HOW TO MODERNIZE AND UPDATE A USED VEHICLES EXTERIOR

The way to modernize and update a used vehicles exterior is to make minor or major changes to the vehicles appearance based on the latest styling trends, focusing on various changes to the vehicles rims, color, accent pieces, lights and body parts.

RIMS

The rims on a vehicle are one of the most noticeable and impactful accessories a used vehicle can have to change the vehicles look and feel. Rims have their own personality and styling. They can change and have an effect on the vehicles overall presence. Some rims are modern and trendy, some are classic and elegant, some are speed and performance and some are power and aggression.

Both the rim design and rim size can change the profile and look of a vehicle; like a pair of shoes can change the look of an outfit. Large size rims are more trendy, standard sizes are more traditional, big tires are aggressive and offset rims are performance. All rims are unique and should be the appropriate style for the vehicle and also fit your personal taste.

In some extreme situations the emphasis on rims amongst car enthusiast is so strong that the rims can cost more money than the vehicle itself. We would not suggest this financial combination but it shows the importance that rims can have on a vehicle.

There are some brand name rim companies that design cool looking rims in different styles and set styling trends in the industry but their rims are also very expensive (especially when compared to used luxury vehicles and buyers in lower price points).

We suggest buying used rims or generic, non-name brand rims. This allows you to get a new rim look for an affordable price. Some rim brand have distinctive looks but many are distinguishes by the logo on the center cap and aside from that it is very difficult to tell the difference between a brand name and non-brand name type of rim. When buying non-name brand rims we suggest buying center caps with your vehicles logo (please visit our affiliate store to explore different options) and switching them out with the non-name brand rim center caps.

There are a lot of generic rim companies that understand consumer demand and they design rims similar to popular trendy rims and similar to standard stock rims but sometimes one size bigger and sometimes a slightly more decorative design. This allows a buyer to get the latest style rims that are on the newer vehicles, which allows for a major update to the vehicles look and profile with one simple change.

Please explore our affiliate for different styles of rims that best compliment your vehicle.

Please read our other article about buying affordable rims for used luxury vehicles.

RIM PINSTRIPE

There are endless possibilities for car customization and updating the exterior. Adding an accent or contrasting color anywhere on the vehicle can help update the look, another recently popular rim update that can be done easily is to add a pinstripe around the edge of the rim.

This is a subtle accent but shows attention to detail. Red is a popular color of choice because it pops but any color can be added. Some rims come standard with the pin stripe around on the rims and if rims do not have a pinstripe they can be painted on or a vinyl pinstripe can be purchased in a variety of colors to be applied to the rims.

Some Mercedes models have pinstripe accented rims to help enhance the look of performance, the pinstripes can also be used to add contrast and interest to the rims and coordinate with the other accents on the vehicle.

Accents are a recent trend so adding them to your rims will help update the look.

Please explore our affiliate for different styles of rims and pinstripes that best compliment your vehicle.

RIM COLOR

Another small but effective way to update and modernize a vehicles exterior is to change the color of the rims. Rims that come standard on vehicles are stock and have very little aesthetic appeal; they are normally a standard light grey color.

A relatively inexpensive upgrade can be to change the color of the rims instead of purchasing a new set of rims. This is a good option because it adds a custom look with the new color option but maintains the overall styling philosophy of the vehicle. So it looks modern and fresh but like an option that came from the manufacturer.

The most popular color option to change rims to is of course black, it is a very functional color that can give contrast to a light colored vehicle or make a dark colored vehicle appear more aggressive.

You can choose any color, but gloss black and matte black are the safest options. Painting just the inside of the rims or the lip of the rims is also a cool, subtle upgrade that shows attention to detail and bolder colors can be chosen to color match the vehicle, like a red or a white. Paint is not the only way to change the color of rims, they can be plasti-dipped or wrapped in vinyl depending on how permanent you want the color change to be and what your budget is.

TIRE STICKERS

Another update that can be done to the tire/rim area is to add tire stickers to the side walls of your tires. For the same reasons as listed above, this accent is cool because it is a subtle unique feature that shows attention to detail and adds a contrasting pop of color to the tire area.

Tire writing has been around for years and is most popular in the performance tire category, and can be seen on muscle cars and race cars. You can purchase tires that come included with color contrasting tire writing or if you already have tires that you like and want to keep you can buy tire stickers to put on your existing tires.

