Vehicle Modifications

Retrogamer

artbaron wrote: »

Because I changed the colour from dark anthracite to very dark anthracite, so I thought I'd be on the safe side and declare it. Odds are if you don't declare a mod, not matter how small, they'll use it as an excuse to deny a claim.

That seems like a bad insurer to me. Can you imagine they denied you a payout because your wheels were dirty, and now look dark grew from brake dust rather than bright silver.

Or the yellow painted wheels on some cars age and turn slightly yellow from exposure to sunlight

Or the steel wheels turn from black to brown with rust....

Gloomendoom

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

Surely a towbar is an addition, not a modification.

A modification is where you modify or alter something, ie a different radio, alloy wheels, etc, etc.

A towbar is an addition, ie it is added to the car. Nothing is modified. Daylight running lights, if they are stuck on, are also an addition, not a modification, as are go-faster stripes. Changing headlights are a modification.

So unless your insurance stipulates you have to notify modifications AND additions, you do not need to notify your insurance company.

Using that logic, a different radio or alloy wheels would be substitutions. Reworking the standard fit radio or wheels to alter their appearance or function would be a modification.

Ultrasonic

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Retro fitting DRLs on an individual basis is unlikely to be cost effective as far as fuel consumption is concerned. However, as the EU now requires all new cars to have DRLs, using LEDs rather than dipped incandescent bulb headlamps is likely to result in a measurable reduction in overall vehicle emissions.

Totally agree. Fitting LED DRLs from new makes sense, it was just retro-fitting them that I was sceptical about.

Having said that, there are lots you can get for under £10 on eBay (e.g. these). Although if you're not fitting them yourself the total cost would be rather higher. How you fit them so they don't look daft is another matter as well.

I've seen a comment somewhere that DRLs are legally required to switched off at night when the main headlights are used. If true, this complicates the installation as well.

Iceweasel

Ultrasonic wrote: »

How you fit them so they don't look daft is another matter as well.

I've seen a comment somewhere that DRLs are legally required to switched off at night when the main headlights are used. If true, this complicates the installation as well.

Absolutely correct - DRLs MUST be wired in so that as soon as you select ANY other lights - side lights or low beam - the DRLs are extinguished.

I see loads of DRLs at night time - all wrongly wired.

Just wait - the correct operation of DRLs will be in the MOT very soon if not there already. And it will be a fail if they stay on.

Retrogamer

Iceweasel wrote: »

Absolutely correct - DRLs MUST be wired in so that as soon as you select ANY other lights - side lights or low beam - the DRLs are extinguished.

I see loads of DRLs at night time - all wrongly wired.

Just wait - the correct operation of DRLs will be in the MOT very soon if not there already. And it will be a fail if they stay on.

How will the MOT inspector know the difference between DRL's and additional vehicle position lights (i.e sidelights)

Yolina

Iceweasel wrote: »

Absolutely correct - DRLs MUST be wired in so that as soon as you select ANY other lights - side lights or low beam - the DRLs are extinguished.

I see loads of DRLs at night time - all wrongly wired.

Just wait - the correct operation of DRLs will be in the MOT very soon if not there already. And it will be a fail if they stay on.

Actually on my car where the DRLs came factory-fitted as standard equipment, they dim when the "real" lights are on but aren't completely off

Ultrasonic

Retrogamer wrote: »

How will the MOT inspector know the difference between DRL's and additional vehicle position lights (i.e sidelights)

Sidelights aren't on unless they are switched on, whereas DRLs will either be on all of the time, or go off as soon as any other lights are switched on if they are correctly wired. I don't see there being any ambiguity?

VectorInspector

a lot of people are buying used cars
towbar is pretty easy to spot to report as "modification"
but what if the person have bought the car _with_ modifications (maybe some components repaired\swapped to a different than used to be) and never been informed about this by previous owner\seller
will it be a violation of insurance policy if [x] no modifications option will be selected?

p.s. and regarding DRL - if they haven't been installed on the car before\at the factory I would rather use dipped headlights instead and don't get involved with installation & insurance etc...

Iceweasel

Yolina wrote: »

Actually on my car where the DRLs came factory-fitted as standard equipment, they dim when the "real" lights are on but aren't completely off

Yes - that's another good idea / acceptable option - it's staying on at their full daytime brightness that isn't allowed.

vinylmusic

Ultrasonic wrote: »

I've seen a comment somewhere that DRLs are legally required to switched off at night when the main headlights are used. If true, this complicates the installation as well.

Not so complicated really. All you'd need is a length of twin cable going to a switch on the dash
cut the + wire which sends power to the DRL's and attatch the 2 ends to the the two other ends of your twin cable.
You can switch them off yourself when turning on headlights.
My car recently went thgrough an MOT with them on and nothing was said about it. I would have removed them had they made a big difference to the insurance but it made no difference at all