APR Polo GTI - This months Motor mag (JUN)

[Coolio]

We suggest you run the car pretty hard right from day one. DO NOT baby the car at all, cars that use oil over the life of the vehicle generally had a "soft" break in.

On our cars they get run pretty hard & then an oil change @ 1500km's. They never use oil after that.

I don't know about everyone else, but this is a gem of wisdom that i have been hoping to hear from a reputable source for a long time...thanks Guy!

[Corey_R]

Fair enough.
If a cstomer chooses it to be invisible then I can only conclude that it is their intent to hide it rather than openly declare it. Out of interest, do you offer the tune to be visible, to satisfy those customers who don't want to hide the fact they have made changes?

Of course... you just don't select the security lockout feature, or don't enable it if you have it.

However, keep in mind the original purpose of this feature.... "Children" and Valets. One of the optional mappings is a "Valet mode" which is reduced power and torque and revs etc, so that you can hand your cover over to your teenage kid or valet (or whoever else I guess). You can use the security lockout to prevent them from turning it back to stock or one of the tuned mappings.

[Guy_H]

Fair enough.
If a cstomer chooses it to be invisible then I can only conclude that it is their intent to hide it rather than openly declare it. Out of interest, do you offer the tune to be visible, to satisfy those customers who don't want to hide the fact they have made changes?

My understanding of talking to thousands & thousands of people who modify their car or who want to modify their car, is the "perception" of what "could" cause a warranty issue.

"Perception" by the service team at the VW dealership quite often has a lot to do with it. Complaint of rattling suspension - car is lowered. Is it the cause or is it perceived to be the problem & no further diagnosis carried out?

The "Perception" that a car is not modified means that the normal fault finding procedure would be carried out, thats all we ever ask of from a service department is they "diagnose" a vehicle as per VW's guidelines because we know that good tuning rarely causes any issues.

[broxigar1983]

Question, If I upgrade my ECU and engine dies because of it, will the ECU upgrade company replace/fix my engine?

This is a questions I asked my VW dealer:

Me: Regarding the warranty on the car. I plan to replace the air filter and might have the engine ecu tuned to get a bit more KW from the car. Will that void my warranty?
VW:Short answer, Yes!. I know these companies can hide it somehow for when you service the car but if Volkswagen find it they will void your warranty. But that's only if something happens while your under new car warranty. It could be trouble free forever. Your call on that one.
Me: If I change the airfilter / ecu upgrade and nothing goes wrong, will my warranty still be voided when VW service the car?
VW: In order for Volkswagen to void a warranty, there must firstly be a problem with which warranty will pay for. If you never have any problems, regardless of the ECU upgrade, then it doesn't matter. You can still service your car with Vw but if a warranty issue arises and they recognise you have altered the vehicle, that's when it becomes a problem for you!

[aljobar]

I dropped by HP earlier this morning for a chat and a look at the car. I spoke with James, one of the employees and he answered all of my tricky questions. The work they've done looks very professional, and I'll be more than happy to book mine in once it arrives (eventually). He also showed me around the place for a look at the other cars, the TT race car looks particularly impressive. If you're in the Brisbane area and thinking of some mods, I'd highly recommend swinging past.

[gareth_oau]

TSI, I've upgrade my last half dozen cars, bigger exhausts, ECUs, CAIs, quikshifters etc (always Ford and Holden) and i've never had an issue with warranty claims.

On my last holden, the clutch went after 5 months and they replaced that under warranty.

If your mods are subtle, then its unlikely the dealer will make a big deal out of it.

also, the dealer would need to demonstrate that the mods you have done were the cause of the problem

[Corey_R]

Question, If I upgrade my ECU and engine dies because of it, will the ECU upgrade company replace/fix my engine?

This is a questions I asked my VW dealer:

Me: Regarding the warranty on the car. I plan to replace the air filter and might have the engine ecu tuned to get a bit more KW from the car. Will that void my warranty?
VW:Short answer, Yes!. I know these companies can hide it somehow for when you service the car but if Volkswagen find it they will void your warranty. But that's only if something happens while your under new car warranty. It could be trouble free forever. Your call on that one.
Me: If I change the airfilter / ecu upgrade and nothing goes wrong, will my warranty still be voided when VW service the car?
VW: In order for Volkswagen to void a warranty, there must firstly be a problem with which warranty will pay for. If you never have any problems, regardless of the ECU upgrade, then it doesn't matter. You can still service your car with Vw but if a warranty issue arises and they recognise you have altered the vehicle, that's when it becomes a problem for you!

You entire post has no merrit as there is no such thing as "voiding a warranty". It's illegal.
You could replace the entire engine in your Golf with a Chevy V8. If the paint on your right rear door starts flaking off, that's still covered, as it has nothing to do with the engine.

I can't believe that in every single tuning thread we have to go through all the same questions and answers all the time, but it's really simple.

