[lazyman]

Hi all,

I have just picked up a late 2004 Mini Cooper S (JCW Replica) and due to all the modifications to make it look like a JCW and bearing in mind that all the modifications are only cosmetic and all carried out by an authorised Mini dealer, Direct Line (my insurance company of many years) has increased my premiums that i was currently paying on a 2007 Focus ST and to add insult to injury they have also increased my excess from £200 to a whopping £875.00.

As you may be able to tell i am not very happy with this at all considering I have Full No Claims Bonus and do not have any points on my license I feel as if i am being a little ripped off on this.

I did ask them whilst on the phone what would be the cost if it was a standard JCW and was told that i would not only get a refund on my insurance premium but my excess would stay at £200.00.

Does this make any sense to anyone basically i am getting ripped off for having a JCW but without the engine.

If anyone knows of an insurance comapny that will not rip me off like this please let me know as I am considering changing it over now and not even gonna wait the 8 months i have until my policy expires.

Thanks and whinge over

Lazy

[I love MINI, Laura]

I'm afraid thats not how MINI specifications work. JCW parts and tuning are all considered modifications to the standard S which is what your insurance is considering. The JCW bodykit is available on all models of MINIs not just the S. Therefore there is no such thing as a JCW replica just a S with the JCW body kit and there is nothing wrong with that. Plenty of MINIs have the body kit without the tuning and the tuning without the body kit. Adding the JCW tuning kit to your 'JCW Replica' will make your insurance even higher!

Also Direct line is a killer with any modifications. They like standard all the way. Can you try another insurance company?

[Fizzoid]

Try Adrian Flux. They were pretty good when I upped the power on my Skyline by 35%. I've used them for all my modded cars and they've always been reasonable.

[Aberdeen Al]

Oof - that 2.5 times higher than mine - tell Direct Line to poke it and go to Adrian Flux instead

[supa-dupa-cooper]

Blimey!

It should be cheaper than that for me to insure my new Cooper D in mid-March and im only 21

Shop around or better still try a broker

[humph]

Sounds completely wrong to me even if Direct Line are anti mods. Could be your use of the phrase JCW replica. Strictly speaking there is no Cooper S JCW to replicate, not cosmetically anyway. As Laura says the MCS JCW isn't a model as such it's an engine tuning kit added to a stock MCS. The body kit etc. are accessories that are added aftermarket. Did you mention that the car is a JCW replica to Direct Line? It could be that they have put it on their records as a MCS JCW (210bhp) and then added all of the cosmetic kit you've mentioned on top. That would probably be more expensive than your Focus. Better run through the details with them again.

If they do put your quote up speak to Adrain Flux.

[lazyman]

Quote: Originally Posted by Humph (original)

Sounds completely wrong to me even if Direct Line are anti mods. Could be your use of the phrase JCW replica. Strictly speaking there is no Cooper S JCW to replicate, not cosmetically anyway. As Laura says the MCS JCW isn't a model as such it's an engine tuning kit added to a stock MCS. The body kit etc. are accessories that are added aftermarket. Did you mention that the car is a JCW replica to Direct Line? It could be that they have put it on their records as a MCS JCW (210bhp) and then added all of the cosmetic kit you've mentioned on top. That would probably be more expensive than your Focus. Better run through the details with them again.

If they do put your quote up speak to Adrain Flux.

I went through the complete list of car, model and mods that were all listed on the original invoice when the mods were made, which was done by fairfield BMW / Mini, and told direct line that the car was a mini cooper s with chilli pack as per the original invoice of the car. As stated in the original post i enquired about the cost of insuring a JCM Mini and was told it would be cheaper than the ST i had, in fact i would have recieved a refund, so was pretty clear to them regarding model of Mini and all the mods as listed on the original invoices.

The invoice from Fairfield BMW / Mini states that it is a JCW Bodykit including painting to match original body colour which cost the previous owner £975.00 and in no way states that it is an aero kit or anything else, unless they have made a mistake on the paperwork when the bodykit was fitted, but unfortunately i have no paperwork to that effect.

I have made an internet request to Adrian flux for a call back so will let you know tomorrow should they call me tonight as I requested.

[humph]

Fair enough. Hope you have better luck with AF, you should do. I had horrendous problems getting the insurance companies to understand that my car was a Cooper JCW (non S). No matter how many times I checked they continualy had me down as having an MCS JCW, even after I broke down the MC JCW engine kit down into components for them. And then when I told MINI Insurance about the JCW body kit they added £300 to the premium. One insurer (NU) even asked if I'd specced the half leather seats and sport suspension plus. When I replied yes they told me the seats were performance enhancing, and that the suspension was lowered, nonsense, but lead to them increasing my premium. I have a thread on here about insuring my current car and the succession of trained monkeys I had to deal with in the process.

BTW JCW only do one body kit, the Aero kit. And AF didn't increase my premium for the aero kit as it's not performance enhancing.

[monkeyone]

I had the same problem with Privilige who are part of UK insurance along with Direct line and tesco etc. When I told them about wanting to add a GTT CAI to my mcs they wanted to increase my excess to 875 and put the premium up by £90, this is for a nearly 30 y/o with no accidents claims or convictions and 6 years ncd. They just don't like mods. So i am going to tell them to stick it and go with Greenlight who are mod friendly and were cheaper than my current policy. AF are also mod friendly but heard a few horror stories when it comes to claim time...

