How do you know if a second hand car's been modified?

[3pointturn]

I bought my petrol leon fr from from mr arnie clark (2007 tfsi), it's a sporty looking thing, seems in good nick and low mileage on it.

I've always wondered whether it's been modded in any way. I asked the sales guy the same thing, he said they'd been factory extras and I've an email from him saying the same. However when I look at the engine and with my lack of any engineering knowledge, it still looks like stuffs been done to it.

I'll post pics tomorrow but are k&n engine covers and cone air filters standard?

 

[m0rk]

Nope, and they're not factory extra's either.

 

[invisiblekid]

I bought my petrol leon fr from from mr arnie clark (2007 tfsi), it's a sporty looking thing, seems in good nick and low mileage on it.

I've always wondered whether it's been modded in any way. I asked the sales guy the same thing, he said they'd been factory extras and I've an email from him saying the same. However when I look at the engine and with my lack of any engineering knowledge, it still looks like stuffs been done to it.

I'll post pics tomorrow but are k&n engine covers and cone air filters standard?

The salesman told you porkies.

 

[alwaysinfront]

its like asking a salesman if its a good deal they are all liying f-----s

 

[3pointturn]

Nope, and they're not factory extra's either.

Mork you're worrying me, well from an insurance p.o.v. anyway
I actually wanted to take it to Autohaus when I first got it as I didn't believe the dealer, to make sure it was what I bought. It feels like 200bhp but sometimes I wonder if it's stage 1
What else should I look out for?

The thing is, it's in the service manual that AC replaced the air filter when I bought it and it looks new. If you're saying it's non standard then surely they know that but the email I've got says otherwise and I *COULD make a complaint to AC?
Washing my car last week I spoke to another guy who had a m1 cupra and he asked if I'd lowered it
edit: it's always been an AC car, the service history has always been AC and it was bought from AC

and heres the pic of the car itself before I shoot the engine

 

[greyfloppyhat]

Looks lowered to me mate, but could just be the angle. Get under it and take a photo of the rear springs, they're the easiest to see, and I should be able to tell. The fact the calipers have been painted and the mirrors horribly sprayed red would make be thing it has had a bit of extra work done to modification wise.

If your not too far id be happy to give it a look over

 

[3pointturn]

Christ you're worring me even more.. About the mirrors, they don't look painted at all and look original but they are red. Like I say it's a sporty looking thing. The blue callipers do stick out though.

I'm in edinburgh mate, looks like you're in belfast so that journeys a long one

 

[greyfloppyhat]

I won't worry about it mate, from what I can see its just visual things that have been done. Everyone likes to leave their mark on their car be it a teddy or some intensive modification, so it's always to be expected when buying second hand.

I'd always take dealers words with a pinch of salt, and its a pity I didn't see this sooner I'm literally just back from edinburgh. I used to live in Peebles so would pop back every so often to see family or for a get a way with the gf.

The car looks dead on there and if it's all running fine then I wouldn't worry. If your worried about your insurance because it may have a remap, then you could always disconnect your battery over night as that usually clears it. As far as the springs go, get a pic up and I'll see what I think. If it is lowered then good on it, that should be one of the first mods any leon gets lol and my insurance didn't change at all when I changed to coilovers let alone springs

 

[marks_leon]

Yh deffo been lowered also the wheels look like they have been sprayed has well, I had them wheels on my other leon and they was factory grey, also the badge on the side isn't from factory. From what I can see its nothing major what has been done. Its a good thing with the calipers because they go horrible after a while has they don't come painted, check with the last owner isn't he on your last previous owner on your log book??

 

[invisiblekid]

Yep, lowered without doubt.

Would be surprised if it hasn't been mapped.

 

[3pointturn]

Here's a pic of the engine and the front springs, I couldn't get under it to take a pic of the rears....
I knew i should've asked this months ago, good lads on here !!!

marks_leon, maybe I'm dumb but the wheels don't look painted, if they have then it's a damn good job. The pic I posted above was just after it was detailed so it looked super shiny

invisiblekid, that's what I'm worried about if it has been mapped, if anything happens then I'd be furious if I wasn't insured. You'd think AC would've had it on VAGCOM but I suppose they can't tell unless they BHP/torque test it.