The popular colors are white, yellow and red but you can be unique and choose any color. Color matching the tire stickers to the vehicle color or an accent color is a good look. Updating your tires with these contrasting stickers will give your vehicle a more aggressive and performance type of look and update the overall styling.

Please explore our affiliate for different styles of tires and tire stickers that best compliment your vehicle.

VINYL WRAP/PAINT

The color of a vehicle is one of the most noticeable and impactful features of the exterior. It has the most surface area and is always seen, so a dated and worn color will cause the vehicle to look old after years of driving. One of the most effective ways to update and modernize a vehicles appearance is by changing the color.

There are several aspects to a vehicles color, the exact shade of color, the color accents and the condition. All colors come in a wide variety of different shades, for example, pure white to off white and flat black to gloss black and every shade in between. Car colors go through different trend phases and certain shades become outdated while others become more attractive and aesthetically pleasing. Matte colors have been very popular for a while also certain metallic and gloss colors.

If your vehicle is old then the shade of color might be outdated, one way to check the latest trends in colors is to go to your vehicle manufacturer’s website, go to the build a vehicle section for your make and model and explore the paint options.

You can change the color of your vehicle by applying a vinyl wrap to the exterior. This will completely modernize and update the vehicles appearance. Since the color covers so much surface area it is the feature that is seen the most and leaves a big impression on how your vehicles appearance is judged. But at the same time having a new material next to older materials will highlight the wear on parts that are not wrapped like the headlights, taillights and the front grille. This contrast is less noticeable to the average person but recognizable to people who pay attention to cars.

VINYL WRAP/PAINT PARTS

Instead of the changing the color of the entire vehicle several key body parts can have their color changed in order to update and modernize the exterior appearance.

ROOF Newer vehicles have advanced in sunroof construction and now offer panoramic roofs that are majority glass and have structural support that doesn’t obstruct the view. This gives the appearance on the outside of the vehicle to look like the roof is black. As these advances became more popular manufacturers began to include black roofs purely as styling options for premium prices. If you have a luxury used vehicle that is outdated, you can either paint or vinyl warp the roof gloss black. Even though the roof is high up and not in a person’s direct line of sight, it still has a visual effect on the profile of the vehicle and instantly modernizes it and makes it appear sportier.

HOOD Changing the color of a vehicles hood is another way to update and modernize a used vehicles exterior. The Range Rover Sport SVR has a carbon fiber hood, you can wrap your hood in a vinyl that looks like a carbon fiber weave and change the appearance giving it a high end performance look. The Rolls Royce has a brushed steel hood; you can add a similar style to your vehicle to make it look more high end luxury. Some Porsches have flat black hoods; you can add a similar style to your vehicle to make it more performance based.

SPOILER Changing the color of a vehicles spoiler is another way to update and modernize a used vehicles exterior in a subtle way. Painting or vinyl wrapping the spoiler in a contrasting color can make the vehicle appear more custom and modern. Buying a carbon fiber spoiler can be expensive; an affordable alternative is to wrap your existing spoiler in a carbon fiber weave pattern to give it a high end performance look.

TWO-TONE Changing the color of a vehicles top half or bottom half is a unique style but it will also help to modernize and update the appearance of a vehicle. Some Range Rover Autobiography’s’ have two-tone paint layouts. Also some Mercedes Maybachs’ have two-tone color layouts. You can also consider using this style but it looks best on vehicles that have the two-tone option from the factory, like the previously mentioned vehicles as well as Rolls Royce and Bentley. Choosing to add a contrasting top or bottom color with a vinyl wrap is probably a better choice than paint because the wrap can be easily removed whenever this style becomes outdated.

TWO-FACE A more unique variation of the two-tone color layout is what is referred to as the two-face (or half and half) color layout. This is when the driver side of the vehicle is one color and the passenger side is another color. The trend is to achieve a noticeable contrast between the two sides, so black and white are popular color options for this type of color layout. Attempting this layout is very unique and very bold but it will give a used luxury vehicle an updated modern appearance.

