Insurance advice - chipped 318is

Mon Sep 03, 2007 10:51 am

Hello,

I'm hoping someone on the zone can give me some advice about insuring a 318is with possible mods.

Basically, i've found a 318is and am trying to sort out an insurance quote for it. The current owner has told me that it may have an aftermarket chip fitted (he has spotted some cable ties on the ECU box), but, a) can't confirm that it definately does have a chip, and b) doesn't know what the increase in power might be if it does.

This is causing me some problems.

Every insurance company I speak to want to know what the increase in power is, and I have no way of knowing.

So, I'm in a chicken/egg situation. I suppose if I buy the car, I can find a rolling road and work out what the BHP increase is over the standard.

In the mean time, I need cover, so can anyone tell me;

1. How to tell if a chip is fitted, and what type it is?

2. What the average & max increase in power is for a 318is with a chip, and a K&N air filter?

If I know that, I can give the insurers an estimate of the power increase and get a quote based on that, which should cover me until I can find out exactly what the score is.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated...

Cheers!

Mon Sep 03, 2007 11:03 am

Have you tried classic insurance?

I got a quote from https://www.hertsinsurance.com/classiccars.php and they weren't concerned about details, just a list of mods made with an estimated value. All with no effect on the quote!

Mon Sep 03, 2007 11:13 am

With a chip and air filter on an old car you will probably find it is producing the power that was qouted when new.As cars get older they lose some bhp and i have seen cars that are two years old produce less bhp on a rolling road than the manufactor states.
An air filter will probably make 1 or 2 bhp extra if your lucky.A chip can very a bit and could make more bhp and better acceleration etc.

Mon Sep 03, 2007 11:23 am

tezk wrote:Have you tried classic insurance?

I got a quote from https://www.hertsinsurance.com/classiccars.php and they weren't concerned about details, just a list of mods made with an estimated value. All with no effect on the quote!

They are a bit pricey!! lol over double what im paying now on my 325

Mon Sep 03, 2007 11:31 am

As loony as said, these cars are at least 17 years old and you can expect to see a fair power loss from then. It would be very hard to estimate the bhp without a rolling road, but if the engine has been well looked after you could be looking at approx 145bhp. If you are over 21 I would highly recomnmend classic insurance, HIC, Herts etc. there some companies in the links section which you may find useful.

hth
Ajay

Mon Sep 03, 2007 11:32 am

tell them its standard, no insuracnce company will ever pull apart an ecu and check

Mon Sep 03, 2007 11:34 am

Kos wrote:tell them its standard, no insuracnce company will ever pull apart an ecu and check

I was going to say this too, but thought it would be frowned upon

Good shout Kos.

Pal

Mon Sep 03, 2007 11:56 am

nnnnnngggg..

I've just spoken to Herts Insurance...(thanks for the link Tezk)

I explained that the car has no history / documentation, and that it might have a chip fitted.

They gave me a quote of Ã‚£347 (based on a 30bhp increase), but then said that they won't be able to insure me until I know exactly what the increase is. The 'supervisor' told me that it's "my problem", that it's extremely rare to buy a car with no history, and told me to hire a trailer to take it from the seller to a rolling road and then call them with the results.

Surely this is bullshit. Plenty of old cars are sold with no history/documentation.

As it stands, I could buy the car but won't be able to insure it to drive it home. If I'm not honest about the mods and end up stacking it, the company will invalidate the insurance.

Someone must have been here before...what did you do?

ta...

Mon Sep 03, 2007 12:00 pm

just dont tell them.

Mon Sep 03, 2007 12:12 pm

just dont tell them.

If I'm not honest about the mods and end up stacking it, the company will invalidate the insurance.

In which case, i'll just have poured Ã‚£350 down the drain, and i'll end up in debt to an angry Bentley owner for life.

Mon Sep 03, 2007 12:13 pm

If they're being that difficult then just dont tell them. The chip is something most people wouldn't declare anyway, but if you a K&N induction kit as appose to the panel filter then you would be taking a slight risk. Insurance is such a hassle, glad it only comes once a year!

Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:21 pm

Cyman wrote:
just dont tell them.

If I'm not honest about the mods and end up stacking it, the company will invalidate the insurance.

In which case, i'll just have poured Ã‚£350 down the drain, and i'll end up in debt to an angry Bentley owner for life.

they will never pull apart an ecu to examine a chip. ive had claims where they havent even opened the bonnet for a look....

Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:23 pm

a chip on its own really wont make much difference. If any on an old car.

Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:59 pm

Cyman wrote:
just dont tell them.

If I'm not honest about the mods and end up stacking it, the company will invalidate the insurance.

In which case, i'll just have poured Ã‚£350 down the drain, and i'll end up in debt to an angry Bentley owner for life.

JUST DON'T TELL THEM............... you worrying too much about it. if you are that worried about it buy a standard ECU of Fleabay and a standard airbox. if you stuff the car, swap the parts over before an assessor comes out. It'll still cost less for those parts than the increment on your policy not to mention the arse ache it is clearly causing you. Simple.

Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:55 pm

is this for real? if you are that worried pull the ecu apart and look. If there is one in there then at most it'll give about 7bhp

Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:56 pm

You are signing that "to the best of your knowlege" the car is unmodified. You have no evidence that suggests it is expect a cable tie. The car could have a set of souped-up cams fitted for all you know ... but it is very unlikely.

Don't go with the +30 bhp quote - that would be a hell of a chip!

Since you're really worried why not simply be really honest and fit the fleabay ECU and a standard airbox...

Mon Sep 03, 2007 10:50 pm

You know...you're all right

I'm worrying over nothing. I bought the car this evening, and tbh, it looks and feels perfectly straight & standard.
The air filter turned out to be a reusable K&N insert in the original box and the exhaust is a stainless steel rear section, so no real performance gain at all. As for the chip...probably just hype from the owner before last.

I'm now the proud owner of this...

http://images.fotopic.net/?id=36982256

Thanks for the advice...will pay more attention to zoners in the future!

Mon Sep 03, 2007 11:05 pm

nice car mate

Mon Sep 03, 2007 11:09 pm

looks really nice that, dont tell them bout mods to any car, just complicates life. im planning to put a 325i in my 320i, u think ill be changing my insurance??? nope. unless your fitting a madmax style supercharger sticking out of the bonnet or some 30inch wheels worth 45000 quid dont worry bout it. insurance assessors arnt the sharpest tools in the box or the brightest lamps on the street either for that matter.

Tue Sep 04, 2007 9:27 am

you could try Performance Direct, I have all mods declared on my iS, plus an agreed value and I only paid Ã‚£350 fully comp.

No real hassle being 100% honest, just tell them what you have and I never needed to prove anything. It is a modified policy specifically so they are expecting it.

Just my 2p.

Tue Sep 04, 2007 10:37 am

Nice car mate! Enjoy

Tue Sep 04, 2007 10:45 am

Cheers all...

First proper drive in 2 hours & counting =)

(Ã‚£199 tpft - Swift cover!)

Tue Sep 04, 2007 2:19 pm

OH YES !

This is what i've been missing...