What simple mods are available (air filters etc) which will help the vRS to make it a little bit better performing without voiding my warranty.

What have other people done?, what are the costs / labour involved etc.

What simple mods are available (air filters etc) which will help the vRS to make it a little bit better performing without voiding my warranty.

What have other people done?' date=' what are the costs / labour involved etc.[/quote']

All mods will void your warranty unless you have a mod friendly dealer.

knackers .. oh well keep it for 3 years (or till I get bored) then chip it to more than the golf gt tdi

Anyone know how DM Keith (Leeds, Bradford) will react to mods?

If they aren't keen are there other more flexible dealers near Leeds?

For any dealer...officially they will void your warranty if they find your car has been modded, and they'll probably say as such if you ask them. However, you might find that they just simply won't notice your mods, especially if they're only working on areas which aren't affected by mods, if you see what I mean.

Ultimately even a dealer who turns a blind eye to it may well change their mind in time and not do warranty work for you. Best advice is probably not to mod if you couldn't live without the warranty...

Rob.

A mod friendly dealer is no good if they change staff, and the new staff is not so mod friendly!

Also, if your "mod friendly" dealer was suddenly to close, what would you do?

Also, if your "mod friendly" dealer was suddenly to close, what would you do?

Get less junk mail?

Rob.

Anyone know how DM Keith (Leeds' date=' Bradford) will react to mods?

If they aren't keen are there other more flexible dealers near Leeds?[/quote']

Some dealers offer Revo upgrades so I'm guessing they've got to be quite mod friendly.

You guys are worrying me now lol

Adding struts, air filter even a head unit = void warrenty.

Thats abit harsh if thats the case!

This is the wording of the relevant bit of the new car warranty:

The warranty will not apply:

To any component that has failed due to neglect, or misuse, or has been materially altered or modified without the approval of SkodaAuto.

Where failure has occurred as a direct result of a lack of or improper servicing.

To components that are not of the manufacturer's selection or approval.

To damage or defects due to:

- repairs by a workshop not authorised by SkodaAuto.

- installation of parts not approved by SkodaAuto.

- failure by the customer to comply with operating instructions in the owners instruction manual and service schedule book etc.

To any component that has failed as a result of accidental breakage, fair wear and tear or where work undertaken on the vehicle is reasonably considered to be of a service nature (including but not limited to the following examples:

Filters, spark plugs, drive belts, bulbs, wiper blades, clutch and brake linings, catalytic converter, glass, tyres, wheel alignment and balancing, head lamp adjustment, adjustment of doors and bonnets including mechanisms, fuel system cleaning, brake system cleaning and adjustment).

This is the wording of the relevant bit of the new car warranty:

The warranty will not apply:

To any component that has failed due to neglect' date=' or misuse, or has been materially altered or modified without the approval of SkodaAuto.[/font']

Where failure has occurred as a direct result of a lack of or improper servicing.

To components that are not of the manufacturer's selection or approval.

To damage or defects due to:

- repairs by a workshop not authorised by SkodaAuto.

- installation of parts not approved by SkodaAuto.

- failure by the customer to comply with operating instructions in the owners instruction manual and service schedule book etc.

To any component that has failed as a result of accidental breakage, fair wear and tear or where work undertaken on the vehicle is reasonably considered to be of a service nature (including but not limited to the following examples:

Filters, spark plugs, drive belts, bulbs, wiper blades, clutch and brake linings, catalytic converter, glass, tyres, wheel alignment and balancing, head lamp adjustment, adjustment of doors and bonnets including mechanisms, fuel system cleaning, brake system cleaning and adjustment).

so really its not as bad as was originally posted earlier i.e fitting a strut brace will not void the warranty on your engine, fitting a new filter may do i spose but only if the damage can be proven to have been caused by the 'non-skoda' part.

fitting a new filter may do i spose but only if the damage can be proven to have been caused by the 'non-skoda' part.

Ah, but it'd be up to you to prove it *didn't* cause the problem, rather then them having to prove to you that it did...and if they're not listening, it makes it all the much tougher...

Rob.

very true - i just think that it'd be in their interests not to go to court over something that in the eyes of most professional techie types wouldnt normally cause a blown engine (change of filter).

now if you were to change the turbo, or use nitrous i think you'd have more difficulty persuading them that the blown engine wasn't your fault.

bottom line is as previously mentioned - if unsure , don't do it cos if they get arsey they could argue the toss about every mod.

Pays yer money, takes yer choice. Getting big power gains from the pd and 1.8t lumps is cheap, but you have to try to put a figure on the value of the warantee I suppose.

Personally, I'd tweak my 1.8t a bit and take the risk - maybe apr 205bhp job - if it wasn't for the auto gearbox, which is only available with engines producing 210nm. There must be a reason for that...

bottom line is as previously mentioned - if unsure , don't do it cos if they get arsey they could argue the toss about every mod.

"Expect the worst, and be pleasantly surprised when it doesn't happen"...

Rob.

My gut feeling from past posts is that members have had much less trouble with dealers and mods than you might expect. Whilst some members have had bad experiences - even with unmodded cars - many more have had excellent support from their dealers. To my mind the helpful dealers win hands down with customer satisfaction and further sales/recommendations.

I agonised over going the Jabba route with more than half the warranty period still to run but the change in the car's character is remarkable and I would make the same decision again.

But would you do that Dennis if the car had done only 1k miles?

We must remember that the dealers life has altered beyond belief with the extra demands from VAG HQ. No doubt they will be tied to certain price structures and constraints, and with the ever increasing search by us all for cheaper and discounted cars. they make more of their money on servicing.

Now assuming VAG are very likely to turn around and not honour a repair/service because of something they dont approve, is it any wonder the dealers dont want to know and stick to the letter of the VAG law?

Personally I wont change anything in my car until the warranty expires as I dont want to risk giving them cause for denial of warranty.

The best thing to do is actually talk to your dealer. Tell them you are interested in modifying your car, ask them what their point of view is on it. My dealer immediately told me that my warranty would be void and so I waited as I don't have much of a choice of dealers around here without my better half finding out my shenanigans (sp?)...

But would you do that Dennis if the car had done only 1k miles?

I wouldn't have a car remapped at such a low mileage, but I guess that the question is really whether or not I would mod an almost new car at the start of the warranty period. I think the answer is that I would allow a reasonable period for any teething problems to emerge and be fixed. I did agonise over whether to have my 4X4 remapped at just over 6000 miles/17 months and I would definitely do the same again with hindsight. Since the remap I have had coil packs and clutch master cylinder replaced (both known problems) plus the wiper linkage. Full marks to the dealer.

I hear what your saying re the age and mileage Dennis, but what if your dealer hadnt been quite so accomodating with the faults you have had, and had played hard-ball....would you still do it again?

Dealer plays nasty, Dealer loses future servicing and repeat business, plus he gets a right royal hammering on Briskoda.

Simple really

And remember big brother is watching.

As I found out recently more than one Skoda HQ employee browses this site

But if the dealer isnt getting their submitted invoices paid by VAG what are they to do?

Best thing you can do is talk to them.

If they say no mods, then go elsewhere.

If they give you a nod & a wink, keep quiet and get on with enjoying the car.

If you don't want to take a chance, don't mod the car.