I found out that the M3 I bought had its warranty voided due to tune by prior owner

bm3maniac · 11-14-2019, 09:32 PM

Hey Mates,

I took over a BMW M3 back in 2017 from another lessee. Little did I know, the previous lessee had placed a chip or some kind of mod that has voided the warranty. I had no idea about the mod and now I am starting to freak out because I have to turn in the car in a couple of weeks. Luckily, the car has no failed parts, is in perfect condition (both the engine and the actual body), and works just fine It has about 23k miles on it even though I was allotted 36k.

I'm just curious if anyone has been in this position before and can offer some words of advice? Hell I don't mind if its a couple grand to get it out of my hair, I'm just worried BMW is about to hit me with an astronomical fee even though the car is in good condition. Any suggestion or words of experience is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

LOW4LYF · 11-14-2019, 09:37 PM

They could force you to buy the car out, how did you figured out the warranty is voided? Usually cars gets only flagged means in a warranty case the BMW guys gonna dig deeper into it.

_robert_ · 11-14-2019, 09:37 PM

User "bm3" maniac...the previous lessee...

RustySeatbelt · 11-14-2019, 09:39 PM

If the warranty was voided due to the previous lesee then you should be able to show it was done while it was possessed by another individual. You shouldn't be responsible for that if you can prove you didn't do it. If the warranty was voided while in your possession then I think it's a bit of caveat emptor situation. No idea on fees though, haven't been through that before.

bm3maniac · 11-14-2019, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustySeatbelt

If the warranty was voided due to the previous lesee then you should be able to show it was done while it was possessed by another individual. You shouldn't be responsible for that if you can prove you didn't do it. If the warranty was voided while in your possession then I think it's a bit of caveat emptor situation. No idea on fees though, haven't been through that before.

So BMW knew the car was flagged when I took over (I have proof) but they failed to notify me about it, I have it in writing that the previous lessee (who also happened to be a manager at BMW) expressly told me that the car had no mods or anything. I found out about the voided warranty because I took the car in to a 3rd party leasing company to get a new BMW while turning the M3 slightly early. They called me 3 weeks later saying the warranty is voided and that they're returning it to me.

I don't think I've heard the words, "caveat emptor" since I was in law school...

bm3maniac · 11-14-2019, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bm3maniac

I guess the car has been flagged, the warranty hasn't been voided definitively yet. This is all news to me, it'd kill me if I had to buy the car out.

DocL · 11-15-2019, 12:11 AM

That was my concern when I assumed the lease on my M3. I had a PPI at a BMW dealer and specifically asked for them to check if was tuned. That would have been a deal breaker if it was.

HARSN · 11-15-2019, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bm3maniac

So BMW knew the car was flagged when I took over (I have proof) but they failed to notify me about it, I have it in writing that the previous lessee (who also happened to be a manager at BMW) expressly told me that the car had no mods or anything. I found out about the voided warranty because I took the car in to a 3rd party leasing company to get a new BMW while turning the M3 slightly early. They called me 3 weeks later saying the warranty is voided and that they're returning it to me.

I don't think I've heard the words, "caveat emptor" since I was in law school...

I'm no lawyer but I assume if you have proof that the previous owner stated there were no mods, and you can prove nothing has been done whilst you've been the owner, then you have a fairly strong case of no recourse.

That being said - it might be worth checking what tune is on there as many tuners should be able to flash the DME back to stock and re-lock it (I know this is possible with Bootmod3). I'm not 100% on dealer processes as I don't work there but, from things I've read online, if the car has been put back to a stock tune and the DME has been re-locked, the only way to tell if the car has been previously tuned is to send off the data files to Germany and have them inspect it; which I can't imagine they will do on a lease return, especially if that car is in good condition and looks like it has been looked after.

Again don't take my word for gospel, but it's definitely worth looking into having a tuner, or an OTS system like Bootmod3, put the car back onto the stock tune and re-lock the DME.

RickFLM4 · 11-15-2019, 05:53 AM

If you have a way to get back in touch with him, tell the previous owner he needs to help deal with the lease return and you have documentation that proves the car was flagged when you took it over. It might not just be a liability problem for him, but an employment problem if this blows up so maybe it’s in his best interest to help resolve it. Since he works at a BMW dealership or BMW he may be the one to resolve.

Keca10 · 11-15-2019, 06:21 AM

This situation sucks. But I think you made a hilarious choice of a user name for someone that hasn’t modded. Good luck bm3maniac.

Poochie · 11-15-2019, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keca10

This situation sucks. But I think you made a hilarious choice of a user name for someone that hasn't modded. Good luck bm3maniac.

I know right, it's like OJ selecting "Jack The Ripper" as his handle, all while still searching for the 'real' killer..

