Unknown modifications

[Stuartkemp72]

My first post so forgive me if I don’t follow blog etiquette.

Yesterday we took our 62 plate Fabia vrs estate into a Skoda dealership for a visual health check. We bought the car from an independent dealer in July and have been very happy so far.

The car was put on a ramp and a video produced. We were able to watch the video at Skoda and whilst doing so it was brought to out attention that several modifications had been done.

H and R springs, Bilstein shocks, mid silencer delete and an anti roll bar on the rear. We were also told that the engine maybe remapped to deal with the exhaust.

What I thought was a result suddenly became a big worry as I now have insurance and warranty issues. The independent dealer I’ve bought the car from has agreed to put it back to stock as I’m sure he knows the consumer rights regarding withholding information (he must have seen the modifications as he sold it with a years MoT and fitted new brake pads all around). I just feel that if I get this put back to stock, will I feel disappointed with the car? It’s an absolute blast at present and I’ve worked out those modifications must have cost a fortune. It will be a fortune for me to cancel my current insurance and then run a modified policy in its place but is the car noticeably different when stock?

Of course I should have been a bit cleverer when I bought it but I’m my defence I thought it was supposed to have a throaty exhaust and extra suspension due to it being a Vrs.

[bigjohn]

If the dealer has to put it back to stock you at least will end up with a lot of new parts - this is a good thing.

[Polluxtroy69]

You dont need any map to deal with those kind of mods. But seeing a VRS that has been put on H&R springs will definitely not jump out as its been modified as it looks how it should have looked. I am thinking about getting a rear anti roll bar for mine but ive never got round to it. Shame youre getting it put back stock

[rum4mo]

What a horrible situation to end up in, have you tried to get a figure on what it will end up taking to get correct insurance cover on it, at that age warranty will only be aftermarket warranty so if you were given or bought extra warranty on it when you bought it from this dealer, can they not sort that out for you to take that out of the equation, as replacing these parts will cost them quite a bit.

 

When I bought a used 2011 Audi S4 back in 2013, it was Audi approved and included in the description was a "Sports Exhaust" now I knew that it had a large oval end on each side but did not think much about that, turned out when I examined it after buying it, that it had been fitted with a Milltek stainless steel performance exhaust, the cosmetic appeal of that was pleasing, the stainless point made it desirable long term, but when I told my insurer they made me pay for it year after year, which is annoying for a small thing like a Milltek exhaust!!  In that instance, the free Audi 7 day insurance probably would not cover that car as it had been modified and Audi continued to pester me to take on their special better than the best out there insurance, I started filling the online form out but noticed that they would not cover cars with modifications including exhausts, so I just stuck with my usual insurer!!

[Ootohere]

Welcome.

 

No Warranty Issues if a Warranty from the Dealer, they sold the car.

You will not get a Skoda Warranty, they might sell one but not honour it. 

 

 

So those mods you know are not OEM need Declared to your insurer, you have posted them on an open forum after all.

All good stuff. 

 

Maybe the car has a remap, but you will never know unless you check, or a Software Update gets done.

So let sleeping dogs lay.

 

The XDS , Brake Assist & Steering Assist might not be at Factory Setting either, so if happy leave alone.

[Ootohere]

PS 

With a Dealers Warranty i would use that to be sure it is not an Oil User, and if it is reject the car because they will not fit a new engine.

 

Have you checked if the DSG Service Campaign was done.  '34F7' for a 2010-2012, and '34H5' for a 2012/13 on might be needed, 

but if the DSG is good maybe best left alone.

?

Do you know if it is the original engine, and never rebuilt or replaced?

 

If you have a good running and handling car i would enjoy it, and be sure you have Valid Fully Comp Insurance.  Mods Declared.

[roaddetective]

That sounds like at least a thousand pounds worth of mods there. Personally I would keep them on and get insurance stating the mods as I do. You might pay an extra £100 a year as it's modded, that's the extra I have to pay for the mods I have. If you then kept the car as long as 10years, you would financially break even. Very rough figures mind. Putting it back to standard after driving the car as you bought it, you might be a little disappointed. Decisions decisions eh!

[rum4mo]

Maybe a smart idea to start a new thread asking if anyone knows this car, quoting its reg number, it might give you more faith on this car which you liked and bought and so far, excluding these undisclosed modifications, are happy with?