TINT

WINDOW TINT Another way to update and modernize a used vehicles exterior is by tinting the windows. This is another subtle feature that has an effect of changing a vehicles appearance without making any major alterations. Tinting windows has been a popular customization option for decades because it adds style, provides privacy and protects the interior and passengers from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Choosing black is a classic cool choice. There are also lighter translucent tents that give a modern technology appearance and there are unique color options like red and white that are bold choices but can match or contrast with the vehicle’s color.

option for decades because it adds style, provides privacy and protects the interior and passengers from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Choosing black is a classic cool choice. There are also lighter translucent tents that give a modern technology appearance and there are unique color options like red and white that are bold choices but can match or contrast with the vehicle’s color.

HEADLIGHT/TAIL LIGHT TINT

Another subtle way to update and modernize a used vehicles exterior is by tinting the headlights and/or taillights on the vehicle. Over time, even with proper maintenance a vehicle’s lights get worn from constant travel and oxidized from weather. This damage begins to show and is an eyesore even when the lights are clean. There are products that remove the oxidation but another option is to tent the lights. Tinting will not only cover up the worn lenses but it will also serve to modernize the color of the lenses. Like all other features on the vehicle, the color of the light lenses go through different trends and what is considered modern changes over time. You can apply a smoke tint to the headlights and taillights or a dark red tint, and many other color options.

The process of tinting the lights is easier and cheaper than the vehicle’s windows because the surface area is much smaller. Please explore our affiliate for different colors of tint that best compliments your vehicle.

HEADLIGHTS/TAIL LIGHTS

Another way to update and modernize a used vehicles exterior is by changing the headlights and tail lights. As mentioned above you can apply tent to the lense in order to cover scratches and oxidation and upgrade the color. There are several other options for updating a used vehicles lights.

REPLACEMENT Lights can be replaced with a new pair of the same model. This will resolve the issue of wear and oxidation and make the vehicle look clean and original. It will not help to update the appearance since it is a new light based on the old design.

UPDATED There are also new lights that combine the original outside housing of the light with a new inside lighting design and lighting technology that fits directly into the used vehicle. For example, if your vehicle is over 10 years old and built during a generation that used HID xenon type of lights than you can buy lights that upgrade your lighting technology to LED within the same housing as your original lights. This option updates the appearance a little but it doesn’t look fully updated because the shape of the housing light stays the same. Older styles were larger while modern styles have become sleeker.

Please view our article about the changes in lighting technology.

CUSTOM Another unique way to update and modernize a luxury used vehicles lights is to customize the inside of the light by painting certain internal pieces and adding LED light bulbs or sequential turn signal light strips.

This requires opening the light by detaching the lense from the housing and being properly resealed. There is a lot of labor involved in this process so we advise to hire a professional to do it for you. This is an alternative to buying an updated light as mentioned above. Choosing this option you can not only upgrade the light bulbs to LEDs but you can paint the internal pieces to match the vehicle’s color or a contrasting color. This is a very unique option but it still does not fully update and modernize the appearance of the exterior because the original housing is being used.

Please explore our affiliate for different lighting options that best compliments your vehicle.

FACELIFT The most extreme option to update and modernize the lights on a used luxury vehicle is to replace the entire light with the new light of the latest vehicle. This is difficult because when manufacturers redesign vehicles, new parts no longer fit on the old vehicles, the wiring is different, the mounting points are different, the docking positioning is different and the bodylines of the adjoining parts are different (they are not plug and play). It requires major retro-fitting in order to install the new lights on an old vehicle. But if the installation is achieved it results in a complete modernization of the appearance of the vehicle, with the newest lighting technology and the modern styling. It can also be expensive and labor intensive. We try to figure out these types of installations and provide affordable options for certain popular in demand vehicles.

Please explore some of our Facelift Bodykits to see the lighting transformations that we have designed.

GRILL/VENTS/TRIM/HOOD COWL

Another way to update and modernize a used luxury vehicle is by replacing the grill, vents and trim with a different material or by changing the color. Many vehicles come with standard plastic grill, vents and trim pieces, a way to upgrade the vehicles appearance is by replacing the standard material pieces with a higher quality material like metal or carbon fiber. There are aftermarket companies like Strut that design higher quality replacement pieces, that are not only made with better materials but also have a custom designs that appeal to certain buyers style and taste. Please explore our affiliate products to see which grills, vents and trim pieces best compliment your vehicle.

In addition to replacing the grill, vents, hood trim panels and trim pieces a more affordable option is to change the color of the existing pieces. A popular choice is to black out the pieces but any color change that either contrast with the vehicles color or matches the color can help update the overall appearance and refresh the look. This can be done by using paint, plasti-dip or vinyl wrap. Since the pieces are small and sometimes have intricate details than the easiest affordable option is to use paint but in certain situations if a carbon fiber weave or other textured pattern is the desired effect than a vinyl wrap is the better option.

