Alpina B3 insurance
Discussion
Hi all
I am trying to arrange insurance for a new B3 and it is proving a bit difficult. Some insurers don't have the car on their system, so can't quote (even though they have the pre-LCI on there). Some won't quote because I don't have an existing relationship with them (and moving other cars over doesn't interest them). Others have quoted, but the quotes are ridiculous - c. £2k p/a (as a sense of my risk profile, last year I paid c. £600 for my GT4, no points, claims etc etc). Out of interest, I also got them to quote for an M3 Touring. The price was similar to the GT4. Is it just because the B3 is a rare / relatively unknown car that they are getting worried? Or are they taking the proverbial?
Therefore, can anyone recommend an insurer or broker?
Ones I have tried already - Adrian Flux, Performance Direct, Admiral, NFU, AXA, LV, Lockton.
Waiting to hear back from Amica Insurance Brokers and RS Insurance (who Sytner recommend).
TIA
I am trying to arrange insurance for a new B3 and it is proving a bit difficult. Some insurers don't have the car on their system, so can't quote (even though they have the pre-LCI on there). Some won't quote because I don't have an existing relationship with them (and moving other cars over doesn't interest them). Others have quoted, but the quotes are ridiculous - c. £2k p/a (as a sense of my risk profile, last year I paid c. £600 for my GT4, no points, claims etc etc). Out of interest, I also got them to quote for an M3 Touring. The price was similar to the GT4. Is it just because the B3 is a rare / relatively unknown car that they are getting worried? Or are they taking the proverbial?
Therefore, can anyone recommend an insurer or broker?
Ones I have tried already - Adrian Flux, Performance Direct, Admiral, NFU, AXA, LV, Lockton.
Waiting to hear back from Amica Insurance Brokers and RS Insurance (who Sytner recommend).
TIA
Tried Chris Knott. Underwriters not prepared to insure. Then tried Howdens. They were, but the quote was between £1,700 and £1,800. They said they might be able to get it down a bit, but still above £1,500. It’s the best quote I’ve had so far.
I then got the CAP ID to see if this would help Admiral to insure the car. It didn’t. They said that there isn’t enough data on the car to provide a quote - which I take to mean claim data. Frustrating, given they have the pre-LCI on their system and can quote for that.
Will try BMW insurance, Churchill and chase up the other two mentioned in my original post above on Monday. But it’s not looking good at the moment, considering that I would have to fit a top of the range tracker as well (ie more money!).
I then got the CAP ID to see if this would help Admiral to insure the car. It didn’t. They said that there isn’t enough data on the car to provide a quote - which I take to mean claim data. Frustrating, given they have the pre-LCI on their system and can quote for that.
Will try BMW insurance, Churchill and chase up the other two mentioned in my original post above on Monday. But it’s not looking good at the moment, considering that I would have to fit a top of the range tracker as well (ie more money!).
So, I tried my luck with Admiral one last time. They are my current insurer and provided a very reasonable quote on a pre-LCI B3 yesterday (for comparison purposes), so I thought they were my best hope.
The lady read out the reasons why the team who had made the decision had made the decision. "Significant" power increase, unknown changes over the pre-LCI, likely expensive Alpina specific parts, likely hard to get hold of said parts. I know, I know. Mostly nonsense.
I asked the lady if I could then speak to the people who had made the decision so I could point out the weaknesses in their arguments. She said we don't allow them to speak to customers. Ok, but please can I make a special request. She then messages them. They don't want to speak to me. I then ask whether I can speak to whoever heads up that dept. She messages them. No, I can't.
I then make a formal complaint. Not an 'escalate to her manager' type of complaint - I did that earlier in the day and that level of management was of no help either. I seem to have raised a more serious form of complaint. She then says the complaints handling team will get back to me in 7 to 8 weeks.
