Discussion
Hi Guys
I've got a 2019 M4C. I bought it with front splitter and rear diffuser already fitted. Looks really good, and fully comp insurance with By Miles was just £300 ish plus the mileage (I don't do many miles so it made sense). So roughly £500 a year.
So, fast forward a few months. I thought the carbon mirror caps would look good, plus the side sill extensions. KInd of finish the car off. or what it should have had in the first place. Booked it in with BMW for it to be done. THEN told the insurer. The underwriter said they wouldn't insure the car with the 'modifications' full stop. So, I ran comparison sites for new policy and it was coming up anything betwenn £3k - £10k. I've got full NCB and can;t remember the last time I had motor insurance claim. And I am of age where I don't do dohnuts in Tescos car park. Honestly, I just don't.
I'm thinking specialists won't be any better. Unless anyone knows different here?
Please tell me my 'massive' modifcation program isnt over before it's started?
I've got a 2019 M4C. I bought it with front splitter and rear diffuser already fitted. Looks really good, and fully comp insurance with By Miles was just £300 ish plus the mileage (I don't do many miles so it made sense). So roughly £500 a year.
So, fast forward a few months. I thought the carbon mirror caps would look good, plus the side sill extensions. KInd of finish the car off. or what it should have had in the first place. Booked it in with BMW for it to be done. THEN told the insurer. The underwriter said they wouldn't insure the car with the 'modifications' full stop. So, I ran comparison sites for new policy and it was coming up anything betwenn £3k - £10k. I've got full NCB and can;t remember the last time I had motor insurance claim. And I am of age where I don't do dohnuts in Tescos car park. Honestly, I just don't.
I'm thinking specialists won't be any better. Unless anyone knows different here?
Please tell me my 'massive' modifcation program isnt over before it's started?
If these were available as optional extras from the factory then surely they're not modifications, they're just optional extras.
If you haven't declared the front splitter or the rear diffuser due to them being factory fitted optional extras then surely you don't need to declare skirts and mirror caps, even if they're added later, as they're all parts of the same suite of optional extras, albeit ones which the original owner didn't spec. You're only changing the car to a spec that could still have come out of the factory and wouldn't have needed those items declaring if that had been the case.
And yes, I agree that a car should have all (or none) of the bits to look complete. I'm currently looking for a 440i. Some I've seen have the front splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser and rear spoiler which all hangs together nicely. Some have none of those bits which, again, all hangs together nicely. However, of the cars I've seen a few just have the front splitter, or the front splitter and the diffuser, which looks like they've done half a job.
If you haven't declared the front splitter or the rear diffuser due to them being factory fitted optional extras then surely you don't need to declare skirts and mirror caps, even if they're added later, as they're all parts of the same suite of optional extras, albeit ones which the original owner didn't spec. You're only changing the car to a spec that could still have come out of the factory and wouldn't have needed those items declaring if that had been the case.
And yes, I agree that a car should have all (or none) of the bits to look complete. I'm currently looking for a 440i. Some I've seen have the front splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser and rear spoiler which all hangs together nicely. Some have none of those bits which, again, all hangs together nicely. However, of the cars I've seen a few just have the front splitter, or the front splitter and the diffuser, which looks like they've done half a job.
Thanks for the response. This was exactly what I said to the insurer. But was dismissed out of hand. It's that word isnt it, 'modification'. I will go back to the insurer today but i don't hold out much hope.
I agree, it does look like half a job. I wish that rear diffuser went right across the beck as well and not just that centre bit. But hey ho! Love the car though. That crank hub issue scares me a bit, but the car's got a BMW warranty at the moment so....
I agree, it does look like half a job. I wish that rear diffuser went right across the beck as well and not just that centre bit. But hey ho! Love the car though. That crank hub issue scares me a bit, but the car's got a BMW warranty at the moment so....
MitchT said:
If these were available as optional extras from the factory then surely they're not modifications, they're just optional extras.
If you haven't declared the front splitter or the rear diffuser due to them being factory fitted optional extras then surely you don't need to declare skirts and mirror caps, even if they're added later, as they're all parts of the same suite of optional extras, albeit ones which the original owner didn't spec. You're only changing the car to a spec that could still have come out of the factory and wouldn't have needed those items declaring if that had been the case.
And yes, I agree that a car should have all (or none) of the bits to look complete. I'm currently looking for a 440i. Some I've seen have the front splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser and rear spoiler which all hangs together nicely. Some have none of those bits which, again, all hangs together nicely. However, of the cars I've seen a few just have the front splitter, or the front splitter and the diffuser, which looks like they've done half a job.
If you haven't declared the front splitter or the rear diffuser due to them being factory fitted optional extras then surely you don't need to declare skirts and mirror caps, even if they're added later, as they're all parts of the same suite of optional extras, albeit ones which the original owner didn't spec. You're only changing the car to a spec that could still have come out of the factory and wouldn't have needed those items declaring if that had been the case.
And yes, I agree that a car should have all (or none) of the bits to look complete. I'm currently looking for a 440i. Some I've seen have the front splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser and rear spoiler which all hangs together nicely. Some have none of those bits which, again, all hangs together nicely. However, of the cars I've seen a few just have the front splitter, or the front splitter and the diffuser, which looks like they've done half a job.