BADGES/EMBLEMS

Another subtle way to update and modernize a used luxury vehicles exterior that is sometimes overlooked is to change the texture or the color of the badges and emblems. Most vehicles typically have an emblem of the vehicle’s make displayed somewhere on the front along with the badging letters of the vehicle’s model. On the rear, the make, model and trim level are displayed with emblems and badges. And on the side of the vehicle, typically on the fender, there is a badge displaying the type of engine or maybe repeating the make, model or logo. Customizing these badges and emblems can help to update and modernize a used vehicles exterior because while it is a small feature it shows attention to detail and can be changed to the latest, trendiest color inexpensively. They can be painted gloss black or matte black, which are very popular options. A bold color choice that is also popular is to change the badges and emblems to red, which really stands out and makes a statement. If you do not want to go through the trouble of changing the badging and emblem colors yourself, there are aftermarket options that sale replacement badges and emblems for your make and model vehicle in chrome, carbon fiber and many other options. Please explore our affiliate products to see which badges and emblem styles are available and which ones best compliment your vehicle.

There is also a trend of de-badging a vehicle; this is done by removing a vehicles badges and emblems and leaving the spaces blank. We assume this became of the uniqueness, it looks different. Another reason could be because car enthusiasts who add body kits to their vehicles or custom paint or a vinyl wrap have to remove the badges and emblems so they do not bother to put them back on because it looks cool and mysterious without badges and emblems. Also, some car enthusiast feel like their custom vehicle creations have been transformed to something different and it would be unsuitable to reattach the factory badges and emblems.

COURTESY LIGHTS

Another subtle way to update and modernize a used luxury vehicles exterior is by changing the courtesy lights on the outside of the vehicle. Courtesy or accessory lighting are extra lights that provide safety, when getting in and out of the vehicle at night and convenience for accessing the vehicles storage area. They are located in different locations on many vehicles but typically there are a set of lights underneath the side mirrors that illuminate when the vehicle is unlocked or when the front doors are opened. There is a set of lights above the license plate so that it can be seen at night and to locate the trunk handle. And there are lights underneath each door to illuminate the entry area while stepping in and out of the vehicle in the dark. While these lights are functional they can also have an aesthetic aspect to them as well.

As mentioned in our article about The changes in lighting technology, all lights including courtesy lights experience advancements over time. Most people do not notice the small changes in these lights but they do make a difference to the overall look and feel of the vehicle’s exterior. The changes in the lights are the type of lighting source and the color. New vehicles have switched to LED courtesy lights and use a blue or white color instead of a dull yellow. The is very subtle but if you want to give your used luxury vehicle’s exterior a refresh you should update your old HID or Halogen courtesy lights with crisper, brighter LEDs. A very cool trend that you can update on your side mirror courtesy lights is to add LED spotlights or puddle lights that not only illuminate the immediate area but also shine the vehicles logo on the ground. This is an impressive custom feature that shows attention to detail and modernizes the vehicle.

Courtesy light are inexpensive and easy to change. There are two main ways; you can replace the entire unit by popping it out with a flat head screwdriver and disconnecting it. Then simply plugging in the new LED lighting unit and firmly pushing it into place. Or you can remove the light unit housing and unscrew the tiny bulb inside, insert an LED bulb and reuse the original housing. We would suggest replacing the entire lighting unit but the available item options depend on your vehicles make and model and the specific style you want. Please explore our affiliate products to see which courtesy light styles are available and which ones best compliment your vehicle.

CUSTOM SPOILER/HOOD SCOOP/DIFFUSER/FRONT SPLITTER/MIRROR CAPS

Another way to update and modernize a used luxury vehicles exterior is by adding custom parts to the existing body of the vehicle to enhance performance and/or visually.

