Living with a modded Evo X
Save all your oil change receipts. Failure to provide proof of such is a huge red flag that will deny you any kind of engine repair.
Also, if you do have a legitimate warranty claim, remove and reinstall most aftermarket parts.
I've yet to hear of an exhaust getting denied a warranty claim.
Case in point. I owned a 05 RX-8 previously. They made an extended warranty for 8yrs, 80k for the rotary engine core.
Mazda was very frugal and would attempt to deny a claim at any point. They even had a section for the service writers to note down any vehicle modifications during routine maintenance/ inspection when vehicles came in. Furthermore, they lurked on rx8club to deny claims as well.
The mods I had on my car was basically an intake and cat-back. During that time I had my transmission rebuilt and a remanufacturer engine installed.
That being said, light mods are no big deal.
Also, if you do have a legitimate warranty claim, remove and reinstall most aftermarket parts.
I've yet to hear of an exhaust getting denied a warranty claim.
Case in point. I owned a 05 RX-8 previously. They made an extended warranty for 8yrs, 80k for the rotary engine core.
Mazda was very frugal and would attempt to deny a claim at any point. They even had a section for the service writers to note down any vehicle modifications during routine maintenance/ inspection when vehicles came in. Furthermore, they lurked on rx8club to deny claims as well.
The mods I had on my car was basically an intake and cat-back. During that time I had my transmission rebuilt and a remanufacturer engine installed.
That being said, light mods are no big deal.
With receipts for the oil and filter you purchased.
However if you run an oil that isn't specified you run risk of them voiding it anyway.
Having the receipts is much better then not. Also, who would purchase oil and a filter specified for the vehicle and not change the oil?
Only time it wouldn't work is if the timing was very far apart, and the oil analysis taken from the vehicle at time of inspection proves it was used way past it's serviceable life.
However if you run an oil that isn't specified you run risk of them voiding it anyway.
Having the receipts is much better then not. Also, who would purchase oil and a filter specified for the vehicle and not change the oil?
Only time it wouldn't work is if the timing was very far apart, and the oil analysis taken from the vehicle at time of inspection proves it was used way past it's serviceable life.
Last edited by viprez586; Oct 23, 2014 at 11:43 AM.
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Joined: Dec 2013
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From: Jersey
mine never made it to the "aftermarket" stage it. been thru 3 differentials and am trying to recover the costs I have invested into the aftermarket and custom parts I have.
If you are going to mod, mod with good parts and kiss your warranty goodbye. keep up with maintenance and preventative things as well.
If you are going to mod, mod with good parts and kiss your warranty goodbye. keep up with maintenance and preventative things as well.
You'll learn which dealerships are "mod friendly" and which ones are not.
I have over 20K in mods on mine and the dealership didn't bat an eye when I came in for the CMC recall. I was asked no less than 50 questions about the mods on my car, but it was all personal interest, nothing along the lines of denying the recall service.
With that being said, if I ever needed any engine or drivetrain work done, I wouldn't go back to the dealer for that anyway. If/when something breaks, it's upgrade time.
I have over 20K in mods on mine and the dealership didn't bat an eye when I came in for the CMC recall. I was asked no less than 50 questions about the mods on my car, but it was all personal interest, nothing along the lines of denying the recall service.
With that being said, if I ever needed any engine or drivetrain work done, I wouldn't go back to the dealer for that anyway. If/when something breaks, it's upgrade time.
I'm not sure how it is with the X's....will find out soon since I will be getting a 2012 X DD in the near future. But with the VIII/IXs once you buy quality parts and have quality shops/people work on the car they are super reliable sub 400whp. Plus honestly a lot of the dealerships employ folks you'd never let touch your car otherwise. if you have a good local dealership with great techs then keeping the warranty makes sense. Otherwise find a good independent shop and don't worry about the warranty. A dealership hasn't seen my car since '06.
Last edited by codgi; Nov 10, 2014 at 05:29 PM.
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Joined: Jun 2014
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From: USA
I don't modify my cars at all. I don't see the point until you get to a purpose built platform. The Evolution is a great car but it has limitations due to being built on a Lancer structure. Once you get passed a certain performance envelope the car becomes too unreliable without having to spend a significant amount of money in order to maintain the high power. It also comes with a disadvantage of having huge NVH sacrifices that I'm not willing to sacrifice. I save my money so that way I can buy something that has a larger modding potential while sacrificing minimal reliability and comfort.
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 27
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From: Poconos, PA
At the end of the day, any "free" work that needs to be done by a dealership will be an uphill battle. If you blow a gasket or turbo they'll request to see that oil changes were done professionally or some other nonsense just to try to get themselves out of doing the work for free.
Evolving Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 340
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From: CT
I don't modify my cars at all. I don't see the point until you get to a purpose built platform. The Evolution is a great car but it has limitations due to being built on a Lancer structure. Once you get passed a certain performance envelope the car becomes too unreliable without having to spend a significant amount of money in order to maintain the high power. It also comes with a disadvantage of having huge NVH sacrifices that I'm not willing to sacrifice. I save my money so that way I can buy something that has a larger modding potential while sacrificing minimal reliability and comfort.
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 30
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From: USA
Any car that can capable of 600+whp with bolt ons, supporting fuel, and a tune. A GTR or 996/7T the two that I am looking at after the Evo. I'm also leaning towards a purpose built track car and keeping the Evo as a DD. I'm looking into Radicals or a Caterham SP300R.
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