[Stuartkemp72]

Currently trying to negotiate with our insurance company. Who can only be contacted by email! Paid for the year up front so doubt I’ll get refunded.

i think we’ll do our best to keep it modified.

madness.

 

[Kobayashi]

Some of them mods - remapping will add £300-400 easily to a £400 premium and you do not know if that has been done, no one will try and prove that mod if your car is written off. It is the duty of the dealer to tell you this fact. All the other Mods can be 'seen'

 

 

Side note:

 

This happened to a friend who had a VXR corsa knew nothing about MODS, bought it second hand from a garage, insurance after a prang refused to pay out, but in the end he did get paid out because he wasnt aware of the mods by the dealer and had paperwork to prove. 

Now the conundrum for you now is the mods 'that can be seen' you have now been made aware and you might not like car as much with the mods removed, 

 

 

[DAN@ADRIAN FLUX]

Hi and welcome.

If you need any help with insurance with those modifications then please feel free to drop me a line if you wish. I'd be only too pleased to try and help out.

Regards,

Dan.

[Stuartkemp72]

Thanks Dan, I’m waiting on what my current insurance to reply. You’re top of my list of people to call if I have an issue 

Thanks 

 

Stuart 

[Ootohere]

What Insurance Company or Underwriter?

 

Remaps need add nothing like hundreds of quid to insurance with a specialist company.

Neither need a suspension upgrade fitted correctly, sold to a buyer by a Dealership and which passed a MOT.

Unlike something fitted at the kerbside after a MOT.

 

Obviously some Insurers / underwriters are not going to cover you, but then once you ask and then say you are putting the car back to standard they are going to be stupid in some cases in saying that is modified.

 

Use specialist Insurers and have a Policy for Modified cars, maybe the Dealership can see towards sharing the cost of you cancelling your insurance since they sold the Modified Car 

& fitting OEM Springs and Dampers will cost them £300 in parts anyway, plus their labour.....

[Ootohere]

PS.

Standard Mk2 Fabia vRS Suspension is crap even on a brand new car and the new OEM Parts they will need to fit will be just as crap.

 

£500 even at trade prices it will be for them to get 4 springs and dampers.

 

Best drive what you buy if it drives well, and they have warrantied it and you also have to have received a car fit for purpose anyway.

 

Re Mods, 

The Rear Weights might be off the car.  But who knows without checking or knowing to check. 

 

Is there any Service Campaign / Recall Actions outstanding on the car?  DSG or Heated Seats or anything really.

http://master.skoda-auto.com/mini-apps/recall-actions

 

[mrgf]

I am sure you have informed them of the known mods but you cannot be expected to know if it has been remapped as it is a used car. If it is undeclared TO YOU, then not being declared BY YOU cannot be held against you. The insurance company can only ask and if you say you have not been told of or modded it yourself, they will either take that at face value or assume it to be done, now you have declared everything else. This in its-self will be unfair but they could also refuse to insure you and then, you will have to declare that, to any new, prospective insurer!

Offer up the known mods, stay quiet about anything you only "Think" may be done.

 

Perhaps return the silencer to standard but the other upgrades could well be better options. Better shocks and springs can be fitted by almost anyone during ownership of a vehicle. If I go to Kwok-Fit for a new set of shocks, I won't be telling my insurance about it as mine had worn and I replaced them. Yours were just replaced with better equipment. Get the insurance company to agree either a higher policy or, in the event of an accident, only replacing them with stock equipment. Dealer prices will most likely be just as much, anyway!

[Stuartkemp72]

Update.

Our insurance wouldn’t cover us so we cancelled and went with Brent acre. Got a refund and a cheaper policy even with the modifications. Still in negotiations with the warranty company....

Thank you to everybody who commented on this post. The help has been brilliant. We are keeping the modifications to the suspension and handling. As for the exhaust, watch this space.

[Ootohere]

?

Who are the Warranty Company / Underwriter and was that the Warranty from the Dealer or did you buy it?

?

What does the T&C's say about Modifications, is it that they have to approve any you want to have done.

 

As it is they Sold or provided a Warranty as the car was on the information that was known, which was not much really.

 

 

????????

What is the story with the exhaust, is it modded to straight through without a resonator box but still a back box?

Is there still the Cat fitted or a Sport Cat? 

