Aftermarket 101 :: Things you should know before modifying your car
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- If your vehicle is still under warrantee‚ you might be surprised to know that even a simple bolt–on can void this warrantee. You’re best bet is to call your dealership and find out their policy; sometimes dealerships can install these aftermarket parts for you‚ thus keeping your manufactures warrantee intact.
- When shopping around for aftermarket parts‚ be aware all parts are not created equal. Know that you get what you pay for. Cheap parts can quite often lead to expensive repairs. Spend a little extra for the brand names‚ it’s often worth it.
- If you plan on taking your automobile into a mechanic to have your aftermarket parts installed‚ be sure to let them know you want the old parts back. You can quite often turn around and resell the stock parts on the internet helping you get some money back. You’d be surprise at some of the prices you can get for those OEM parts‚ just clean them up and throw them on eBay‚ they’ll sell themselves!
- Maybe one of the most important and possibly your first modifications. GET A GOOD CAR ALARM. Your modifications can and will draw a lot of unwanted attention. Protect your investment‚ don’t go cheap.
- Now in the last point I said "protect your investment". Modifying your automobile is NOT an investment. You will never be able to sell your car for as much as you have sunk into it. Do it to have fun‚ not to make money.
- You should check with your insurance company about your auto insurance. Unless you get your vehicle appraised‚ the parts you install will not be covered and in the case of an accident‚ you will just get the same value as if it where stock. Devastating if you have a paintjob that’s worth as much as the black book value on the car.
- Be aware that some auto insurance companies do not insure modified cars. They classify these as "High Risk" and send you away. Be prepared to shop the market for a good automotive insurance company and make sure they know you plan on insuring a modified or appraised vehicle.
- Watch out for the haters‚ no matter what you do not everyone will like your creation. Ignore what others think‚ you can’t always impress everybody.
- Don’t follow trends or copy the car you’ve seen on the internet. Use these resources and come up with your own creative input. As the saying goes "to each their own".
- If you plan on changing the color of your vehicle be sure to go down to the registries shop immediately. Update your registration to the new color. It might be a little tough to convince that police officer your car "used" to be that color.
I know the satisfaction of modifying my own car. Nothing feels better than taking home that first place trophy at the local car show or hearing the roar of that newly installed cold air intake. Each step has its own memories. Start enjoying yours...
Be safe‚ don’t speed and test your parts out at the local racing track.