Induction Kit + insurance

ringo747

ringo747

ringo747

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1 Feb 2006
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After a thread a while back on here I decided that the only modification i could be bothered doing to the Fiesta was a new induction kit. Before I bought it I rang up insurance and they said just ring up when you get it on and it will be fine.

Now I ring up to declare the part and they say we need an engineers report to say that it isn't performance enhancing! Now where on earth would I get a report from? They said it was unusual to be changing an air filter on a 3 year old car.

If I cannot get that they are going to refuse to insure me! I'm 24 now and was ringing round for other quotes and nobody wants to insure me until I am 25!

Surely an induction kit doesn't make that much odds? How on earth would I be able to get it in writing that it isn't affecting my performance? It probably is slightly but not much.

Also any recommendations for cheap insurance? I am with AXA but not for much longer it seems.
 
why get an induction kit that doesn't enhance performance?

tbh if you're not changing the map at all you might aswell get an uprated panel filter, that's where the gains are, though not many.
 
The air intake in the ST is known to be very restrictive so there are more than likely to be more gains than there would be by adding a new induction kit to a different model. And yes its a k&n kit!
 
Well regardless of how little gain/loss there is, who on earth would i go to to provide a written document stating that it won't enhance performance? Whether it is right or not is irrelevant - either I have it or I move insurers! Not impressed that they told me one thing but do another.
 
My insurance asked, to which I told them "No" and that was it, on a new exhaust system.

Just got to any garage, and get them to write something up.

As for the kit, depends on what induction kit it is and whether it has its own cold air feed or not. Induction kit as opposed to "cone filter" would indicate it should have but who knows!

If it does have a cold air feed be carefull where you locate it, hydrolock is bad.
 
Yep the whole existing intake stuff was pulled out and new cone filter put in with shorter breather hose. Then there is a new cold air hose running up from lower grill. Its the 57i which is by far the most recommended for the Fez ST.
 
Don't be thick.

In certain cases there are gains to be had because the stock ECU and map will adjust fueling based on air flow anyway. You do not NEED a custom map to maximise gains from more/colder air being introduced into the engine.

MK1 Foci were VERY restrictive in terms of air supply and while heatsoak will be an issue, it can be got around and you do not need to get get a custom map to see some benefits (however little)

Whether you think there is a point in the OPs case is irrelevant. He has it, it's installed and he needs an engineers report. Which was his question.
 
need a proper insurance company. What about adrian flux or Greenlight (i think they 25min though, cant remember).
 
Janesy B said:
But you also lose out on your cold air feed and you'll just suffer from heatsoak.
Click to expand...

for the 1 seconds from a standing start you may get some heatsoak, but as soon as your moving, its nice cold air. You gain so much by removing the Fiesta ST's restrictive intake system that i really dont think losing 0.5 bhp from a tiny bit of heatsoak really matters.
 
I'd be asking the insurance company to check their records, as you would not have spent the money on buying one if you'd have been told that in the first place.
 
"Got a new air filter *cough* induction kit *cough* on the car, just thought I'd let you know."

"Ok, Sir; does it increase performance?"

"Nope."

"Why did you fit it?"

"err..." <---- At this point insurance agent gets bored with you pretending not to be a boy racer and decides to kill this dead with an eng report.

Is that roughly how it panned out?


Adrian Flux are good for modifications btw.
 
Fail. Why on earth didn't you speak to them before buying it!

They will most likely add a fee on for a modification as something like an air filter is classified under performance modifications. £20-30 maybe if they allow mods, otherwise they might not like it at all.
 
-Ad- said:
Fail. Why on earth didn't you speak to them before buying it!

They will most likely add a fee on for a modification as something like an air filter is classified under performance modifications. £20-30 maybe if they allow mods, otherwise they might not like it at all.
Click to expand...

Reading my initial post might help! I DID ring them before I bought it.

I have since checked out greenlight who quoted me £1400. Chris Knott doesn't insure NI addresses and waiting on Adrian Flux getting back to me. Not looking too good.

Slightly fed up to be honest. They say that they will let me cancel with no fees but that isn't much good to me. Maybe things will be cheaper when I'm 25 in a few months.

Edit: and now £2k from Adrian Flux. Not having much luck.
 
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Go speak to your friendly RR operator? Two runs are gonna cost anything from... £50-150.
I imagine the results will be within 1-2BHP then see if he'll sign a bit of paper that states this is within a margin for error and no actual gain has been observed? If it costs you £200 all in, it might save you getting bent over by insurance?
 
I had thought about RR but don't know anyone local. I could probably get local mechanic to say it does nothing for performance but that would probably get him into bother if something happened and it was found out that it did actually increase performance. Not sure what to do. I definitely am not changing insurance as the price I pay definitely can't be beaten it seems.
 
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