Help with do's and donts on PCP

David McQueen · Apr 23, 2017

New so sorry if this has already been covered before. Currently have a3 sline 1.4 tfsi COD daytona grey 2017 model, basically have a few questions on if you can do a few things while having a pcp contract that you wont shoot yourself in the foot when handing the car back. Going to tint the windows which wont be a problem but also was thinking of powdercoating the wheels and also de badging, would this have a negative affecting when handing car back. Also is there ano mods available that wont cause this problem and also void warranty? Thanks in advance!

Mark Anthony · Apr 23, 2017

David McQueen said:
New so sorry if this has already been covered before. Currently have a3 sline 1.4 tfsi COD daytona grey 2017 model, basically have a few questions on if you can do a few things while having a pcp contract that you wont shoot yourself in the foot when handing the car back. Going to tint the windows which wont be a problem but also was thinking of powdercoating the wheels and also de badging, would this have a negative affecting when handing car back. Also is there ano mods available that wont cause this problem and also void warranty? Thanks in advance!

I have the exact car on order colour and all! Nice choice! I want to get the windows tinted too. I find £500 far too much when I can get them done for £150 to a great standard.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

David McQueen · Apr 23, 2017

Mark Anthony said:
I have the exact car on order colour and all! Nice choice! I want to get the windows tinted too. I find £500 far too much when I can get them done for £150 to a great standard.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Yeah same only extras i got were the panoramic sun roof which is great and the rear parking sensors for the mrs!

DrEskimo · Apr 23, 2017

Tinting and painting bits and bobs should be fine. Had my rear diffuser painted by the dealer before I picked up my S5, and they offered to swap the mirror covers for CF very happily.

What you don't want to be doing is remapping and any other mods that affect the performance of the car. Changing the suspension is probably not a great idea either, but that is easy to swap back without anyone noticing.

AudiNutta · Apr 23, 2017

Mark Anthony said:
I have the exact car on order colour and all! Nice choice! I want to get the windows tinted too. I find £500 far too much when I can get them done for £150 to a great standard.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

£300 I thought it was? It's not a film then, it's tinged glass. I had mine done after purchasing on my A3, they are never perfect! Factory spec it!!

AudiNutta · Apr 23, 2017

Tints...... yes
Debadging..... probably OK, easy to put back
Wheels.... leave them as they are, they are lovely wheels!

DrEskimo · Apr 23, 2017

AudiNutta said:
£300 I thought it was? It's not a film then, it's tinged glass. I had mine done after purchasing on my A3, they are never perfect! Factory spec it!!

I would agree with this as well...!

AudiNutta · Apr 23, 2017

DrEskimo said:
I would agree with this as well...!

I had a good place do mine and no matter what, you look close and you will always get small bubbles and it's awful. Id rather spend an extra £150 and get factory tinted GLASS not a film, then it's also an extra option on the list for your car. £150 when buying a new Audi, is a very small change.

Tom.H · Apr 23, 2017

AudiNutta said:
I had a good place do mine and no matter what, you look close and you will always get small bubbles and it's awful. Id rather spend an extra £150 and get factory tinted GLASS not a film, then it's also an extra option on the list for your car. £150 when buying a new Audi, is a very small change.

Don't always get bubbles, I mean given the choice I'd always get privacy glass but there are some brilliant window tinters out there who will do a flawless job. I worked with one, he'd knock a full car out in no more than 2hrs and that was including the windscreen! (He done a fair few Toyota's used for filming that needed every window tinting)

Wxm · Apr 24, 2017

Has anyone had the lower front outter bumper inserts on the FL sprayed gloss black ? On the sline /S3

David McQueen · Apr 24, 2017

Tom.H said:
Don't always get bubbles, I mean given the choice I'd always get privacy glass but there are some brilliant window tinters out there who will do a flawless job. I worked with one, he'd knock a full car out in no more than 2hrs and that was including the windscreen! (He done a fair few Toyota's used for filming that needed every window tinting)

Just double checking, legally your only allowed the the back windows done? I.e not allowed to do wind screen and front passenger and driver side.

deanshaw24 · Apr 24, 2017

I'm of the opinion you can do whatever you want to the car as long as you put it back to standard when you give it back and acknowledge that any engine mods etc that you do will invalidate the warranty on those parts and you are liable for repair costs.

But things like tints that would slightly enhance the value of the car won't be a problem to the dealer

TYb · Apr 24, 2017

I personally do not think you should touch anything mechanical on a PCP car, it's all good saying return it back to original when handing back, then some poor ****** is sold a car which has been driven harder and more likely to suffer failures in the future as a result.

