Coding just activates features already existing in the automobile. That has no bearing on the warranty.
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luluu
As I wait for my delivery in late March, I’m new to this forum. bought a 2016 X3 20d. Thanks to everyone for your excellent contributions, which make this place a one-stop shop, I’ve read a ton of great material to make it an even more supreme driving machine.
I’d really like to learn how to code, but I’m worried that since I’ve altered the program settings, it may void my warranty. Does anyone know if coding in Australia voids the warranty or not? Can the dealership (when in for a servicing) notice the modification without checking into specific coding? Do they perform software and firmware updates after a release?
I took the car in for repair this morning to fix the SOS malfunction warning. The SA then enters the vehicle and inquires as to whether the vehicle is coded after noticing that the dash says “m550i.” The SA, who is aware of my identity, merely wanted me to be aware that the warranty will be immediately voided if they connect the car and BMW NA detects that it has been coded. WTF!
Then he gave the “WHY,” with which I continue to disagree. He told the tale of a man who recently experienced a drive train breakdown, took his car to the dealer, and was then forced to pay a $5000 cost as soon as they discovered the automobile had code! It’s not negotiable!
Just be aware that the warranty will be void if you have coding and the car needs to be linked up for diagnostics.
And this comes as a shock? The “power train” should be the only part of the car to which it applies.
It’s a surprise, yes! I’ve owned previous completely programmed BMWs, and I’ve never seen this problem. The SA said that warranty is no longer offered and that BMW is concentrating more and more on “aftermarket” coded vehicles.
Should I be voiding my warranty because I want my mirrors to fold up with the key fob or shouldn’t one thing effect the other? or use the key fob to close the sunroof?
If the car is coded, it actually is NOT. Coding simply activates or deactivates FACTORY features that the automobile ALREADY possesses. If you have any “aftermarket tunes/Engine Management software,” such as JB4 etc., that is what they are highlighting. They flag the vehicle for THIS in order to cancel the warranties.
Thank you for the information; it is entirely accurate. I believed “coding” to refer to aftermarket tuning. Since a very long time, the Corvette community has been aware that aftermarket tuning voids the power train guarantee. Because it leaves fingerprints, the system cannot be tricked if you’ve had a “tune.” So much so that the diagnostics may recognize that earlier tune event even if you tune the car back to the original GM standards.
It should be possible to void at least the electronics warranty, in my opinion. By developing code, you are essentially replacing the “software” that was created at the factory. There is a tiny danger (every time you install something new) that you could brick the machine. Yes, you are merely “activating” potential features, but you also run the danger of creating problems that would not have existed if you had not attempted to alter the parameters. I have personal experience with it.
Yes, exactly. I made the error of requesting the dealership to upgrade my i-STEP (or whatever it’s called, the i-Drive firmware) after coding my car to include some BT-related stuff (modified VO). It bricked the head unit, but fortunately they replaced it because they had no idea what they were doing and the car was still covered by warranty.
Does coding an automobile violate the warranty?
I took the car in for repair this morning to fix the SOS malfunction warning. The SA then enters the vehicle and inquires as to whether the vehicle is coded after noticing that the dash says “m550i.” The SA, who is aware of my identity, merely wanted me to be aware that the warranty will be immediately voided if they connect the car and BMW NA detects that it has been coded. WTF!
Lowering a BMW voids its warranty?
Your warranty won’t be voided if you lower the springs. This is so that you are not violated by the federal Magnuson-Moss Guarantee Act, which forbids dealers from unjustly nullifying your warranty. The dealer or seller must specify how specifically your aftermarket part is a direct cause of the problem in order to cancel your warranty.
This does not imply that your warranty will remain intact. Some of your warranty may still expire, but not all of it. For instance, if you replaced lowering springs improperly and caused problems with the suspension, your dealer can and will void the suspension system’s warranty.
