question? engine swaps and insurance

[Trustmeimadoctor]

Right
In the case of an engine swap what would the premium be calculated on?

and would using a car with a smaller original engine result in lower overall premium?

say e30 318 with M42 replacing it with say a M62B44 rather than starting e30 325 with M20B25 replacing it with the same m62

never contemplated anything like this before

so cheers for any feedback

[kambites]

It rather depends on who you insure it with. Mainstream insurers will just up the premium to reduce the risk on anything they don't have significant statistical data for; specialist/kit car insurers will put more effort into actually working out the risk because it's their primary business.

[TooMany2cvs]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

In the case of an engine swap what would the premium be calculated on?

You'll need to find a specialist insurer who cover modified cars, and they'll base it on their actuarial opinion of the risk.

I'd have thought starting with the most powerful donor would be viewed as preferable, since it may well have upgraded suspension/brakes etc over the lower power donor.

[paintman]

Depending on who does the work they may also decide they want a specialist engineers report.

[Dog Star]

paintman said:

Depending on who does the work they may also decide they want a specialist engineers report.

I remember back in about 1989 my insurers wanted an engineers report cos I'd fitted some spotlights to my Fiesta

[Trustmeimadoctor]

cheers so really it doesnt matter and they will just make it up as they go along

[TEKNOPUG]

I've had cases of insurance being calculated on the car the new engine came from - so some interesting occasions of premiums reducing when fitting a bigger engine - such as one from a dull saloon to a hot-hatch.

I've also had case of insurers just asking me how much extra BHP the car has and pricing accordingly.

None of which really helps the OP

[Trustmeimadoctor]

tbh i've never even thought of doing such things before and only mods i've ever had have been wheels etc so very simple. id imagine its not worth the hassle or the money tbh just stick with what ever is in there and leave it be

[TEKNOPUG]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

tbh i've never even thought of doing such things before and only mods i've ever had have been wheels etc so very simple. id imagine its not worth the hassle or the money tbh just stick with what ever is in there and leave it be

There is probably not a lot of point in your example of E30 1.8 to 2.5, when yo can just buy a 325. Unless your 318 is in particularly good condition, compared to 325s that you'd be able to buy. Or of course the engine in your 318 is knackered, in which case you may as well install something better.

Makes more sense obviously if you are swapping an engine into a car that never came fitted with it from the factory.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

well no i was taking buying and starting with either then replacing with the 4.4

i wouldn't do the 1.8 to 2.5 well not the m20 2.5

i really want an e30 ideally a touring and as just musing in my little ol' head

[TEKNOPUG]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

well no i was taking buying and starting with either then replacing with the 4.4

i wouldn't do the 1.8 to 2.5 well not the m20 2.5

i really want an e30 ideally a touring and as just musing in my little ol' head

I would imagine that financially speaking, the insurance difference between starting with a 318 or 325 would be the least of your concerns.

Common sense would suggest that starting with a 318 would be cheaper than a 325 to insure but when you start adding a 4.4V8, all bets are off. Can't imagine that it would be much more than a few hundred either way.