[Saosin17]

my car is a lease. this is what i would like to do, but am not sure what i can or cant. this is the list, if anyone can tell me if all will be ok, and removable when the time comes that would be awesome.

exhaust
springs
intake
wheels/tires
body kit(most likely ac schnitzer)
tint
blacklines

[sdorn]

You probably shouldn't have leased the car if you wanted to mod it. Any damage done to the car as a result of the installation or removal of the mods could cost you big at turn-in time. Plus, if you do the intake and the exhaust, and then have engine problems, they may refuse to fix them under warranty. Then you are really screwed.

[Saosin17]

thank you for the concern, though that wasnt my question. and i had to lease as opposed to buy the car for multiple reasons. any answers much appreciated.

[sdorn]

You asked if it would be "ok" to do those mods. My answer was no, it would not be ok. If you can somehow hide the fact that you have done these mods when you return the car, then you might get away with it, but that doesn't mean it was ok. Sort of like "Is it ok to rob a bank?" No it isn't, but if you don't get caught there might not be any consequences.

[Saosin17]

i guess i left out if i could return the parts to stock when i am done with it. for example a bolt on exhaust liek eisenmann. would i be able to have the stock returned?? i would take all the parts i put on off when returnign the car. what i would liek to know is if that is possible with all parts i listed and if when i take my car for jsut a tune up or scheduled service they will see the parts and it will be a problem then, even if they have caused no problems. sorry about the lack of clarity

[ksfrogman]

sdorn has a very valid point. you leased your car, i.e., it is not yours. then you think of everything that comes to mind about modifying a car that is not yours. naturally, the answer is NO. as for returning everything back to it's original state before returning your lease, well need you ask us for an opinion? you know the answer.

as for getting it serviced without problems, i'd ask my dealership service department. i've heard this question answered in many different ways, so it may be a very individual circumstance depending on who is working on your car.

[SteveMD]

Dude, do what you want to your car. I have leased many vehicles and although I'm not into modding, I have done a few things and then removed them at turn-in.

There's nothing wrong - and certainly nothing ethically or morally wrong with slapping on an intake or an exhaust to a leased car. Just make sure you can put it back stock - you can then sell the stuff.

The only thing I wouldn't do is a tint. That is tough to remove. And obviously any engine work although there isn't anything available so that's a moot point.

Do what you want. Just keep in mind that it has to be removed.

[cdheaven]

my last car (2003 acura tl-s) was a lease, and heavily moddified. Including a full custom fiberglass dash. air ride susspension. jdm everything. nitrous. and much more. When you mod a lease car you lose EVEN more money then modding a car you own. Once you have come to terms with that, and you can afford it. MOD AWAY. 1. unmodding your car to bring back to stock for end of lease inspection is ALMOST as much fun as modding your car in the first place. 2. almost anything you do, you can at least give away for a stock piece. for example, my custom dash cost my like 500 bucks. when i had to bring the car back to stock, i almost practically gave it away for even trade of the stock piece. making some kid very happy, and giving me the stock parts i need.
so i vote, mod away, worst case scenario is you buy the car out at the end of the lease, and sell it privately. not the end of the world. the only think on your list i would be iffy about AT ALL. is the body kit, everything else seems like a nonissue. good luck. post pictures

[One-Way]

Originally Posted by SteveMD

Dude, do what you want to your car. I have leased many vehicles and although I'm not into modding, I have done a few things and then removed them at turn-in.

There's nothing wrong - and certainly nothing ethically or morally wrong with slapping on an intake or an exhaust to a leased car. Just make sure you can put it back stock - you can then sell the stuff.

The only thing I wouldn't do is a tint. That is tough to remove. And obviously any engine work although there isn't anything available so that's a moot point.

Do what you want. Just keep in mind that it has to be removed.

I tinted. My car's a lease.

Shouldn't be that hard to take out tints.

[cdheaven]

im pretty sure in a lease contract, it says you are allowed to tint it. and give it back with your tint.
i know my acura was fine. i was told to take the 30 percent tint off the whole windshield, but i didnt, and i didnt have a problem there either.

[Lucid4000]

MOD away... I have always moded my leased cars. If I owened it or leased it. I'd be getting rid of it in 3 years anyway. So cost me the same!!

[sdorn]

I went back to the BMW website and read the end of lease FAQ section. They specifically state that if there is tint on the windows that you haven't removed, it automatically triggers a full inspection of the car by an independent agent. It also says that any modifications you can remove and return to stock prior to returning the car are ok. There is a good section on how the lease-end period works. Check it out.

[Saosin17]

thanks, thats really helpful, so for example bolt on parts would be ok??? is eisenmann exhaust removable?

[Saosin17]

also, can you direct me to the faq, i couldnt find it. thanks

[rtchamberlin]

Originally Posted by SteveMD

Dude, do what you want to your car. I have leased many vehicles and although I'm not into modding, I have done a few things and then removed them at turn-in.

There's nothing wrong - and certainly nothing ethically or morally wrong with slapping on an intake or an exhaust to a leased car. Just make sure you can put it back stock - you can then sell the stuff.

The only thing I wouldn't do is a tint. That is tough to remove. And obviously any engine work although there isn't anything available so that's a moot point.

Do what you want. Just keep in mind that it has to be removed.

Agree. My car is leased. Only mods I have done and am doing are new rims/tires, removable exhaust tips. Maybe tint and maybe blacklines, but for the next 3 years, this is MY ride. People have different views on leasing, but IMO, I own the car for the time agreed upon. The reason I pay less, is because I am not making principal payments. Just dont mess w/integrity of car and you are fine.

[dzenno]

Tinting is definitely not a problem. I asked my BMW sales guy if the windows will be tinted when I bought mine and he said that they don't come tinted out of the factory BUT that they have a few listed preferred tint companies around that will tint the bimmers (assuming these don't affect any lease agreement sections).

Rims/tires are fine also (put them back to stock at the end).

Not sure about the exhaust? It would be interesting to find out if this is just a plug&play sort of upgrade that isn't noticeable.

[sdorn]

Originally Posted by Saosin17

also, can you direct me to the faq, i couldnt find it. thanks

Sure, it is actually called the Wear and Use Guide. It was on the BMW Financial Services part of the website. Window tint was covered under the tab marked "Safety".

http://fs.bmwusa.com/BMWFSPulp/VEHLEA_wear.htm