[MarkW]

I'm same age as you only 1years ncb and paying £600 for a 03 mcs jcw with added ac schnitzer bits, insurers said as they were all factory options they didn't class them as mods
when I was getting quotes some had the same approach and others said they were mods so I made sure I double and triple checked the details

[MINIAC]

Quote: Originally Posted by lazyman (original)

The invoice from Fairfield BMW / Mini states that it is a JCW Bodykit including painting to match original body colour which cost the previous owner £975.00 and in no way states that it is an aero kit or anything else, unless they have made a mistake on the paperwork when the bodykit was fitted, but unfortunately i have no paperwork to that effect.

There is no such thing as a JCW Body Kit for the 1st Generation MINI ... it's called an Aero Kit.

The 2nd Generation MINI has a dealer fitted JCW Aero Kit and a Factory Aero Kit, although I'm not sure the latter is still an option.

[lazyman]

Thanks guys,

I have spoken to the good people at Adrian Flux and they have quoted me with all my mods as mentioned £382.00 per year with an excess of £400.00 and thats with my no claims protected and my wife included on the policy (she has 3 points on license).

So once the paperwork arrives i will be telling direct line where they can shove there policy i have had for years.

Thanks again

Lazy

[Parc77]

£470 with Adrian Flux...31 full protected no claims Cooper S BBR venturi, tints, spot lamps, eibachs, JCW strut brace, Alta CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, plus 1 or 2 other things...I moved from Directline after they wanted to put my insurance up from last year and ive made no changes, they wanted something silly like about 800notes, oh and the gf is on there too, she has 3 points and is 5 years my junior.

[astilla]

I'm just pricing up insurance for my Cooper S with various mods (JCW tuning, aero and lots of other bits) that is due on 1st March. I tried the GoCompare web site (for a laugh) and indeed it was a laugh. I'm 36, no points, no accidents, no convictions and still most of the companies wouldn't even touch it on there. Mini insurance were hilarious - the lady I spoke to kept running off to the underwriter to check things and eventually they came back with £300 voluntary excess, £900 compulsory excess and an annual premium of something like £880....! WTF ! They couldn't even get their head around it was an 08 plate Cooper S with JCW tuning kit as it wasn't on their list.

I'm probably going with Adrian Flux - need to ring them again this week to get a final quote to be sure - and I joined the British Mini Club as I know Adrian Flux offer an "up to 15%" discount allegedly for BMC members.

One thing I am going to do for sure is email/fax my Mini official spec from the dealer to the insurer and get them to attach it to the policy - then there's no misunderstanding of what is being insured and what options have been fitted.

[Fizzoid]

I got the 7 days free insurance from Norwich Union when I bought my Cooper, so they could tax it for me. They sent me a quote for the year for a whopping £1150 for a Group 8 car My group 19 740i was only £1050. Flux, who I was already with, quoted me £350.

[djtex]

Try Quinn direct mate, I'm paying £510 for my JCW R56. It's in my wifes name and I'm named driver as I only passed my test 18 months ago, however I am 32. We have 3 years no claims, she has six points amd we have tuning and aero kit, excess is only £135 for both of us.

They didn't charge any extra for the mods,this has to be he best deal out there, anyone better it?

[vickietots]

I was with Direct Line when I purchased my MCS and they just can't get their head around the fact that a MINI can have lots of different specs straight from the factory. They only like to deal with Fords, Vauxhalls etc where everything is really simple.

Also they view factory fitted and dealer fitted differently. So even if you spec it from new but the dealer fitted after it arrived from the factory but before you picked it up, this is seen as a Mod. Plus with Direct line or any of the others you have to be aware that although you might declare all Mods that doesn't mean they will replace them if you are in an accident and claim.

For reference I am now with Greenlight and have not had any issues with declaring mods and getting them listed etc.

[batou]

I've noticed most big name insures are rubbish with the mini, especially when trimmed with extras and upgrades. I was told none of my factory options are included in any market valuation but I pay extra for their "desirability". Direct Line, Churchill etc all over £750 without engine mods for me.

Rang Adrian Flux (red section) and declared the following:

2003 Cooper S Chilli approx £10,000 in value.
- JCW GP Intercooler
- JCW Injectors
- JCW Air Intake
- JCW Exhaust System
- Alta 15% Supercharger Pulley
- Iridium Spark Plugs

- Factory fitted optional full leather trim
- Chilli Pack
- Factory fitted optional full glass panoramic sunroof

26, Maidenhead 4 Years PNCD, no accidents, no points.

£440 including legal cover & NCD protection, unlimited mileage. Total excess for claim £300.

One word. Sorted

Edit, just saw your followup. Lol

[The Peanut]

We bought a Checkmate S and then gave it the full JCW upgrade 6 months later, engine, brakes and suspension and our premium with Direct Line nearly doubled, and we are old(ish!) full ncb no points, no claims.They have no idea so we are with Greenlight now who understand mods and give you European cover included.