Therefore, I might have to accept defeat on this one, as I really don't think anyone is going to provide me with a sensible quote even if they can provide a quote. However, it would be good to hear from other LCI B3 Touring owners out there (I know there are 77 of you!). What sort of premiums are you paying? It would be good to know if the going rate is at least £1.5k to £2k. But the fact I could insure a pre-LCI B3 Touring for about £600 makes me suspicious and it also doesn't sit comfortably with me.
The lady read out the reasons why the team who had made the decision had made the decision. "Significant" power increase, unknown changes over the pre-LCI, likely expensive Alpina specific parts, likely hard to get hold of said parts. I know, I know. Mostly nonsense.
I asked the lady if I could then speak to the people who had made the decision so I could point out the weaknesses in their arguments. She said we don't allow them to speak to customers. Ok, but please can I make a special request. She then messages them. They don't want to speak to me. I then ask whether I can speak to whoever heads up that dept. She messages them. No, I can't.
I then make a formal complaint. Not an 'escalate to her manager' type of complaint - I did that earlier in the day and that level of management was of no help either. I seem to have raised a more serious form of complaint. She then says the complaints handling team will get back to me in 7 to 8 weeks.
Therefore, I might have to accept defeat on this one, as I really don't think anyone is going to provide me with a sensible quote even if they can provide a quote. However, it would be good to hear from other LCI B3 Touring owners out there (I know there are 77 of you!). What sort of premiums are you paying? It would be good to know if the going rate is at least £1.5k to £2k. But the fact I could insure a pre-LCI B3 Touring for about £600 makes me suspicious and it also doesn't sit comfortably with me.
I've always found Howden's realistic, but make sure you tell them you are a member of the Alpina Forum. My 2015 D4 was up £200 on last year to £1000, but I've had to significantly increase the mileage allowance due to a new job so that's probably the reason.
There's a specific insurance thread on the Alpina Owners forum, might be better asking there.
https://www.thealpinaregister.com/forums/viewtopic...
I haven't seen insurance costs discussed in the Facebook group.
There's a specific insurance thread on the Alpina Owners forum, might be better asking there.
https://www.thealpinaregister.com/forums/viewtopic...
I haven't seen insurance costs discussed in the Facebook group.
I woudl try https://tollgateprivateclients.co.uk/ I got the heads up about these from Lorcan at Rossiters the ACS distributor been with them for 9 years now, I have given up price checking they were always at least 25% less than anyone and I pay around £1k a year
Thanks. I checked out the thread on the register. Although it provides names of a few more insurers/brokers, almost all the posts relate to older Alpinas.
Tollgate - tried them. c. £1900.
BMW - they don’t have the LCI on the system (!) and underwriters said not enough data on the LCI, so a big fat no from them.
RS Insurance - similar to Tollgate.
That leaves one last broker who I am waiting for. But it probably means I won’t proceed with the purchase.
Tollgate - tried them. c. £1900.
BMW - they don’t have the LCI on the system (!) and underwriters said not enough data on the LCI, so a big fat no from them.
RS Insurance - similar to Tollgate.
That leaves one last broker who I am waiting for. But it probably means I won’t proceed with the purchase.
I didn’t in the end. Partly because I needed a quick answer and I haven’t found the forum to be the ‘quickest’ in the past. Also, I was fed up with it all. And finally because I think I have found the only three insurance companies who are actually prepared to insure the car (the different brokers were just coming back with the same companies in the end).
Decided to bite the bullet in the end and just do it. Life is too short. £1,700. Went with Amica. They were really good to deal with. Picked the car up on Friday. First impressions are very good.
Decided to bite the bullet in the end and just do it. Life is too short. £1,700. Went with Amica. They were really good to deal with. Picked the car up on Friday. First impressions are very good.
I used to own Alpina's in the past. A B10 V8S and then a B3 Bi-Turbo. I'll see if I have any emails from that time but it was a while ago now - last B3 was in 2008. However, I never had an issue with insurance in terms of them not quoting - always insured through mainstream companies, never needed to go to a specialist. You would have though it would have got easier in the last 16 years, not harder!!
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