Aftermarket exhausts and Audi warranty - that old chestnut

[zappy-chops]

Hi folks, there is a lot written about whether fitting an aftermarket exhaust will affect the Audi warranty and people seem to have different views/experiences, so I wanted to post this to hopefully consolidate that feedback in one place.

I do want to put an exhaust on my 2017 PE and the car still has plenty of warranty left, which I do not want to upset, but the varied experiences is giving me some concern.

* I have heard that Audi are fine with exhausts and that it won't affect your warranty.
* I have heard the complete opposite and that it will invalidate the warranty.
* I have heard something in between where it shouldn't affect the warranty but Audi may try to use it as an excuse not to pay out under warranty and then the focus shifts to me having to make the case/prove that the exhaust has no connection to whatever I am looking to have repaired/replaced under warranty.
* Perhaps there is also a further complication depending on the type of exhaust fitted. Something that has all the same components/cats etc may be seen differently to a straight pipe for example. One will alter combustion more than the other.

I can imagine that the idea of invalidating an entire warranty off the back of a customer fitting an after market exhaust is ludicrous as how can it possibly be connected if I am making a warranty claim for say electric windows stopping working and Audi says they won't repair because I have a non-Audi exhaust. That would never stand up in court I would imagine, but I don't want to get into the hassle of having to deal with that scenario if I go for a new exhaust. I want to be very clear that Audi won't care and the warranty will be intact.

What are your experiences? Does Audi care? Has anyone ever had this in writing from them? Is there wording in the warranty that clearly shows that fitting something like an exhaust will not (or will) invalidate the warranty (I have never bothered to read the warranty wording in its entirety).

Some of you will think just fit the exhaust and deal with Audi (if needed) later. That's not me. This is an expensive and highly strung car. The warranty is important and I don't want to mess with it. But I don't like the sound and want to improve it.

Cheers.

[Iain]

I had on my previous 6 a non res Milly cat back - no issues whatsoever with Audi - Master tech loved it.

[Covkiller]

I've bought from Audi a B6 S4 with a Milltek exhaust with an Audi warranty on it and they emphasized this as a selling point.

[Daveperc]

If you have a friendly Audi dealer who you regularly use I'd ask them (by email), and if not why not try Audi Customer Care. That way you get the answer from "the horse's mouth" so to speak, rather than the rather random experiences evident here.

My c5 experience was that building a good relationship with my local Audi dealer meant they presented any warranty claim positively to Audi who make the final decision. Having the car serviced by Audi is an extra expense, but IMHO worth it for the warranty peace of mind.

[MikeFish]

I think it all comes down to the dealer and what the issue is. I don't think anyone can categorically give you a guarantee so it's a potential risk.

[MAVAV]

I briefly considered this, but the response I got back from Customer Care was that if they felt that a fault was due to the aftermarket exhaust then it would invalidate my warranty. So in the end I just stuck with the Audi exhaust.

[Anth]

If it's approved its fine, little video below on the official Audi approved Akrapovic being installed by Audi London ;

https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outl ... reserved=0

[MikeFish]

If it's approved its fine, little video below on the official Audi approved Akrapovic being installed by Audi London ;

https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outl ... reserved=0

Who says it's approved? Just because he says it is on the video doesn't make it true. This was never an option in the UK and so I don't think it is an official or approved UK option. Personally I don't think you are any better off with this than a Milltek. Again, down to the dealer.

[Anth]

If it's approved its fine, little video below on the official Audi approved Akrapovic being installed by Audi London ;

https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outl ... reserved=0

Who says it's approved? Just because he says it is on the video doesn't make it true. This was never an option in the UK and so I don't think it is an official or approved UK option. Personally I don't think you are any better off with this than a Milltek. Again, down to the dealer.

The facts are it's got a official Audi sport branding on the product, It's again fact Akrapovic produce for Audi sport, such as the LeMans team, then along with the UK London Audi dealership having not only directly fit the system, confirmed warranty,then allowed the film of there Rs tech fitting it is again a tell tale. So unless Akrapovic are leaving them self open to massive intellectual property infringement laws I'd say it's being used by official Audi.

Ps. My dealer refused to replace my tail pipes under warranty. Audi UK instructed them to be replaced after I contacted them direct and they did it so a dealers word isn't final by any means .

[MikeFish]

Just because it has Audi Sport branding doesn't mean it is an official UK product. I know it was a factory option in other countries hence the branding but it wasn't in the UK.
And in fact I think it will be Audi UK that are more likely to refuse a claim. However, I'm not saying they will refuse, I'm saying I don't think it is any safer as an option, especially as most of the ones in the UK are not branded as Audi Sport. And some UK Audi dealers say it is not even an option to fit it aftermarket. Has anyone other than Mr JWW actually managed to get Audi UK to fit one?

[zappy-chops]

Has anyone other than Mr JWW actually managed to get Audi UK to fit one?

That is an interesting point Mike. As posted in another thread, off the back off seeing the Mr JWW video I called Audi Edinburgh to ask for a price to get the same exhaust fitted. Must be an Audi part as it has Audi Sport on it - I thought. Well, the folks in Edinburgh had zero knowledge of the product and it was not anywhere in their systems - so they could not price for it or get it or fit it.

[DaytonaMatt]

It was an official audi sport product they could sell you. A bargain at around £7k or so. No different to BMW selling their M Performance exhaust etc.

However recent EU rule changes now forbid manufacturers from selling any aftermarket product which changes the volume so they wont sell it to you anymore.