Turbo Gone Kaboom

[RobH]

Well I only just about got insured on the k1, setting me back 2700, but have done some quotes on loads of different cars for when im 21 and for an evo fq 360 it was like 2400, and thats without going to the specialists.

£2400 is pretty good i didnt go into too much depth although herd the running costs are insane.

anyways will know more when awesome get hold of it and dont be suprised if it isnt the turbo after all. will update when i know more because its mere speculation at the moment.

 

[Al]

aparrently Seat has seen this thread and put a warning out to all dealerships about warrenty

That is interesting, funny and a little disturbing.

I wonder if they have also seen this thread about the opinions on the new Cupra R from their main fan base and why most current Cupra owners are just not going to bother spending their hard earned changing.......

 

[warren_cox]

RobH,

seeing this thread is being 'watched', maybe now would be the time to drop in some more retrospective facts for the reader base. In 2006 I had to take the Leon Cupra R I then owned to SEAT as I had boost spikes and inconsistent running.

SEAT had the car for 2 days (Newbury SEAT), and they diagnosed I needed a turbo replacement and that it would cost over £2k.

I too could not accept this, so I crawled the car to Stealth Racing in Southam (Oxfordshire) and put it in the hands of Vince at Stealth who logged the car for 10 minutes.

Turned out it was a split hose under the DV due to a pinched hose (by jubilee clip). Nothing more. I bunged Vince £20 for coming up the road and back with us and all was right as rain for the rest of the time I owned the car.

This is not a fabricated story. A member of SCN met me there at Stealth and we had breakfast in Southam afterwards, so this isn't just a fantasy to build up any ill feeling on the thread. As my car was modified there seems to be a tendency to go for the jugular and replace the big ticket items when they can't point at a diagnosis.

Tread with EXTREME caution, and get someone to look at the car who can fault find and diagnose using experience and instinct, not 'stick a tail on a donkey' when they can't find an appropriate DTC.

We went to look at a BMW 335i coupe at the weekend as BMW will supply and support their own modifications, whereas VAG group just PENALISE and SWEAT their most loyal, top of the range purchasers when they enhance or spec up the cars, being VAG don't offer any decent mods or car upgrades yet (even SAAB do this...).

Verdict: Stone age, backward thinking. But then when they are launching cars like the new Cupra R, it's what we come to expect.

 

[robdf2]

That is interesting, funny and a little disturbing.

I wonder if they have also seen this thread about the opinions on the new Cupra R from their main fan base and why most current Cupra owners are just not going to bother spending their hard earned changing.......

Would be nice if they would make a comment actually if they are watching said thread , perhaps they would see that there are huge enthusiasts here who care and look after their cars and dont rag them around and maybe learn a thing or 2

 

[Nath.]

In the past I have had a Seat dealer in a total mess with regard to fault finding a climate control stuck on almost full heat problem. In the end the master tech at the dealer in question got a bit fed up with my jibes and asked me what I would do. So I had a look at the wiring diagrams that they had downloaded and pointed out that indeed there was an interior temp sensor. They fitted a second hand one from a car on their forecourt and hey presto the CC worked fine. they had been telling me for weeks that the mk3 Ibiza Cupra did not have an interior temp sensor, just and exterior one that they had replaced 4 times (twisting wires together and insulating with tape) as they had no soldering equipment on site. They kept on about the CC working on algorithms, when quizzed they didn't seem to actually know what an algorithm was but they had read it in the tech guide.

Oh and then there was the 10 weeks that it took to retrofit cruise control to a Mk4 Ibiza FR petrol. I had the sales managers Tolly for almost all of that time. In the end they had to get some Spanish bloke down to sort it at great cost to the dealer.

Most of them are tossers, some of them are very good.

 

[Al]

We went to look at a BMW 335i coupe at the weekend as BMW will supply and support their own modifications, whereas VAG group just PENALISE and SWEAT their most loyal, top of the range purchasers when they enhance or spec up the cars, being VAG don't offer any decent mods or car upgrades yet (even SAAB do this...).

