Bluefin traces and weaseling out of warranties

[andykram]

I have a dilemma. My car goes in to the stealers after Chrimbo for another week while they try to find a solution to the ongoing alarm issue. You may recall they had it three weeks this time last year to try and fix it until VW UK told them to strip another GTi down for donor parts. At that point they gave up as they didn't have another one in the showroom. Anyway, this is now an official "case" with VW UK as I thought I should get it resolved before the warranty runs out in June.
The dilemma, however, is Bluefin. I've been itching to remap the car for a while now and Bluefin is 20% off at only £365 until the end of December. Without getting into another argument about tuners the Bluefin appeals because I can put the car back to standard. My question, however, is, does it still leave a trace of evidence that the car has been mapped? The reason I ask is that I don't want VW coming back to me saying, "O you've had the car mapped so we're not going to fix your alarm". I'm just afraid of the weaseling out of their obligation they might try if the car is non standard.
What do you all think?

[Rhyso]

Bluefin affects the engine, not the alarm.

If your dealer is worth their salt they will honour to fix your alarm issues.  You'll find the work will get done regardless.

Lots of people have had warranty work done on modified cars without any issues 

[jdjd]

I've never bin refused any warranty work, way I see it is the be dealer welcomes the work as they claim the cost back from Vw, trouble comes if Vw ask to inspect the failed part.
 I've had a block a cylinder head, gearbox, 2 x turbos and a full engine on my mkv in recent times. I never even bother to put it back to standard. If u want to know the garage drop me a pm, no name and shames posted on here so they stop doing it

[The Doc]

The only trace left by flashing your ECU in the car is the flash counters in the ECU which count up as the car is flashed, most cars should have 2 or three flashes due to updates etc but I've seen customer controlled cars with over 200 flashes in the counter.

If your a tuner you remove these flash counts or remove the ECU for flashing as this doesn't count up.

Obviously you can't do that with a bluefin.

BTW "Flashing" is the process used to program the ECU.

[Exonian]

Buy the Bluefin, upload your map to Superchips, get the new one sent back to you but don't put it into the ECU until after the dealer visit. Easy.

That would be my course of action if I was considering a Bluefin and a little worried.

[mkviken]

you won't have any issues IMO. like said earlier just revert to stock every time you take it if your worried

Thats a great price by the way. i paid £405 from JKM a couple of months back on special offer so £365 is excellent


honestly just get it done. you will love it. really brings the car to life IMO. well worth the £££ and I'm sure the dealers will be fine about it or i wouldn't have forked out on one.

[andykram]

It wasn't so much the dealer I was worried about as their techies probably won't even notice. No, it's the bods at Milton Keynes I'm bothered about if it gets to the point where the dealer can't fix the car and we start debating what the next step is. This is quite possible as they had it for three weeks last year without success.
At the end of the day, my car has technically not been of merchantable quality for the best part of a year now as I don't know whether it's protected all the time or not. If they don't fix it we may get to the point of arguing over some form of compo - I just don't want them saying I've messed about with it blah, blah blah so I've invalidated everything. You know what these weasels are like.

And yes, I am quite aware Bluefin affects the engine, not the alarm - it's the principle of modifying the car I was asking about.

[KennyGTI]

 I've had a block a cylinder head, gearbox, 2 x turbos and a full engine on my mkv in recent times. I never even bother to put it back to standard. If u want to know the garage drop me a pm, no name and shames posted on here so they stop doing it

Jesus Christ! What tuner did you go with!? 

[Hartside]

It wasn't so much the dealer I was worried about as their techies probably won't even notice. No, it's the bods at Milton Keynes I'm bothered about if it gets to the point where the dealer can't fix the car and we start debating what the next step is. This is quite possible as they had it for three weeks last year without success.
At the end of the day, my car has technically not been of merchantable quality for the best part of a year now as I don't know whether it's protected all the time or not. If they don't fix it we may get to the point of arguing over some form of compo - I just don't want them saying I've messed about with it blah, blah blah so I've invalidated everything. You know what these weasels are like.

And yes, I am quite aware Bluefin affects the engine, not the alarm - it's the principle of modifying the car I was asking about.

I think your answering your own question for yourself. It's clear your not entirely comfortable with doing it for the reasons you state, whether they would happen or wouldn't is not the point. If your not comfortable with it then don't do it until you feel the car has been fixed to your satisfaction

[The Doc]

Read this: http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=210812.0