What have you done to your car today?

DJMK4 · 2025-03-19T12:46:29+0000

Thinking about swapping from Chrome kidney grills to black

Does items like this have to be declared on insurance policy ? is it likely to effect premium? if so, why ? if its just a change of colour ?

Janesy B · 2025-03-19T13:16:26+0000

DJMK4 said:
Thinking about swapping from Chrome kidney grills to black

Does items like this have to be declared on insurance policy ? is it likely to effect premium? if so, why ? if its just a change of colour ?

Well technically it's a modification from standard and insurers don't need much reason to invalidate a policy.

DJMK4 · 2025-03-19T13:56:44+0000

Janesy B said:
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.

Armageus · 2025-03-19T14:19:16+0000

DJMK4 said:
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

DJMK4 · 2025-03-19T14:37:24+0000

Armageus said:
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

Armageus · 2025-03-19T14:42:55+0000

DJMK4 said:
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.

DJMK4 · 2025-03-19T14:44:28+0000

Armageus said:
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

jpaul · 2025-03-19T15:11:04+0000

I thought impact on warranty was more of a concern ? ...eg. if you then had some cooling problem.

Rroff · 2025-03-19T15:19:59+0000

DJMK4 said:
Thinking about swapping from Chrome kidney grills to black

Does items like this have to be declared on insurance policy ? is it likely to effect premium? if so, why ? if its just a change of colour ?

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.

DJMK4 · 2025-03-19T15:27:06+0000

jpaul said:
I thought impact on warranty was more of a concern ? ...eg. if you then had some cooling problem.

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.