Anyone leave engine stock but mod the heck out of the cosmetics to save warranty?

[michaelosx]

Originally Posted by suaveflooder

keeping my engine 100% stock down to the paper filter for 60k miles....after that, we'll see

Gotta love companies that really support consumers.

http://www.knfilters.com/warranty.htm

ENGINE PROTECTION LIMITED WARRANTY
Unlike many companies, our warranty for O/E replacement air filters and intake systems does extend beyond the replacement of a defective K&N part. For the original purchaser of the product, our warranty covers any engine damage or related costs incurred as a direct result of the use of a properly installed and maintained K&N O/E automotive replacement air filter or intake system on the specific vehicle for which the product was designed to be used by K&N. This includes reasonable vehicle repair costs directly related to an engine problem caused by the failure of a K&N product. Furthermore, we warrant that using our product will not result in a vehicle warranty denial. K&N will not be responsible for any indirect, consequential, special, contingent, or other damages not listed above.

We will promptly reimburse the consumer for the cost of the repair if a service provider denies warranty coverage as a result of a K&N product or claims that a K&N product has caused harm to your engine or vehicle. In order to receive reimbursement, we require each of the following:

The consumer must provide a written statement or repair order from the dealership or service provider in which the dealership or service provider blames the problem or warranty denial on a K&N product;
The service provider or consumer must provide K&N with all allegedly damaged parts. Many states have laws that require a service provider to retain all parts replaced during a vehicle repair, unless given consent to dispose of the parts by the consumer. K&N will pay the shipping cost to recover these parts; and
The consumer must provide proof of purchase of the K&N product along with cooperation in helping us investigate the claim.
Once these steps have been completed, K&N will contact the service provider and collect evidence to support their claim. In the event we are not provided with sufficient evidence, we reserve the right to reject the claim and will use our best efforts to assist in establishing your rights toward the service provider under warranty or other provisions.

We strive to exceed consumer expectations. Customer service can be reached at 1-800-858-3333.

[suaveflooder]

Originally Posted by regal

Plan on taking off the catted manifold, going with a nice header along with a tune and robispec's radiator/oil cooler. All reversible but I believe these mods will keep the engine away from the dealer the life of the car.

Sometimes when you are worried about warranty its best to mod for reliability and gaining a little performance is a side benefit.

Thought about this. At the same time, I don't drive the car hard so I'm not worried too much about things failing.

Couple red flags for me as far as modding....a new engine design, and two different manufacturers integrated into that new design (Toyota direct injection). We are already seeing one small flaw with the DI system in the factory tune of the car that can lead to catastrophic failure (please no DI discussion, keep any more of it in the couple threads already going), but thankfully, it looks like an easy fix. Also, the crickets, which can be annoying, but doesn't seem to have any negative outcomes.

I figured that I would give the car the full 60k miles worth of time to make sure everything is ironed out as I don't personally see any major problems arising, but I would like to air on the side of caution.

After that, if I decide to keep the car, I want to turn it into weekend/open track car. Full interior, with a turbo and roll cage....then all the fun cooling goodies will come. At that point, I will probably put some lower compression pistons in there as well, so warranty will for sure be void. So for now, I wait and save my pennies. The modding is done for the moment and I stay content with exactly how the car is/looks right now. It simply doesn't need anything more for the time being.

Originally Posted by BRZnut

That's my plan too!

:happy0180:

Originally Posted by michaelosx

Gotta love companies that really support consumers.

http://www.knfilters.com/warranty.htm

ENGINE PROTECTION LIMITED WARRANTY
Unlike many companies, our warranty for O/E replacement air filters and intake systems does extend beyond the replacement of a defective K&N part. For the original purchaser of the product, our warranty covers any engine damage or related costs incurred as a direct result of the use of a properly installed and maintained K&N O/E automotive replacement air filter or intake system on the specific vehicle for which the product was designed to be used by K&N. This includes reasonable vehicle repair costs directly related to an engine problem caused by the failure of a K&N product. Furthermore, we warrant that using our product will not result in a vehicle warranty denial. K&N will not be responsible for any indirect, consequential, special, contingent, or other damages not listed above.

We will promptly reimburse the consumer for the cost of the repair if a service provider denies warranty coverage as a result of a K&N product or claims that a K&N product has caused harm to your engine or vehicle. In order to receive reimbursement, we require each of the following:

The consumer must provide a written statement or repair order from the dealership or service provider in which the dealership or service provider blames the problem or warranty denial on a K&N product;
The service provider or consumer must provide K&N with all allegedly damaged parts. Many states have laws that require a service provider to retain all parts replaced during a vehicle repair, unless given consent to dispose of the parts by the consumer. K&N will pay the shipping cost to recover these parts; and
The consumer must provide proof of purchase of the K&N product along with cooperation in helping us investigate the claim.
Once these steps have been completed, K&N will contact the service provider and collect evidence to support their claim. In the event we are not provided with sufficient evidence, we reserve the right to reject the claim and will use our best efforts to assist in establishing your rights toward the service provider under warranty or other provisions.