SPOILER Above, we mentioned changing the color of your existing spoiler to make it look more modern but if your vehicle did not come with a spoiler you can purchase an aftermarket spoiler in order to update and modernize your used vehicle’s exterior. Even if your vehicle currently has a stock spoiler you can change it to a custom spoiler to modernize the style. This is a good option because you have the ability to install a spoiler on your used vehicle that has the latest styling, which will make your vehicle appear

more modern. There are several types of spoilers based on where they are positioned on the vehicle, a roof spoiler, a trunk spoiler and a tailgate spoiler for SUVs. They come in a variety of designs and sizes and can have a noticeable impact in changing the appearance and style of your vehicle. It is an easy part to change and relatively inexpensive. Please explore our affiliate products to see which spoiler styles are available and which ones best compliment your vehicle.

more modern. There are several types of spoilers based on where they are positioned on the vehicle, a roof spoiler, a trunk spoiler and a tailgate spoiler for SUVs. They come in a variety of designs and sizes and can have a noticeable impact in changing the appearance and style of your vehicle. It is an easy part to change and relatively inexpensive. Please explore our affiliate products to see which spoiler styles are available and which ones best compliment your vehicle.

HOOD SCOOP Another way to update and modernize a used luxury vehicles exterior is by attaching a hood scoop. This option does not look appealing on every vehicle and is less appealing on true luxury vehicles. But a luxury vehicle that is performance based can be tastefully complimented by the addition of a hood scoop, especially if a newer model or a higher trim level of the same vehicle has included hood scoops from the factory, then that is a strong indication that there is an interest in it aesthetically.

Consider how Brabus adds hood scoops to a lot of vehicles in their body kits. Certain trim levels of Mercedes, the Range Rover Sport are two examples. A hood scoop can make a vehicle look more performance based and update and modernize the look as a cool custom feature. They range in price depending on which brand you choose and if you go with a premium material like carbon fiber. The non-functional hood scoops are easy to install because they are attached with adhesive or bolted in place. A functional hood scoop requires cutting the original to allow for air flow and requires experience or a professional installer. Please explore our affiliate products to see which hood scoop styles are available and which ones best compliment your vehicle.

REAR DIFFUSER Another way to update and modernize a used luxury vehicles exterior is by adding a rear diffuser. Diffusers have become very popular and many car manufacturers are including stylish diffusers on their high end vehicles and they are even including basic versions on their lower end vehicles. Diffusers are very modern and they give a plain rear end a very stylish understated accentuation. Adding a rear diffuser to your vehicle will instantly change the look and personality, it will appear more modern and sleek. They are very popular for performance vehicles but even luxury vehicles and trunks and SUVs are including them.

The high quality diffusers have detailed designs and are carbon fiber or a gloss color. The more basic diffusers have simple designs and use a flat plastic material but even those add a lot of character to the rear end. We think adding a diffuser is a very impactful feature and if there is an aftermarket diffuser that is made to fit your used vehicle, this is an option that will really help to update its look. Please explore our affiliate products to see which diffuser styles are available and which ones best compliment your vehicle.

FRONT SPLITTER Another way to update and modernize a used luxury vehicle’s exterior is by adding a splitter or canards to the front bumper. These parts are performance based and help with aerodynamics to create more down force during high speeds. Many performance cars and exotic cars include them to help achieve record setting times on the track. Evan if you are not racing adding these parts to your vehicle can help give it a high end performance appearance and help modernize the front profile of the vehicle. Splitters and canards are unique features that are not seen often so adding them to your performance vehicle will show attention to detail and allow your vehicle to have a subtle custom look that other car enthusiast will respect.

Both the splitter and canards are affordable and only require basic experience for installation. The carbon fiber options are the most popular but you can also choose a gloss black or paint/vinyl wrap them any color that matches your taste and vehicle’s color scheme. Please explore our affiliate products to see which splitter and/or canard styles are available and which ones best compliment your vehicle.

MIRROR CAPS Another way to update and modernize a used luxury vehicle’s exterior is by adding mirror caps to change the look of the side mirrors. This is a small detail but when quickly judging a vehicles modernity and coolness, it is a combination of all of the small features that give off an overall updated look. Mirror caps include several features, the color, the shape/design and the lighting. As mentioned in our article how to update safety features of a used luxury vehicle aftermarket lighting options for side mirrors are a feature that should be considered and several variations are available. Mirror caps can come with or without a lighting feature. And the purpose is only to update the color and design of the side mirror. In general, older side mirrors tend to be a larger, boxy shape flat black and become faded over time. Some modern side mirrors are a gloss color and have a sleeker design and some have a two piece design.