Chris@VargasTurboTech · 11-15-2019, 09:47 AM

Bummer OP. Curious what they would do if the car is retuned bone stock. Keep us updated!

bm3maniac · 11-15-2019, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poochie

I know right, it's like OJ selecting "Jack The Ripper" as his handle, all while still searching for the 'real' killer..

I think he wrote a book about it once, so youre not far off.

f80er · 11-15-2019, 12:20 PM

Fuck it man, plausible deniability. They have to prove you tuned it but by your SN I would think you tuned it and our now playing possum but that's just me and some other users on this thread. lol

bm3maniac · 11-15-2019, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f80er

Fuck it man, plausible deniability. They have to prove you tuned it but by your SN I would think you tuned it and our now playing possum but that's just me and some other users on this thread. lol

To be truthful, I didn't. I took over the lease from a user here on bimmerpost.

TheirThere · 11-15-2019, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _robert_

User "bm3" maniac...the previous lessee...

this.

drgmt · 11-15-2019, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bm3maniac

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustySeatbelt

If the warranty was voided due to the previous lesee then you should be able to show it was done while it was possessed by another individual. You shouldn't be responsible for that if you can prove you didn't do it. If the warranty was voided while in your possession then I think it's a bit of caveat emptor situation. No idea on fees though, haven't been through that before.

So BMW knew the car was flagged when I took over (I have proof) but they failed to notify me about it, I have it in writing that the previous lessee (who also happened to be a manager at BMW) expressly told me that the car had no mods or anything. I found out about the voided warranty because I took the car in to a 3rd party leasing company to get a new BMW while turning the M3 slightly early. They called me 3 weeks later saying the warranty is voided and that they're returning it to me.

I don't think I've heard the words, "caveat emptor" since I was in law school...

If you have this documented take it with you to bmw. There should be no penalty to you as you were misled.

theweebabySeamus · 11-16-2019, 04:07 PM

This post reminds me of the clearly haunted house that was for sale that had 'not haunted' on the For Sale sign.

hoyas490 · 11-03-2020, 04:21 PM

Curious whatever happened with this 🤷*♂️

Thescout13 · 11-03-2020, 10:34 PM

Or just don't tell BMW when you turn in the lease.... lease turn in inspection is a walk around, they don't plug it in or anything. When they do their post trade in inspection, they will see its tuned (if they even go that deep) and just send it to auction.... you wouldn't be the first or last person to turn in a tuned car.

BoxKing · 11-04-2020, 08:44 AM

Case in point... "you took over an M3 in 2017"
Sucks for you man, but you basically have no ground to stand on, as you're far past your period to make a claim at this point.

If you ask me (which you sort of did!).... this post seems suspect as all hell. I'd assume you fk'd up your car, and now you're trying to get some written record that you didnt assume someone elses voided warranty bc you now find yourself in circumstance where you're in a need of some sort of expensive service- I'd bet my money on this!

Tommy L Garage · 11-04-2020, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _robert_

User "bm3" maniac...the previous lessee...

Post of the year!!!
You sir deserve an award.

This thread lost all of its credibility

11-14-2019, 09:32 PM	#1
bm3maniac New Member 3 Rep 11 Posts Drives: bmw Join Date: May 2017 Location: m3 iTrader: (0)	I found out that the M3 I bought had its warranty voided due to tune by prior owner Hey Mates, I took over a BMW M3 back in 2017 from another lessee. Little did I know, the previous lessee had placed a chip or some kind of mod that has voided the warranty. I had no idea about the mod and now I am starting to freak out because I have to turn in the car in a couple of weeks. Luckily, the car has no failed parts, is in perfect condition (both the engine and the actual body), and works just fine It has about 23k miles on it even though I was allotted 36k. I'm just curious if anyone has been in this position before and can offer some words of advice? Hell I don't mind if its a couple grand to get it out of my hair, I'm just worried BMW is about to hit me with an astronomical fee even though the car is in good condition. Any suggestion or words of experience is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
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11-14-2019, 09:37 PM	#2
LOW4LYF Brigadier General 2162 Rep 4,106 Posts Drives: E92 M3 & F85 X5M Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: @Home iTrader: (1)	They could force you to buy the car out, how did you figured out the warranty is voided? Usually cars gets only flagged means in a warranty case the BMW guys gonna dig deeper into it.
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11-14-2019, 09:37 PM	#3
_robert_ Private 109 Rep 72 Posts Drives: F80 M3 6MT Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (2)	User "bm3" maniac...the previous lessee...
	Appreciate 18 Poochie9103.00 yayaya103.50 cotmfk2038.00 Tangent296.00 f80er2056.00 WingZeroX5763.50 volkl2346.00 whitedc5163.50 manat.07.50 Champagnekashi43.00 bmwmdistrict908.00 G35POPPEDMYCHERRY4995.00 dsmclark80.50 CYANiDE167.00 c4ss102.50 DanMpower3228.00 Isj52.00 f30b58pwr65.50 Quote

