Car enthusiasts have always found ways to elevate their vehicles’ look and performance. One popular avenue that’s gained traction is the use of car body kits. These kits have taken the industry by storm, as they allow car owners to express their style while improving their ride’s performance.
What Are Car Body Kits?
Body kits on a car are aftermarket upgrades that alter a vehicle’s exterior appearance. They consist of a set of components, such as bumpers, side skirts, fenders, spoilers, and other accessories designed to improve the car’s aesthetic and aerodynamics.
Kits come in different styles and designs, allowing car owners to mix and match the parts according to their preferences.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Body Kit
Since body kits cover different parts, have different functions, and come in different styles, it can get overwhelming to choose one. So if you’re planning on buying kits, consider the factors below:
Looks
Consider the aesthetic you’re going for before you buy a set. Some body kits offer a fresh and sporty vibe, while others have a sleek and sophisticated style. Each kit is unique, and it’s up to you to choose one that matches your vision.
Also, consider the effect of the customization on your car’s resale value, as some styles tend to sell more.
Materials
Body kits are often made from three different materials, namely carbon fiber, fiberglass, and polyurethane. Each material has pros and cons, and what you choose could affect your vehicle’s performance and aesthetic.
Carbon fiber body kits are lighter compared to kits with other materials. As such, they improve a vehicle’s performance and aerodynamics, as they help increase downforce on a car. This type of body kit is often used in car shows and track cars.
The best thing about carbon fiber body kits is that they’re both light and durable. These kits, however, come with a higher price tag than the others.
Polyurethane, on the other hand, is durable and easy to work with. While it doesn’t improve the performance and aerodynamics like carbon fiber, polyurethane is the best at enhancing the look of cars.
A fiberglass kit, on the other hand, can improve both the aesthetics and performance of your vehicle. It gives cars a more customized look compared to other materials and reduces their weight due to how light it is.
Most fiberglass kits are easy to paint over, so you’re in total control of how you want to style your kit.
However, fiberglass is more delicate than carbon fiber and polyurethane, so it’s not as durable and could easily break.
Price
Body kits are expensive, so allocate a specific budget for the set you want. Consider what you want and need before purchasing the kit.
In the same vein, try to value quality and longevity. Choosing kits made from delicate materials could cost you more in the long run. So consider the materials used in addition to the price.
Value isn’t about how much you can save but how long you can use the kit in contrast to how much you spent.
Set or Pieces
Lastly, consider if you’re buying a complete body kit set or if you want to customize pieces from different sets, as both have advantages over the other.
For sets, they’re easier to install and cheaper to buy, as they come in a package. It also means they’re less prone to damage, and you won’t have to worry about the fit.
Mixing and matching pieces from different sets, on the other hand, gives you creative freedom. It lets you customize your vehicle according to your vision.
Warranty
If you’re thinking about installing a body kit for your vehicle, you must consider how it would affect your warranty.
In most cases, vehicle modifications can void a warranty unless you replace the old parts with components from a genuine manufacturer.
Still, it’s better to double-check your warranty policy before anything else. While there are some cases where body modifications won’t affect the warranty, the policy can still be voided if the modification contributed to an accident upon investigation.
Installation Options
Body kits are already expensive, and if you’re looking to have a professional install one for you, be prepared to shell out a couple more bucks.
In most cases, installing a full-body kit can take anywhere between 10 and 40 hours. Standard lip kits will only take a few hours to install, while wide-body kits can even take several days.
There’s a learning curve to installing a body kit on your own, but you can rest assured that it’s doable. If you’re planning to handle the task on your own, make sure you’re equipped with the right tools and know-how.
Types of Body Kits
In addition to the factors listed above, there are different types of body kits to take into consideration. Here are some of the common ones and their benefits:
Lip Kits
Lip body kits usually consist of front and rear bumper lip, side skirts, and spoilers. They’re relatively easier to install. They enhance the exterior look of your vehicle better than other body kit types.
Most lip kits are made from carbon fiber, meaning they’re durable and light. Additionally, they’re cheaper than other options.
Bumper Kits
Bumper kits customize the front and rear bumpers, as well as the side skirts. One difference between bumper kits and lips kits is that they can be made from fiberglass and plastic, making them more flexible.
Wide-Body Kits
Wide-body kits focus on the car’s fenders and use broad bumpers to widen the vehicle’s profile. Experienced car enthusiasts often use this kit to replace and upgrade damaged bumpers.
Full-Body Kits
Full-body kits involve customizing and redesigning the entire exterior of the vehicle. It’s the priciest of the different types, which is why experts recommend working on a specific area first instead of redesigning the entire vehicle all in one go.
Customized Kits
Some shops offer their own customized kits that don’t fall under any of the four types above. This type of kit gives you more options and flexibility, as you can also request personal designs.
Benefits of Body Kits
Adding body kits has its merits. Here are three of the most common ones:
Aesthetics
The biggest appeal of body kits is they allow you to customize and enhance the overall aesthetics of your vehicle to your liking.
Aerodynamics
Some modifications improve the aerodynamics of your vehicle, especially those made from carbon fiber. This is because carbon fiber is made from lighter materials, increasing the downforce on your car.
Protection
Body kits increase your vehicle’s grip on the road, resulting in safer driving. This increases downforce and limits airflow below the vehicle. Both the improved grip and increased downforce improve the car’s traction.
Resale Value
Installing a body kit can significantly increase your vehicle’s resale value, given that you’re offering it to the right market.
Potential buyers who are into the same sporty looks your car has will definitely see the added value from body kit installations.
There are, however, some people who won’t see that and might opt to back out of purchasing your vehicle.
Drawbacks of Body Kits
Here are the two downsides of using body kits on your vehicle:
Expensive
Buying and installing body kits are quite expensive. The starting point of a basic remodel is $1,000, while full-body kits can go over $50,000.
Safety
Some body kits are safety hazards, as the size of their front and side skirts means less ground clearance. And since some materials are fragile, they can also splinter easily and damage your car in the event of a crash.
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