XR4 Mod - Warranty issues + Towbar

mc_konazz · 13-10-2007, 08:26 PM

Hey all.

Looks like i'm getting an XR4 - just gotta wait for work to approve the lease.

My question is, is there any way to add kilowatts, but keep the warranty intact? i.e. would putting an different air filter on void warranty - should note that my old man is a mechanic, and so are 2 other friends... so if need be, i could reinstall the factory stuff???

Can also someone give a run down of mods that can be done, and what the cost would be? I'm not talking XTREME ones - just keeping it under say total $5k!

Finally (should of asked the dealer - but they probably wouldn't know why) you can't get a factory towbar fitted on the XR4... i assume the kit? Anyone know if it can be done aftermarket... in sydney... don't want to ruin the body by some amateur doing it.... I really need the towbar for my bike rack - as I carry other stuff on the roof (surf boards etc). I could do the practical thing, and use my girlfriends car/my camry which my little brother is getting ... but i want to drive my XR4 EVERYWHERE!!!

MK

Ives · 13-10-2007, 08:56 PM

Hey man, welcome to the forum. Good decision on getting the XR4... it's got good value for money. What colour?

Regarding mods, minor mods like air-filters, springs, cat-back exhaust shouldn't void the new car warranty BUT Ford can use the mods as means to "wiggle" out of the warranty IF the mods are related to the problem on the car.

As for the tow bar, hmm... I dunno anything about that... sorry. I dunno anyone that fitted towbar in their XR4s.

mc_konazz · 13-10-2007, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ives

Hey man, welcome to the forum. Good decision on getting the XR4... it's got good value for money. What colour?

Regarding mods, minor mods like air-filters, springs, cat-back exhaust shouldn't void the new car warranty BUT Ford can use the mods as means to "wiggle" out of the warranty IF the mods are related to the problem on the car.

As for the tow bar, hmm... I dunno anything about that... sorry. I dunno anyone that fitted towbar in their XR4s.

I'm completely new to car tuning... been driving a camry for 5 odd years... and its performed liked a stunner with the V6 (so far 220,000km on the clock - not a single fault yet - except damage caused by myself!)

Would really like to know:
a) where to get mods done, or buy - like air filters etc.
b) is the gain in power worth the expenditure?
c) what does it cost?
d) what order to do them in to keep costs low

and finally

e) what the hell is it.... (remember -i'm new to 'cars' in general - i'm an accountant!) eg. "cat back" exhaust...

mc_konazz · 13-10-2007, 09:08 PM

forgot to say... if work says car is ok, then will have blue w/ white stripes (and get the side stripes done aftermarket), otherwise i'll go for the white (and put side stripes on as well), if no stripes allowed!!!

Really would like to know about the towbar... as i really don't want to around with trying to mount 3 bikes onto the roof... and risk of scratching!

kiwijohn42 · 13-10-2007, 10:32 PM

Hey mate, I use a Thule rack for my bikes (holds 3 bikes). Clips onto the hatch solid as, not like a strap on one (chortle). Only prob might be your rear spoiler, bigger than the Zetec one.

Piotr · 14-10-2007, 01:57 AM

Im regards to warranty it really depends on the dealer, ive never had a problem with my local dealer Thompson Ford.

Ive been in for warranty twice and both times it was the gearbox. The second time the car have a BMC CDA fitted and they had no issue fixing the slave cylinder. Having said that warranty is a thing of the past for me :(

photn · 14-10-2007, 01:39 PM

Mind you piotr you have a 1.6 zetec. just so he doesnt get confused. :P

In regards to mods.

id Suggest either a Bluefin or a Dreamscience unit, which retunes your ECU to give you more response and power. It also stores your orignial ECU program so that you can turn it back to stock when ever you want. It takes about 10 sec to do. and trust me its easy as p!ss to do. Bluefin is like $800+ and Dreamscience is $1000+.
You can pick up the Bluefin from places in AUS and you have to order the Dreamscience from the UK.

Um an intake, You replae the air filter with a new one. or you can replace the entire Intake system with a Cold Air Intake. Which basically sucks cold air from under the car and give you more responsiveness and power.anyware from $100-$500

A cat back exhaust will set you back about $300ish and will give you a good sound (what ever sound you wish) and a good power/responsiveness gain.

