just bought myself a lovely ED30. which mods I keep and which not?

[pisquano]

hi everyone
after much research I finally managed to buy a nice Ed30... pictures to follow next week when it's ready to be picked up.

it's a silver 3-door 57 plate with only 24K miles!! touch screen satnav and fully spec'd

but....the previous owner put a few extras done @ APS tuning, and precisely
1) anti roll bars
2) racing coilovers (the car sits very slightly lower)
3) remap to around 260bhp - this has now been reversed back to stock by the VW dealer who sold me the car.

now...the question is: my insurance charges me a lot for modications
with all 3 modifications (in case I decided to have it remapped...again!) my premium will go up by an extra £338

if I decide to only drop the remap or the roll bars, it goes up by £278

if I only keep the custom coilovers, it only goes up by £60 - a no-brainer I'd say

if the car was yours what would you do? I am tempted to go to APS and ask Ed to simply remove the roll bars, but remap it and keep the coilovers...
what of these 3 modifications have the best impact on the performance? even the remap alone is a £278 jump up....

thanks to everyone!!!

Fede

[jv]

Thought of changing insurers to one more mod-friendly? Unless you are very high risk then those figures seem a touch crazy.

[pisquano]

well...I wouldn't think I am high risk...no motor convictions, no points taken. 36 yrs old. I live in Central London...
8 yrs no claims bonus but the car will have to stay on the road...

this was Admiral...other have quoted me much worse! the base (no mods) is £843

do you have any suggestions? I couldn't find any better....

I used to drive an audi rs4 last year, and couldn't do any mods because, still, I wasn't able to find a decent insurer for that

thx

[jv]

I have used Admiral in the past for a mildly modified car - same kind of changes and it didn't make any difference at all. They did jump a lot once you went over something like +20 bhp though.

If you haven't already it is well worth talking to people like HIC, Sky Insurance, Adrian Flux, Greenlight - those kind of ones. Insurers that know what mods are and that you are almost less of a risk for doing these things. Having said all that, maybe central London is the killer factor in this anyway!

[pisquano]

I have used Admiral in the past for a mildly modified car - same kind of changes and it didn't make any difference at all. They did jump a lot once you went over something like +20 bhp though.

If you haven't already it is well worth talking to people like HIC, Sky Insurance, Adrian Flux, Greenlight - those kind of ones. Insurers that know what mods are and that you are almost less of a risk for doing these things. Having said all that, maybe central London is the killer factor in this anyway!

thanks JV....sadly I think London is indeed....
I phoned Adrian Flux and they wouldn't insure my car unless I had it garaged...
will try HIC and SKY...thanks!

as you say, the current quote from Admiral is for a 11-26% increase remap, which equals (potentially) to +50/60 bhp... I think they quoted me less for increase in the order of up to +10% only.
I am a bit disappointed about the roll bars...why the heck is this considered a high risk mod?
are they worth to keep?

[pisquano]

gosh!!!
I just rang Sky Insurance and they quoted me £892 with all mods in, and no limits in the remap %!!!!
WOW!!!! thanks a lot you really saved me a lot of cash JV!!! I owe you one for sure!!

[Rhyso]

gosh!!!
I just rang Sky Insurance and they quoted me £892 with all mods in, and no limits in the remap %!!!!
WOW!!!! thanks a lot you really saved me a lot of cash JV!!! I owe you one for sure!!

Click the forum charity link to say thanks 

[AlanD]

Welcome to the world of MK5 ownership, looking forward to seeing the pics, sounds like a minter.

JV has given some great advice in terms of insurance companies, glad to hear Sky gave you a good deal. I used to be with Greenlight who were very cheap. I'm now with a company called Brentcare (http://www.brentacre.co.uk) who specialise in modified cars, might be worth trying them as well as they are MILES cheaper than anyone else I could find.

Also I cant express enough how much you need to have the remap on your car. Totally transforms it, you'll love it.

[pisquano]

Welcome to the world of MK5 ownership, looking forward to seeing the pics, sounds like a minter.

JV has given some great advice in terms of insurance companies, glad to hear Sky gave you a good deal. I used to be with Greenlight who were very cheap. I'm now with a company called Brentcare (http://www.brentacre.co.uk) who specialise in modified cars, might be worth trying them as well as they are MILES cheaper than anyone else I could find.

Also I cant express enough how much you need to have the remap on your car. Totally transforms it, you'll love it.

thanks AlanD. will definitely try Brentcare too. I am trying to pick the car up tonight so need to sort the insurance in the next few hours.
in terms of remap, APS can obviously do a custom map: do you have any advice as to how much to increase the power? I am not really wishing to push the car to the limit, so maybe getting around 260BHP should be enough. what is your experience?

[AlanD]

My one is just a standard GTI (KO3s turbo rather than your KO4) and is running 240bhp / 260ft/lb. A remap on yours should see you somewhere between 260-270.

I personally dont want anymore as I cant really see the point in having much more going through the front wheels. Im more than happy with my power figures and wont be increasing it. Save you having to spend even more money on big brakes etc.

Another major thing to bare in mind are tyres, make sure you get / have a decent set. Im running my 3rd set of Goodyear Eagle F1s - http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Goodyear/Eagle-F1-Asymmetric-2.htm (1x GSD3 2x Asymmetric). I think they are fantastic and cant see my ever really changing them. Other popular and just as good choices are Michelin PS3 http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Michelin/Pilot-Sport-3-PS3.htm or Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Vredestein/Ultrac-Sessanta.htm.

Completely off topic and just because I'm a nosey bugger where in London are you?