I have only done AWE CATs so far, but I would like to do the ECU. Has anyone had trouble from a dealer covering things b/c of exhaust changes or ECU changes? If you reset the ECU back (i.e., Softronic), does the dealer look for a remap to try to avoid paying for things? I know there are some risks to non-cosmetic mods, but my point of this thread is to learn about actual experiences either good or bad with respect to mods (and the name of the dealer you visited if it's in the Bay Area, SF).

 

I used my Porsche dealership for my mods and made them gauranty the warranty would not be affected

 

I have the full AWE exhaust on my car (headers, cats, mufflers) but no chip. I've only had my car in to my local Porsche dealer for regular service and they have never said anything negative about my mod's (even though they know the exhaust has been changed out as they say they love the sound over stock). They have never said anything to me like I may have problems under warranty if something goes wrong because of the mod's.

I'm hoping that:
1) I never have any issues related to my mod's.
2) If I do run into an issue, I hope I'll be covered even with the mod's.

 

My left O2 sensor is going bad and I had to removed my Sharkwerk bypass pipes and reinstall the OEM center muffler in order to have the sensor repair under warranty. I think from now on I will only install factory part to avoid this issue again. Porsche PSE here I come

John

 

A theory about Softronic is - when you revert it back they cannot see it was ever flashed.

Now, it is unlikely dealer will inspect your ECU ever, but there were posts that new versions of PIWIS may have some ways to identify if ECU has been changed from default so dealer may notice that, theoretically, during routine check they do if PIWIS was connected.
No one knows about that for sure - I mean WHEN it may be discovered.

What is a fact and IS known for sure - if you blow your motor and get it towed to a dealer then dealer gets your blown motor off car and ships it with ECU for analysis and THEN it surfaces up that ECU was changed from stock - you will not get anything covered by warranty. It is pretty simple.

If you do plan on going to dealer a lot for minor things - speak with service manager privately about his personal approach in his department and figure out how 'mod tolerant' is he.

 

I think that it is dependent on the dealer and your relationship with them. I had a leaking transmission seal replaced under warranty as it was leaking, I did mention to them that I had a LWFW, and they didn't seem to be too concerned.

I am sure that the cost of an engine might make them want to dig a little deeper.

 

You can't claim absolutes. Porsche has covered engines and other parts that were known to be done on the track, I even know a fellow track guy that had the car towed from the track to the dealer and got a new engine. This may conflict with the disclaimer in the manual that such use of the car is not covered under warranty, but every situation is different.

I've heard of both types of dealers. Those that understand PCA and work in the spirit of Porsche and their claim of track worthiness (just read a Porsche brochure and you understand these are durable cars intended for hard use) will do everything possible to get warranty coverage for even issues that arise on or off track for cars that are tracked. Then there are others that for some unknown reason simply won't "go to bat" for their clients. If they catch even a hint that you did 1 DE, they will hang you out to dry and not even attempt to utilize the warranty system.

Abuse is a whole other matter. Miss a shift on the highway (or track) and blow the engine, user error, not Porsche's fault. Strip the interior and race the car every weekend and the engine stops working, even with no over-revs one should not even think that Porsche would step up to cover it.

The whole subject of Softronic and other ECU flashes has been covered in great detail and passion here and at other forums. Try a search and you should find dozens of threads. In a nut shell I figure owners have been chaging ECU coding for many decades (there are chipped 964s that have been on the road for 20 years without an issue) and I've never heard of 1 instance where the coding has caused an issue with the car nor warranty. I do like how Softronic spent the time to design the software "update" so as to allow you to fully return to stock at home with a laptop. Nervous about service, return the car to stock and reflash when you get home.