Stage 2 boys

[Zeebuilder]

Doubt it wouldnt be that hard with 1088nm torque!

[wildbore]

I think your friend's success at getting this fixed under warranty will depend on whether the dealer processes it without Audi becoming interested. Manufacturers are increasingly aware that torque-related warranty claims point to remapping, even when there is nothing in the ECU.

[Eddie555]

Id hate to be the bearer of bad news. I recently had a long discussion with the top technician at my Audi dealership about tuning.
Actually a bit of background information about my friendship with my dealer. When I had my 2013 Q7 I had it remapped by DMS. During my 20 months of ownership the car went for service a couple of times and needed a couple of warranty issues sorted. Each time it went in I reminded them that it was chipped and each time they would turn a blind eye that my car was tuned. I won't go into great detail why my dealer are so nice to me but I will say wine and biscuits are involved.

Now back to present day. Some of you are aware that I recently replaced my stolen RS6 with a SQ5. So because after owning a 6 and going to derv power you can imagine I'm not very impressed. So due to lack of power I WAS going to give the SQ5 a remap. After being on this forum and all the talk of warranty/td1 issues I thought I'd have a word with the tech and see what he has to say. SHOCK HORROR! He tells me that his hands are now tied and he would no longer be able to turn a blind eye and cover my arse. This is because that when ever any car goes into the workshop it gets scanned and it is linked direct to AUDI. It is also not a fix if you think you can just reflash the ECU back to OE because Audi will know how many times the ECU has been flashed. So basically if chip you are Fooked and anything related to engine and all drive train will be invalid.

[Paulm]

Yes but one tool manufacturer has released a way to 100% stock. It's like it just came from the factory. Only one tool can do this so far. Just be careful what tool your mapper uses.

[doodlebug]

So they say.....as you've said before it's a battle and your always running the risk.

[W8PMC]

Id hate to be the bearer of bad news. I recently had a long discussion with the top technician at my Audi dealership about tuning.
Actually a bit of background information about my friendship with my dealer. When I had my 2013 Q7 I had it remapped by DMS. During my 20 months of ownership the car went for service a couple of times and needed a couple of warranty issues sorted. Each time it went in I reminded them that it was chipped and each time they would turn a blind eye that my car was tuned. I won't go into great detail why my dealer are so nice to me but I will say wine and biscuits are involved.

Now back to present day. Some of you are aware that I recently replaced my stolen RS6 with a SQ5. So because after owning a 6 and going to derv power you can imagine I'm not very impressed. So due to lack of power I WAS going to give the SQ5 a remap. After being on this forum and all the talk of warranty/td1 issues I thought I'd have a word with the tech and see what he has to say. SHOCK HORROR! He tells me that his hands are now tied and he would no longer be able to turn a blind eye and cover my arse. This is because that when ever any car goes into the workshop it gets scanned and it is linked direct to AUDI. It is also not a fix if you think you can just reflash the ECU back to OE because Audi will know how many times the ECU has been flashed. So basically if chip you are Fooked and anything related to engine and all drive train will be invalid.

That's good to know & would mirror my previous experiences with Audi (my dealer) where they never questioned any modifications i'd done to the car & never rejected any warranty claim (a few were big). If i was in or getting an Audi now, i think i'd go the safe route & avoid engine modifications.

[Paulm]

you guys are all worried about warrantee but what about when you come to hand them back or trade them in. Audi wont touch them. I think you may find (if you don't believe return to stock feature) this will be a bigger widespread issue. Even if you try and trade into BMW, 1st thing BMW do is call Audi dealers for a price as they don't want it.

what about PCP when you hand the keys back and Audi say no, you have modified it??

I guess you guys don't have to go to Audi for servicing etc. 1st service you get with the map on you are done!!

[W8PMC]

In the event of an accident, you would be claiming under the insurer, not Audi. As long as you're covered there, then no issues

That's true Paul (W8PMC) but it's your car, you can tell the recovery truck driver wherever you want to go. You probably wouldn't phone Audi assist mind. I guess it's the risks you take, fortunately serious failures are rare.

