Voiding warranty?

zesty-man

zesty-man

how do ya like it?
i was wondering, would changing the sounds in my car (the speakers, amps, deck, subs) void my warranty on my BMW? i could always ask the dealership, but i dont wanna look too stupid.

thanks for the help
 
I think some dealers try to pull that on people, but I really don't see any reason why putting a stereo in a car would void the warranty. Just use a reputable shop and don't let them hack it up and you should be good to go.
 
Zesty,

You should really check with your dealership and see if they care or not. Warranty is useful I admit. You should really watch out what you are changing as the connections / sensors might go wacky. I believe your car is prewired for quite a number of features (that aren't useful at all).
 
Yes it could if they cut wires....plug ins are ok, but if they put somethng in that can effect the computer..you might run into problems if it can be traced back to the installation.
 
My body shop guy has a lot of experience with this stuff as he has dealt with it working at a couple different dealers.

BY LAW, if it can bolt in and bolt out, it doesn't void the warranty. He said it goes for just about everything...Internals of the engine are touchy, but replacing the speakers is not a big deal.
 
Sean I was thinking more of a high powered amp ...speakers should be no problem or plug in decks
 
hmmm, thanks for the help so far. i think i may inquire my salesperson guy. what im afriad of however is that hes going to try ot sell me some sound system from BMW instead of something that i wanted like JL/apline etc etc.
 
Just say no. They can't force you to. I would ask your Parts personnel. Sales people really don't know what they are talking about for the large part in my experience.
 
You should be alright. According to a law passed several decades ago (Magnusson-Moss Act, if I remember rightly) if an aftermarket product is installed, it cannot void your waranty unless it is directly responsible for the claim. If your sound system is resonsible for your warranty claim, something is wrong. You should be fine. A turbocharger that holes a piston, or a thrown rod due too a rev happy aftermarket setup, that is where you'll shred your warranty. Racing will get you too, except on the new corvettes, which specifically allow it.
 
zesty-man said:
i agree with you woob. parts personal? for BMW?
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Parts personnel you mean? They should help you out. But I'm not sure. Dealerships are either hit or miss.
 
Zesty,
How much longer do you have on your warranty
if it's only another year or so then just wait and do what ever you want if it's longer than that I don't think that the addition or changing of stereo components should void it unless like tubafreak said that they can prove that the install is a direct reason of the claim.

Good Luck
"J"
 
hmmmm, my warranty ends in 2007 i believe, and by then ill be in college and my mom and dad are gonna be driving my car around while im somewhere in the mainland thinking about it.....

as for the warranty issue, i heard a freak story the other day. basically my dad's friend's daughter's battery in her BMW, so my dad's friend simply replaced her car battery. anyway, apparantly something went wrong again, so they took her car back to BMW, and the BMW people said that by putting the new battery inside, voided her warranty. hows that? spooky...... thats why im sorta hesitant, but i sorta want sounds too :(. .
 
Pain in the butt I tell you. I suggest devoting all your money into making that Silver shine so they can "try" to void you warranty. :LOLOL
 
zesty-man said:
hmmmm, my warranty ends in 2007 i believe, and by then ill be in college and my mom and dad are gonna be driving my car around while im somewhere in the mainland thinking about it.....

as for the warranty issue, i heard a freak story the other day. basically my dad's friend's daughter's battery in her BMW, so my dad's friend simply replaced her car battery. anyway, apparantly something went wrong again, so they took her car back to BMW, and the BMW people said that by putting the new battery inside, voided her warranty. hows that? spooky...... thats why im sorta hesitant, but i sorta want sounds too :(. .
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as long as it met oem spec then they cannot do that. Stealerships quite frequently try to screw the unknowing public over. You can change pretty much anything as long as it can be put back to stock. In the world today there is no reason to cut a wire in a vehicle or hack something out to make something fit. There are plugs, adapters and all kinds of things to mate aftermarket stereo stuff to factory plugs. If something messes up you take off the mods and put the stock stuff back in.
 
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