Performance enhancement and warranty

[265coupe]

Sharkie, thanks for the comparos. What it does show is that VW engines are often good for many more horses than delivered in a particular state of tune. And reliably.

I have no doubt that the 118TSi has the strength to be a 147TSi in modded form.

My biggest concern, and the only one stopping me from doing a ECU upgrade, is the hassle involved if there is an engine related warranty claim that VWA could dishonour on the basis of 'Unapproved device or fitting'.

Cause I don't feel like getting the same tilt tray to take my broken car from the dealer to the ECU agent with a request to conduct the $10000 repair. How about a poll to rate my chances of them footing the bill?

[gerhard]

I read on this forum that aftermarket tunes don't affect warranty. .

That's where you are going wrong - you believed an untruth.

I can't really see the point of 5 pages of arguing to and fro about it - it won't change anything.

And the last person I want to be on first name terms with is a car dealership....

If you get a tune on your 118TSI be prepared to pay extra for the device/functionality that lets you turn the tune off and run the standard/replicated standard map.

If your engine blows, revert the tune. If you don't spout on a public forum about how great the car goes with the tune, who would know you have one?

[265coupe]

You're quoting out of context. Don't work for A Current Affair by chance?

Read the sentence following the quote and you should get it. If not, then why bother reading this thread again.

[ozgti]

If I change the backbox, will it void any warranty?

[Corey_R]

What is the backbox?

VW won't warrant any part that you change (obviously), and they won't warrant any problem caused by any part that you change. But just because you change one thing doesn't mean the entire warranty is voided. If you seats and the engine dies, obviously they'll cover the engine!

[ozgti]

Sorry, rear exhaust box, Just want it to sound meatier, not like every other Corolla out there. Would changing the muffler have much affect on anything that far back?

Or are there any other recomendations?

[Corey_R]

Well, you could definitely do a "cat back exhaust" (which funnily enough doesn't change the cat) with almost any competent exhaust manufacturer and not have warranty issues. As long as it uses the standard mounting points and doesn't require any other modifications to be fitted, I'm scratching my head to think of any part the exhaust could impact which would then cause a warrant issue.

[Cossor]

There is a very good reason security seals are placed on a lot of equipment.
I would not be surprised if VW had a few trap codes in the electronics to catch added data.
(Of course, normally would not look for this, but if suspicious after a major failure, look out)
(just my paranoia showing)

[REXman]

I agree with Coreying and 265coupe on this one.

I dont think a tuner like APR (highly regarded) would do anything other than a great yet safe tune.

Repeat business is what they want, right?

But in saying that, 265coupe is absolutely right. Some dealers will scrutinize anything and everything just to get out of a single buck. And if you left there with a replacement bill of $8000 for an engine + a gearbox etc.. It wont be pretty. And you will regret those extra KW's for quite some while I assure you!!

But for me, I had my Subaru's (3 of them) serviced at the same dealership for the last 9-odd years.

ANYTHING went wrong for me, they fixed it, no fuss. Even though I had a TBE on one, and a TBE, Air Filter and TMIC on the other. That service centre (Atarmon Subaru) was honestly the reason I kept buying new SUBARU's and never looked anywhere else to buy a car from for so long. Hassle free ownership.

So I say either commit to your dealership, and they will commit to you. Otherwise If you want to fly solo, forget the tune IMO.

I hope no ones engine blows including my own!

Best of luck either way.

[giddleberry]

There is a very good reason security seals are placed on a lot of equipment.
I would not be surprised if VW had a few trap codes in the electronics to catch added data.
(Of course, normally would not look for this, but if suspicious after a major failure, look out)
(just my paranoia showing)

They wouldn't need "trap codes". I'm sure they would just be able to take a checksum of the entire contents of the ECU's non volatile memory. This would be exactly the same for any given car at the same firmware version.