Verdict: Stone age, backward thinking. But then when they are launching cars like the new Cupra R, it's what we come to expect.

Nail on the head. This is one of the reasons I fancy a 335i next myself \

 

[RobsCupra]

We went to look at a BMW 335i coupe at the weekend as BMW will supply and support their own modifications, whereas VAG group just PENALISE and SWEAT their most loyal, top of the range purchasers when they enhance or spec up the cars, being VAG don't offer any decent mods or car upgrades yet (even SAAB do this...).

Verdict: Stone age, backward thinking. But then when they are launching cars like the new Cupra R, it's what we come to expect.

A freind of mine has just left VAG to move to a BMW 335d m sport..... The statement above is exactly why I'm thinking he's got the right idea and am considering doing the same.... VAG = Too big for their boots.

 

[Poverty]

Thing with the 335i engine is that mapped ones do have their fair share of issues also, I looked into getting one before the cupra and looking at the forums it didnt paint a pretty picture.

BMW never wanted that engine to be mapped by consumers and their own performance mods are expensive and not overly effective power wise.

TBH natural progression to me from the cupra is a evo x.

Both have below par interiors, both need servicing every 10000 miles. Both drink alot of petrol when booting it. However the mitsu has better customer service, and is more geared towards enthusiasts.

P.S

Official VAG endorsed Remaps are available from dealers in other countries. SEAT UK just dont think they can make a profit from mapping for some stupid reason.

 

[Al]

Have to admit that the Evo X is another car I fancy as is the R20T Golf. The problem with the Evo is that servicing is not the major cost on them, and they are even wiser to modifications that SEAT are. In addition, add to this the cost of brakes, clutches, diff oil changes etc, and you soon see that it does cost a lot more to run.

Official VAG endorsed Remaps are available from dealers in other countries. SEAT UK just dont think they can make a profit from mapping for some stupid reason.

Either that or they think it will end up with them paying out more for warranty repairs such as the one on this thread. What they fail to see is that it is possible to strip mods off prior to a dealer visit which really neither benefits the customer, the dealer or SEAT themselves. It certainly does not make me desparate to buy another and "run the risk".

 

[AwesomeSarah]

You know , I was thinking about Seat UK reading this as I was
Be aware that Seat UK and Skoda UK do look at the forums
They look at your mods and will invalidate warranty on the car
I used to work in a Skoda dealership doing warranty claims , and in fact got .75million£`s in a few years
That was after they did not do well before
So we had 2 major warranty checks and passed them with a fine of £3.50
The dealer before was £20k
So I think we did well
The £3.50 was 0.10 of an hour
So in fact at that time , the dealer got £35 per hour for warranty
So that is why we did not really like warranty , and then you get 10% over the cost price on parts
When I worked there , I have to admit , Skoda UK was very good and I enjoyed working with them
I managed to claim customer care claims for bunches of flowers , tanks of fuel and even managed to claim for a new umberella , as found in the Superb
What made me decide to leave was when the manager told me that I could not carry on giving away coil packs under warranty
I had to charge customers for them jobs to be done (even though Skoda UK covered them in to a 5th year)
Then after the customer was charged for them , I had to do a warranty claim
I refused and walked
So dealers can be the culprits too
Please dont think , just because a dealer supplied Revo to your car , it is OK , as Seat UK , do not know about it
That would be why

Anyway , good luck Rob , I am here to help if you need it
Sarah

 

[Poverty]

Have to admit that the Evo X is my second choice perhaps with the R20T Golf in 3rd. The problem with the Evo is that servicing is not the major cost on them, and they are even wiser to modifications that SEAT are. In addition, add to this the cost of brakes, clutches, diff oil changes etc, and you soon see that it does cost a lot more to run.