DrEskimo · Apr 24, 2017

deanshaw24 said:
I'm of the opinion you can do whatever you want to the car as long as you put it back to standard when you give it back and acknowledge that any engine mods etc that you do will invalidate the warranty on those parts and you are liable for repair costs.

But things like tints that would slightly enhance the value of the car won't be a problem to the dealer

Modifying the car is in breach of the VWFS contract and if they find you have invalidated the warranty, they not only make you liable for any repairs, they also will terminate the finance contract and either ask for payment in full, or ask you to return the car back to stock, pay for the repairs and hand the car back.

You do no own the car, therefore it is not yours to do what you please with. Only under the terms set out in the contract.

deanshaw24 · Apr 24, 2017

DrEskimo said:
Modifying the car is in breach of the VWFS contract and if they find you have invalidated the warranty, they not only make you liable for any repairs, they also will terminate the finance contract and either ask for payment in full, or ask you to return the car back to stock, pay for the repairs and hand the car back.

You do no own the car, therefore it is not yours to do what you please with. Only under the terms set out in the contract.

This is untrue, all that happens if warranty gets refused due to a modification is tell the customer Audi are not paying for it. Nothing else happens. Had it countless times when I worked for Audi.

Edit: it may be true it's a breach of contract but they won't do anything about it as it's not in their best interests to

AudiNutta · Apr 24, 2017

David McQueen said:
Just double checking, legally your only allowed the the back windows done? I.e not allowed to do wind screen and front passenger and driver side.

Yep, that's always the case. The windows are tinted to the maximum on the front. It doesn't look odd to me, I guess I've adjusted... I just notice how good cars look with tints on haha.

DrEskimo · Apr 24, 2017

deanshaw24 said:
This is untrue, all that happens if warranty gets refused due to a modification is tell the customer Audi are not paying for it. Nothing else happens. Had it countless times when I worked for Audi.

Edit: it may be true it's a breach of contract but they won't do anything about it as it's not in their best interests to

Tell that to the poor bloke on the Seat forum who had exactly this happen to him.

Don't have the link but sure someone can find it for you.

deanshaw24 · Apr 24, 2017

DrEskimo said:
Tell that to the poor bloke on the Seat forum who had exactly this happen to him.

Don't have the link but sure someone can find it for you.

I can just go by personal experience but in 5 years at Audi as I tech I refused about 15 warranty claims due to modifacations. Half of them we repaired at th customers cost and half they took away to repair themselves

DrEskimo · Apr 24, 2017

deanshaw24 said:
I can just go by personal experience but in 5 years at Audi as I tech I refused about 15 warranty claims due to modifacations. Half of them we repaired at th customers cost and half they took away to repair themselves

Were they all on finance...? I imagine at least some of them were given the popularity of PCP, so i guess it's a fair point.

Still, not a risk I'm willing to make personally...!

AudiNutta · Apr 24, 2017

deanshaw24 said:
I can just go by personal experience but in 5 years at Audi as I tech I refused about 15 warranty claims due to modifacations. Half of them we repaired at th customers cost and half they took away to repair themselves

What sort of modifications were these?

With for example my centre box delete, what would that result in with rejecting warranty claims? Engine work or just exhaust?

Tom.H · Apr 24, 2017

David McQueen said:
Just double checking, legally your only allowed the the back windows done? I.e not allowed to do wind screen and front passenger and driver side.

Yep, they were tv cars that he done sometimes so had all windows tinted. Any normal use cars only had the rears done and possibly the front 2 although that would have been illegal yes.

deanshaw24 · Apr 24, 2017

AudiNutta said:
What sort of modifications were these?

With for example my centre box delete, what would that result in with rejecting warranty claims? Engine work or just exhaust?

Just the part, the centre section delete doesn't affect anything but noise. So if your car came in with an engine problem I would not be looking to blame the exhaust. However if you have a downpipe fitted and your turbo is playing up then I could link the two as the downpipe will alter the back pressure on the turbo. Although the downpipe may not be the problem, however because it's affected the turbos operation then the claim would be void.

deanshaw24 · Apr 24, 2017

DrEskimo said:
Were they all on finance...? I imagine at least some of them were given the popularity of PCP, so i guess it's a fair point.

Still, not a risk I'm willing to make personally...!

Most were finance or leased. The finance company never finds out though as there's no reason for them too be involved when the cars at the dealers. All the care about is the money's going in the bank each month lol.

deanshaw24 · Apr 24, 2017

TYb said:
I personally do not think you should touch anything mechanical on a PCP car, it's all good saying return it back to original when handing back, then some poor ****** is sold a car which has been driven harder and more likely to suffer failures in the future as a result.

But if you paid cash for the car then modified it, put it back to standard then sold it the same poor ****** could still have the same problems. The end result doesn't change.

