I know there is the school of thought that any mods of any kind will invalidate the warranty. And yet many say that certain things will be OK with the majority of dealers.

But who has actually asked their dealer if a mod is allowed and been given the OK, and if so, what was it?

Or, who has modded the car and then taken the car in for some work and not got a slapped wrist for it?

I know there is the school of thought that any mods of any kind will invalidate the warranty.

Unfortunately, that school of thought is also known as Skoda UK...who also are known to check these forums, so posting up explicit details of which dealers are "cool with mods" is probably not going to be a good idea.

If you ask a dealer if a mod is OK they'll either quote Skoda UK's policy, or just lie to you and say it will be fine.

If you have the mod done and they notice, there's every chance they will invalidate your warranty (it has happened). If they don't notice, then you will probably get away with it (it has happened).

There are no definite answers, it is a risk...

Rob.

Not asking people to name dealers, just curious who has done what and their dealer (whoever that may be) has been OK with it.

Not asking people to name dealers, just curious who has done what and their dealer (whoever that may be) has been OK with it.

Skoda are pretty good at matching up owners to cars to dealers...

Rob.

The problem is, even if you don't name a dealer, it doesnt take a genius to do a bit of digging and figure out which dealer a particular member uses.

Mod the car, say bye-bye to warranty.

That's the official line

Or, to use a famous quote again...

If you can't pay, don't play

My question is this.....why bother modding anyway, isn't it just great the way it is??? :confused: I have nothing against modding, each to his own BUT to risk invalidating the warranty is to me madness. It is after all the main reason I purchased new, for the 3 year warranty.

Call me old fashioned, call me what you like, it's just my opinion :(

Surely they can't refuse to fix something totally unrelated to what you've modified? Say you fit bigger wheels, and the sunroof starts leaking. They may say your warranty is invalid becuase you modified the car, but surely if it went to court or to trading standards they would say Skoda had to repair the car as the fault was unrelated to modifications to the vehicle?

Or say you change the stereo - I wouldn't expect the Skoda warranty to cover the aftermarket deck, but if the engine seized and they refused to fix it because I had "modified the car" I don't think they would have a leg to stand on legally.

What do you reckon?

What do you reckon?

The terms of the warranty contract are pretty clear though - if you breach this then there's no reason they should honour it.

And could you prove beyond all reasonable doubt that changing the headunit didn't cause an electrical fault which in turns broke the engine? :rubchin:

Rob.

The terms of the warranty contract are pretty clear though - if you breach this then there's no reason they should honour it.

And could you prove beyond all reasonable doubt that changing the headunit didn't cause an electrical fault which in turns broke the engine? :rubchin:

Rob.

Rob,

If we are recommending to potentially new Skoda owners that they shouldn't change the head unit (lets be honest, probably one of the only items that is low rent compared to our VAG siblings) for fear of losing their warranty then we are in deep doo doo :(

Pete

The terms of the warranty contract are pretty clear though - if you breach this then there's no reason they should honour it.

And could you prove beyond all reasonable doubt that changing the headunit didn't cause an electrical fault which in turns broke the engine? :rubchin:

Rob.

So, what you're saying is that changing the head unit constitutes a modification?

How about changing the bulbs in your headlamps?

Loading the boot with luggage could surely put overdue stress on the car's suspension. Doing so will invalidate any claim made on the car's wheels, tyres, dampeners and suspension!

If we are recommending to potentially new Skoda owners that they shouldn't change the head unit (lets be honest' date=' probably one of the only items that is low rent compared to our VAG siblings) for fear of losing their warranty then we are in deep doo doo :(

[/quote']

I'm not recommending that, otherwise I'd still have the standard head unit in mine. But I am aware it breached the warranty contract, and if my dealer had refused to work on the car on those grounds I would've cursed them for being petty ****ers, but faced it as a reality...

Rob.

Guys don't wont to poo poo this but Skoda UK looks in on this forum so details as to where and what dealers are best left to PM's.

So, what you're saying is that changing the head unit constitutes a modification?

It's not standard spec, therefore it does.

How about changing the bulbs in your headlamps?

If it's not standard spec, it does.

Loading the boot with luggage could surely put overdue stress on the car's suspension. Doing so will invalidate any claim made on the car's wheels, tyres, dampeners and suspension!

Er...that's nothing to do with the spec! Though taking it on a track day will invalidate your warranty...