Mirror caps allow you to update and modernize your old side mirrors with ease, most aftermarket mirror caps can be installed by using double sided tape, provided with the cap and firmly pressing them into place. As with many additional parts, carbon fiber is popular and that also applies with mirror caps. But you can paint/vinyl wrap your mirror cap any color that suites your taste and matches your vehicle. Other options to update and modernize the look of your side mirrors is to paint/vinyl wrap your original mirrors, changing them to gloss black or color matching them to your vehicle is a quick and easy option, there is vinyl wrapping that has a carbon fiber weave pattern, that is another quick and easy option to apply to your original side mirrors.

Another option is to change the entire original side mirror for the latest design. If the mounting points are the same this change can be accomplished without any major retrofitting. An example is that the updated side mirrors for the second generation G Wagon can be mounted on the first generation G wagon without major retrofitting, drilling new brackets and mounting points. Please explore our affiliate products to see which mirror cap styles are available and which ones best compliment your vehicle.

BODY KITS

The most comprehensive way to update and modernize a luxury used vehicle’s exterior is to install a body kit. This process replaces old body parts with new custom parts and accessories. By changing these key exterior parts the vehicle ends up looking totally transformed. What is most noticeable to the average eye gives off the visual effect that the vehicle as a whole is different and not just the individual part.

There are different types of body kits that serve different purposes.

Wide body kits                     ●  Lift kits/Lowering kits
Race body kits                      ●  Custom body kits
Off road body kits                ●  Facelift body kits

WIDE BODY KIT The main purpose of a wide body kit is performance related. When a vehicle’s wheels are spread out at a wider distance it allows the tires to get more traction while accelerating and increase the vehicle’s speed. Installing wider fenders does not directly help increase speed but they help reduce debris from being propelled up and damaging the area around the fenders or other vehicles in close proximity. A wide body kit consist of fender and quarter panels that extend out away from the vehicle additional inches in order to cover the wider stance of the tires. This can be done by installing fender flares or by replacing the existing panels with wider ones.

he tires stick out wider either because of the size of the tires or the hardware used to mount them. For more technical tire and wheel information check out Fitment Industries YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3eJhn91qyf_4H4f0wfsw3w To look at wheel and tire options please visit our affiliate products. Since a wide body kit is synonymous with speed and power, installing a wide body kit on vehicles that do not have high speed performance capability is sometimes done just to give a vehicle a more aggressive look and stance. If you are interested in transforming your vehicle to look more aggressive and increase handling and performance please explore our affiliate products to see which wide body kit styles are available and which ones best compliment your vehicle.

RACE BODY KITS The main purpose of race body kits is to reduce vehicle weight and include more aerodynamic parts. This type of body kit might typically include a lot of carbon fiber parts. Carbon fiber fender, roof, side mirrors, spoiler, trim pieces, diffuser, splitter, bumpers with functional air vents and hood with functional air vent. Another feature, as explained below is a lowering kit that helps improve handle.

No matter how much horsepower a vehicle has, if it is heavy it will be slowed down. Shedding body weight allows the vehicle to get closer to reaching its full potential. Carbon fiber is an expensive material, so race body kits are popular amongst serious high performance enthusiast. Please explore our affiliate products to see which race body kit styles are available and which ones best compliment your vehicle.

OFF ROAD BODY KITS The main purpose of off road body kits is to make a vehicle able to perform in the natural elements, like snow, water, dirt, mud, rocks, foliage and steep inclines and declines. Some cars but primarily SUV’s and trucks are meant to be driven off road. These vehicles have crossed over into the mainstream and are used more as status symbols and sometimes additional

storage capability but not for their fundamental purpose. No matter if you want to have fun driving all terrain or just look cool a popular of road body kit feature are bumper guards and headlight and tail light guards. Guards help protect the vehicle from getting damaged and help push objects out of the way, they also look badass! Other popular off road features include a snorkel for water management, a tow winch, a light bar for additional visibility, a roof rack for supplies, a ladder for roof access, a jerry can for additional fuel, branch deflector cable to protect the windshield, mud flaps and fender flares to prevent water and debris from splashing up and skid plates to protect the mechanics of the vehicle.

aving these features makes the vehicle equipped to handle off road conditions. In addition to the above features, having more ground clearance is also an important option to have when going off road. Please refer to the section below for a little more information and please explore our affiliate products to see which off road body kit styles and features are available and which ones best compliment your vehicle.

