HID lights, insurance & warranty

[Dizzy]

Hi all.
I have searched but cannot seem to find an answer but please direct me to a thread accordingly if I am wrong.

Is anyone aware that if I fit HID lights to my 2012 GSA, it would invalidate any warranty or insurance?

Insurance is with BMW.

Ride magazine did state that strictly speaking they are not legal as an aftermarket fitting. I wouldn't want to give the insurance or any warranty issues an excuse to deny claims.

Thanks for any help given!!


Dizzy.

 

[seadog]

I would have thought it was ok?, I mean if it's good enough for the mot( a government guideline) can't see why it would be a problem.

Mike

 

[Fluffmeister]

Hi all.
I have searched but cannot seem to find an answer but please direct me to a thread accordingly if I am wrong.

Is anyone aware that if I fit HID lights to my 2012 GSA, it would invalidate any warranty or insurance?

Insurance is with BMW.

Ride magazine did state that strictly speaking they are not legal as an aftermarket fitting. I wouldn't want to give the insurance or any warranty issues an excuse to deny claims.

Thanks for any help given!!


Dizzy.

Insurance could be a grey area, but on the Warranty front, I think BMW would have to prove that the HID kit caused the issue to refuse the claim.

So if you fitted HID's and your sidestand fell off, that "should" be fine under Warranty, but fitting HIDS and then frying the CANBUS controller, you could find they don't cough up. If it's a Warranty job, pop the hids out and normal bulbs in before you go back.

Personally, I have HIDS in my gin palace, a well made kit from a reputable supplier of this parish (Les Wassal / Hid 50), I have fitted HIDS to car's that I have owned that have projector beam headlights, and with a quality kit, I have not had any issues.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Insurance yes if you don't tell them but then pretty much every single change from showroom spec should to be given to them. It wont necessarily put your insurance up but to be safe they need to be told. Warranty, as above. If you fry the electrics BMW will probably try and walk away but it will be limited to a few specific faults.

 

[Dizzy]

Thanks Guys.
I will contact both in due course just to cover bases!

 

[Beemerman59]

My insurance is with BMW and have informed them I have HID's fitted along with all the other stuff its farkled out with. They loaded the premium 10% but otherwise no issues and the loading was for a total of £3K's worth of non-oem equipment.

 

[Greenman14]

Try this link, it gives a reasonable explanation of the situation. From my reading, provided the HID conversion gave a similar beam pattern it would be OK. The issue is that aftermarket HID kits may not position the bulb in the location as the original, therefore the beam pattern may not be as the manufacturer intended and as per the type-approval test.

It wouldn't stop me fitting a kit.

http://www.phoenixautobulbs.co.uk/tp/hid-kits-new-legislation-2012/

 

[red1]

Try this link, it gives a reasonable explanation of the situation. From my reading, provided the HID conversion gave a similar beam pattern it would be OK. The issue is that aftermarket HID kits may not position the bulb in the location as the original, therefore the beam pattern may not be as the manufacturer intended and as per the type-approval test.

It wouldn't stop me fitting a kit.

http://www.phoenixautobulbs.co.uk/tp/hid-kits-new-legislation-2012/

"Genuine" HID's have a specific reflector design so "officially" don't comply with the type-approval that was given to the vehicle. It seems that this is ignored (except in Austria where you get fined €200) so I wouldn't worry.

 

[The Grey One]

"Genuine" HID's have a specific reflector design so "officially" don't comply with the type-approval that was given to the vehicle. It seems that this is ignored (except in Austria where you get fined €200) so I wouldn't worry.

And in Holland I am told by a Dutch biking friend. I suspect everywhere else too if you piss the copper off enough. Don't laugh, we had a guest last year who argued with a local policeman over a speeding offence-the other 4 with him got fined 25 Euros each, he got 100 because the policeman included an overtake on a white line that he was prepared to overlook for the others.

John

 

[Beemerman59]

Although I am a great fan of HID conversions, I will, at the very least, change the OEM headlights dip & main back to halogen before crossing the English Channel on my next jaunt. Probably the rest as well. It ain't worth it plus abroad I don't do as much night riding as in the UK so not so necessary to have.

 

[stever1]

My insurance is with BMW and have informed them I have HID's fitted along with all the other stuff its farkled out with. They loaded the premium 10% but otherwise no issues and the loading was for a total of £3K's worth of non-oem equipment.

All well and good loading the premium but you may find that all the farkles are not covered.

 

[Beemerman59]

All well and good loading the premium but you may find that all the farkles are not covered.

That's the point - they are all covered. I had to take the bike to an independant garage to get written confirmation of everything that was fitted and that the electrical wiring was correctly wired, fused etc. I then sent them the written report and they confirmed in writing it was all covered. Even got the SatNav covered as its in a lockable mount and therefore a fixed accessory.

 

[stever1]

I am surprised at that, cos when i had the GS had lots of bits on it such as HID kit, sat nav, Starcom system,shiny bits etc and BMW insurance wouldnt extend the insurance to cover them.

 

[adventuredon]

FYI---in case you wanted to put extra lights on your bike and something goes wrong - they will not even investigate past the GS machine to locate or try to locate a problem......And they want OE parts....

As mentioned previously you will be responsible for any labour costs for investigation work required to diagnosis any possible faults when claiming under your Insured warranty policy.

Control units including the wiring harness are covered under your warranty however any evidence of tampering or ware and tare would invalidate any claim. We would also need to see proof of your last service, if undertaken outsider of the dealer network we also need to see proof of OE parts and a suitable service schedule signed and filled out by a technician. In the event of an audit, BMW will expect us to produce your service history or we could have the entire claim rejected.

 

[Beemerman59]

FYI---in case you wanted to put extra lights on your bike and something goes wrong - they will not even investigate past the GS machine to locate or try to locate a problem......And they want OE parts....

As mentioned previously you will be responsible for any labour costs for investigation work required to diagnosis any possible faults when claiming under your Insured warranty policy.

Control units including the wiring harness are covered under your warranty however any evidence of tampering or ware and tare would invalidate any claim. We would also need to see proof of your last service, if undertaken outsider of the dealer network we also need to see proof of OE parts and a suitable service schedule signed and filled out by a technician. In the event of an audit, BMW will expect us to produce your service history or we could have the entire claim rejected.

I'm so glad I didn't take out any additional warranty when the bike got to two years old otherwise I would never have had the fun I've had with all the farkling and changing oil and stuff I get to do

 

[TLSgazza]

Although I am a great fan of HID conversions, I will, at the very least, change the OEM headlights dip & main back to halogen before crossing the English Channel on my next jaunt. Probably the rest as well. It ain't worth it plus abroad I don't do as much night riding as in the UK so not so necessary to have.

Me and the missus have been pulled for speeding in France, Austria, Switzerland and pulled in Austria and Switzerland for straying onto motorways without a vignet, not once have any of the nice friendly policemen mentioned our hid headlamps and hid spotlamps.
Also seen many police everywhere else and never been worried about them taking chase to bollock us for the hid's.
Don't worry so.much

 

[Mick_rw]

Hi all.
I have searched but cannot seem to find an answer but please direct me to a thread accordingly if I am wrong.

Is anyone aware that if I fit HID lights to my 2012 GSA, it would invalidate any warranty or insurance?

Insurance is with BMW.

Ride magazine did state that strictly speaking they are not legal as an aftermarket fitting. I wouldn't want to give the insurance or any warranty issues an excuse to deny claims.

Thanks for any help given!!


Dizzy.

When I wrote my GS off a couple of years ago it had a full set of HID's including fog/driving lights. Was with BMW Insurance and they paid out full amount no arguments.