Looks lowered to me mate, but could just be the angle. Get under it and take a photo of the rear springs, they're the easiest to see, and I should be able to tell. The fact the calipers have been painted and the mirrors horribly sprayed red would make be thing it has had a bit of extra work done to modification wise.

If your not too far id be happy to give it a look over

 

[m0rk]

Looks like aftermarket springs - OEM tend to be black with a couple of painted stripes on them

 

[mrabz]

They look like Eibach lowering springs for sure, and the Cone Filter is an aftermarket bit of kit.

As for the Remap. take it to any stealers and ask for an ECU Update on the next service - some may do it there for free.

 

[marks_leon]

Its clearly got a K&N filter on it, I think the big black thing and the badge confirms that, has for the wheels, I don't think they came has an option in that color, it was grey and that's it. The wheels could have been powder coated hence them looking original. Has for suspension if you cant get in there to take a pic its deffo been lowered has Leons sit quite high and in my opinion taking pictures wouldn't be a problem. Was it brought from a Seat dealer??

 

[3pointturn]

Yeh bought from AC along the road from me....

I doubt it makes much difference but I made sure to get the sales guy to email me confirming it's all factory extras
AC actually fitted a new air filter when I bought it!

Its clearly got a K&N filter on it, I think the big black thing and the badge confirms that, has for the wheels, I don't think they came has an option in that color, it was grey and that's it. The wheels could have been powder coated hence them looking original. Has for suspension if you cant get in there to take a pic its deffo been lowered has Leons sit quite high and in my opinion taking pictures wouldn't be a problem. Was it brought from a Seat dealer??

 

[marks_leon]

I dunno how you would stand with the insurance, has far you are aware the car hasn't been messed with and you have confirmation that it hasn't been messed with, if anything happened i,m guessing you could revert back to the dealers but then there argument would be the car left them with no modifications so if you didn't want the mods take it back and get them to put it right.

 

[invisiblekid]

Yeh bought from AC along the road from me....

I doubt it makes much difference but I made sure to get the sales guy to email me confirming it's all factory extras
AC actually fitted a new air filter when I bought it!

I'd say you're well within your rights to return it, if you want to.

If they are Seat dealers they clearly lied through their teeth. They would have known 100% those parts were aftermarket.

And have they really changed the filter?!

I hate car salesmen with a passion. I've only dealt with one I would consider buying from again. Stuff like this really takes the gloss off buying a car.

 

[marks_leon]

The dont give a **** has long has they get paid for selling it. Once its sold it aint there problem. Tossers.

 

[3pointturn]

The thing is, I love it! It's a bloody great drive

Think I'll be back on the phone to them, I've not had a great experience with the service dept since I bought it. I took it in under warranty in January to get a rattle fixed on the door and by next week it'll have been in 4 times because they keep screwing up. They did fix the rattle on the door but they failed to notice the door only opens from the inside
I bought autocare from them too, another schoolboy error.

The filter's definitely new, it's in the log book

I'd say you're well within your rights to return it, if you want to.

If they are Seat dealers they clearly lied through their teeth. They would have known 100% those parts were aftermarket.

And have they really changed the filter?!

I hate car salesmen with a passion. I've only dealt with one I would consider buying from again. Stuff like this really takes the gloss off buying a car.

 

[3pointturn]

Just thought i'd give yous an update on this. I wish I'd chased this up sooner with the dealer after speaking to them this week.

I'm taking the car in next week and they're going to list everything that's been done to it. I spoke to the service dept today, the guy I spoke to asked the mechanics that's worked on the car and he's said that it's definitely lowered, springs etc
Plus he thinks the turbo's been modified so like you guys have said above, it's likely to be chipped too

What the mechanic said is that it's been a professional job, apparently he said to the service rep that if I didn't want it he'd definitely take it off my hands

I don't blame the sales guy, he was actually a really nice guy and said he didn't know seats. I reckon his manager has told him it's been unmodified.
I feel a bit stupid too as at the back of my mind I thought it didn't look standard.
I'll be speaking to the general manager when I take it in so will let you know how that goes.

I don't know whether to phone my insurance company tonight, whats your thoughts? Would they ask me not to drive it till everythings known or could they increase insurance cover to cover me till then?

thanks for all the help by the way guys

edit: I'm thinking whoever's modified my motor is probably a member here, anyone from the glasgow area recognise your old motor?