LIFT KITS The main purpose of a lift kit is to achieve more ground by raising the vehicle higher, for the ability to drive over rugged terrain and wade through water, as explained above lift kits are typically included with an off road body kit. But some people like to sit up high without any intention of driving off road. Lift kits are commonly installed separately for street drivers that like the experience, feel, view and look of having a higher vehicle. It is a distinctive style that some drivers attach to their personality. Being higher on the road commands a certain level of respect from other vehicles. It is a way to make your vehicle look more aggressive. Lift kits come in a variety of sizes please explore our affiliate products and accessories to see which lift kits and sizes are available your vehicle.

LOWERING KITS The main purpose of a lowering kit is to achieve better handling and performance, bringing the vehicle closer to the ground, lowering its center of gravity allows for more stability, to help with speed especially in curves. As mentioned above lowering kits are typically included with a race body kit but some people like to ride low without any serious interest in racing as hobby. Lowering kits are commonly installed separately for street drivers that like the experience of driving low, this style fits some drivers style, taste and personality very strongly, they identify with the race inspired, fast and furious or if it’s a luxury vehicle street style car culture, they are primarily popular with performance type of vehicles but many luxury, SUV and truck drivers also lower their vehicles and are passionate about the style. Lowering kits come in a variety of sizes please explore our affiliate products and accessories to see which lowering kits and sizes are available your vehicle.

CUSTOM BODY KITS The main purpose of a custom body kit is to make your vehicle look unique and stand out from stock vehicles. This is the most popular type of body kit; there are many innovative companies on the market that offer cool designs and do quality work at all price points high and low. These designs usually have more intricate details, more embellished and exaggerated design features and additional special touches. Sometimes body kits go in the styling direction of concept vehicles when the stock vehicle couldn’t because the design was too bold and wouldn’t appeal to the average consumer. These body kit companies step in to fill a demand for the car enthusiast driver that has discerning taste. The average custom body kits typically include new bumpers, grille, spoiler and trim pieces, the more detailed kits might also include new fenders and a hood. Please explore our affiliate products to see which custom body kits are available and which ones best compliment your vehicle.

FACELIFT BODY KITS The main purpose of a facelift body kit is slightly different from a custom body kit because its goal isn’t to make a vehicle look unique but the objective is to make an old outdated vehicle look like a new stock vehicle (each individual owner can add their own unique style with custom rims, trim pieces and color options). A facelift body kit includes not only bumpers, fenders, spoiler, grille and hood but also headlights and tail lights. Changing these key parts allow the vehicle to appear new, when it could be around 10 years old. The facelift body kit is primarily for financially responsible consumers or consumers on a budget that want a bargain of being able to buy a used luxury vehicle at the bottom of its depreciation and instead of being stuck with something old and outdated they are able to modernize and update the look and style for an affordable price. Please explore our affiliate products to see which facelift body kits are available and which ones best compliment your vehicle.

ACCESSORIES/DOOR HANDLES/EXHAUST TIPS/VALVE CAPS/COLOR BOLTS/BRAKE CALIPER STICKERS

Another way to update and modernize a used luxury vehicles exterior is by changing and adding small accessories that are not immediately noticeable but that are impressive when people see them. These little additional touches leave a good impression and make a vehicle look unique and special. The ideas for accessories that can be added to a vehicle are endless in the type and location but we will mention several that are common.

DOOR HANDLES Door handles are a small part on a vehicle that does not standout upon someone’s first impression. But when someone opens the door and reaches for the handle they notice the style and design. Door handles are simple parts that do not have a lot of space to change but subtle changes in the shape can have a noticeable effected when observed. Older vehicles have handles that tend to be more square and plain. Newer door handles have rounded edges and a sleeker design and sometimes include a small design patterns that add a little visual interest to an otherwise basic part.

There are several options to change your door handles, the easiest way is to just paint/vinyl wrap them. This will help with any fading and wear that has taken place over years of use. Door handles are touched often and they are exposed so they can show their wear easily. Not only does paint/vinyl wrap cover up the worn out surface you can also update and modernize the color by changing it to a gloss black or color match it to the vehicle for a custom look. Another option is to install door handle covers. These covers fit over the existing door handles and are held in place with double sided tape. They give a completely updated and modern look with easy install. Another option is more extreme but is to replace the entire original door handle with a new updated door handle. This option requires a lot of labor and the new replacement handles are more expensive. The benefit is that you get, not only the new door handle look and aesthetic but you also get the full functionality and any technological advances, like touch-activation. We only recommend doing a full replacement if your handles are broken or you have another reason for removing the door panels, otherwise it is not worth it. Please explore our affiliate products to see which door handle covers are available and which ones best compliment your vehicle.