Edited 29 October, 2018 by Offski

[Stuartkemp72]

The warranty company are warrantywise. We have platinum cover at a discounted cost via the independent dealer we purchased the car from.

warrantywise have said they will not cover any issues resulting from the modifications. 

Still has a cat fitted, straight through to back box silencer and that is the issue. For if anything went wrong in the engine area and I was the warranty company I would argue the potential remapped engine and exhaust modifications caused an issue.

im calling the dealer tomorrow to arrange a stock exhaust and change any remapping.

i wouldn’t normally be so twitchy but the 1.4 mk 2 engine does have a reputation.

[Ootohere]

It does have a reputation, and i would rather have a Remapped CAVE than one on OEM Software.  (As long as not Remap from REVO.)

 

Unless the Warranty Wise warranty means a new engine would get fitted so cover up to the likes of £5,000 i would leave well alone.

Get the Money back from the Policy and just see that the car runs OK.

 

Stage 1 remap from APR,

Good Oil, 5w 40 FS / VW 502,   Super Unleaded so Tesco Momentum 99 & DENSO Spark Plugs and clean air filters.  Then sorted.

 

PS,

If doing a Warranty Investigation the ECU will come up showing previously Remapped if it was and likely they would say 'Warranty Voided'.

But then a Dealer sold the car not knowing what was on the car as far as Standard factory or modified.

CAVE engine cars might have 'Breather Mods', ECU Update, then New Oil Spray Jets and another software update, 

all done under the VW Manufacturers Warranty or some other and yet Warranty Wise cover that...

(Well if there was a claim VW Group would come to a deal and provide an engine, as they do....)

 

eg,

Standard vs Non Standard.   *Standard with a Skoda Warranty.*  Barstewards!

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/440772-nightmare-fabia-vrs-engine-replacement-needed

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/348086-vrs-engine-death

 

 

Edited 30 October, 2018 by Offski

[Stuartkemp72]

Thanks, 

I have the cthe engine. It does drink a little oil but nothing like the horror stories I’ve read. It’s done 52,000 miles so I’m guessing it’s ‘run in’ by now.

Ive also checked all recalls/ campaigns and it’s as it should be.

we only use momentum. Plugs and coil pack was done recently.

It has a majority full Skoda service history which I will be up-keeping with my local dealer.

Incidently I don’t rag it very often as I’m old.

Really appreciate your time and advice. I’ve calmed down now and going to keep all the modifications.

Im also going to leave the warranty as I didn’t pay silly money and I get breakdown cover as well as £7000 of cover. (I’m fairly certain that has never been successfully claimed by anyone ever) but it’s worth a try.

Just can’t believe a reputable large independent dealer who must have known, let us drive of his forecourt with questionable insurance cover. That sticks in my throat.

[Ootohere]

What is a Full Main Dealer Service history, Oil & Filters, it shows how little gets done? 

 

I would rag it often when up to temperature, that is what saves the engines, no fouled plugs and parked with clean plugs. 

 

** I would not have a Twincharger near a Main Dealership unless the Technician is an enthusiast and has all the gear and more than an idea.**

 

PS

????

When was your CTHE Built.

Did the DSG require Service Campaign '34H5' , a software update?

It does not show on here, a Dealership or Skoda CS need to check.

http://master.skoda-auto.com/mini-apps/recall-actions

 

PPS

Warranty Wise have had new engines and gearboxes fitted to Mk2 Fabia vRS.  Because they are not stupid and VW Group are not going to any court 

to defend against Warranty Companies.

Warranty Companies and VW Group know the known issues, that is the business they are in and VW Group built them. 

VW Group assume the position and suck up the costs....

 

Edited 30 October, 2018 by Offski

[Stuartkemp72]

Yes the Skoda dealer checked for dsg update yesterday and it doesn’t need it. The cthe is a 62 plate.

Should I be getting it serviced at a specialist then?

Are there any success stories about mk 2 Fabia vrs?

[Ootohere]

^^^ Loads, they are brilliant and there are members here and others had more than one Twincharger.   You just need to know what they need.

 

Yours has the handling sorted, and seems to run good.  5w 40 FS should have it not using oil, but some early 2012 CTHE needed Software updates.

If i had one i would have it remapped and then that would help.

 

It was near 2015 before CTHE remaps were available.