Now for the outside. Be sparing, but don't be afraid to show your personality. Lights You can do many things to your lights including:
A. Smoked lights these can be bought from stores (eBay, etc.)with dark lenses, giving a mysterious appeal to your car.
B. LED lights Instead of having a solid taillight, these will make your tails appear in a circle of dots, giving your car a European feel. Ex. Alteeza style tail-lights
C. Projector headlights These are similar to the factory BMW front headlights, with twospheres, with light emitting out of one sphere on each side. These are about 200$ for a set. Though they are nice looking, the light dispersal can be low.
D. HID lights These lights work by igniting a gas that is contained inside the lightbulb, causing dramatic light dispersal. Picture the old "floodlights" on your parent's house. Imagine mounting those on your car! These are superb for rural conditions, though they are made for a special light housing. These are made for projector light housings. However, many people put these in their factory light housing! This latter way can be cheaper, but is illegal! Do this at your own risk. HID lights are about 200$ for a set. 2. Spoiler This is the "wing" that goes on the back of your car. Though a nice look, this can be a hindrance during windy conditions. Be sure your spoiler does not interfere with your line of vision. 3. Painted calipers Calipers are the metal "blocks" behind your tire that hold your breakes in place. You can remove your tire and then take these off and paint them. Go to your local auto-store and request "caliper paint" for these.
Next, we have to look at the car's "stance". By stance, I mean suspension. Springs - Performance springs can drop your car 1.5 to 2 inches in the front and back. I recommend K-sport springs. These cost about 200$ for an individual spring kit(for four wheels). You can install these with a spring compressor tool that you can "borrow" from an Auto parts store.
 |
Cheap Car Modification Ideas |
Last, there are some miscellaneous things that you can do to put a "cap" on your car's appearance. Wheels - You can remove the plastic wheel covers from the tire and this will give your car a sportier look. In addition, you can paint the "outline" of the wheel's metal edge the same/different color as your car. Chrome lettering - You can purchase adhesive chrome lettering from independent companies online. Use these to add whimsical/sporty phrases on different parts of your car.
Finally, you can't leave the car without going under the hood. Performance intake - These come in two flavors: SRI and CAI. A short ram intake (SRI) is easier to install, but scoops warmer air. The cold air intake scoops cold air from the bumper area of your car. The CAI costs more and can cause hydro-lock in your car (water in your engine). Also, the CAI is more expensive.
Don't forget about cool car modification ideas. Both the CAI and SRI run for about 250$ (though more expensive for CAIs, usually). Injen, GM, K&N;, HAHN and others all make quality intakes. The intake will give your car an aggressive "revving" sound when you push down on the gas pedal. Also, they can give you about 3-5 more horsepower. Strut Bar - This bar cost about 200$. The function of this metal, front-mounted bar is to link the front frame of your car together. This makes your car more "agile" when it goes through quick turns. Also, this gives your car a "put-together" image when the hood is open. MRZ makes a great strut bar. I have included companies that offer products for modifying. Feel free to use your own creativity to make the automobile of your dreams.