If you tint your windows, you're modifying your vehicle, but your warranty isn't voided
Same as if you change your stereo, wheels, tyres etc. If you change your stereo but the bonehead you get to install it wires it incorrect and it causes an electrical fire, then sure, why SHOULD Volkswagen have to pay for his incompetence?

It's the same thing with ECU Tuning. If you flash your ECU and you have a problem with your car, then as long as the ECU hasn't caused the problem, your warranty covers it. It's no different to any other option, accessory, or modification of your car.

[noone]

No Merrit... I don't think being a Super Mod is going to change that mate.

People have valid concerns about possible issues with Warranty. If a car is brought in with a stuffed turbo, then what? I don't want to fuel the fire, but I think this would be a difficult situation with the owner stuck between 2 entities both denying a claim.

IMO, if you are that concerned about the possible implications of a tune, don't get one (or change your suspension, or wheels, or electronics, or intake, or exhaust)

[broxigar1983]

People have valid concerns about possible issues with Warranty. If a car is brought in with a stuffed turbo, then what? I don't want to fuel the fire, but I think this would be a difficult situation with the owner stuck between 2 entities both denying a claim.

+1

This is why I asked and posted the question.

[Corey_R]

It's already been answered...

If you're going to listen to someone on the phone who clearly has no concept about what can and can't be done with warranties, then....

[Bug_racer]

You entire post has no merrit as there is no such thing as "voiding a warranty". It's illegal.
You could replace the entire engine in your Golf with a Chevy V8. If the paint on your right rear door starts flaking off, that's still covered, as it has nothing to do with the engine.

I can't believe that in every single tuning thread we have to go through all the same questions and answers all the time, but it's really simple.

If you tint your windows, you're modifying your vehicle, but your warranty isn't voided
Same as if you change your stereo, wheels, tyres etc. If you change your stereo but the bonehead you get to install it wires it incorrect and it causes an electrical fire, then sure, why SHOULD Volkswagen have to pay for his incompetence?

It's the same thing with ECU Tuning. If you flash your ECU and you have a problem with your car, then as long as the ECU hasn't caused the problem, your warranty covers it. It's no different to any other option, accessory, or modification of your car.

I dont think you know too much about modifying a car to that extreme . Putting a Chev in a Golf is going to put extreme pressure on every part of the car . The chassis is going to twist , and worst case your going to have paint cracking . I should post some pictures up of VR6s that Ive seen that have been lowered to extreme levels and have the chassis cracking . This would never be covered under warranty . Warranty is up to the discrepancy of the dealer/technician and if they say no then you can go to another dealer or attempt to prove why they wont honour it ( fair trading etc ) .

[gavs]

As corey has said, it is illegal for anyone who offers and advertises a warranty to void it. If you have an APR tune put into your ECU and your turbo destroys it's compressor wheel and you wish to claim a warranty replacement, then under fair trade, VGA or VAG, whichever is the proper decision making party, will need to prove that your ecu tune has caused the issue. How? Well, basically they will need to provide evidence that indeed increasing the boost pressure through the tune destroyed the compressor wheel. If they just so a flat out "NO", then you turn around and start questioning them, start asking for documentation etc and empirical evidence. Ulitimately, they need to prove to you, as the consumer and purchaser of their product, that it is not their fault for the component failure. If they refuse to do this, that is why we have the ACCC and obudsman.

On a side note, some other tuners are now offering warranties not only on the ecu and software but also any relevant components directly affected by the tune, i.e if indeed the turbo boost pressure is increased by the tune and it goes bang, that is covered by their warranty.

[Corey_R]

Lol @ Bug_racer... we're talking about software here. Whilst yes, putting a chev v8 in a golf would stress it, my point was that your warranty isn't automatically voided if you do - especially unrelated parts, such as paint flaking off due to clear coat failure


gavs, nice post, that is pretty much the summary of it.

Whilst some people may interpret you statements as the consumer will need to end up proving to the dealer that their modifications haven't caused the problem, then fine, you make sure you use a reputable product and have a reputable outfit perform the modifications for you. With the recent Volkswagen Golf 118TSI engine issues experienced in Australia, not a single engine replacement has been denied due to the presence of an aftermarket flash for example.

You're correct, there are aftermarket companies that offer warranties on the components - such as Oettinger (which Guy_H also distributes), but it's an additional cost obviously.

[Guy_H]

The ACCC is the ultimate controlling body, you can spend a lot of time reading their site

For consumers

You can call them & you can email them, it will outline the trade practices act - and go into depth on express, implied & statutory warranties.

This will also explain why there is no clear cut line about warranty. Volkswagen can not dodge warranty issues that belong to them, neither can the tuner / window tinter / car detailer that works on your car either.

Anyway, thats probably best left for another thread. This one is about the APR Polo & its quicker everywhere than a Ford Focus RS

[Corey_R]

Anyway, thats probably best left for another thread. This one is about the APR Polo & its quicker everywhere than a Ford Focus RS

Damn straight!