Going for maintenance with coilovers on
 

Has anyone had any issues when taking their FRS/BRZ with coilovers suspension to the dealer for routine maintenance? Issues like, the driver scraping your car, or refusing to service the vehicle? I'm about due for maintenance again but I'm getting coilovers installed soon. I'm worried about the consequences.:(

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If you're worried, schedule the maintenance before the install?

I was thinking that, but then what when the next maintenance appointment comes? I'd like to hear from someone who actually had an experience like this. Will the dealership guys take care of the car now that it's lowered or will they wreck it and blame it on my coilovers and then void my warranty and say their not responsible?

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Just took my car to the Toyota dealer for it's first oil change and I had my coilovers and aftermarket wheels/tires installed. I told them not to rotate the tires (since they were new) and just do the oil change (my dealer does the 1st 6 for free).

The oil change was done in 30-45 minutes and the service tech didn't say anything to me one way or another. I'm sure he probably put some notes in their computer about my aftermarket parts, but oh well.

I don't think it will be a problem. Why not call and ask?

The people who answer the phone could not even tell me if the car wash was "touch less" or not. I doubt they'd know what coilovers are to understand my concern. I guess I'm going to have to stress to them when I take it to be extremely careful. I will still be very nervous.

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I had my springs on my car when I went and they didn't say anything. You need to build up a good relationship with the dealer or your service writer.

Become friends or just speak to them and build a relationship with someone in service or if it's the dealership you purchased from speak to your sales person they can speak to service on your behalf usually there will be no problem but these are some options.

I think as long as you don't have anything that will effect standard maintenance cost (oil cooler/forced induction/etc) you should be fine. But it's always best to call and speak to a service advisor/tech.

Chances are they won't notice or make a note of it. I specifically ask the service advisor to tell the tech to not touch my tire pressure, rotate wheels or add any fluids beyond oil and washer fluid and they have zero issue with it. They asked why out of curiosity, but were respectful and were intrigued about how I liked any aftermarket stuff compared to stock.

As for warranty, they can't void the whole warranty because you have coilovers. The worst they can do is void warranty parts attached to it (ie prematurely worn upper mounts, could be blamed on install or stiffer spring rates), but if the engine goes they can't blame the coilovers.

Note that if you're absolutely dumped on coilovers, your car may not be tall enough to be lifted by the dealership's lift. I had issues getting my old car (was on BC coilovers, not slammed, but lowered quite a bit) up on a Hunter alignment rack and the dealer refused to align my car because of the toolow.

YMMV, obviously. Just be aware of what you're getting into when you install the coilovers.

As long as it can clear the lift I don't see how it would be a problem. If you're worried about them scraping or something if they ever need to test drive it, you can always request that they do not, have you take it out, or at the very least have you ride alongside. Whenever I'm forced to take my car to a dealership, I'm always the one to personally drive my car if needed. The service advisors never have any issues with this request.

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One dealer was able to use a low clearance jack to jack one corner at a time as they slipped each arm of their lift under my car (it was ghetto lol). One dealer had traditional ramps and used wooden planks to prevent the intial scrape when getting on. Other dealers have lifts with jack arms that can swing under lowered cars. I found one dealer with a lift that comes up from a pit in the ground. Surprised it existed at a dealership but I had to call every dealer in my city and luckily I found one that 2 newly installed low clearance lifts and 1 newly installed lift in a pit in the last few months.

If you can bear to take it to a service shop that's not a dealership, tire shops can have lift accommodations for lowered cars. Especially shops that sell performance/race tires and service lowered race vehicles. ;)

If you have side skirts that hang lower than your pinch welded jack points, that's adds another bit of concern but there are lifts that exist that will clear it. Your service person would just have to look closely at how everything fits around the lift points before they lift.

No service at dealers
 

Dont go to the dealers man... they are bad. instead i recommand you find a tuning shop or good mechanic shop. its their own business and they care about their customers.

Not always *coughFA20clubcough*... but I get what you're saying.