Need any more info just PM me or visit www.fordfiestaxr4.com and ask the questions there. Every one is very helpfull

in regards to the bike thingy. KiwiJohn42 has a wicked bike rack without the use of the tow bar. keeps the car looking very sexxy

mc_konazz · 14-10-2007, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photn

Um an intake, You replae the air filter with a new one. or you can replace the entire Intake system with a Cold Air Intake. Which basically sucks cold air from under the car and give you more responsiveness and power.anyware from $100-$500

A cat back exhaust will set you back about $300ish and will give you a good sound (what ever sound you wish) and a good power/responsiveness gain.

How much power would i gain from these two mods... shouldn't be a problem with warranty either?

Quote:

Originally Posted by photn

in regards to the bike thingy. KiwiJohn42 has a wicked bike rack without the use of the tow bar. keeps the car looking very sexxy

As above from kiwijohn42- the spoiler might be an issue... i've tried using a clip on with my car ATM, but simply don't trust it. And three bikes mountain bike would be a stretch to fit them on. I'd love to know whether its possible to get the square hitch on... but thats definetly cutting in to kit!... but at least not as visible!

photn · 15-10-2007, 12:45 PM

id say anyware between 10-15hp. and a whole lot of responsiveness.

Miyagi · 15-10-2007, 08:23 PM

I'd suspect Ford would have a big thing to say about fitting an aftermarket towbar to the car against your warranty... if you fitted one. Pure speculation on my behalf but I've seen Dealers be real pains in the about doing warranty work if they want to.

If you need to tow something then you really shouldn't be looking at the XR4.

Photn really knows his stuff about the Fiesta so there is some good advice there. There are some tuners popping up in AU now for Dreamscience so if you have any queries drop me a line and i might be able to help you make the connection.

Cheers,
Miyagi

mc_konazz · 17-10-2007, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miyagi

If you need to tow something then you really shouldn't be looking at the XR4.

I don't want to tow anything - i just don't trust carrying my bikes on the clip on racks... On weekends i need to carry three bikes and i don't think i'd fit all 3 of them on a clip on! The square hitches lets me get a bike rack for 4 bikes, so i can space them out a bit more (wish i'd know that before i got the normal tow ball installed one on my current car!)

Thanks for the advice on the Dreamscience tuner... probably go with an airfilter at first... as the tuner is a big jump in $$$ from $400 odd dollars for the filter! But after that, i might need to contact you!

kiwijohn42 · 17-10-2007, 04:54 PM

What kind of bikes do you want to carry? XC or DH/Freeride? My Thule is rated to 45kg, so 3 XC bikes is not a problem on it.

zabatron · 15-07-2008, 01:09 AM

Hi..I just bought a brand new xr4(red with white stripes) and the dealer had no trouble fitting a genuine ford towbar prior to me taking delivery.Minor cutting of grey rear bumper trim involved(this part is separate to rear bumper)but hardly noticable.I do not wish to tow anything with my car but would like to get a bike rack at some stage.Hope this helps.

zetec · 15-07-2008, 01:41 AM

Great news zabatron, great news! Towbar problem solved WITH a genuine part!

As for engine and performance mods, any mods risks warranty but normally air filters and exhausts don't cause too many problems.

To be completely honest, if you're coming out of a V6 Camry, despite the Quad Cam V6 being a decent unit, you're going to be BLOWN away by the XR4 and it seriously doesn't need any extra power. It's easily the best bang for bucks under $25k and there's no need to spend any great deal of money on the car for mods, it's virtually perfect as is.

Dreamscience · 15-07-2008, 05:16 AM

We are also on this forum if anyone needs help or advice with any XR5 or XR4 queries and pretty soon we will be offering the Mondeo XR5 devices

Jared

S

melbzetec · 15-07-2008, 07:54 AM

Jared,

Great to see you on the Australian Forums. Welcome

JayD · 15-07-2008, 04:37 PM

I have fitted a factory towbar to my Fiesta Zetec, and towed a fully laden 6x4 Trailer from Melbourne to Brisbane and back with no real drama's, apart from the d*%#head ford trained technicians not tightening the mount bolts properly...but thats another story, so I assume there wouldn't be a problem with the XR4