Rob.

Should point out that the part you mod will not be covered by warranty.

To use your analogy / example; you put in an Alpine headunit, it goes bang, well its your problem in association with Alpine / the car hi-fi place.

You change the suspension, your beef is with the suspension supplier etc etc.

What is slightly less clear and open to arguement is consequential damage. Did that new head unit cause the electric window motors to burn out? Did that new suspension cause the driveshaft to warp? etc etc

Should point out that the part you mod will not be covered by warranty.

To use your analogy / example; you put in an Alpine headunit' date=' it goes bang, well its your problem in association with Alpine / the car hi-fi place.

You change the suspension, your beef is with the suspension supplier etc etc.

What is slightly less clear and open to arguement is consequential damage. Did that new head unit cause the electric window motors to burn out? Did that new suspension cause the driveshaft to warp? etc etc[/quote']

That was my understanding Real Skoda dude

My feeling is that a significant number of dealers adopt a pragmatic approach to mods - if you get my drift. :confused:

That was my understanding Real Skoda dude

That's probably what will happen at the dealer - they will use their discretion. However, Skoda UK do say that *any* deviance from the standard spec will result in the *entire* warranty being void.

It's a risk - it may happen. People shouldn't enter into modding blind of this possibility!

Rob.

It's not standard spec' date=' therefore it does.

If it's not standard spec, it does.

Er...that's nothing to do with the spec! Though taking it on a track day will invalidate your warranty...

Rob.[/quote']

OK, I wouldn't expect the Skoda UK warranty to cover aftermarket parts. Why would it? Skoda didn't supply them!

But technically, if you fitted silver indicator bulbs and the engine seized, they could claim your warranty was invalid because you modified the car. But I think trading standards would be on them like a ton of bricks if they tried to pull that one. I certainly would not accept it as a legitimate reason for not repairing a manufacturing defect in an unrelated part of the car, and I don't think any legally entity would either.

Fair enough, the walls have ears and such, anyone want to PM me about their mods???

But I think trading standards would be on them like a ton of bricks if they tried to pull that one.

Why? A contract is a contract, and it's the same for all but a handful of manufacturers...

Rob.

Why? A contract is a contract' date=' and it's the same for all but a handful of manufacturers...

Rob.[/quote']

Sale of Goods Act, fitness for purpose, reasonable expectations of durability. They could claim that the whole warranty was invalid but I think they would have a hard time trying to justify the refusal in court or to trading standards based on a swapped head unit or silver lightbulbs, in light of their obligations under the act.

I would think it would be a highly defensible argument that in spite of their claims that any mod will invalidate the warranty, the fact that they warranty such parts for three years is sufficient grounds to expect these parts (that are totally unrelated to the part of the car you have modified) not to develop faults during this time, and if they do develop faults, to expect them to be obligated to fix them. Surely they would be asked to prove how that modification affected a totally unrelated part of the car, if they tried to use this to get out of an expensive repair?

Still, might take my silver bulbs out before it goes into the dealer's on Saturday...

Surely they would be asked to prove how that modification affected a totally unrelated part of the car, if they tried to use this to get out of an expensive repair?

No, the onus would be on *you* to prove it didn't.

Rob.

Does anybody know which dealers look at this site? PM me to avoid the Feds!

No' date=' the onus would be on *you* to prove it didn't.

Rob.[/quote']

Wouldn't that have to depend on what you modified, and what went wrong? Say for example, you changed your headlamp bulbs, then your rear bumper fell off while you were driving. You'd have no way of physically proving it was unrelated, but at the same time, it's physically impossible for what you did to have caused the fault - and by definition, is that not proof?

Wouldn't that have to depend on what you modified, and what went wrong? Say for example, you changed your headlamp bulbs, then your rear bumper fell off while you were driving. You'd have no way of physically proving it was unrelated, but at the same time, it's physically impossible for what you did to have caused the fault - and by definition, is that not proof?

But you can't prove it's not impossible - hotter headlight bulbs might cause the front wings to warp slightly, which in turn causes the side of the car to bend by mm's, which in turn causes the rear bumper to fall off.

I'm just stating the terms of the warranty...which says having the car as *anything* other than standard will invalidate the *entire* warranty.

If you, or anyone else wishes to take their chances, then by all means do. But be aware of the worst possible outcome...

Rob.

I think I can safely say you are OK with a Richbrook alloy tax disc holder.