I've just purchased a new TT that I'm having shipped to EVO in Tempe, AZ for their Stage 3 mod. But, I'm having some misgivings.
The smart thing would be to put 2-3000 miles on the motor first and make sure there are no defects that would be covered by the warranty (which will likely be invalidated as soon as the EVO mod is installed?).
What do you think? What are the odds that a new TT will have a serious/expensive problem that would normally be covered under warranty and that would surface in the first few thousand miles?
The mod comes with the ability to switch the ECU settings back to factory stock (e.g., when taking the car in for service), but it would be apparent to any technician that some changes had been made (new turbochargers, Fabspeed exhaust, K&N, DV, etc.). So, if I went ahead with the mods and had a problem, and showed up at Porsche having switched the ECU settings back to stock, what should I expect from them in terms of warranty coverage?
Thanks for any thoughts or conveying any personal experiences.
JP

 

You would be screwed I think. If an engine problem surfaced Porsche would tell you tough luck. A local chiped his TT and had a serious problem. Took it to the dealer. They called Porsche who sent a field tech. He looked at the engine (meltdown) found the chip in the ECU and told the customer he needed a new engine for $39K. Ouch.

 

Not necessarily. Unless the field tech can specifically prove that the ecu caused the engine damage, the TT owner should be covered under warranty. Only modifications that cause failure are subject to no warranty coverage.

 

Hopefully, you have a good relationship with your dealer. I cannot stress the importance of that. If they support modifications, etc. and you have a good relationship with them, they will go to bat for you and try to help you out as much as possible should such an issue ever arise.

 

Why would you do stage 3 and not 4?? I have level 4 and love it!!
I also have the IBE Chipswitch and to my understanding local dealers are not allowed to open your ECU box period!! So if you are in stock mode that is it!! The only issue I can see is them giving you **** for aftermarket turbos...

 

John - I would definitely recommend driving an EVO Turbo first if you haven't done that. One of my best friends has one, I've driven it on many occasions in many conditions, and I prefer the stock TT over the EVO. The EVO definitely has more power on a dyno (his is 550HP), but it comes on in a much less usable manner IMO (i.e. harder, later). Clearly the EVO kills on the freeway, but I'd take the stock TT engine in the twisties. That's just my opinion - I'm sure others will differ but bottom line I would say try it and decide before you change your new car that significantly.

As far as the warranty, both Hoehn and Pioneer sevice depts told me that powertrain mods void it; beyond that, unless they don't notice or just look the other way, you would have to take it to court (i.e. even if the vehicle code says they need to prove x caused y, you still would have to fight it, which I doubt you would want to waste time doing).

By the way - a new engine is not $39K, it's $45K... I know first hand.



Pete.

 

one word...RUF

 

Under the Magnusson-Moss Act, aftermarket parts do not void a manufacturers warranty on the entire car unless it is shown that the parts specifically caused the problem in question. That being said, if the aftermarket parts caused the problem, the aftermarket supplier should be responsible for repair/replacement as long as the aftermarket provider gives you a warranty.

How likely it is that there might be a factory Porsche engine problem? Well, my car had a persistent oil leak that the dealer could not fix no matter what they tried. Porsche sent a tech out and he could not fix it, so at approximately 4,000 miles PCNA swapped out the entire engine! I am very grateful that Porsche is one of the only manufacturers in the world that would replace an entire engine over an oil leak.

 

TrojanMan and Petert,
Thanks very much for the posts. With some help from you two, the logical side of my brain just engaged and I cancelled the EVO mods, at least until I put a few thousand miles on the motor and determine there are no warrantiable issues.
And Pete, with the money I save, I can re-hire the gardener to mow the lawn!!!
Thanks Guys,
JP

 

MSINDI,
I know EVO does a great job and I intend to revisit the entire issue after I put some mileage on the new car. I will seriously look at the Stage 4.
Thanks for the input,
JP

 

JP,
nice decision! get use to the HP u have now. Porsche stop it there for a reason. to me, i'll never mod a Porsche engine... maybe, i mean may...be Ruf!

 

I have not driven the Stage 3. But, the Stage 1 and 2 cars drive essentially just like stock, with more power. I also currently have stage 4gt which, in my opinion, is actually much more drivable that stock. The car has less lag, it is easier to modulate the throttle, and the overall acceleration curve is much more smooth. (Not to mention the fact that the car now has 640 HP!)

As for your warranty, it is unlikely that you will have a problem. If you do, you have two choices. Make the dealer prove that the mods caused the problem - which is unlikely given the reliability of the EVO packages. Or two, remove the upgrades prior to taking the car in to the dealer (if in fact you had a problem).