Your headlight and air conditioner warranties should still be in effect. Unless they can demonstrate that your installation is directly responsible for the problem. Therefore, even if the Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act protects you, please take extra caution!
In this essay, I go into greater detail about the Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act. Is Muffler Delete Warranty Null and Void? I mention deleting the muffler, however the warranty clause is still still applicable.
What voids the warranty on a BMW?
I want to change a couple things with my BMW. It is still covered under warranty at the moment, but I don’t want to unintentionally void it by performing any of these changes. Do certain modifications or other actions nullify a BMW warranty?
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A modification that results in mistakes or issues with components of the automobile covered by the initial BMW warranty is the only thing that could void the warranty. For instance, if replacing the exhaust system or changing a turbocharger for a supercharger results in the failure of a covered component, the warranty may be nullified.
The guarantee wouldn’t be nullified, though, if you switched to larger wheels or tires, tinted your windows, or covered your taillights in black. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975 provides federal protection for warranties, so as long as you don’t harm other components, you should be fine to go.
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BMW does any coding?
BMW iDrive coding, in its simplest form, entails modifying your car’s software in order to unlock new functions or modify how existing ones function. Most of the time, such capabilities are already included into your iDrive by BMW; all that needs to be done is for coding to enable them. iDrive is already built to accommodate a rear view camera in cars that come equipped with one from the factory, therefore activating a retrofit kit merely involves unlocking those software capabilities. One example of such code is to activate an aftermarket backup camera.
Does a downpipe cancel the warranty on a BMW?
Is the BMW warranty voided if an aftermarket downpipe is added? Do you need to tune your vehicle after installing the downpipe?
If you get caught, your warranty may be voided; however, they must show that the item was broken by you. Although a tune is not necessary, doing so will result in a CEL and insufficient use of the DP. However, it is typical practice for BMW to void the warranty for both the attached item and the original item if it is an aftermarket component. Therefore, if your turbo fails, they can simply claim that the DP damaged it.
You can find a ton of information by using the “search” option, which has been discussed a ton.
Although aftermarket equipment does not “invalidate” a car’s full warranty, BMW will reject a warranty claim if they believe the aftermarket part or parts were to blame for the failure or damage.
Due to the increased amount of unburned gasoline in the exhaust caused by the absence of the primary catalytic converter or one with a less dense catalyst, a tune or other add-on may occasionally be necessary to turn off the Check-Engine light (CEL). A catless downpipe can be used more effectively by tunes than by stock software.
My neighborhood dealer offered me absolute sh*t for the downpipe. claimed that my car was “tagged,” and they won’t fix it even if the issue is unrelated.
Believe it or not, some personnel at BMW dealerships don’t properly comprehend warranty.
They can refuse a work if they think (and can prove) it is due to a specific change you made, but they can’t unilaterally void the entire warranty because of a mod.
I will be really glad if BMWNA does ANYTHING to help postpone the costs of repair if my powertrain fails and they do it. Never expect them to pay for anything; if your downpipe has a tune/flash, there’s no need to install a catless pipe somewhere.
The reason for this is that your car provided data to BMWNA via FASTA, and BMWNA flagged your vehicle. The flag cannot be overridden by another dealer, and they will not be compensated for the repair.
Does a modified exhaust make my BMW warranty void?
Your exhaust warranty will be void. They would need to demonstrate that your modification actually caused the damage to that part in order to cancel any other portion of your warranty.
Resonator removal voids the BMW warranty?
My BMW has a resonator; will removing it void my warranty? If so, I won’t do it till the warranty has ended, but if not, I’ll do it right away.
The warranty on your BMW won’t be immediately voided if you remove the resonator. If you later need repairs that you’d like to be covered by warranty, it can have an effect.
It’s probable that since you interfered with the system by removing the resonator yourself, your warranty won’t cover repairs if your exhaust system develops a problem. Therefore, it is usually advised to leave your car’s parts alone until your warranty has run its course. Then, you can start modifying them as you choose.
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