Dilemma.

[one_must_fall]

I have purchased a new panel air filter:

http://www.europerformance.co.uk/pages/ ... ?id=502103

I knew that I would have to inform my insurance company (Bell) and that my premiums would probably increase.

After speaking with them today I discovered its going to cost £45.20. Which is more than I paid for the filter.

Maybe its just me being cheap... Maybe my insurance company are taking advantage because I'm under 25 and my car has "GTi" written on the back.

My question to you is:

Is it worth me paying £90 for a new filter? Will it make that much difference?

I wonder how much a other more "serious" mods are going to cost me...

Chris.

[Redline]

Maybe its just me being cheap... Maybe my insurance company are taking advantage because I'm under 25 and my car has "GTi" written on the back.

Insurance companies base there premiums on factors such as your age and what the badge on the back says, so in some respects thats true.

And technically yes you do have to inform your insurance company about changing your filter, but also you would have to question the likelihood of them ever discovering it? It's not like an induction kit that is blatantly obvious when you lift the bonnet, but whether you wish to take that chance is up to you and would potentially invalidate your policy.

However if you are, as you suggest, thinking of making more modifications it might be an idea to switch to a more "mod friendly" insurer like Adrian Flux or HIC who specialise in that area.

[ModifiedMadness]

£45.20 for adding a panel filter!

That's ridiculous, I'd seriously be looking at different insurance companies if I was you mate.

[one_must_fall]

Yes but I've only had the car a couple of months and have already paid the insurance up front.

I suppose the price of going for the cheapest insurer is that they might not be the best suited for you.

One way I could look at it is that I'm spending the money I saved when I took out the cheapest insurance I could find...

I'm a idiot for not checking this before I bought the filter.

And there was me thinking I could buy something exciting this weekend at Oxford Edition...

[ModifiedMadness]

If it was me (and I'm one for delcaring all mods I have carried out) I'm not sure as though I'd tell them about a panel filter.

Whose to say it wasn't in the car already?

I couldn't tell you whether mine was/is a standard one or not, I've never looked.

[kipper]

im with tescos and i told them about my filter and exhaust and they asked me if it adds any power to the car and i said no. so they wernt really bothered. they know about my wheels exhaust and lights. badgeless grill they said dont add anything to the cost or the lowering. and i believe i didnt tell them about my k&n but it aint hard to change it for the old filter of i had an accident or something and they wanted to check. mine didnt goup that much. however the extra your paying for your filter, thats about how much more im paying for my wheels.

[Tim_GTi]

its such a small thing i wouldnt have even thought about telling the insurance company!!!!! IF you were to crash or something, and an investigator came out and throughly searched your engine i guarentuee they wouldnt notice any change....

[bristolgeezer]

im with bell and i rang them the other day to declare my coilovers and tints and i kinda lied a little, i said the coilovers were set so the car was lowered less than 50cm and my tints were 30% and it came to 91 quid!

ah well, but anyways back on topic i personally wouldn't declare a panel filter but its your choice.....

[Tigz]

A panel filter (or induction kit really, but you wont get away with that) does not increase power so should not increase your premium.
Explain to your insure company this, and that the reason it is being fitted is because it is a life long filter that only requires cleaning, and not replacing.