Performance that probably won't affect your premium

[pingu]

For starters I'm thinking of...

Definitely OK things like

Full service and fluid change
Ensure brakes and bearings aren't binding
Fully adjust all linkages include throttle
High spec road legal tyres
Braided clutch hose
Port and polish cyl head
Lighten and balance engine internals
Lighten car by removing unnecessary things like seat motors and roof motor
Electric fan


More dodgy things like

High spec standard looking brake pads and discs
Braided brake hoses
Poly bushes on suspension
Larger diameter ARBs
High spec standard looking springs and dampers


Any other ideas?


Edit : Subject retitled as you have to inform your insurer of all modifications

[theduck]

Technically ay modification should be delcared, including removing things.

A specialist insurer is always the best, I can do basically any modification I want that doesnt gain BHP without any cost including induction kits, exhausts, roll cages, lowerng etc etc.

[skeete]

As I understand it, you MUST tell them about ANY modification to the vehicle. So replacing even fluids with non standard as per the original specification would cause a "modification" clause.

[skeete]

Actually certain things you can get away with as it would be hard for them to spot let alone prove such as polishing your cyl head or changing fluids. But Technically you MUST tell them.

[Gazza]

For starters I'm thinking of...

Definitely OK things like

Full service and fluid change ok
Ensure brakes and bearings aren't binding ok
Fully adjust all linkages include throttle ok
High spec road legal tyres ok
Braided clutch hose Modification
Port and polish cyl head Modification
Lighten and balance engine internals Modification
Lighten car by removing unnecessary things like seat motors and roof motor Modification
Electric fan


More dodgy things like

High spec standard looking brake pads and discs Modification
Braided brake hoses Modification
Poly bushes on suspension Modification
Larger diameter ARBs Modification
High spec standard looking springs and dampers Modification


Any other ideas?

[GazHyde]

Couple of things I've wondered about

> Fitting a steering wheel without an airbag (not for me that one!)
> Alloy wheel spacers

[skeete]

Couple of things I've wondered about

> Fitting a steering wheel without an airbag (not for me that one!)
> Alloy wheel spacers

Definately modifications..

A modification is anything that changes the car from its original specification. If your car comes with Bridgestones and you decide to wrap your alloys in cheapo Khumo tyres then that is a modification. The insurance company can argue that you have changed the specification of the car, but they would be hard pushed to prove it if challenged and it would make them seem like the crooks they really are so they dont do it.

[pingu]

99 octane from Tesco, or Vpower can't be used either, I presume?

Do you think I should declare the weight saving of not having a mobility compressor?

[Vic-Z3]

So if it aint OEM
It can be argued to be a modificatiion .........

[Robert T]

So if it aint OEM
It can be argued to be a modificatiion .........

Argued, yes, but insurers have to be reasonable. For components that wear out and have to be replaced, they can only insist that they are replaced with components of similar specification to the old ones - types, sparkplugs, bulbs, bushes, ball joints, springs, dampers.... etc. On cars as old as ours it is quite likely that original specification parts are no longer available - certainly the original spec tyres for mine are no longer manufactured and I had problems obtaining front coil springs and had to replace them with non-OEM equivalents.

On the other hand any mods that either affect performance, handling, value or nickability of your car must be declared. You should see the list for the frog.

Cheers R.

[pingu]

Braided clutch hose Modification
Not a performance mod, so probably won't affect the premium.

Port and polish cyl head Modification
Not if it's within original maximum tolerances.

Lighten and balance engine internals Modification
Not if it's within original minimum tolerances.

Lighten car by removing unnecessary things like seat motors and roof motor Modification
The motors were broken, so I took them off, officer .

[siwilson]

Braided clutch hose Modification
Not a performance mod, so probably won't affect the premium.

Port and polish cyl head Modification
Not if it's within original maximum tolerances.

Lighten and balance engine internals Modification
Not if it's within original minimum tolerances.

Lighten car by removing unnecessary things like seat motors and roof motor Modification
The motors were broken, so I took them off, officer .

I am now starting to wonder if this thread is for real?

why would you go to the expense of fiddling with the engine when what you could do (and still be withing manufacturer tolerances) would be so small it would make no difference anyway?

Insurance companies are interested in ANYTHING that they perceive increases their risk or that they can charge extra for. By risk I mean increasing the likelihood they will have to pay up as a result of more or more serious crash claims and anything that make the car more attractive or easier to steal.

Now it's entirely up to you if you decide to tell them or not, but be prepared to come a cropper at claim time.

[pingu]

I am now starting to wonder if this thread is for real?

I agree with the principle about telling your insurer about any modification, but I am trying to debate about where the line is about what is a genuine performance mod and what is just optimising your car.

For instance, why add a high flow air filter (which the insurance should be told about) when there is a restriction downstream that could be smoothed without having to telling them.

My experience from many moons ago showed that there were decent gains to be made by smoothing the rough casting within the cylinder head and ensuring the manifolds were accurately mated to the head with smoothed joints. This is good engineering practice and is only optimising what BMW have supplied.

[siwilson]

My experience from many moons ago showed that there were decent gains to be made by smoothing the rough casting within the cylinder head and ensuring the manifolds were accurately mated to the head with smoothed joints. This is good engineering practice and is only optimising what BMW have supplied.

The problem is that this is a modification of what came out the factory designed to increase power and will ring all sorts of alarm bells with insurers.I see zero chance of you winning an argument with any insurer (should you ever need to) that you were only aligning your car to what BMW originally intended and not really modifying.