These are optional extras, not modifications. Unless your insurer asked you to detail any optional extras when you first insured the car I'd just get them fitted and say nothing as they're part of the same suite of options as the splitter and the diffuser. If they didn't need to know about the splitter and the diffuser then they don't need to now about the mirror caps or skirts either.
Well, I havent had any experience with specialists. But in my head, its like 'specialist' is like a licence to charge more. Probably unfair as you point out the benefits. Thanks for this, I'll give them a call.
TheAngryDog said:
Not sure why you think specialists won't be worth trying. My insurer is going to load my premium by about £150 to add a supercharger to my M5.
A-Plan, Safely Insured, Keith Michaels - all worth a call.
A-Plan, Safely Insured, Keith Michaels - all worth a call.
The car was specced new with the front splitter and the rears diffuser. I bought the car from a BMW main dealer, so just insured it as an M4C. I wanted to add the mirror caps and side sill extensions - it's these that the insurance company won't budge on.
popeyewhite said:
They're options the previous owner fitted. Change insurer. As they're not modifications there's nothing to declare.
I know. I was just trying to do the right thing you know? And those side sills aren't CF either. Machanically the car is standard. Anyway, I will go ahead eventually. Took me back a bit thats all.
ChocolateFrog said:
Wouldn't have even declared them if they're OEM parts.
It's getting ridiculous now. A CF mirror cap is just a expensive plastic, it's not doing anything performance wise unless you count a 5g weight saving performance enhancing.
It's getting ridiculous now. A CF mirror cap is just a expensive plastic, it's not doing anything performance wise unless you count a 5g weight saving performance enhancing.
RSsteveH said:
Well, I havent had any experience with specialists. But in my head, its like 'specialist' is like a licence to charge more. Probably unfair as you point out the benefits. Thanks for this, I'll give them a call.
Specialists tend to bring the price down as they understand the cars better and therefore get oft get more favourable quotes from the under writers. I'd never bother with mainstream insurance with an M Power / M Lite car, they'll just load you. TheAngryDog said:
Not sure why you think specialists won't be worth trying. My insurer is going to load my premium by about £150 to add a supercharger to my M5.
A-Plan, Safely Insured, Keith Michaels - all worth a call.
A-Plan, Safely Insured, Keith Michaels - all worth a call.
Yeah I get this. I'll deffo be talking to some specialists.
TheAngryDog said:
Specialists tend to bring the price down as they understand the cars better and therefore get oft get more favourable quotes from the under writers. I'd never bother with mainstream insurance with an M Power / M Lite car, they'll just load you.
MitchT said:
These are optional extras, not modifications. Unless your insurer asked you to detail any optional extras when you first insured the car I'd just get them fitted and say nothing as they're part of the same suite of options as the splitter and the diffuser. If they didn't need to know about the splitter and the diffuser then they don't need to now about the mirror caps or skirts either.
+1, fit them say f
kallIt’s easy for everyone to advise that you make the modifications (or add the OEM parts) and don’t tell the insurer, but the cruel fact of life is that there are very large departments at every insurer whose job it is to refuse claims without pity. If you claim and they ask for your invoice you might find yourself in a very nasty position. At that point there is absolutely no reasoning with the claims people.
The bottom line is that insurance companies don’t care what you declare or not as long as you pay your premium. They’ll only check, and check very thoroughly, when you try to make a claim. And at that point you’re at their mercy (with some recourse to the Financial Ombudsman Service).
Take the advice of people on Pistonheads with extreme caution (including my advice 😀).
The bottom line is that insurance companies don’t care what you declare or not as long as you pay your premium. They’ll only check, and check very thoroughly, when you try to make a claim. And at that point you’re at their mercy (with some recourse to the Financial Ombudsman Service).
Take the advice of people on Pistonheads with extreme caution (including my advice 😀).
Well yeah. I kind of know this already, that's why I contacted the insurer in the first place. But of course, your response makes it a stark choice.
steakandchips said:
It’s easy for everyone to advise that you make the modifications (or add the OEM parts) and don’t tell the insurer, but the cruel fact of life is that there are very large departments at every insurer whose job it is to refuse claims without pity. If you claim and they ask for your invoice you might find yourself in a very nasty position. At that point there is absolutely no reasoning with the claims people.
The bottom line is that insurance companies don’t care what you declare or not as long as you pay your premium. They’ll only check, and check very thoroughly, when you try to make a claim. And at that point you’re at their mercy (with some recourse to the Financial Ombudsman Service).
Take the advice of people on Pistonheads with extreme caution (including my advice ??).
The bottom line is that insurance companies don’t care what you declare or not as long as you pay your premium. They’ll only check, and check very thoroughly, when you try to make a claim. And at that point you’re at their mercy (with some recourse to the Financial Ombudsman Service).
Take the advice of people on Pistonheads with extreme caution (including my advice ??).
Anyway, since this is Pistonheads and it’s all about opinion, I’d take the additional bling off and go back to a standard M4C. I had one, really liked it and never once thought it looked like it needed any more kit added.
Completely agree with the poster who said it needs to look balanced so if it’s all bling or no bling, then you’ve got a straightforward decision if you want to keep your premium down with the bonus of being the better decision aesthetically.
Completely agree with the poster who said it needs to look balanced so if it’s all bling or no bling, then you’ve got a straightforward decision if you want to keep your premium down with the bonus of being the better decision aesthetically.
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