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      09-19-2011, 05:21 PM   #1
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No cats at the dealer?

I was wondering how the dealers recieve cars that go in with no cats? I would think the smell would immediatly give it away and while I know cat delete alone cannot void warranty, I would think they would suspect other mods based on knowing your cats are gone. I also could see them denying an engine claim with cats gone given theoretically it could mess with the engine air flow properties. Not saying in fact it does but I could see them using that to get out of a warranty claim..
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      09-19-2011, 06:07 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SehrSchnell View Post
It's all about your relationship with the dealer, and especially with the service manager and SA. My dealership has no problems with my car... I pass inspection, and the techs love the SC.

And yes, they'll know the second you pull in. Just talk to the SA first and feel them out... it's all about expectations as well; If I have any engine issues I don't expect them to cover it, but anything unrelated to my mods is fine with them.
Its a funny thought, you going into a dealer with your mods. For the "feeling out" part I mean. "Yeah, I umm, have umm, done a little work to my car, and umm, how do you guys feel about that?"
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      09-19-2011, 07:43 PM   #3
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Yes, not sure how you "feel them out" to be honest. Its kind of pointless if you think about it. 2 scenarios may occur.

1.He is ok with mods. Therefore if you bring it in with mods anyway, he will have been fine with it. No need to find this out before hand.

2.If he is not ok with it. If you ask him or "feel him out" then he will be on the lookout for you having mods on your car. You might as well just bring it in and see what happens.

Not sure feeling out is useful here.
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      09-20-2011, 12:05 AM   #4
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Half my cats are gone... and the dealer did it for me.
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      09-20-2011, 01:44 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SehrSchnell View Post
It's all about your relationship with the dealer, and especially with the service manager and SA. My dealership has no problems with my car... I pass inspection, and the techs love the SC.

And yes, they'll know the second you pull in. Just talk to the SA first and feel them out... it's all about expectations as well; If I have any engine issues I don't expect them to cover it, but anything unrelated to my mods is fine with them.
Very true cause I took my car to Beverly Hills BMW and got crap from them cause I have exhaust on my car and they were saying it will void warranty if somthing happens. I just took it in for an oil change... Since then, I continue to take mine to Long Beach BMW, they are super cool and have never said anything... To me its worth the extra 30 min drive....
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      09-20-2011, 09:40 AM   #6
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not a problem at my dealer...i cant wait till something goes terribly wrong and they change their mind...
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      09-20-2011, 10:15 AM   #7
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What about dogs? Any issues with the smell of dogs at the dealer?
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      09-20-2011, 10:57 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SehrSchnell View Post

Oh for crying out loud... Call the dealership, tell them you run no-cats (or you plan on modding), ask them if it will be a problem. Done. And here is a f@cking brilliant idea - do it before you mod.
This!
This is one of those situations where it makes more sense to ask for permission than forgiveness. Ideally do this before your mod. It makes it easier if you are already going to the same dealer/sa and already have a rapport. (I can't stress how important rapport is-- for anything)

Just tell him, you're on the boards and there's so many conflicting information about how dealerships feel about mods and instead of listening to all the bs, you wanted to actually get his advice. He'll respect you for asking him and even if he's on the fence on the idea, you got yourself some leverage. And if not, go to another dealer.
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      09-20-2011, 12:26 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CCL16M3 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by SehrSchnell View Post
It's all about your relationship with the dealer, and especially with the service manager and SA. My dealership has no problems with my car... I pass inspection, and the techs love the SC.

And yes, they'll know the second you pull in. Just talk to the SA first and feel them out... it's all about expectations as well; If I have any engine issues I don't expect them to cover it, but anything unrelated to my mods is fine with them.
Very true cause I took my car to Beverly Hills BMW and got crap from them cause I have exhaust on my car and they were saying it will void warranty if somthing happens. I just took it in for an oil change... Since then, I continue to take mine to Long Beach BMW, they are super cool and have never said anything... To me its worth the extra 30 min drive....
Long Beach has been cool with my mods as well. Have an exhaust and the SA said "damn, I live how your car sounds." they know
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      09-25-2011, 02:49 PM   #10
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I've seen a dog there once
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      09-25-2011, 02:56 PM   #11
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I've seen a dog there once
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      09-25-2011, 02:59 PM   #12
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.
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      09-25-2011, 07:01 PM   #13
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BMW NA's response