We strive to exceed consumer expectations. Customer service can be reached at 1-800-858-3333.

Love this, but I want as little down time as possible if something goes wrong. The dealer will find every excuse it can to void it...I would rather not give them any. While K&N will back me, it will also delay the process as well. Right now I'm in no position to be without a car any longer than necessary (scary thought and I hate that it's true)

Suspension is easy and fairly cheap to replace, so I will do some suspension mods, but anything major (Engine, tranny, Diff) will remain stock. It is somewhat of my "insurance." I also keep meticulous records on the car in case the dealer needs them as I am not going to the dealer for service.

[nalc]

That's my plan. My dealer even tossed in a 'free' 'lifetime' engine/xmsn warranty (I say that because the warranty is from a third party, is non-transferable, doesn't cover everything, and requires a somewhat shorter oil change interval, and needs oil changes at the dealer, so I'm sure they're making money off of giving it for 'free', but I'm going to keep abiding by the conditions at least until the DI issue is adequately resolved, because I don't want to have to buy a new engine at 61K miles)

I'm pretty happy with stock power levels and fuel economy, and I want to keep this car a long time, so I'm content to keep a stock powertrain at least until all major issues are resolved by warranty/TSB/recall and mods are proven to be durable to 100k+ miles.

That being said, most of the work I've done or plan on doing has been to detail and protect the exterior, and improve the interior comfort and amenities. 3M clear bra, opti-coat, GT86 euro armrest, radar detector and dashcam hardwire are all done, tactile audio controls and backup camera are in work, JDM or USDM MY14 kneepads, black AUDM interior pieces, and a functional rear fog light are going to be my next mods

[suaveflooder]

Originally Posted by nalc

That's my plan. My dealer even tossed in a 'free' 'lifetime' engine/xmsn warranty (I say that because the warranty is from a third party, is non-transferable, doesn't cover everything, and requires a somewhat shorter oil change interval, and needs oil changes at the dealer, so I'm sure they're making money off of giving it for 'free', but I'm going to keep abiding by the conditions at least until the DI issue is adequately resolved, because I don't want to have to buy a new engine at 61K miles)

I'm pretty happy with stock power levels and fuel economy, and I want to keep this car a long time, so I'm content to keep a stock powertrain at least until all major issues are resolved by warranty/TSB/recall and mods are proven to be durable to 100k+ miles.

That being said, most of the work I've done or plan on doing has been to detail and protect the exterior, and improve the interior comfort and amenities. 3M clear bra, opti-coat, GT86 euro armrest, radar detector and dashcam hardwire are all done, tactile audio controls and backup camera are in work, JDM or USDM MY14 kneepads, black AUDM interior pieces, and a functional rear fog light are going to be my next mods

Little something for you to think about is that the dealer is making out quite well on this deal. The two most profitable parts of a dealership is the finance department and the service department. Them hooking you with this warranty is making them A LOT of money. Just food for thought. The DI issue should be fixed well before you hit 60k miles

[FRSBRZGT86FAN]

The only way to get power without voiding warranty that I see is either go way pricey low performance increase TRD parts, like springs, sway bar, exhaust and air intake (all they offer for the FRS right now), or add parts and remove them whenever warranty/dealer work has to be done (hassle when you have things like headers and header-back exhaust or pulleys or an air oil separator). Personally I don't think you're alone many people don't want to void the warranty so they stick with cosmetics or TRD performance parts, not a bad thing. If I had the car I would do what the above person said, wait till past 60k to put anything on it wait the warranty out.

[nalc]

Originally Posted by suaveflooder

Little something for you to think about is that the dealer is making out quite well on this deal. The two most profitable parts of a dealership is the finance department and the service department. Them hooking you with this warranty is making them A LOT of money. Just food for thought. The DI issue should be fixed well before you hit 60k miles

It's 5K/6mo instead of the recommended 7.5K/7.5mo, and I only do about 10K a year anyway, so we're talking about just going for an oil change 6 weeks early which is no big deal to me. I'll see how expensive their oil changes end up being and whether they actually give me the black Japanese filter instead of the blue FRAM filter. If we're talking about an extra 10-15 bucks twice a year, I'm fine with paying that for peace of mind. If they try to cheap out on the oil or filter, or if their prices are really exorbitant, then I'll bail out on their warranty and hope that it gets fixed/recalled by 60K.

