Does a 3rd party install void the original Car Manufacturer's Warranty?

[vebmetal]

For my new Estilo the Maruti guys are desperately trying to sell my some really awful Sony systems. One of their sales pitches was that getting an ICE system installed from anyone other than Maruti will void the warranty for the whole car!! I am assuming this is glib talk and marketing bull****, but want to confirm this here, because if this is true it means that I won't be going for an ICE at all!!

[Sam Kapasi]

It's marketing bullcrap.

To be safe, cut no wires on the original wiring harness. Get a wiring harness, fit a stereo of your choice and enjoy.

Remember to use protection.

[esteem_lover]

Originally Posted by vebmetal

One of their sales pitches was that getting an ICE system installed from anyone other than Maruti will void the warranty for the whole car!!

If they so insist, buy what you want from the market & ask the maruti chaps to install it free of cost without voiding the warranty. Or pay a marginal amount for installation.

[ajmat]

You can always go to another dealer to resolve warranty issues and say XXX dealer fitted it. As the accessory shop is merely a shop within and not part of the dealer (i.e the Owners buddy) and not always provides proper paperwork, you should be okay.

Besides if Maruti want to reduce potential issues, they should provide a system rather than keeping it open for a thrid party to add a system in

[Rtech]

I had checked with Maruti some time back. The dealer clarified that you can bring them any stereo and they will fit it. The catch was that you must get in installed by an authorised dealer only. However, it is not mandatory that you buy it from them.

[ported_head]

I bought music system elements for my Swift from the outside market and then got them installed at an authorised dealer workshop. Needless to say, their installation costs are higher than those elsewhere, and probably not as good a job too. But next time they want to blame my stereo for any electrical issues, I will have proof to stick into their faces.

Also, some dealers will cry foul when you want to install equipment you bought from outside, such as Spectra Motors in Mumbai. Their prices are quite exorbitant.

[vebmetal]

Thanks all for the feedback! Two questions:

#1) How much would Maruti charge for an install?
#2) If I want to install components such that the tweeters are to be fitted by cutting a hole in the door panel, will they do that?

Buying outside, and having Maruti fit it for me suits me perfectly, especially since all the other accessories are MGA, and thus I would like to keep the car in a place where if something is to happen to the car, Maruti is responsible in totality and can't pass the buck to others.

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

It's marketing bullcrap.

To be safe, cut no wires on the original wiring harness. Get a wiring harness, fit a stereo of your choice and enjoy.

Remember to use protection.

The "wiring harness" that you mention; is it the same thing that the Maruti guys are referring to when they say "coupling wires / couplers?" That is their main beef with 3rd party installs, in that they say that the couplers are only available from Maruti, and only if you buy the ICE from them (i.e. they won't sell it separately). So they claim that non-Maruti installers would just cut the couplers off, and tie the wires together, and that voids the warranty.

[Sam Kapasi]

Wiring harness couplers were introduced into the Indian aftermarket by Blaupunkt about 8 years ago.

Today there are a few companies that make and sell such couplers for most well known automotive brands in India. I know for a fact that most Maruti couplers are sold in the aftermarket. Ask around.

I can assure you that if you do not trim or chop any wire in the original wiring harness, you will not void your warranty.

[vebmetal]

That's good. Still waiting on someone to respond as to how much Maruti would charge if I handed them 4 speakers and an amplifier to install (no head unit). And also whether they can and will install tweeters in the door.