Detecting if a car is tuned

[cos_mo]

Hi Guys,

What are the ways one(Warranty/dealership) can tell if a car has been tuned(software)?
Searched on the forum but can't find any information regarding this.

Background as to why I am asking:
I am looking at getting a downpipe and software done. I am aware of the downpipe being a giveaway on modifications and have a plan for that.
A mech told me that recently he claimed from warranty for an electric issue, warranty had sent out an accessor who plugged into the OBD and when the mech enquired why, mech was told he is checking to see if the car was tuned.

So again, how and what was the accessor checking for?

 

[TBP88]

Hi Guys,

What are the ways one(Warranty/dealership) can tell if a car has been tuned(software)?
Searched on the forum but can't find any information regarding this.

Background as to why I am asking:
I am looking at getting a downpipe and software done. I am aware of the downpipe being a giveaway on modifications and have a plan for that.
A mech told me that recently he claimed from warranty for an electric issue, warranty had sent out an accessor who plugged into the OBD and when the mech enquired why, mech was told he is checking to see if the car was tuned.

So again, how and what was the accessor checking for?

As guys have said here before - if you tune or mod your car and it's under plan and something goes wrong BMW will do their level best to find out if/when it was modded. And if it was you can kiss MP goodbye. Truth is so much is stored in a modern ECU that you/your tuner won't know about from temps all over the system to pressures all over the system that any mods can probably be picked up easily. If you can afford to be without motorplan and probably grenade your cars 2nd hand value, then you can opt. Otherwise wait for plan to end and you can start servicing it privately and mod it to your hearts content.

 

[Kyle]

Flash counter on ECU...

 

[cos_mo]

As guys have said here before - if you tune or mod your car and it's under plan and something goes wrong BMW will do their level best to find out if/when it was modded. And if it was you can kiss MP goodbye. Truth is so much is stored in a modern ECU that you/your tuner won't know about from temps all over the system to pressures all over the system that any mods can probably be picked up easily. If you can afford to be without motorplan and probably grenade your cars 2nd hand value, then you can opt. Otherwise wait for plan to end and you can start servicing it privately and mod it to your hearts content.

Thanks Bud. Warranty is with external company but yes, they will all look for any reason to get out of it.

Flash counter on ECU...

I assume not doing a software tune, but still turning off the EGR and DPF monitoring will also cause the flash count to increase?

My biggest reason for the DP and Software is because of the mileage (195k) of my car and I have been advised that for longevity of the engine, the DP is the way to go. I was also told DP can be done without the tune.

 

[TBP88]

Thanks Bud. Warranty is with external company but yes, they will all look for any reason to get out of it.


I assume not doing a software tune, but still turning off the EGR and DPF monitoring will also cause the flash count to increase?

My biggest reason for the DP and Software is because of the mileage (195k) of my car and I have been advised that for longevity of the engine, the DP is the way to go. I was also told DP can be done without the tune.

In that case go for it. Aftermarket warrantees cover so little that if something is catastrophic them denying you R25k cover on a R200k bill means basically nothing.