Is it a(REAL)Brabus?

[BRABUSS]

Just a Quick question my Father owns what we were told is an original Brabus D6 cls. But after having a chat with some people, they said if it dosent say Brabus on the V5 then it isnt an original. Can some one please shed some light on this as i wouldn't want the car to be insured incorrectly. many thanks H

The car in Question
http://www.MBClub.co.uk/forums/members/brabuss-albums-cls-brabus-320.html

 

[st4]

I'd contact Brabus themselves with the VIN.

From my own memory only stand alone brabus cars are petrol engines. I think this isn't a brabus model per se, but a Mercedes with a full compliment of brabus accessories.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Regardless, it clearly has lots of Brabus kit, a stunning car to look at, and with the tuning box quick too.

I would have expected the V-trim on the engine to be red rather than silver though.

 

[BRABUSS]

i see, so when it comes to insure the car and they ask for "any mods" would you advise declaring the Brabus kit, wheels, suspention, brakes, chip, exhaust,.....lol going to cost a bomb

 

[st4]

i see, so when it comes to insure the car and they ask for "any mods" would you advise declaring the Brabus kit, wheels, suspention, brakes, chip, exhaust,.....lol going to cost a bomb

Speak to an insurer that specialises in high performance/modified cars. Adrian Flux comes to mind.

 

[jaymanek]

Brabus would not be listed on the V5...

 

[Adam230K]

You just give the insurance the number plate and thats that. Those mods aren't mods that you've done, thats how it came out the factory. Dont open a can of worms.

It looks original brabus to me, but its not a Proper Brabus though, and thats probably what your friends are trying to say. Its just a CLS320 CDi with a bit of brabus kit + tuning box which gives the Engine management unit a more aggressive tune, and they called it a D6, falls under the basic concept of marketing. Simple as that.

 

[Howard]

Did it come out of the MB factory with the Brabus bodykit and wheels ?

I thought that the only stuff out of the factory was AMG stuff , being that they are owned by MB ?

Rather than not declare anything , and have the insurers wriggle out of it when you have an accident , i would look a bit further into it and find out the correct history.

Remember , when it comes to paying out , insurers hold pretty much all of the cards.

 

[mercboiuk]

Mercedes Benz struck up a relationship with Brabus, so they could sell Brabus tuned Smart cars through the network.
As part of this deal, MB Dealers can also sell Brabus parts and tuning programmes for Mercedes Models.

So this car may not have been created at Brabus HQ, however I wouldn't say it's not an official Brabus. It has a full, genuine Brabus tuning programme applied to it!

Like early AMG tuning programmes, modifying a car, post-production, doesn't make it a fake!

You've got a genuine Brabus vehicle!

Darren

 

[BRABUSS]

Hi all, thanks for everyone that got back to me, as someone said earlier it is a beaut to look at regardless, but my main concern was declaring any mods to the insurers, and i quote from HOWARD

"when it comes to paying out , insurers hold pretty much all of the cards"

So id hate to be left in a pickle if anything does go wrong. as it is a car like this from the factory, i dont think i will declare anything and see how it goes, ill also ask at MB in regards to this issue.

 

[Brabus SL]

Just a Quick question my Father owns what we were told is an original Brabus D6 cls. But after having a chat with some people, they said if it doesn't say Brabus on the V5 then it isn't an original. Can some one please shed some light on this as i wouldn't want the car to be insured incorrectly. many thanks H

The car in Question
http://www.MBClub.co.uk/forums/members/brabuss-albums-cls-brabus-320.html

Hi I own a original BRABUS SL55 K8 which originally started life as a Mercedes SL55 AMG, it then was transported straight from the AMG factory to the BRABUS Tuning Factory, even though all the mods were made its still a Mercedes SL55 AMG and thats what is stated on the V5 (the Birth Certificate) this never changes, I have to inform my insurance company that the car is a SL55 AMG but MODIFIED by BRABUS, all insurance companies will have a section where you are asked "has your vehicle had any modifications" you then have to inform them of ANY mods, even if the wheels have been changed from the original standard ones or body kit added, ECU remap and so on.

 

[Brabus SL]

Hi I own a original BRABUS SL55 K8 which originally started life as a Mercedes SL55 AMG, it then was transported straight from the AMG factory to the BRABUS Tuning Factory, even though all the mods were made its still a Mercedes SL55 AMG and thats what is stated on the V5 (the Birth Certificate) this never changes, I have to inform my insurance company that the car is a SL55 AMG but MODIFIED by BRABUS, all insurance companies will have a section where you are asked "has your vehicle had any modifications" you then have to inform them of ANY mods, even if the wheels have been changed from the original standard ones or body kit added, ECU remap and so on.

