[FRMTL2_335i]

Delete.....

[AWSAWS]

If it's undeclared you may well be held liable for the fire so be careful.

[Delta0311]

Don't bother they won't cover your extras. Plus they might use your mods as a reason for the fire. And yes they will investigate the cause of the fire...

[FRMTL2_335i]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

Don't bother they won't cover your extras. Plus they might use your mods as a reason for the fire. And yes they will investigate the cause of the fire...

Entire engine bay and interior is burnt, everything is melted. There is no way they could find out unless they spend 1000 hrs on it, which they won't

[JasW]

Originally Posted by FRMTL2_335i

I finished my single setup a few days ago, Took my car around the block yesterday and after a few minutes of driving the car went up in flames, couldn't do anything to stop it....

Should I tell my insurance I put over $11k on parts this year alone?

Anyone has any similar experience with their insurance?

If you have intentionally misrepresented (even by omission) mods to your car, it could be a basis for voiding your policy.

Also, know that the #1 type of auto insurance fraud is fire -- people who want to get out from under car loans, etc., set fire to their cars and make a claim. I would therefore think your insurer will look at your claim very closely.

You don't mention how the fire started or what (you think) caused it. That's obviously where the insurer is going to start.

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by FRMTL2_335i

Entire engine bay and interior is burnt, everything is melted. There is no way they could find out unless they spend 1000 hrs on it, which they won't

They might, it's their call; but don't bother reporting the mods because they won't cover them. Spontanouts car fires are pretty rare these days so yes they will be wondering what caused a perfectly good BMW to catch fire.

[jtswole]

First thing the insurance will look at, is the amount of debt you have. Be careful.

[stanlalee]

Well if your HVAC blower motor connector looked anything like mine and many others who've had to replace it I'm surprised 1000s of others haven't caught on fire. The wire shielding melts off and when the wires touch no fuse blows, it just sparks! I have pics but you can look in the blower motor diy thread and you'll see several there. I'm not saying that's it but if they are that careless there must be other fire hazards as well.

[FRMTL2_335i]

Well yeah, car has been in the garage for over a year... It was the first time out, and that's what I told the cops and that's what I wrote on the statement they made me fill out. I have no clue what could have caused the fire... I never mentioned anything about doing any work to it

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by FRMTL2_335i

Well yeah, car has been in the garage for over a year... It was the first time out, and that's what I told the cops and that's what I wrote on the statement they made me fill out. I have no clue what could have caused the fire... I never mentioned anything about doing any work to it

Obviously plead the 5th and let them poke around.

[FRMTL2_335i]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

Obviously plead the 5th and let them poke around.

Yeah, good thing the car is at my house...it happened 3 blocks away. So I'll be there when the adjuster comes out.... Gonna try to pull out the pump and the dif lock down before they come.

[Rotary Rasp]

My last car caught fire, it's was only 4 years old. My insurance reimbursed me for the car AND the mods I had. Regardless of cause of the fire, your insurance should cover at least the value of the car if you have full coverage.

You obviously didn't intentionally burn your car to the ground, I can't see why they would deny your claim. I'd tell them the truth.


PS. I have State Farm and I can't comment for cut-rate insurance companies.

[csu87]

I've seen it go both ways. One guy had his car go up in flames due to improper installation on some aftermarket injectors and everything was covered. Knew of another guy who's car went up because of a leaky stock injector *so he says, no idea if it's the truth* but insurance ended up denying his claims. He was fbo. If you try and hide things from them and they find out, you will get screwed.

[335NJ]

I'd consult with a lawyer who deals with claims like these, and delete this thread.

As stated above, if you claim one thing, and they find out that's not the truth, it's insurance fraud. And you'll never get reasonably priced insurance again, on top of the other legal ordeals with that offense.

[808AWD325xi]

Was meth involved?

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by 335NJ

I'd consult with a lawyer who deals with claims like these, and delete this thread.

As stated above, if you claim one thing, and they find out that's not the truth, it's insurance fraud. And you'll never get reasonably priced insurance again, on top of the other legal ordeals with that offense.

+1

As a side note, they will likely not cover the mods. Less is more with insurance companies. Driving down the road and it caught fire is all you say. Dont know why, don't know how. Don't give them anything to work with.

They will ask you if someone worked on it recently to try to blame them. They will ask if you tried to sell it before, behind on payments ETC ETC. They will ask you the color of the smoke and they may ask you about modifications. Even if it is your fault you are still covered. That's why they are accidents. Lying is not the answer but less is more as I said before. What they don't want to find out is it was done on purpose.

[JasW]

Originally Posted by 808AWD325xi

Was meth involved?

Methanol or crystal methamphetamine?

[Lambobimmer]

They won't cover your mods.

[MiniXP]

Most policies specifically list how much in modifications they will cover. I know mine is $1000 with state farm. Should be straight forward how much of the aftermarket parts will be covered.

[csu87]

Originally Posted by MiniXP

Most policies specifically list how much in modifications they will cover. I know mine is $1000 with state farm. Should be straight forward how much of the aftermarket parts will be covered.

^this

Some also allow you to claim a certain amount of aftermarket additions and will pay out a portion of that as well in a total loss, but you have to make sure you put that into your policy and keep details on the costs.

[FRMTL2_335i]

Originally Posted by Jeff@TopGearSolutions

+1

As a side note, they will likely not cover the mods. Less is more with insurance companies. Driving down the road and it caught fire is all you say. Dont know why, don't know how. Don't give them anything to work with.

They will ask you if someone worked on it recently to try to blame them. They will ask if you tried to sell it before, behind on payments ETC ETC. They will ask you the color of the smoke and they may ask you about modifications. Even if it is your fault you are still covered. That's why they are accidents. Lying is not the answer but less is more as I said before. What they don't want to find out is it was done on purpose.

Yeah I'm not gonna lie. I'm ahead of my payments anyway, perfect credit score, no points, no claims in years, I do have state farm as well. Do they go by private or retail value?
I don't run meth

If I could have put out the fire, I would have.

[csu87]

Originally Posted by FRMTL2_335i

Yeah I'm not gonna lie. I'm ahead of my payments anyway, perfect credit score, no points, no claims in years, I do have state farm as well. Do they go by private or retail value?
I don't run meth

If I could have put out the fire, I would have.

For total loss, they go by both private and retail sales, not listings. They do a comparative analysis in which they pull sales reports for vehicles within a certain distance with the same model, mileage, options, condition.... If there isnt anything close that compares, they will go nationwide and average it out, or go off a book value and apply their multipliers to it.

When your adjuster comes out to look at it, talk with him and if he notices its not stock and asks you about it, you may be better off telling him about all the money you put into it. Sometimes they will throw you a little bone and add some value to the car based on the extras. But like its been mentioned, dont lie about it. Most adjusters have seen thousands of cars and can tell a modified one from a stock one no matter what kind of damage there is.