For car enthusiasts just like us, nothing turns our heads more than a car that is fully armoured with body kits. It’s just the way of a true car head.
And if you’ve been in the game for so long, your ride must have gone through a lot of mods and tinkering. But if you’re just a newbie in the scene who doesn’t know yet where to start in their car customization plans, this piece is for you.
If you don’t know what a body kit is, it’s what you call the collection of replacement pieces for the stock parts of your car like front and rear bumpers, side skirts, and more.
In this piece, our friends at AusBody Works share some nuggets of wisdom on car customization and what to keep in mind if you have plans on modifying your cars with body kits.
1. Consider the material which the kits are made of
Body kits are usually made of four main types of materials: fiberglass, polyurethane, carbon fibre, and composite materials. Depending on your ride or your preferences, these materials can either be advantageous to you or not. That’s why it’s important to learn the pros and cons of these four.
Fibreglass is one of the most common materials in the automotive industry. It’s cheap and lightweight which makes it ideal for customization. You don’t have to worry about additional weight. It also has great resistance to heat, unlike the other types.
On the flipside, fiberglass is a very rigid material which makes it really hard to install. It can easily break if a rough hand will make one wrong move during the process.
Compared to fiberglass, polyurethane is a lot more flexible, resulting in easy installation and maintenance. But it’s heavier than the previous material and it can ultimately affect your speed. It also exhibits warping tendencies when exposed to extreme heat.
In addition, it’s quite pricier than the fiberglass.
Carbon fibre, on the other hand, is probably one of the most widely-used materials for showroom and performance cars used in racing and motorsports. It’s durability and light weight are incomparable, almost superior to other materials.
Lastly, composite materials. Obviously, composite body kits are made by combining different compounds like the first three materials mentioned above. Downside is it’s much pricier than fiberglass.
2. Never DIY your car customization
We get it. The kits really broke your bank, that’s why you’re trying to compensate for it by installing the kits on your own. You probably thought you’re going to save a lot of money by doing this. But honestly you won’t. It might even cost you more.
That’s why when you’re buying a new kit, call the professionals and let them do the work. They can install your kits without even breaking a sweat and doing damage to your car.
Just keep in mind though that not all car shops out there are capable of installing every type of materials. Some are pros in installing fiberglass kits, some are not. Some are wizards when it comes to carbon fibres, others are not.
Make sure that before you purchase that new kit, there’s a shop near you that can install those pieces that you bought. That’s to save some time and money.
3. Customising with body kits is not a cheap hobby.
Probably almost all types of upgrades and repairs are expensive. And car modifications are not an exception. They certainly come with hefty price tags.
While there are cheaper alternatives available in the market, you should ask yourself: are they worth it? These knock-off products will probably achieve the style you’re going for, but will they last? One of the reasons why body kits are expensive is because they are forged for performance, style and durability.
But if money is not that much of a problem for you, go get those kits already! If you haven’t decided on what kit to buy, just ask our guys at Ausbody Works for recommendations. Their collection of kits is probably one of the greatest one that we’ve seen and we’re sure you’re going to find what you’re looking for in their shop.
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