[ItsConnor]

Prefacing that I know any true mods on a lease can be risky, not recommended, void warranties, etc. Not starting this thread to debate that.

Nonetheless I have a leased 24’ M4 that after installing a valve controller, am looking to add a midpipe to it. This would remove secondary cats & resonators therefore entering my subjective “true mods” category. Made the decision after talking to local service advisors, etc.

During debating and investigating I reread my lease agreement and noticed it states:
“You will not change the vehicles body or interior in any ways……” and later under default clauses mentions “Failing to comply with terms, rules, etc”

This concludes that technically for any mods made BMW can void the lease & demand the car back, self explanatory.

Now to purpose this thread, has anyone throughout any leased car with any brands ever actually had their lease recalled due to modifications? This isn’t related to issues when returning the vehicle or warranty claims but a forced early termination or similar action on their lease. When researching the topic I was unable to find any personal experiences so maybe someone in the future can benefit from some.

[Berzerker]

As long as you put it back to stock and it's not tuned or anything modified to the computer, you should be fine.

[napeHbNYC]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

As long as you put it back to stock and it's not tuned or anything modified to the computer, you should be fine.

This.

[Trevorr]

Do they check the ecu at lease turn in?

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by Trevorr

Do they check the ecu at lease turn in?

Almost certainly part of their inspection process.

[ItsConnor]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

Almost certainly part of their inspection process.

Agreed, unless you’re buying out 100% def don’t tune. Do you think a tune even if you plan to buyout at the end would present issues non-warranty related?

[BackOnBlack]

They run diagnostics even during regular servicing of the vehicle. They'll notice the mods, especially the mid-pipe, the dealer that is, but would they do anything about it?

Obviously, during a lease, the vehicle is not yours. So, you are modifying someone else's car. They may take offense

[EV2DEMON]

Spending money to modify a rented car. LOL.

[ItsConnor]

Originally Posted by EV2DEMON

Spending money to modify a rented car. LOL.

Same argument can be made for buying furniture for a house you’re renting but it’s not. Realistically most moderate mods are around a single months payment so nothing in the grand scheme. In my instance with a buyout of 47,600 I’m definitely buying out at the end but ya it’s still rented currently lol

[Aalfred]

Originally Posted by ItsConnor

Same argument can be made for buying furniture for a house you’re renting but it’s not. Realistically most moderate mods are around a single months payment so nothing in the grand scheme. In my instance with a buyout of 47,600 I’m definitely buying out at the end but ya it’s still rented currently lol

If you plan on buying it out at the end of ur lease, then why bother with what the dealer thinks. Worst case they notice it during ur regular servicing and tell u to change it back. If they enforce that, u can always buy it then and not worry about it. The prob will come with the warranty if u do start having issues. Then they already have it in their system and so be prepared for the denial of claim. At the end YOLO so do what you want !!!

[Bimmer.Plug]

Be careful modding a leased car.

[TheDrivenGarage]

I would think modding a leased car would be great. You can drive it hard and then revert to stock and then on to the next one. Have there been any known cases where it's gone wrong?

[wavyyyy]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

Almost certainly part of their inspection process.

They definitely don’t check this. Have you ever leased a car? They look at the most basic things on turn in in my experience.

[Mike02z]

I had a 2011 CTS-V with headers, an under drive pulley, and a tune and GM never said a word when the lease expired. I guess I just got lucky as I could not have afforded to put it back to stock at that time. It was also not super loud at idle and I expect that would be a bigger sticking point with GM but who knows.

I would not advise mod’ing a car if you intend to return at the end of a lease unless you go back to stock. I intended to keep my V but life had other plans😪

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by wavyyyy

They definitely don’t check this. Have you ever leased a car? They look at the most basic things on turn in in my experience.

They don't look at it while you're standing there lol. There's an entire intake process that goes on once the paperwork is done. They reserve every right to go after you if you don't abide by a lease agreement even after it's turned in and goes through their internal inspection process.

[wavyyyy]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

They don't look at it while you're standing there lol. There's an entire intake process that goes on once the paperwork is done. They reserve every right to go after you if you don't abide by a lease agreement even after it's turned in and goes through their internal inspection process.

Nah they don’t do any of that.

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by wavyyyy

Nah they don’t do any of that.

lol ok.

ItsConnor listen to the rational folks here.

[wavyyyy]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

lol ok.

ItsConnor listen to the rational folks here.

I’ve turned in tuned leases that were modded and all that. It doesn’t matter. They check for dents and they check for curb rash, they check if your tires have tread. They turn the car on. Believe what you want but it’s just fear mongering.

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by wavyyyy

I’ve turned in tuned leases that were modded and all that. It doesn’t matter. They check for dents and they check for curb rash, they check if your tires have tread. They turn the car on. Believe what you want but it’s just fear mongering.

Then you got lucky. It's not fearmongering it's called "protecting from financial liability." BMW *directly* owns these cars the entire time while you're leasing it, you're not dealing with the dealer. If they care, they can absolutely hold you, completely, financially on the hook for getting the car back exactly in the state of equipment and capability in which they gave it to you, as well as bill you directly for the work it took to get that back to stock.

Telling people not to worry is irresponsible to the point where people can be on the hook for thousands of dollars they may not have had to pay if they just took the due diligence to follow the rules.

[ItsConnor]

wavyyyy
Berzerker
I think you both have a point however, I definitely side with Berzerker and would never tune a leased car due to the immediate full warranty void and therefore decrease in asset value the second it’s serviced.
Wavy, your dealer relationship is everyone’s dream or they just don’t gaf but I wouldn’t rec everyone tune to their lease unless they can buy the car cash at any moment

At least thus far all discussion has been regarding warranty and lease return rather than BMWFS coming for your car mid lease which was my main concern

[Higgs Boson]

Originally Posted by wavyyyy

I’ve turned in tuned leases that were modded and all that. It doesn’t matter.

What, specifically, were the mods?

[BTC Maxi]

I’ve known people who have tuned their leases, and have a currently tuned leased car. They’ve never had a problem returning the car as they bring it back stock… now every dealer is different and you could get unlucky. However, I haven’t heard of a case where a dealer has gone after a customer for a tuned car.