Warranty Issue Inconsistencies

I had my car booked in yesterday for an MOT and a minor service. I explained that my warranty expires late June and that I'd like them to check the car over in case anything needed addressing. It was then that they asked if I'd like to renew the warranty, in which case they'd perform the 111-point check alongside the service, saving me a bit of money. After experiencing an intermediate shaft failure I was pretty much set on the new warranty so decided to take up the offer. I also decided to play dumb and not mention that I had a Kenwood NAV/Audio head unit and also didn't question how I could renew a month and a half before my current warranty expired when I thought 30 days was the limit. Well, the car sailed through the MOT, they found no issues with the car, though I did get the lecture about mixing N-rated tyres - I've Michelin PS2 N2's on the front and N3's on the back :roll: They also issued the new warranty without mention of the obvious non-Porsche NAV system. I've taken the view that they've confirmed the car is warranty eligible as is and therefore won't be able to wriggle out of resolving any future issues with the car, obviously excluding those relating to the head unit. Am I being a little naive or should I be clarifying this with the dealer?

I wouldn't bother clarifying with the dealer to be honest - they will hardly talk themselves out of a £1400 sale! However, I would check the policy wording VERY carefully, as that is what will be used to determine eligibility of any claims - especially if you are not near your usual dealer at the time... If it says vehicles with non-OEM equipment are not eligible for the warranty - full stop - then don't buy it!

I only have a policy summary but here's the key wording: I could intrepret their 111-point check and offer of the warranty as approval of my modification. Of course my interpretation may be somewhat biased :wink: I've no doubt the OPC in question would honour any warranty work whatever head unit is in situ, the service there has exceptional. The question is whether another OPC may take a different view. Therein lies the gamble, however at the very least I should have some comeback on being sold a policy which is of no use to me...

I am in the same position as you ie I have an aftermarket SatNav that is 100 times better than the Porsche system. Three OPC that I contacted to renew my OPC warranty said that it is not possible to renew the warranty if the SatNav unit is not removed (something that I am not happy to do). This is not their interpretation of the warranty conditions. This is the interpretation given by Porsche UK. I contacted Porsche UK and they told me the same thing ie any equipment that is not Porsche equipment (including SatNav) would void the warranty. In my opinion therefore if you take the OPC warranty, keep your aftermarket SatNav and then make a claim it is unlikely that Porsche will honour the warranty. The fact that the OPC sold you the warranty while you had your aftermarket SatNav would be of little help as they will certainly argue that you installed the SatNav after the warranty was sold to you.

IMO although it would appear that the OPC have missed the non-Porsche part there is an obligation for you to read the policy so you have a duty to inform that that you have non-Porsche parts fitted. In the event of a claim, they have every right to refuse to pay out if there are non-Porsche parts is fitted.

My OPC told me that the car can be covered on the warranty even though it has an aftermarket sat nav so long as I have the original cd/radio unit on the seat when it has it's check! Whilst this is ok and I intend to go ahead on this basis it does concen me in the event that my car has to go to a different OPC for warranty work and it is refused on the basis of the aftermarket unit being fitted. Would they honestly refuse to cover engine defects on the basis of an aftermarket radio/sat nav unit having been fitted????

As daft as it sounds I believe they will refuse. Just this week I was told that if for instance your front discs are cracked they wouldn't honour or renew the warranty unless they were replaced even though they are not covered under the warranty in any case... :dont know:

Chipfork - I wouldnt be so sure or confident about this. My understanding is that the extended warranty is provided by an insurance company independent of Porsche who will usually pay your OPC for doing the work. If the insurance company finds out about the head unit, then under the very brief terms you have quoted it would be seen as a modification and give them grounds to refuse cover. The OPC will then be looking to you to pay - cannot see them waiving their costs!

Don't fret boys - if you have to make a claim then just pull out your 3rd party satnav - then put it back when they've fixed the problem. Job done!! Ray :lol:

Wish it was that simple! Means you have to take the precaution of removing the satnav everytime you have car serviced at OPC, in case they find something wrong which needs changing under warranty

Andrew, I'm afraid that's the nature of the beast. Fortunately it's not a major job. Ray 8)