AudiNutta · Apr 24, 2017

deanshaw24 said:
Just the part, the centre section delete doesn't affect anything but noise. So if your car came in with an engine problem I would not be looking to blame the exhaust. However if you have a downpipe fitted and your turbo is playing up then I could link the two as the downpipe will alter the back pressure on the turbo. Although the downpipe may not be the problem, however because it's affected the turbos operation then the claim would be void.

Right I see, excellent thanks very much.

I spoke to Audi parts about sourcing the genuine delete pipe from the US. He said even if I did source it (they can't buy them into the UK) they couldn't fit it as it isn't allowed in this market. He advised me to just go and use a on the side of the road exhaust shop because it isn't anything major and just enhances the sound.

That puts my mind at rest to know I am safe mechanically, let's face it its unlikely the exhaust will ever need replacing anyway.

It has been in for a steering rack and wheel bearing and not once have they mentioned the box delete and I was expecting them to tell me they've spotted it at minimum.

Thanks again

TYb · Apr 24, 2017

deanshaw24 said:
But if you paid cash for the car then modified it, put it back to standard then sold it the same poor ****** could still have the same problems. The end result doesn't change.

Yes agreed but at least you owned that car and had the right to do it. You don't own a PCP car or have the right to mod it. The majority of the PCP's will go back to Audi after 2/3 years for resale with the customer rightly thinking it would be a clean original car.

David McQueen · Apr 24, 2017

AudiNutta said:
Right I see, excellent thanks very much.

I spoke to Audi parts about sourcing the genuine delete pipe from the US. He said even if I did source it (they can't buy them into the UK) they couldn't fit it as it isn't allowed in this market. He advised me to just go and use a on the side of the road exhaust shop because it isn't anything major and just enhances the sound.

That puts my mind at rest to know I am safe mechanically, let's face it its unlikely the exhaust will ever need replacing anyway.

It has been in for a steering rack and wheel bearing and not once have they mentioned the box delete and I was expecting them to tell me they've spotted it at minimum.

Thanks again

Whats a centre section delete? Not to clued up on cars to be honest but this interests me! Also what is the cost of this aswell? If you dont mind me asking.

AudiNutta · Apr 24, 2017

David McQueen said:
Whats a centre section delete? Not to clued up on cars to be honest but this interests me! Also what is the cost of this aswell? If you dont mind me asking.

The S3 has two silencers, the backbox and a centre silencer. I'm not sure if the 1.4 has this, I doubt it would have the same effect if it did.

It cost me £120 to have it done, the box removed and a pipe fabricated to take its place. For the S3, it's a total transformation.

David McQueen · Apr 24, 2017

AudiNutta said:
The S3 has two silencers, the backbox and a centre silencer. I'm not sure if the 1.4 has this, I doubt it would have the same effect if it did.

It cost me £120 to have it done, the box removed and a pipe fabricated to take its place. For the S3, it's a total transformation.

Looking into this now, and this wouldnt affect any warrantys as its nor changing the performance etc a would imagine, thanks for the info btw !

AudiNutta · Apr 24, 2017

David McQueen said:
Looking into this now, and this wouldnt affect any warrantys as its nor changing the performance etc a would imagine, thanks for the info btw !

Nope it shouldn't change the performance, it just stops the sound dampening.

deanshaw24 · Apr 24, 2017

TYb said:
Yes agreed but at least you owned that car and had the right to do it. You don't own a PCP car or have the right to mod it. The majority of the PCP's will go back to Audi after 2/3 years for resale with the customer rightly thinking it would be a clean original car.

I'll agree you shouldn't, but It won't stop a lot of people. When I worked at Audi one of the business managers had an s3 demo as his company demo. He had a DTUK box on it... where do you stand then haha

AudiNutta · Apr 25, 2017

deanshaw24 said:
I'll agree you shouldn't, but It won't stop a lot of people. When I worked at Audi one of the business managers had an s3 demo as his company demo. He had a DTUK box on it... where do you stand then haha

What a guy haha, he must of had something on them lmao.

Wxm · Apr 25, 2017

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=193416

AudiNutta · Apr 25, 2017

Wxm said:
http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=193416

Wow, if we ever needed a horror story to talk us out of modifications..... totally understandable with the mods on that car though.

davc · Apr 26, 2017

AudiNutta said:
I had a good place do mine and no matter what, you look close and you will always get small bubbles and it's awful. Id rather spend an extra £150 and get factory tinted GLASS not a film, then it's also an extra option on the list for your car. £150 when buying a new Audi, is a very small change.

I've had 2 cars fitted with Pentagon Supaglass tints and tbh the quality was that good both looked factory jobs.

If I get another Audi then chances are it will have the Advanced Key as standard so will probably go down that route again.

Help with do's and donts on PCP

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