11-14-2019, 09:39 PM	#4
RustySeatbelt First Lieutenant 523 Rep 321 Posts Drives: 19 ZR1 Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Texas iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 BMW M3 [0.00]	If the warranty was voided due to the previous lesee then you should be able to show it was done while it was possessed by another individual. You shouldn't be responsible for that if you can prove you didn't do it. If the warranty was voided while in your possession then I think it's a bit of caveat emptor situation. No idea on fees though, haven't been through that before.
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11-15-2019, 12:11 AM	#7
DocL Captain 1927 Rep 867 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Delray Beach iTrader: (2)	That was my concern when I assumed the lease on my M3. I had a PPI at a BMW dealer and specifically asked for them to check if was tuned. That would have been a deal breaker if it was. __________________ 2018 F80 M3. YMB/BLK. ZCP. Three Pedals. "Education will never be as expensive as ignorance."
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11-15-2019, 05:53 AM	#9
RickFLM4 Brigadier General 10952 Rep 4,819 Posts Drives: M4 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: PB County, FL iTrader: (0)	If you have a way to get back in touch with him, tell the previous owner he needs to help deal with the lease return and you have documentation that proves the car was flagged when you took it over. It might not just be a liability problem for him, but an employment problem if this blows up so maybe it’s in his best interest to help resolve it. Since he works at a BMW dealership or BMW he may be the one to resolve. __________________ Current: 2018 SO/SS F83 ZCP Gone: 2015 SO/SO F82
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11-15-2019, 06:21 AM	#10
Keca10 Lieutenant 438 Rep 500 Posts Drives: ‘18 M3 ZCP / '20 X3 M40i Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: USA iTrader: (1)	This situation sucks. But I think you made a hilarious choice of a user name for someone that hasn’t modded. Good luck bm3maniac.
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11-15-2019, 09:47 AM	#12
Chris@VargasTurboTech Lieutenant Colonel 1932 Rep 1,532 Posts Drives: All Things TurboCharged Join Date: May 2016 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Bummer OP. Curious what they would do if the car is retuned bone stock. Keep us updated!
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11-15-2019, 12:20 PM	#14
f80er Banned 2056 Rep 1,984 Posts Drives: An M3 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: DMV iTrader: (1)	Fuck it man, plausible deniability. They have to prove you tuned it but by your SN I would think you tuned it and our now playing possum but that's just me and some other users on this thread. lol
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11-16-2019, 04:07 PM	#18
theweebabySeamus Captain 373 Rep 901 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (1)	This post reminds me of the clearly haunted house that was for sale that had 'not haunted' on the For Sale sign. Last edited by theweebabySeamus; 11-16-2019 at 04:12 PM..
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11-03-2020, 04:21 PM	#19
hoyas490 First Lieutenant 132 Rep 363 Posts Drives: '21 M550i Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: NYC / Long Island iTrader: (1)	Curious whatever happened with this 🤷*♂️
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11-03-2020, 10:34 PM	#20
Thescout13 Brigadier General 4944 Rep 4,976 Posts Drives: '20 F80 M3CS, %E2%80%9818 GT3 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: California iTrader: (0)	Or just don't tell BMW when you turn in the lease.... lease turn in inspection is a walk around, they don't plug it in or anything. When they do their post trade in inspection, they will see its tuned (if they even go that deep) and just send it to auction.... you wouldn't be the first or last person to turn in a tuned car. __________________ Wife's Car: 2020 X4M Competition, Alpine White on Black Alcantara and Biege Current Car: 2018 F80 M3CS, SMB, DCT, ZEC, MPE Recently Departed: 2020 F87 M2C, LBB, ZEC, 6MT (Euro Delivery Aug. 29, 2019, totaled by an idiot in a Camry who then ran from the scene) Wife's Prior Car: 2018 F80 M3, Yas Marina Blue, DCT, Black 19s, Carbon Structure Anthracite Cloth/Leather Combination, Driving Assistance Package (Euro Delivery Oct. 9, 2017)
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11-04-2020, 08:44 AM	#21
BoxKing I Rock Your Girls Box 293 Rep 662 Posts Drives: M4 F82 ZCP AW Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (1)	Case in point... "you took over an M3 in 2017" Sucks for you man, but you basically have no ground to stand on, as you're far past your period to make a claim at this point. If you ask me (which you sort of did!).... this post seems suspect as all hell. I'd assume you fk'd up your car, and now you're trying to get some written record that you didnt assume someone elses voided warranty bc you now find yourself in circumstance where you're in a need of some sort of expensive service- I'd bet my money on this!
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