[enwave]

Staying mostly stock until warranty is up. Anything I change is reversible, currently just a drop-in K&N and a Unichip, though I'm considering a few other minor things.

In a few weeks, I will be going Perrin exhaust (once they work out their powder coating issues on the black) and possibly even importing some STI pink springs. So I believe my exhaust and suspension warranty will be voided. I'll keep my finger crossed. Dealership parts team seems to have mixed opinions: one parts manager says that imported STi springs will be supported if the 'ship installs it, other guy says no-go...

[suaveflooder]

Originally Posted by nalc

It's 5K/6mo instead of the recommended 7.5K/7.5mo, and I only do about 10K a year anyway, so we're talking about just going for an oil change 6 weeks early which is no big deal to me. I'll see how expensive their oil changes end up being and whether they actually give me the black Japanese filter instead of the blue FRAM filter. If we're talking about an extra 10-15 bucks twice a year, I'm fine with paying that for peace of mind. If they try to cheap out on the oil or filter, or if their prices are really exorbitant, then I'll bail out on their warranty and hope that it gets fixed/recalled by 60K.

I origionally got a warranty through my bank. It wasn't too expensive and was basically bumper to bumper up to 100k miles.

I got the paperwork home and read the fine print. Basically NO mods were allowed on the car whatsoever. Lowering springs voided the ENTIRE warranty, changing tires sizes also did the same. I called the bank the next day and canceled it.

If it is truely $30 a year, then I agree its not big deal. Like I mentioned, chances are most/all the major problems will be worked out by the time you hit 6 years (if you are only driving 10k miles a year). Something else you need to factor in is cost of actual warranty. If it's non-transferable, it won't help you in the sale of a car (there are many transferable warranties out there to choose from that will greatly help in the sale of a car). At that point it is just an extra cost. My dealer charges $98 for an oil change (including tax), basically double what the actual cost of the oil is for me to purchase.

If you roll the warranty over into the loan, Toyota is making money off the the service, and the warranty as well (interest), so it's a win, win for them. Just make sure it's the same for you.

Sorry for all the rambling, I just get weary when a bank or a finance department is trying to "help" me.

[nalc]

Originally Posted by suaveflooder

I origionally got a warranty through my bank. It wasn't too expensive and was basically bumper to bumper up to 100k miles.

I got the paperwork home and read the fine print. Basically NO mods were allowed on the car whatsoever. Lowering springs voided the ENTIRE warranty, changing tires sizes also did the same. I called the bank the next day and canceled it.

If it is truely $30 a year, then I agree its not big deal. Like I mentioned, chances are most/all the major problems will be worked out by the time you hit 6 years (if you are only driving 10k miles a year). Something else you need to factor in is cost of actual warranty. If it's non-transferable, it won't help you in the sale of a car (there are many transferable warranties out there to choose from that will greatly help in the sale of a car). At that point it is just an extra cost. My dealer charges $98 for an oil change (including tax), basically double what the actual cost of the oil is for me to purchase.

If you roll the warranty over into the loan, Toyota is making money off the the service, and the warranty as well (interest), so it's a win, win for them. Just make sure it's the same for you.

Sorry for all the rambling, I just get weary when a bank or a finance department is trying to "help" me.

Yeah, I'm at least not paying anything for it, as apparently my dealership gives it out free with every car they sell (which means they obviously think they are making a profit off of the extra service, to compensate for the warranty company). If we're really talking about close to $100 for an oil change, that's pretty steep. I guess I'll have to see exactly how much it is, and see if they're using high quality oil and the correct filter.

They played it off as being nice to their customers, but really it seems like a trick to scare me into getting all my oil changes and maintenance done there, and getting it done at a shorter interval than SoA recommends. There's some unnerving wording in it too, about it specifically covering the block, pistons, crankshaft, camshaft, connecting rods, etc. and not extending to wear items or anything not explicitly listed, so I'm not even sure if the DI ring would be covered, and there's more wording about it not covering the components it does cover if the failure was caused by a problem with a non-covered component (i.e. if a headgasket blew and it messed up a piston, they wouldn't cover it). Seems shady. Thanks for the input. I'm going to do my first oil change there anyway just to see if they treat me well, give me a fair price, and use the right parts, but I'll probably just walk away from the warranty if they jerk me around or rip me off. I usually don't change my own oil but it seems real easy with the FA20 oil filter placement.

[FRSBRZGT86FAN]

Originally Posted by enwave

Staying mostly stock until warranty is up. Anything I change is reversible, currently just a drop-in K&N and a Unichip, though I'm considering a few other minor things.

