[FSE23]

I'm preparing myself to pick up my order Feb/ March and I have been offered optional insurances including alloys and tyres for £449 ( 3y cover up to 5 replacement tyres and up to 10 alloy repairs. Tyre claim limit up to £200, £300 or £450 depending on policy. Alloys repair limit £1500) and also a GAP insurance for £379.
I wonder if any of new buyers took any of these options? Is this really worth anything?

IMHO I had to replace one tyre in the last 7 years in my 335i due to a nice nail ) and I repaired my alloys once paying about £200. However my friend had at least three tyre failure in his X5 in 3 years time.

Does anyone have any experience with GAP?
Thank you.

[brommy]

GAP tends to be recommended, although you will get a better quote than that and don't forget many car insurance policies cover new for old in the first year from new.

Tyre and alloy insurance tends to be more subjective and one I'm still considering myself.

[sahajesh]

Have heard that car2cover is one of the best for GAP, good reviews on various sites. They do tyre and alloy cover but only if you have their GAP.

GAP should be return to list (I think) not return to price paid - sure others can correct/add in the morning.

If you're getting 19" wheels (403M), you probably won't be able to get alloy cover due to how they are made.

[FSE23]

I'm getting 19" wheels so probably something to consider....

[dopper99]

Have a read of this:

http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=919374

This is my take (from that thread):

I went with car2cover for my new car. Had a long chat with them before I signed up and they seem very good.
Got full vehicle replacement rather than return to invoice. That way you make sure you can buy the EXACT car again in the event of a right off as you get the full list price of the replacement car regardless of what you paid for the car.

Its also transferable to another car if you swap cars, unlike BMW gap which is dead the minute you sell your car. I also understand with BMW gap that the gap insurance company send the cheque to the dealer and you have to buy again with them and are tied in whereas with a policy like car2cover, you just get a cheque and you can buy what you want from where you want.

I considered their dent/alloy protection policy and didn't think it was worth it. It was about £350 for 3 years but there is a £25 excess each time you claim. So two claims would cost you £400. I think I'd rather pay for my own as I think it would still be cheaper than £400. (Eg two claims of two alloys would be about £200).
Again, didn't bother with tyre insurance - I'll take my chances and pay out if on the remote chance I get a puncture.
Also the dent protection and tyre insurance are not transferable to another car unlike the gap. Worth checking these things when you buy these kind of covers.

But there are loads of companies to choice from so shop around and choose what's best for you.

[Tengocity]

I went with car2cover for GAP insurance and also tyre cover. Much cheaper than BMW.

I was in 2 minds about the tyre insurance, however, I've not had a puncture in about 6 years so figure that on 25k miles per year, the law of averages suggest I will get one soon enough. About 1 puncture of a nearly new tyre and it's covered itself.

[nordberg]

GAP should be replacement - not return to invoice or list.

[Jules6]

I went with ala for GAP with a Vehicle Replacement policy. Much cheaper than BMW which was only Return to Invoice ie the discounted price actually paid.

[nordberg]

Manufacturer/dealer approved policies are nearly always mediocre in comparison to 3rd party offerings. You would have to be pretty misinformed to sign up to BMW's GAP offering as it's massively expensive and is only return to invoice which to 75% of the world is not suitable.

Ala and Car2Gap both seem very good. I've heard good things about Ala on other forums as well....

[alibonyad]

Car2cover for me too. +1

[brommy]

Originally Posted by nordberg

Manufacturer/dealer approved policies are nearly always mediocre in comparison to 3rd party offerings. You would have to be pretty misinformed to sign up to BMW's GAP offering as it's massively expensive and is only return to invoice which to 75% of the world is not suitable.

I agree and yet one of my local salesmen insisted that BMW's return to invoice was much better than 'other providers' and I should spent £500 extra on his policy.

[nordberg]

Originally Posted by brommy

I agree and yet one of my local salesmen insisted that BMW's return to invoice was much better than 'other providers' and I should spent £500 extra on his policy.

I wonder why?!

[brommy]

Originally Posted by nordberg

I wonder why?!

As soon as I mentioned that I needed to check what other GAP policies were available, I could tell he knew he'd lost the sale.

[nordberg]

Yes, to be honest, I think the dealers are finally beginning to understand that their own GAP solutions are 10 years out of date. The last two dealers I've sat down with have put about 1% effort into selling GAP to me. As you say, once they cotton on the fact you know the market, they concede defeat and move on to paint protection!!

[MarkG_M5Comp]

Car2Cover Gap + Tyre

+1

My salesman took a look at the policy and said they couldn't compete.

I had a nail in a front tyre after 7 weeks of ownership, Car2Cover agreed the repair the same day and settled (by cheque!) within 3 days. Bliss, can't recommend it enough. Incidentally, the £224 for the tyre kind of makes the £269 premium for 5 tyre replacements good value!

Shame no allow cover as I have 403's but for everything else - do it.

[dopper99]

Also, if you go to car2cover website and get a quote emailed to you first, they will give you 5% cashback when you sign up with them (or it did when I took mine out a month ago). They just sent me a cheque through a week later.

[RobUK]

All these 'additional' insurances really do depend on your perception of risk. Some (like me) like the warm fuzzy feeling that any unexpected situations will be covered, others reckon it's just a waste of money.

I took out tyre insurance when I got the car in July 2012 and have since had four punctures in a year and a half, so it's more than paid for itself. For GAP I got a quote from car2cover and BMW matched it.

[SDM78]

Haven't used either of these but a friend recommended ala and worth noting they're doing 10% cashback through quidco

[FSE23]

thank you for reply, Now I'm sure I'm not going to get one from dealer...I will check car2cover..

[dopper99]

Originally Posted by piono

thank you for reply, Now I'm sure I'm not going to get one from dealer...I will check car2cover..

Yeah, for reasons mentioned above, I'd steer clear of dealer GAP. Expensive, wont pay out to replace the car entirely and you are tied in to buying a car back from them, so I'm led to believe. And the cover is dead when you sell your BMW.

There are plenty of other good after market options.

[BMWSKI]

I use ALA and one of the goods things compared to dealers is that their policy is transferable so you don't lose your money if you change your car half way through your agreement.

[Finnie]

I am about to take this is with car2cover but I have a couple of questions.

My insurance is with LV and they replace the vehicle in the first year so what do I put as the start date on car2covers website. Dec 2014?? Then again what if LV only pay for a car with no extras? Should I still have the GAP valid to pay for the extras and so enter 2013 as the start date. Or am I just losing a years gap insurance???

Confusing!!