Thats true but then look at all the members on here who have spent $$$$$$$ on brakes, clutches, suspension, mounts, bushes, arbs etc, when mitsu offer something more complete out of the box in the first place.

 

[Al]

Thats true but then look at all the members on here who have spent $$$$$$$ on brakes, clutches, suspension, mounts, bushes, arbs etc, when mitsu offer something more complete out of the box in the first place.

Which can also be (drastically) improved on . The Evo starts where a souped up Cupra stops IMO. The difference with the Evo is that the upgrades cost more for similar gains.

 

[ZBOYD]

SEAT UK were actively reading the forums over 4 years ago, when we went along for a head office tour they had SCN up on several customer service department computers.

Playing devils advocate, if you mod then by your choice your changing the manufacturers spec and they are well within their rights to void the warranty.

On the flip side of opinion, maybe SEAT should make it clearer of the consequences when people buy their products should they decide to modify. So they are under no illusion of the companies stance.

SEAT enthusiasts are presently getting mixed signals, when motoring magazines are full of remapping agents, high powered Leon road-tests, UK dealers offering and in some cases pushing chip tuning.

SEAT UK have talked on and off of introducing tuning products and have even been road testing highly tuned Leon's themselves.

I often think that the dealer network would benefit from some real specialists out in the field. Its all too common to rely on a computer giving out some DTC's to solve a problem and so few are doing real fault diagnosis. This again is less of a dealer problem and more of a manufacturer issue, as they do not give dealers the time or money to undertake work like this.

 

[Al]

SEAT UK were actively reading the forums over 4 years ago, when we went along for a head office tour they had SCN up on several customer service department computers.

Playing devils advocate, if you mod then by your choice your changing the manufacturers spec and they are well within their rights to void the warranty.

On the flip side of opinion, maybe SEAT should make it clearer of the consequences when people buy their products should they decide to modify. So they are under no illusion of the companies stance.

SEAT enthusiasts are presently getting mixed signals, when motoring magazines are full of remapping agents, high powered Leon road-tests, UK dealers offering and in some cases pushing chip tuning.

SEAT UK have talked on and off of introducing tuning products and have even been road testing highly tuned Leon's themselves.

I often think that the dealer network would benefit from some real specialists out in the field. Its all too common to rely on a computer giving out some DTC's to solve a problem and so few are doing real fault diagnosis. This again is less of a dealer problem and more of a manufacturer issue, as they do not give dealers the time or money to undertake work like this.

Agreed. I dont believe SEAT UK are naive or short sighted but for want of a better expression, they just dont seem to "get it". It has been said before, but why they cannot embrace the potential for tuning package add ons that are manufacturer approved beggars belief.

Suspension upgrades
ECU Upgrades
Intercooler Upgrades
Exhuast Upgrades
Wheel Upgrades

etc

Would all be easily doable and would encourage more of a following especially if SEAT backed them all.

 

[Cupraken]

Hi Rob, one of my customers is a Borg Warner supplier, can you let me know your engine code and I'll try and get you a new turbo at cost, if you need it

 

[Carr20vt]

Been away and missed this thread.

Sorry to hear the news Rob you seem to be taking it very well.

Hope you get it sorted and its not as expensive as SEAT would make out.

 

[robdf2]

I think it has been proved that the modifying scene is huge and the revenue it can generate for companies again is huge , Seat know that the standard Cupra can be easily mapped to at least 280 bhp from the euro model they supplied , but are reluctant to allow that in the UK, which is totally barmy to me.

Ford uses mountune for mods (superchips ecu maps) and is backed by their warranty , i dont see why VAG dont have the same type of approach.

wonder who of the 236 that have read this thread are from SEAT? , again it owuld be nice for them to comment on such things instead of sitting on the fence.

I wonder if this is where they got the idea that the new Cupra R needs a higher pressure fuel pump ?

Its a shame they are so eager to turn away cars that have been modified for warranty claims but cant help or fix faults with standard cars

I have looked at changing my car but funnily enough to a bmw 135i coupe.