I contacted BMW NA about header back exhaust, with regard to warranty. They said that they frown upon After Market products and can only say if in their opinion the after market product cause damage to OEM parts it would not be covered. When I asked for more detail he said that he had no technical knowledge as did his supervisor. BMW does not want their customer service people to have any knowledge of their cars, because they do not want them to give out advise that may be incorrect. He was willing to advise me not to buy a competitors automobile, beyond that it was a pretty pointless conversation.
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      09-25-2011, 07:19 PM   #14
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I have a buddy that takes his car in to century west with a few mods, along with the fact that it has no cats. no problems at all, just be very direct with them and what you have done to your car
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      09-25-2011, 11:31 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DjZotic View Post
I have a buddy that takes his car in to century west with a few mods, along with the fact that it has no cats. no problems at all, just be very direct with them and what you have done to your car
Every time I take my car to new century, and I wait for it in the waiting room, I always hear my car being revved, as the techs are so amazed by my akra evo. Because the engine bay is in the same building as the parking structure, u can definitely hear the massive echo it makes.

They tell me it's one of the best sounding exhausts and they like playing with it, so I've been told.
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      09-26-2011, 02:11 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by legend View Post
I contacted BMW NA about header back exhaust, with regard to warranty. They said that they frown upon After Market products and can only say if in their opinion the after market product cause damage to OEM parts it would not be covered. When I asked for more detail he said that he had no technical knowledge as did his supervisor. BMW does not want their customer service people to have any knowledge of their cars, because they do not want them to give out advise that may be incorrect. He was willing to advise me not to buy a competitors automobile, beyond that it was a pretty pointless conversation.
Did you really expect anything else from calling BMW NA?
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      09-26-2011, 12:58 PM   #17
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its not all about the SA. Its about the tech. with my modded 335i im cool with the tech and text him prior.
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      09-27-2011, 03:20 PM   #18
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i just took in my car for the first time after removing the primary cats. i talked to my sa before hand because i was going in for an exhaust related issue. buzzing or vibration and thought it was the rear bracket on the axle back. it was iffy if they would cover the damage since i put in the mid section and would say it was caused by that. turned out not to be a bracket issue and something i can fix easily. my sa didnt have an issue with my car having cats removed but did make a note in my service record to that effect.
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      09-28-2011, 05:08 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ateam View Post
I was wondering how the dealers recieve cars that go in with no cats? I would think the smell would immediatly give it away and while I know cat delete alone cannot void warranty.
First thing to remember is it's a federal offense to remove cats, so they'd be fully justified to cancel warranty on that alone. But the kicker is no cats require tuning to remove the CEL, so no CEL means you're tuned. And a tune can void your entire powertrain warranty. And no, there's no reversing a tune; it can always be detected that DME was tampered with.

That's why unless you count a BMW service manager as your drinking buddy, I'd seriously question doing any of that crap to a car under warranty. And if you already did, taking it there with those mods wouldn't even cross my mind. But to each his own. Good luck.
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      09-28-2011, 06:22 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by elp_jc View Post
First thing to remember is it's a federal offense to remove cats, so they'd be fully justified to cancel warranty on that alone.
This is not correct. In the event of a warranty claim refusal they would have to prove that the cat removal was the cause of that particular failure by law under the Magnuson-Moss Act.
The Federal offense is a separate issue.

Quote:
Originally Posted by elp_jc View Post
But the kicker is no cats require tuning to remove the CEL, so no CEL means you're tuned. And a tune can void your entire powertrain warranty.
Also incorrect. Innotech bypass pipes for example, do not require a tune to prevent the SES light for catalyst inefficiency.
The Akropovic delete-r also prevents the SES light without a "tune".
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      09-28-2011, 06:40 PM   #21
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The Akropovic delete-r also prevents the SES light without a "tune".
i told my sa yesterday i was running this to explain the lack of increased emission light.
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      09-28-2011, 06:46 PM   #22
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I had no problem with that going to Crevier BMW. I just told my rep that the check engine light is on, I know what it's on for, headers on the car, and there's no need to check it, it's not urgent. He said ok, and just took the car for inspection I or II, depending on what I needed.

I've heard that some do care though, it just depends on the dealership.
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