Wheel spacers - insurance implications??

[JSz4]

I've got a 2003 BMW Z4 3.0 on 108 alloys and I'd like to fit either 10mm or 12mm Eibach or H&R wheel spacers to increase the cars medium and high speed stability and improve it's appearance as the wheels look a bit too deep in the arches.

Interested to hear if people generally declare this modification and what the insurance implications tend to be, do people normally find it is considered a suspension mod and it causes high premium increases or is it usually considered a chassis mod?

Cheers

 

[Steve84N]

Yes declare it and no it's not expensive. Rarely on their lists so often they just care how much it's worth.

 

[Mr Tidy]

I've never fitted any, but from an insurance perspective it is a modification so "should" be declared.

But whether any insurance engineer would even notice that you'd fitted them is another issue - my guess is it's unlikely!

When I dealt with motor claims the engineers were supposed to highlight any options fitted to the car - in reality we usually had to figure that out from their photos! :roll:

 

[JSz4]

Yes declare it and no it's not expensive. Rarely on their lists so often they just care how much it's worth.

Thanks. Has anyone else declared spacers to their insurance company and experienced the same?

I assumed it would be considered by insurance companies to be a higher risk mod due to additional strain being put on the hubs

 

[markalp]

Yes declare it and no it's not expensive. Rarely on their lists so often they just care how much it's worth.

Thanks. Has anyone else declared spacers to their insurance company and experienced the same?

I assumed it would be considered by insurance companies to be a higher risk mod due to additional strain being put on the hubs

Not got spacers on this car, but declared them on my old RX7 to admiral who added a note but didnt charge any extra. That was a few years ago though so things may have changed.

 

[Paulr]

Yes declare it and no it's not expensive. Rarely on their lists so often they just care how much it's worth.

Thanks. Has anyone else declared spacers to their insurance company and experienced the same?

I assumed it would be considered by insurance companies to be a higher risk mod due to additional strain being put on the hubs

Not what interests the insurance companies. However, they may take a view that it is a 'performance' mod in the same way that window tinting and go-faster stripes may be, and their stats may show people who do these sort of mods have more accidents.

 

[paulgs1000]

My insurance company said they would not insure my M with spacers fitted! :? Had them removed to avoid this . . . . had a similar problem with fitting a strut brace on my previous 3.0si - insurance price went up as they classified it as a suspension change!
Maybe I'm using the wrong companies . . .

 

[markalp]

My insurance company said they would not insure my M with spacers fitted! :? Had them removed to avoid this . . . . had a similar problem with fitting a strut brace on my previous 3.0si - insurance price went up as they classified it as a suspension change!
Maybe I'm using the wrong companies . . .

You should offer to fit a black box driving spy

 

[paulgs1000]

My insurance company said they would not insure my M with spacers fitted! :? Had them removed to avoid this . . . . had a similar problem with fitting a strut brace on my previous 3.0si - insurance price went up as they classified it as a suspension change!
Maybe I'm using the wrong companies . . .

You should offer to fit a black box driving spy

Probably charge me extra for that 'modification' as well :thumbsdown: (Having said that my insurance costs are very reasonable for my M in comparison to my previous Zeds )

 

[Anonymous]

My insurance company are cool with simple mods (back box, spacers, strut brace etc) just have to email them as and when i change something. They charge nothing.

I declare everything and sleep better as a result.

 

[Mr Tidy]

My insurance company are cool with simple mods (back box, spacers, strut brace etc) just have to email them as and when i change something. They charge nothing.

I declare everything and sleep better as a result.

That's interesting!

Mine has a custom exhaust on it and most insurers aren't at all keen - although to be fair Chris Knott gave me a good quote. But last renewal the inevitable happened and they jacked the price up.

I'd love to know who you use, but if you'd rather not post publicly maybe you'd pm me - cheers.

 

[markalp]

I checked with Admiral.. £19.50 standard policy change admin charge, no extra for the spacers.