Hello all,

As some have done here (the few, the proud, the foolish), I've installed aftermarket engine software on my 2016 F type R coupe. Because I will not accept anymore being more foolish than me, my install is on a leased car.

I did so with full knowledge it could cause me trouble with engine warranty etc - I don't hide it from dealer (why?) knowing that JLR will likely sniff out the non-virgin-ness of the car if trouble comes my way.

My specific question - and apologies if its been addressed elsewhere, is say there is no issue with the car when I give it back at the end of the lease term, but down the line there is some sort of failure that gets blamed on the tune - can whoever has the car then come after you? Specifically if its between the 30mo lease termination and BEFORE the car's warranty is up, but its out of my hands, Ive given the car back. Say for argument's sake there is a time stamp on the code that is overwritten - can someone see that, then come looking for you or when you give the car back at end of your term, its caveat emptor and bye bye?

In my mind filled with mindless wanderings - this is one that I thought might have implications on modifying a leased car - particularly one that goes back to dealer still under warranty..

 

Better question may be...what do you think should happen?

Significant mods made to a vehicle you lease should, IMHO, have accountability. Why should the next owner or the person who inherits your "updates" pay the price?

 

I disagree and don't understand why this line of thinking would be any different for a leased vehicle than for an outright purchase.


In either case, lease or owned, the next owner or leasee takes possession of the vehicle "AS IS" No responsibility can be attributed back to the previous tenant. If that were the case, people would be suing prior owners for stoopid things like not performing all the scheduled maintenance or changing out the OEM tires and wheels, etc...

 

This seems far-fetched. We'd need a tort lawyer to figure it out. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

Appreciate your opinion. I suppose I should ask more specifically, is there precedent for liability.

It does cause me some eye roll when the guilt card is played considering its also possible the next owner enjoy the modification will all the fun and none of the cost.

 

Possibly. It could certainly turn out great for the next owner who reaps the benefits of the mod without paying a dime. But if it didn't in the long run (for reasons attributable to the mod) then what? It would just really bother me to be the lucky recipient of a problematic mod. Of course there are many possible disclosure scenarios here affecting the overall experience once a problem surfaces. If I went in fully informed then I'd have only myself to blame for assuming the risk.

 

When I moved my XFR on I restored the factory ECU file...

 

Yep, save yourself any agro. Enjoy the car whilst it's in your hands, then return it to stock when/if you hand it back. Guilt gone ('ish!)
It's a bit cheeky imo, however most, if not all lease/hire cars certainly here in the good old UK get a right old ragging from new!

 

I'm not an attorney, but I've seen one on TV, so that allows me to give my opinion. There are potentially two ways that you could be liable. The first is if the dealership, as part of prep for sale, notices that there is a mod. I would guess that your lease has language to the effect that you can't do anything to void the warranty. This seems to me to be the most (though not very) likely. The second is that there is a factory or CPO warranty for subsequent owners. JLR would deny the claim and the owner would have to sue and somehow prove that you did the mod. I think that this would be really, really difficult to prove unless they could figure out who actually did the work and got them to play along. A long shot at best.

 

Your mod would be a violation of the lease terms, so there is the possibility that they give you trouble at the end of the lease. If you successfully get the car returned, you should be in the clear.

 

Why do you think your mod is a benefit? What if it damages something without you realizing it? What if it negatively impact reliability? What if the next owner wanted to collect the car, and now he has altered car that worthless as a collectable? What if the next owner has warranty claim denied because of your tune?