[doughboy]

Originally Posted by Yoro35i

If you're going to email them again can you help me ask the following

I added a Air Fresher which modded the interior smell from leathery smell to lemon smell would that incur any cost?

Yeh me too bud, I bought Tesco screen wash instead of BMW stuff, is this a modification?

I think i might have put air in my tyres whilst holding the pump with my left hand, is this illegal? I did simultaneously put a finger up my ass, but the manual didn't specify this, is this a breach of international law?

Also, I added some file-shared MP3 tunes to the hdd, is this going to breach my factory warranty?

Yours worried,

Numpty

[parapaul]

Originally Posted by SteveC

If you look at your car's documentation, you will normally find that BMW specify a range of different wheel and tyre sizes. As long as you stick to the sizes recommended by the manufacturer, you are not deviating from 'standard'.

Sorry, wrong

Your car's standard specification is how it left the factory. The VIN number will detail exactly what options were fitted at the time of manufacture.

Any deviation from this is technically a modification. Even dealer-fitted extras should be declared.

You may choose to gamble that your insurers won't notice. You may be lucky. but if you fit 19" wheels to a car that left the factory with 16", then buckle 2 of them in an accident, don't expect them to be replaced.

YMMV.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by parapaul

Sorry, wrong

Your car's standard specification is how it left the factory. The VIN number will detail exactly what options were fitted at the time of manufacture.

Any deviation from this is technically a modification. Even dealer-fitted extras should be declared.

You may choose to gamble that your insurers won't notice. You may be lucky. but if you fit 19" wheels to a car that left the factory with 16", then buckle 2 of them in an accident, don't expect them to be replaced.

YMMV.

My post is based on information from the 2 insurance companies I have dealt with on exactly this issue. No problem swapping between 20" for summer and 18" for winter, since both sizes are spec'd as standard equipment for the model car I drive. The only thing both insurance companies stipulated was that I let them know when I changed wheels.

By default, insurance companies uplift premiums for aftermarket wheels, so if you're talking to a call centre worker, any change you make may well receive the default answer of a premium hike. It may take a letter to your insurance company to explain that the change is simply between 2 standard sets of wheels provided by the manufacturer, one for summer and one for winter spec'd tyres. Insurance companies are starting to understand the difference and the corresponding reduction of risk following 2 harsh winters.

The question was related to Summer and M&S spec'd tyres/wheels. As long as my insurance companies are informed about which wheels I'm running and as long as the wheels are standard OEM spec'd for my model vehicle, they have no problem swapping summer wheels for winter wheels.

The use of that particular smilie makes your post appear very hostile BTW.

[parapaul]

Originally Posted by SteveC

My post is based on information from the 2 insurance companies I have dealt with on exactly this issue. No problem swapping between 20" for summer and 18" for winter, since both sizes are spec'd as standard equipment for the model car I drive. The only thing both insurance companies stipulated was that I let them know when I changed wheels.

By default, insurance companies uplift premiums for aftermarket wheels, so if you're talking to a call centre worker, any change you make may well receive the default answer of a premium hike. It may take a letter to your insurance company to explain that the change is simply between 2 standard sets of wheels provided by the manufacturer, one for summer and one for winter spec'd tyres. Insurance companies are starting to understand the difference and the corresponding reduction of risk following 2 harsh winters.

The question was related to Summer and M&S spec'd tyres/wheels. As long as my insurance companies are informed about which wheels I'm running and as long as the wheels are standard OEM spec'd for my model vehicle, they have no problem swapping summer wheels for winter wheels.

The use of that particular smilie makes your post appear very hostile BTW.

Apols for that - wasn't meant to be

I stand by what I said though, and I'm genuinely surprised if your insurers will let you do that. All cars are available from the factory with a variety of wheel and tyre sizes - it may well be that whoever you're with has seen the sense in fitting winter tyres, but I doubt the majority of mainstream insurance companies will bother educating their call centre staff on the subtle difference between a customer fitting smaller wheels with winter tyres and a customer fitting bigger aftermarket wheels...

Or pass up on the opportunity to make £25 as a 'admin fee' when you call them..

[Falmouthboy]

Certainly the attitude at More Than when I asked about putting a BMW supplied 17" winter wheel/tyre set on our 130i with standard 18" mixed wheels was 'fine - no charge as long as both wheel and tyre are the OEM recomended fitment'. Also, they said no need to advise them when swapping between the two sets as them knowing I ran winter tyres in winter was sufficient for the record.

I would say that any wheel, even if smaller, that isn't a BMW wheel listed as suitable for your car, is by definition an after market modification. The trouble is, the average call centre 'monkey' doesn't understand the detail of BMW wheel fitment, in particular that putting same size winters on you existing wheels may be going against manufacturers recommendation.

As a quick check, if they are not listed as the M&S fitment on your door jam with the tyre pressures, then it isn't standard.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by parapaul

Apols for that - wasn't meant to be

I stand by what I said though, and I'm genuinely surprised if your insurers will let you do that. All cars are available from the factory with a variety of wheel and tyre sizes - it may well be that whoever you're with has seen the sense in fitting winter tyres, but I doubt the majority of mainstream insurance companies will bother educating their call centre staff on the subtle difference between a customer fitting smaller wheels with winter tyres and a customer fitting bigger aftermarket wheels...

Or pass up on the opportunity to make £25 as a 'admin fee' when you call them..

This's what I like about this forum....no flames. Cool!

Firstly, I'm sure you're right if you just call the Insurer's call centre and announce a new set of wheels, the default will be a rate hike.

Also I would grant that going from 17" to 19" OEM summer wheels will potentially trigger a rate increase.

But I believe that at least the people who deal with customer letters at insurance companies are starting to get it that its OK and safer to have a set of summer wheels and another set of winter wheels, maybe in different sizes, as long as they're OEM and follow manufacturer's recommendations.

I deal with Direct Line and Admiral and both entered the wheel change into my policy with no extra charges or admin fees.