What have you done to your car today?
- Thread starter mattyprice4004
- Start date
Well technically it's a modification from standard and insurers don't need much reason to invalidate a policy.
I would have to check with them
Risking my premium increasing and having to pay £25 for the details to change to have a colour change seems a bit extreme.
Risking them not paying out in the event of you needing to make a claim, over something you've not declared because you worry about £25 seems a bit extreme
Risking them not paying out in the event of you needing to make a claim, over something you've not declared because you worry about £25 seems a bit extreme
Changing to a black kidney grill wont be causing any extra risk for them
I will certainly ask them though
In all likelihood as long as it was an original BMW part, it wouldn't make any difference - and indeed as a 2nd hand buyer, how were you to know that it wasn't part of the original specification (much like fitting other oem bmw wheels, most Joe public from the street wouldn't know)
However when things like VIN Decoders etc are readily available, then it's easy for Insurers and the like to check original specifications and see that you haven't got a Black trim pack etc.
And whilst you say it's no extra risk, it is still a cosmetic change that could make the care more desirable to would be thieves.
I would have to check, it maybe a mid range aftermarket one
It wont be a cheap £9 job, I will look at orginal BMW ones but depends on the price
Yes i know there are vin decoders, i tried using a few online last night and none of them would recognise my VIN number
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Really hit and miss thing to be honest, I informed my insurer of modifications to my pickup and some trim colour changes they didn't care about, extra sets of wheels though they did want on file as optional extras but didn't make any difference to cost (and they didn't even charge a fee for) but other proposed changes they wanted £LOL for
EDIT: Also depends on the insurer - Admiral so far has been really reasonable about modifications in my experience, while some others just see it as a way to rinse every penny they can.
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Im not sure, i have had a scout around on the internet about if changing kidney grills effected BMW warrenty, a lot of people stating no it didnt effect it,
i guess i could always ask BMW directly.
Really hit and miss thing to be honest, I informed my insurer of modifications to my pickup and some trim colour changes they didn't care about, extra sets of wheels though they did want on file as optional extras but didn't make any difference to cost (and they didn't even charge a fee for) but other proposed changes they wanted £LOL for
EDIT: Also depends on the insurer - Admiral so far has been really reasonable about modifications in my experience, while some others just see it as a way to rinse every penny they can.
Hastings especially have a reputation for asking for photos mid term and cancelling policies for the crime of having factory options that weren't declared.
Personally I'd just keep the old ones and slap them back on if I needed to claim. Or rip them out and throw them into the bushes if it was a front ender.
Unless you managed to buy a set of solid grilles with no holes maybe, otherwise no.
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Was doing more digging on my Impreza on the way and turns out there are two distinct versions, the 17" and 18", quite differing specs;
17” Model:
30kg lighter than the 18” model
17” Cast Aluminium Wheels
Standard projector headlights
No spoiler on the 4 door
No tints
No side airbags
No aircon (optional some years, not optional every year)
Sports Seats with Red stitching
18” Model:
18” Gunmetal Cast Aluminium Wheels
HID Headlights
Large spoiler on the 4 door
Tinted rear windows
Recaro Bucket Seats (Leather optional)
Automatic Air Con
Optional Side & Curtain Airbags
Turns out its a good 70kg lighter than a normal STi which is better than I thought. Going maximum nerd on this, not many owners about.
17” Model:
30kg lighter than the 18” model
17” Cast Aluminium Wheels
Standard projector headlights
No spoiler on the 4 door
No tints
No side airbags
No aircon (optional some years, not optional every year)
Sports Seats with Red stitching
18” Model:
18” Gunmetal Cast Aluminium Wheels
HID Headlights
Large spoiler on the 4 door
Tinted rear windows
Recaro Bucket Seats (Leather optional)
Automatic Air Con
Optional Side & Curtain Airbags
Turns out its a good 70kg lighter than a normal STi which is better than I thought. Going maximum nerd on this, not many owners about.
Soldato
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Took the front brake discs off to clean them up.
When I bought them I painted the unswept bit that often goes rusty with silver hammerite, but it bubbled up after a track day, then went rusty.
I've removed the surface rust with a wire wheel, painted on some rust converter and will paint on some black stove paint. It says it can take temps up to 600c on the tin.
When I bought them I painted the unswept bit that often goes rusty with silver hammerite, but it bubbled up after a track day, then went rusty.
I've removed the surface rust with a wire wheel, painted on some rust converter and will paint on some black stove paint. It says it can take temps up to 600c on the tin.
for the naysayers related thread V ... as suggested warranty claim in the vicinity of changed grill might be questioned
Am I being taken for a ride? Air flap behind front grille damaged and not covered under warranty
.... let him who hasn't cracked a fastener taking car trim apart, cast the first stone.
Soldato
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Don't understand how that is relevant at all... The Reddit thread is about damage vs failed components.