Hi BRABUSS I just wanted to add that its very difficult to tell if this car was ever in the BRABUS factory you would have to contact BRABUS in Germany and give them the VIN , the situation is that most of the BRABUS Body and interior styling can be supplied and fitted by a Mercedes Dealer in the UK including the D6 ECU Chip that BRABUS sells in the UK via the Mercedes Benz dealership. My understanding is that BRABUS do not make and physical engine mods on the Mercedes Diesel engines only the D6 Chip. your Fathers car looks very lovely, it has all of the BRABUS changes made to it as BRABUS, Its a BRABUS!!

I need to cange my Avitar!!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I would definitely tell the insurer. The cost of repairing the car would be significantly different to a standard car - and it didn't leave the MB production line like that - so I think they'd resist a payout if the unthinkable happens.

 

[BRABUSS]

Just came across a this Beauty for sale
Maybach / Mclaren SLR Centre of Excellence : BRABUS Rocket V12 Twin Turbo 740BHP!!

 

[BRABUSS]

Just came across a this Beauty for sale
Maybach / Mclaren SLR Centre of Excellence : BRABUS Rocket V12 Twin Turbo 740BHP!!

 

[Howard]

Guarantee you that if you stack it , and you don't tell them about the kit , they will want to put bog standard CLS bumpers back on it . They won't want to fork out for Brabus bits

If you insure it as a 320 and don't tell them about the Brabus D6 box , you'll have more chance of having a cup of tea with Bin Laden than getting them to pay out if you have a 'speed related' shunt ...

Always , always tell the insurers. A lot of them won't charge you any more , but if its on file , then you can sleep easy.

 

[bolide]

So id hate to be left in a pickle if anything does go wrong. as it is a car like this from the factory, i dont think i will declare anything and see how it goes, ill also ask at MB in regards to this issue.

You'd hate to be left in a pickle... so you won't declare it?

Nick Froome
the independent Mercedes Estate specialists

 

[Gareth]

+1 for declaring everything!

Try Greenlight although they wouldn't cover me on my E as they specialise in performance cars, I'm not sure if yours would be deemed any more 'performance car' than mine. They do have good cover for modifications/additions though if you can get covered.

 

[Adam230K]

I completely understand the thoughts of all the people in this thread who are 'for' telling the insurance company about it but I'd like to highlight something:

We are car enthusiasts so we probably understand cars and their derrivations more then (say) 50% of the drivers population in this country. Most people buy a car, then inform the insurance company of what the car is and that's that. If the insurance company is then reluctant to pay out then I honestly don't think they'll honour their decision all the way into court, they might try to be difficult about it (I've seen this on numerous occasions with friends), but if they dont have a leg to stand on they will pay, simply because they are legally bound to do so.

Now, in the case with your car, if it honestly left the factory in that fashion, then it must be documented somewhere, because I do not believe you are the one responsible for declaring what the car is when its manufactured, Mercedes are. I agree that you are responsible for telling the insurance company of anything that you see out of the norm, but the only thing I see out of the norm here is that you have a gorgeous looking CLS that has left the factory with extra options, and was paid for and collected like that.

If the car didn't leave the factory like that, and these bells & whistles were added later, then the owner who did it at the time would have definitely been responsible for telling the insurance company as they are exterior modifications which are at the risk of damage in an accident and I am completely FOR that. Be careful when telling the insurance company, because quite alot of them will quite happily cancel your insurance cover on the spot if they fear that the car is modified, which yours is, but its a factory or authentic modification which Mercedes offer. Its not like you've bolted a supercharger and IVT's onto your engine.

Everything I'm saying here is up for debate, but this is how I feel, because quite frankly I absolutely detest insurance companies in general and I refer to them as 'legal thieves'. Some insurance companies even want you to declare mods INSIDE the car, like a stereo system or whatever. What next? Declare what clothes you wear while driving in case it is the cause of an accident?

Only my 2p.

 

[bolide]

I think you're missing the point. With a modified car you have two options:

1 - tell the insurance company before the claim to make sure you're covered
2 - find out if you're covered after the claim

Most people are risk-averse - isn't that why they buy insurance? - so they go with option 1

My opinion of option 2, based on my experience with insurance companies down the years, is that it is for the uninformed or stupid

Nick Froome
the independent Mercedes Estate specialists