not effect the rest of the warranty
B) not stop me from getting AM servicing if I want
C) lose me (rather than add) value if I try to trade in through the dealer network
So feels like, basically if I take that route I'm getting the car I want but buying out of the dealership trade-in experience, in which case there's little value in having it AM serviced - potential purchasers who trust a good independent for the mods likely to do the same for the servicing.
I'm expecting to keep it several years or I wouldn't invest £10k plus on mods and loss of value - by which time it may be too old to get best value from a dealer trade in, but will make someone a lovely private purchase.
I'll let you all know how the mods go! Thanks for the advice.
A) not effect the rest of the warranty
B) not stop me from getting AM servicing if I want
C) lose me (rather than add) value if I try to trade in through the dealer network
So feels like, basically if I take that route I'm getting the car I want but buying out of the dealership trade-in experience, in which case there's little value in having it AM serviced - potential purchasers who trust a good independent for the mods likely to do the same for the servicing.
I'm expecting to keep it several years or I wouldn't invest £10k plus on mods and loss of value - by which time it may be too old to get best value from a dealer trade in, but will make someone a lovely private purchase.
I'll let you all know how the mods go! Thanks for the advice.
Edited by NealCS on Sunday 2nd March 16:01
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