Engine swap. Advice for what to do now?

[pringle1988]

Morning all,

I have been having major problems with a BMW 328 which I bought, the engine no matter how much I did to it just kept breaking. Anyway I bought and fitted another 328 engine so it is like for like.
What do I do now about informing the DVLA etc of the new engine number? Does it need another MOT and will it put my insurance up? Its not modifyed in anyway.

Sorry for all of the questions.

James

[MrPickle]

You haven't affected the performance in any way so your insurance (allthough you should notify them) should'nt change.
As for the DVLA give them a call. they're the best ones to ask.

[McSam]

You haven't technically modified the performance, because your 328 now has the performance of whichever 328 you took the engine from, which would have been quoted the same to insure. But I have a feeling your insurers might not see it like that. I can't offer any advice, but do let us know how this one turns out in terms of insurance

[300bhp/ton]

MrPickle said:

You haven't affected the performance in any way so your insurance (allthough you should notify them) should'nt change.
As for the DVLA give them a call. they're the best ones to ask.

Why should you tell the insurance??

Has sod all to do with them.

[300bhp/ton]

pringle1988 said:

Morning all,

I have been having major problems with a BMW 328 which I bought, the engine no matter how much I did to it just kept breaking. Anyway I bought and fitted another 328 engine so it is like for like.
What do I do now about informing the DVLA etc of the new engine number? Does it need another MOT and will it put my insurance up? Its not modifyed in anyway.

Sorry for all of the questions.

James

DVLA can be a pain. Might be worth trying to contact them to see what they advise, but they can be difficult and want proof of where the engine came from and a letter from the garage that fitted it.

You could just add it as a correction to the V5 rather than a change.....

Or you could leave it. And if asked just claim the car is unchanged from how you bought it. Lots and lots of cars have replacement engines fitted.

[aka_kerrly]

300bhp/ton said:

MrPickle said:

You haven't affected the performance in any way so your insurance (allthough you should notify them) should'nt change.
As for the DVLA give them a call. they're the best ones to ask.

Why should you tell the insurance??

Has sod all to do with them.

Oh you say that now but if the OP has a crash and during the investigation it emerges that the engine numbers don't match up i'm almost certain a insurance company would jump at the opportunity to void a claim.

dave

[MoonMonkey]

Don't need to tell insurance.

Is the engine no. ref on the V5. I can't remember..?? If so, contact DVLA, if not don't bother.

[rallycross]

you dont have to do anything, if its a like for like swop that's it.

i have done this several times.

in a lot of cases its impossible to even find an engine number these days without striping the engine down so no one will ever no, not that it makes any difference if its just a replacement.


hope the new engine works ok.

[dylan0451]

i've swapped a few. if you inform your insurers, it's classified as a modification - do an online quote and the tick box is there along with turbo charging, lowering, adding gangsta wheels etc.

basically it's a reason to charge you more. even bluprinting seems to be a high risk modification these days.

i send off my v5 to the dvla with the new engine number, state same cc etc. and get it straight back. nothing illegal and no one seems to mind that way

asking your insurers if your premiums go up by replacing with an identical engine is like asking them if they'd fancy a few quid beer money

[300bhp/ton]

aka_kerrly said:

300bhp/ton said:

MrPickle said:

You haven't affected the performance in any way so your insurance (allthough you should notify them) should'nt change.
As for the DVLA give them a call. they're the best ones to ask.

Why should you tell the insurance??

Has sod all to do with them.

Oh you say that now but if the OP has a crash and during the investigation it emerges that the engine numbers don't match up i'm almost certain a insurance company would jump at the opportunity to void a claim.

dave

Do you give your engine number to your insurer??

And an insurance company can't just resolve its self of paying out like that, sure they might try things on, but they are regulated....

Also, how can they prove when the engine was swapped? Unless you tell them it could have happened at any time in the cars past.

[Munter]

You wouldn't tell the insurer if you changed any other standard parts for another standard replacement part. No need to tell them about the engine either. So long as it's a direct like for like swap.

Just tell the DVLA the engine number has changed.

[aka_kerrly]

Strange then that I have been asked to supply engine numbers when i have done engine swaps. I previously swapped a 1.8 for a 2.0, updated my V5 told my insurance company of the new engine details. Then I swapped the 2.0 for another (different to the previous) 1.8 and did the same process again. Since the swap was done 2 years ago I was still asked for the engine number as part of the modified vehicle report I completed for my insurance company.

dave

[300bhp/ton]

aka_kerrly said:

Strange then that I have been asked to supply engine numbers when i have done engine swaps. I previously swapped a 1.8 for a 2.0, updated my V5 told my insurance company of the new engine details. Then I swapped the 2.0 for another (different to the previous) 1.8 and did the same process again. Since the swap was done 2 years ago I was still asked for the engine number as part of the modified vehicle report I completed for my insurance company.

dave

Ok some KEY differences.

1. you are not replacing like for like, you are increasing displacement and modifying.
2. you are insured as a modified car with a modified car report

For normal insurance you wouldn't normally include the engine number as far as I know. A replacement engine also isn't a modification either.

If you changed the gearbox, or the air bag or anything else with a serial number on, would you also tell them and declare it as modified on an otherwise stock vehicle?

[pringle1988]

Thanks all for your comments.
I informed DVLA and it hasn't made any difference to my insurance

James