[TorontoGambler]

Hi All!

So many great mods in here, from ceramic protection, custom wheels, m performance parts, tints, tunes etc. My question is which would you do on a lease vs if you own the car? I’m likely jumping into a 36 month lease and there’s only so much additional $ I want to put into a car I’m giving back eventually.

So what have you done to your leased G20 and what would you never do to a leased car?

Thanks!!

[NYC_340i]

I've always leased but I also get the itch to do some mods.

My theory is to do any mods that can easily be reversed, provided you have the storage space to keep the OEM parts.

For example, I still get all my leased cars tinted and BMW doesn't care as long as it's not some crappy $99 tint that's peeling/bubbling or turning purple. My old 340i I cut out the resonator to have a louder exhaust and I just had the same shop put it back in before I turned the car in. Other mods I did were a reflector delete, esys coding, rear diffuser, spoiler, BMS intake, JB+, new wheels. All of which I undid and sold off before my lease ended. Only hassle is the selling part and having to keep your OEM parts ready to put back.

This time around, I was able to custom order my M340i so I just got it with most of the stuff I'd usually mod (got the M diffuser, spoiler, front lip, MPE, etc..) I'd prefer it this way as I don't need to worry about selling the parts afterwards to recoup the costs and the price is residualized into the lease. Sure it added a huge bump in MSRP and it took away from the fun of DIYing it but the peace of mind and the experience of picking the car up from the dealer with everything already installed was great.

So all I've done is a window tint, carbon fiber mirror caps, black mesh grill, ceramic coating, esys coding. All that costed me less than $500 (Other than the tint I did the install myself along with ceramic coating and coding myself). Might do a tune as well but debating it.

[The Automotive Enthusiast]

A ceramic coating isn't something that will give you problems at lease turn in. If you have a good relationship with the dealer, neither will something like tint because they'll just take the tint off when/if they decide to keep your car to sell on the lot when it goes in for its detail before it hits the lot.

As long as you return the car as it was when you got it, you'll be fine. If you decide to change wheels, you have to put back the stock wheels back on for lease turn in. From my understanding, BMW is starting to get a bit more strict with tunes but coding the car shouldn't be an issue.

[PersonaNonGrata]

Originally Posted by Mo@

A ceramic coating isn't something that will give you problems at lease turn in. If you have a good relationship with the dealer, neither will something like tint because they'll just take the tint off when/if they decide to keep your car to sell on the lot when it goes in for its detail before it hits the lot.

As long as you return the car as it was when you got it, you'll be fine. If you decide to change wheels, you have to put back the stock wheels back on for lease turn in. From my understanding, BMW is starting to get a bit more strict with tunes but coding the car shouldn't be an issue.

One bonus of changing wheels and tires is that if you do it with good tread on the original RFTs you can stash those away and put them back on at lease return and have good tread on them. In the meantime you can have different wheels and non-RFTs if you so prefer.

I'd be afraid to tune it unless it's truly reversible with no way the dealer can come back at me for it. I know most tunes claim to be 100% revertible to stock but I am wary of that given how sophisticated the scan tools are.

Coding stuff via BimmerCode and the like probably won't be an issue. I bet no dealer ever even knows it was done and many don't even know it can be done by the end user. I've told both Audi and BMW sales people that I coded my car and they were like "you can do that???"

I leased and I've done tint, painted reflectors, a dash camera, and coding so far. All of it is reversible but where I live, they'll appreciate the quality tint job and I doubt they'll even notice the painted reflectors if I don't take them off.

[eluded]

Nitrous

[The Automotive Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by PersonaNonGrata

One bonus of changing wheels and tires is that if you do it with good tread on the original RFTs you can stash those away and put them back on at lease return and have good tread on them. In the meantime you can have different wheels and non-RFTs if you so prefer.

I'd be afraid to tune it unless it's truly reversible with no way the dealer can come back at me for it. I know most tunes claim to be 100% revertible to stock but I am wary of that given how sophisticated the scan tools are.

Coding stuff via BimmerCode and the like probably won't be an issue. I bet no dealer ever even knows it was done and many don't even know it can be done by the end user. I've told both Audi and BMW sales people that I coded my car and they were like "you can do that???"

I leased and I've done tint, painted reflectors, a dash camera, and coding so far. All of it is reversible but where I live, they'll appreciate the quality tint job and I doubt they'll even notice the painted reflectors if I don't take them off.

The scanning tools have become very advanced. Audi has a process where the car is scanned and the results sent back to HQ each time the car goes in for service BEFORE it goes into the back to get any type of repair or maintenance done. Manufacturers are cracking down because they don't want to be responsible for mistakes made by the consumer. Obviously, it's become a big enough problem that they're taking measures to stop it.

The latest Bosche ECU's have been very difficult to crack. It took a couple years.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Tuner
Downpipe (if legal)
Intake
Catback exhaust

[Rocket455]

Originally Posted by NYC_340i

My theory is to do any mods that can easily be reversed, provided you have the storage space to keep the OEM parts.

Originally Posted by Mo@

The scanning tools have become very advanced.... Manufacturers are cracking down because they don't want to be responsible for mistakes made by the consumer.

The above 2 points are a tidy summary regarding mods on leased cars.

Ultimately, you have a little leeway depending on the dealership that is taking the car back... I've heard of cars being returned with different wheels and bolt-ons (lips, spoilers, etc) with no push back from the dealer; some people have even gotten away with suspension mods exhaust/intake stuff as well. Really depends, but the safest strategy remains getting reversible mods (especially for our cars).

[Gdiddy23]

My dealers words were "as long as it's a common enough mod that most wouldn't classify as a nuisance".

His examples given were drastically lowering the vehicle and/or attaching a huge wing to the back of the vehicle.

I had the KW coilovers on my F30 and loved those and wish I could upgrade on my leased M340. I don't think I'm going to risk it though. Good news is my BMW dealer is also a certified Dinan dealer so if I opt for their exhaust, I highly doubt it will affect my lease turn in. And even then I'll probably swap it out and put the stock one back on before I turn her in.

[Glashutte]

As said above reversible mods are highly recommended. JB+ is a nice way to bring the 330i around 300hp for only $200. It also wont throw error codes on default settings since it adds 2.75-3psi by default. So you shouldn't worry too much about warranty.

I would also pick up a bluetooth OBSII reader and bimmercode to code in sport+ since North American 330is dont get sport+ activated.

Double check with your dealer first. Ask the salesperson in charge of the lease what their policy on cosmetic mods are. The general rule of thumb is nothing too extreme or out of conventional taste. I would assume a tasteful m performance style trunk spoiler or side skirts wouldnt be a problem.