Dedicated grease monkeys will do anything to make their vehicles stand out. Whether it’s installing a supercharger or going as far as swapping the stock engine for a more powerful one, you name it, and it’s done.
But for other enthusiasts working with a tight budget, going for massive upgrades seems unlikely. Fortunately, there are hundreds of affordable upgrades in the market that won’t cost you thousands of dollars but are enough to take your daily driver to the next level.
Car Mods and Upgrades That Won’t Break the Bank
Check out these performance and aesthetic upgrades you can score for under $100.
Performance Upgrades Under $100
Performance Air Filter
Compared to a conventional air filter, a performance air filter can allow in more air into the combustion chambers.
A high-performance air filter can increase torque and horsepower by as much as 2.6% and 3.7%, respectively.
Pro Tips are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.
Pro Tip: Having said that, you should note that not all performance air filters are created equal. Measured airflow on a performance air filter sometimes is no better than a good clean OEM filter. It may, however, do a slightly better job filtering the air.
A lot of performance air filters are also made with a nanofiber layer, which is an effective material that can trap even the smallest particles and contaminants.
Trapping small particles leads to less resistance, which translates to more air intake.
Average Price Range: $25-$90
Throttle Body Spacer
A throttle body spacer is an aftermarket upgrade that’s attached to the back of the throttle body and by adding extra space, the throttle body spacer allows more air to enter the intake manifold.
Some spacers are designed with serrated or helix-shaped fins that create additional incoming air turbulence to better mix the air and fuel, resulting in improved atomization and more efficient combustion.
In most cases, this aftermarket upgrade is used on older vehicles, particularly those with fuel injection systems that direct fuel into the throttle body.
Average Price Range: $50-$70
Lowering Springs
Lowering springs replace stock coil springs to reduce ride height. These springs can lower a vehicle’s height by about 0.5 to three inches.
Lowering springs essentially take down a vehicle’s center of gravity, reducing body roll and improving suspension responsiveness.
The improved handling from lowering springs also lets you enjoy faster acceleration times and quicker braking response.
Average Price Range: $50-$100
Cold Air Intake
Your regular air intake system directs hot air back to the engine. Switching to a cold air intake system will replace hot air with cold air, which helps bring more oxygen into the combustion chamber.
Pro Tips are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.
Pro Tip: Cold air has more molecules of oxygen than warm air. You might notice better performance on cool, rainy days for this reason.
A cold air intake system essentially helps your engine breathe better. Aside from drawing cold air, a cold air intake also replaces the stock intake tubes with larger ones.
A cold air intake can improve horsepower anywhere between five and 20%. But again, there is no guarantee of this, so be careful about what you expect.
Average Price Range: $60-$90
Air Deflector
An air deflector reduces drag and wind noise. It can be placed below the radiator, on the side windows, or near the sunroof.
An air deflector also doubles as protection from snow, rain, and debris while driving.
Average Price Range: $50-$80
Stainless Steel Braid-sheathed and/or Copper/Nickel Alloy Brake Lines
Replacing your stock brake lines with stainless steel or nickel-copper lines can reduce brake line corrosion, especially in rust belt states where salt is used on the roads to melt ice in winter. Rubber brake lines at the wheels and leading to the rear axle on rear wheel drive vehicles can be replaced with rubber lines sheathed in stainless steel braid.
Unlike plain rubber brake lines, rubber lines with a stainless steel braid sheath are resistant to expansion under pressure, so you may notice a firmer pedal feel when applying the brakes.
Average Price Range: $50-$100
Ceramic Brake Pad Set
Ceramic variants are considered to be the most expensive brake pad material for good reason.
The brake dust generated from ceramic brake pads is less likely to stick to the wheels, resulting in a more effective braking performance.
The compounds in ceramic brake pads also make them last longer compared to other types, and they’re better at dissipating heat.
Average Price Range: $20-$50
Synthetic Motor Oil
Synthetic motor oil uses highly refined base oils that offer better protection for engine parts compared to conventional motor oil.
Synthetic motor oil is highly resistant to thinning under extreme temperatures and has great oxidation and thermal stability capabilities.
Switching from conventional to synthetic motor oil can also prolong your vehicle’s oil change intervals.
Average Price Range: $10-$50
Aesthetic Upgrades Under $100
Aside from performance upgrades, you can also install a couple of subtle aesthetic upgrades that make your daily driver look more expensive than it actually is.
Check out these low-key upgrades you can buy for less than $100.
LED Light Bulbs
Switching to LED headlight bulbs is one subtle upgrade you can make to improve your vehicle’s appearance, especially under low-visibility conditions.
LED bulbs generally serve a functional purpose, but swapping out your old bulbs with LED ones also gives your vehicle a striking appearance that goes with better bulb efficiency.
Average Price Range: $20-$50
Seat Cover
A set of high-quality seat covers makes all the difference in terms of interior aesthetic appeal. If you’re not up to getting your damaged seats upholstered, you can choose to cover up holes and tears with seat covers instead.
Aftermarket seat covers come in dozens of materials and designs, so you can enjoy the creative freedom that comes with choosing your own style.
Popular seat cover materials include neoprene, tweed, velour, polyester, space mesh, fabric, and polycotton.
As for designs, you can choose from options like plain, rugged tactical, two-tone, superflauge, and more.
Average Price Range: $50-$100
Headlight Cover
Headlight covers are usually plastic fittings that cover your headlights when they’re not in use. This works well when off-roading because rocks and debris tend to fly everywhere, and they could end up hitting your headlights.
Aside from their functional purpose, headlight covers also offer some aesthetic functions, especially the tinted ones. These covers make your vehicle look mysterious due to the low light emissions.
Average Price Range: $15-$50
Spoiler
Spoilers don’t really do anything for your vehicle unless you reach a specific speed, but they make a mean statement when you’re driving in the city. A spoiler is usually just for looks.
A plastic spoiler is a great way to spruce up your ride and make it racetrack-ready without spending too much.
Average Price Range: $60-$100
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