Although i do believe both of us have had F10 engine failures over the last couple of years What did yours die of? I had a manufacturing defect in one of the connecting rods Just like you I managed to reject the car

Surely in a breakdown though you'd have to ring Audi assist? Who else would you call & also a challenge having the car sat non drivable for a few days whilst awaiting the tuner to recode the ECU's. Lastly i'm sure Audi would question why the car broke down on Monday but it's only arriving with them on Thursday/Friday. Only my opinion but adopting that approach is certainly exaggerating the deceit.

My F10 failure was a faulty fuel rail (seems BMW received a bad batch) so not an engine failure, however as the Dealer was unable to diagnose & thus fix, after the 3rd breakdown i rejected the car. Likewise i'm not aware of any major issues with the F10 as per the C7 & the replacement car even with 750/700 has been rock solid & other than you & me, yet to hear of any other rejections.

I reckon some American M5 owners are about to face big bills/failures with their big power upgrades, but even they appear to be holding up well.

[boff]

I don't get it when you have a warranty. I like certainty - I don't have the will to fund uncertainty of £25k Gearbox or Engine bills, refusal on other works, insurance, etc etc

That's just me, the car whilst lovely, is a tool I use to make money - therefore it has to work, without unpredicted bills. I guess that's why mine goes onto service plan.


I admire people who do it, but the wealth level must be great enough to not fear those huge bills.

[Leo-RS]

Warranty is only for 36 months Boff and then you're on your own anyway.

I guess that's the risk we take, in my mind and in my experience having played with all my previous cars, Stage 1-2 type tuning is mild and well within tolerances of what the engines are designed to withstand. There are some owners out there that are really pushing the boundaries with 900-1000hp cars for example and by all reports, they seem to be holding up well. I'd be feeling nervous about 900-1000 but at 700-750 levels, there's obviously a lot less stress than what those cars are pushing. Chances are you should be fine with a tune but fully appreciate it may turn out to be an expensive gamble

As above though, every month that passes by is a month less of available warranty anyway.

[W8PMC]

Warranty is only for 36 months Boff and then you're on your own anyway.

I guess that's the risk we take, in my mind and in my experience having played with all my previous cars, Stage 1-2 type tuning is mild and well within tolerances of what the engines are designed to withstand. There are some owners out there that are really pushing the boundaries with 900-1000hp cars for example and by all reports, they seem to be holding up well. I'd be feeling nervous about 900-1000 but at 700-750 levels, there's obviously a lot less stress than what those cars are pushing. Chances are you should be fine with a tune but fully appreciate it may turn out to be an expensive gamble

As above though, every month that passes by is a month less of available warranty anyway.

As above. These cars (among others) can quite comfortably handle some fettling & be well within tolerance, however i can also see an owners nervous position at not wanting to take the risk. Personally i'm in the former camp & have yet (touch wood) to be proved wrong with no tuning related issues with any of my cars, however i'm not stupid enough to think this could never happen.

If Audi really do chuck a wobbler now as soon as they plug a tuned car into the diagnostics system then if i owned an Audi i'd not be getting to fettled.

[Markp]

Interesting point above re PCP/part-ex/leasing etc.
Friend had 911 with re-map (Revo I think) which was picked up on part ex inspection and Porsche dealer said no thanks. Would not even take car to put in trade. Now not many bother to inspect so closely - my Audi dealer did not even look at my BMW part ex for the 6, just took the keys and documents off me - but it is becoming more common.
No issue for private sale I suppose but worth considering as a factor.
Fortunately standard power is plenty for me

[TomRS]

interesting to see how this will affect future sales when mapped cars become more common... especially those on pcp/hp etc.

[Zeebuilder]

Well new drive shaft & service £1100 not to bad!! Audi didn't even entertain the warranty as they knew it was mapped!