 

[Carr20vt]

I think it has been proved that the modifying scene is huge and the revenue it can generate for companies again is huge , Seat know that the standard Cupra can be easily mapped to at least 280 bhp from the euro model they supplied , but are reluctant to allow that in the UK, which is totally barmy to me.

Ford uses mountune for mods (superchips ecu maps) and is backed by their warranty , i dont see why VAG dont have the same type of approach.

wonder who of the 236 that have read this thread are from SEAT? , again it owuld be nice for them to comment on such things instead of sitting on the fence.

I wonder if this is where they got the idea that the new Cupra R needs a higher pressure fuel pump ?

Its a shame they are so eager to turn away cars that have been modified for warranty claims but cant help or fix faults with standard cars

I have looked at changing my car but funnily enough to a bmw 135i coupe.

Which is why ultimately they will lose out.

 

[warren_cox]

wonder who of the 236 that have read this thread are from SEAT? , again it owuld be nice for them to comment on such things instead of sitting on the fence.

It's all about corporate protection. Whilst they say nothing there is NO fear they can misguide, misrepresent, infer or inadvertently commit to anything. The contracted rules are the rules, and that is that.

I wouldn't mention the guys name from Audi that I spoke to at Audi Driver International (out of common courtesy), but even he agreed that this area need to be addressed in some way by the overall VAG group.

By sharing the parts bins with VW/Audi/SEAT etc... does it mean if you fit an S3 intercooler to your Cupra that the car is 'modified' and hence beyond the protection of warranty? Or if you put in a better standard of NGK plug than factory fit that you have invalidated the agreement. I know some take it to the extremes with BT conversions etc.... (and in some cases those people don't even necessarily own anything like the majority of the vehicle as they are often HEAVILY financed), but ultimately you are saying to a customer who may have committed to spend £25k on this car alone (if not more on others), that we no longer value your business as you have taken matters into your own hands.

Since 2000 my wife and I have spent well over £130k on new VAG cars (in 9 years). Whilst that is a drop in the ocean compared to some, that figure only goes up as we earn more. We may spend upto £40k on our next car mid 2010. In 16 years I've never owned a car outside the VAG stables, and you think they'd care that such loyal customers would ever be prepared to walk away. I'm not asking them to open the floodgates to all and every modification, I'm just hoping that they adopt a common sense approach to case by case scenarios.

TBH I'm at the point where Audi's labour costs are so high (over £125+ VAT in some cases on the M4 corridor), that I'm questioning based on some of what you read and experience with after care that spending £40k on a VAG motor is a good idea (anyone remember the 6 day saga my S3 developed a hesitation at 5,500rpm that turned out to be a defective spark plug which I ended up fixing for them - their answer was to drive the car until it broke down!). Is this the advice I need on a £30k+ car when paying £125+ VAT an hour? Audi Master Technician my @r$£. It's just hype and words presenting the opportunity to extort. Given some of these issues it's probably best they don't endorse modifications as many wouldn't know where to begin if something went wrong. In some cases they are module fitters, and not mechanics/engineers in the pure sense of the word.

Some dealers only seem to be focussed on customer care when they are a newly opened franchise (building up a customer base), or up until the point where you've signed the purchase agreement form for a new car (or maybe if they are looking down the barrel of closure and are trying to raise their game in a last gasp at survival). The chasm between sales & service has ALWAYS been unacceptable at VAG, and to some ends I blame the Head Office functions for putting to great a pressure on the dealers. They could do well to look at this in some detail for the future as the far east are coming to challenge; LED running lights will only be a USP for VAG for so long

 

[Cupraken]

Just spoken to my supplier and he reckons Borg Warner won't supply any parts to remanufacture their turbos so beware firms offering exchange units as they're probably cleaning up old units! Garrett is apparently the way to go as they can be rebuilt. Hopefully Rob it won't come to that!