In a few weeks, I will be going Perrin exhaust (once they work out their powder coating issues on the black) and possibly even importing some STI pink springs. So I believe my exhaust and suspension warranty will be voided. I'll keep my finger crossed. Dealership parts team seems to have mixed opinions: one parts manager says that imported STi springs will be supported if the 'ship installs it, other guy says no-go...

Subaru is way stricter with warranty voids than Toyota/scion, I don't know why, they think there cars are perfect stock I guess?

[suaveflooder]

Originally Posted by nalc

Yeah, I'm at least not paying anything for it, as apparently my dealership gives it out free with every car they sell (which means they obviously think they are making a profit off of the extra service, to compensate for the warranty company). If we're really talking about close to $100 for an oil change, that's pretty steep. I guess I'll have to see exactly how much it is, and see if they're using high quality oil and the correct filter.

They played it off as being nice to their customers, but really it seems like a trick to scare me into getting all my oil changes and maintenance done there, and getting it done at a shorter interval than SoA recommends. There's some unnerving wording in it too, about it specifically covering the block, pistons, crankshaft, camshaft, connecting rods, etc. and not extending to wear items or anything not explicitly listed, so I'm not even sure if the DI ring would be covered, and there's more wording about it not covering the components it does cover if the failure was caused by a problem with a non-covered component (i.e. if a headgasket blew and it messed up a piston, they wouldn't cover it). Seems shady. Thanks for the input. I'm going to do my first oil change there anyway just to see if they treat me well, give me a fair price, and use the right parts, but I'll probably just walk away from the warranty if they jerk me around or rip me off. I usually don't change my own oil but it seems real easy with the FA20 oil filter placement.

Good call! Keep an eye and find out how they benifit. The factory asks for a 7500 mile oil change. Excess won't hurt, but it will hit your pocket book. There really isn't any reason that they should ask you to do it more often than the factory recommended interval, especially at a dealership. I would be interested to see where in the aftermarket warranty it said it has to be more often, or if it was just something they dealer added on.

Very odd, keep us updated. I would be interested to see how this all works out.

[nalc]

Originally Posted by suaveflooder

Good call! Keep an eye and find out how they benifit. The factory asks for a 7500 mile oil change. Excess won't hurt, but it will hit your pocket book. There really isn't any reason that they should ask you to do it more often than the factory recommended interval, especially at a dealership. I would be interested to see where in the aftermarket warranty it said it has to be more often, or if it was just something they dealer added on.

Very odd, keep us updated. I would be interested to see how this all works out.

The third party warranty is pretty generic, it's not specific to the BRZ or even to Subarus, and right in the paperwork it requires 5k miles / 6 month oil changes.

Seems like it's probably a trick - the warranty company sells the warranties to the dealer and turns a profit, the dealer includes it and more than makes up for the cost with increased service revenue, then if anything does happen, it looks like there are enough loop holes that they can avoid most common failures (seals and gaskets), so they probably all make out like bandits. I might talk to the finance guy about it to see if the DI seals are even covered, when I'm in there for my fogged up tails.

[nyw]

Watch out those of you in Canada, I recently had a rod bearing issue and Toyota Canada Denied my Warranty Claim due to "excessive modifications"

What do I have on there?

trd lip kit, starspecs with stock rims, sway bars, coil overs, water temp gauge, bucket seat, HID's

Toyota's stance??
Straight from the Scion website:
Nullifying The New Vehicle Warranty
Certain factors or conditions such as negligence, modification of vehicles which take that vehicle out of compliance or accidents can nullify any of the warranties. Your local Scion or Toyota dealer can advise you of all of the conditions that could compromise the vehicle's warranty coverage.

I called in and asked to have a manager review the situation.
And basically, the verdict was, "Since you have so many modifications that could have caused the problem, we would like to make it fair for you, you can pay for a tear down of the engine and if it really is a manufacturing defect, we will pay for it. Otherwise, you will have to pay for the teardown by hourly rate as well as what you decide to do with fixing the engine".

I approved it and they are warrantying since it is indeed a manufacturing defect (and I have had no engine mods)

but the bottom line is, if I didn't fight for it, they would be very glad to deny my warranty claims due to "excessive modifications" none of which had anything to do with the engine.

I understand in the US there is an act against that, but over here in Canada, watch out!

The reps at scion will just go by, "oh we are not mechanics so we can't tell if what you have modified on there will effect the engine, but we have all the photos and it seems quite extensive"... quite ridiculous really...

[Grey]

I have changed the filter, otherwise the engine is stock. I will only add, not replace or take away, until the warranty is out. Part of the foresight of being an adult I guess.