EXHAUST TIPS Another way to update and modernize a used luxury vehicle to be changing the exhaust tips. These are especially popular with performance vehicles but can also add a unique touch to purely luxury based vehicles. Several areas that can be changed for aesthetic purposes are the color, the shape, custom engraving/logos and novelty lighting or smoke. Changing the exhaust tip color to match the vehicle or to a contrasting color is a small feature but it shows attention to detail. Color can be changed by painting/powder coating the exhaust tip or by purchasing custom tips that are already colored. Most stock exhaust tips are plain stainless steel with no details. If you purchase customs exhaust tips you can get your cars logo or the exhaust company’s logo visible on the top edge of the tip, which adds visual interest and uniqueness that most vehicles do not have. Another more time consuming and expensive option to change the exhaust tips is custom engraving that allows you to add any design. This is more popular in the lowrider car culture where some car owners add very intricate designs. You can also customize the exhaust tips by purchasing a different shape. Most stock exhaust tips are thin and circular shaped, you can change these to a more unique shape, like square, rectangle or oval, you can also get exhaust tips in a fuller, thicker gauge of metal that make the exhaust tips and the entire vehicle look higher quality.

Another way to update and modernize the exhaust tips is by installing LED exhaust tips. There are a variety of options but essentially there is an LED light strip around the opening edge of the exhaust tip. This small added touch is great because it turns a commonly overlooked part into a standout feature. The added lighting to the exhaust tip is something that no stock vehicle has, so when it is seen it really stands out. They are very popular with race inspired and performance type of vehicle but we think even some pure luxury vehicles and SUVs can also look good with this addition. Please explore our affiliate products to see which LED exhaust tips are available and which ones best compliment your vehicle.

VALVE CAPS Another small way to update and modernize the exterior of a used luxury vehicle is by installing custom valve caps. Please visit our article on How to update safety features on a used luxury vehicle to read a little about tire sensor valve caps as another option. Custom valve caps are a good addition because on many vehicles especially older ones, the stock valve caps were basic, black plastic, and plain. Any custom option would be a major upgrade and make the vehicle look unique and special. Even though the valve caps are rarely noticed, they show attention to detail and are a very cool custom touch that completes the look of modernizing. Custom valve caps are available in different colors, higher quality materials, and integrated designs and logos. They are inexpensive and easy to install so we would always recommend a set to improve the look of a vehicle. Please explore our affiliate products to see which LED exhaust tips are available and which ones best compliment your vehicle.

RIM CENTER CAPS Another small way to update and modernize the exterior of a used luxury is by installing custom rim center caps. These parts are small but they are front and center on the rims, so they get a lot of visibility. Rolls Royce thought enough of their center caps to make them float, so that even when the vehicle is in motion the double “R” logo is always upright and clearly readable. We agree that center caps are an impactful feature that should not be forgotten when modernizing your vehicle. They are a small accent piece that gets noticed and can be customized in a variety of ways. Different colors, different logos, even if you do not have a Rolls Royce you can also by custom floater caps for your vehicle.

If your center caps are plain, outdated or if they are the logo of a generic rim brand we suggest installing modern custom center caps with your vehicles logo, because having matching logos adds to the continuity of the vehicles accents and overall style. We recommend installing custom center cap because they are inexpensive, easy to install and make a subtle aesthetic statement. Please explore our affiliate products to see which center caps are available and which ones best compliment your vehicle.

WHEEL BOLTS Another small way to update and modernize a used luxury vehicles exterior is by changing the wheel bolts to a custom set. Standard bolts are like most hardware and have no aesthetic appeal. These bolts are a small feature, and when compared to other small features they are also screwed in and recessed out of sight but the heads of the bolts are just barely noticeable and that tiny glimpse is enough for us to recommend that you at least consider upgrading them to a custom set.

Customs bolts come in different colors that can be matched or contrasted with the vehicles color. They also come in different designs that convey a driver’s personal style. We have seen performance vehicles with red bolts that add an unexpected pop of color to the wheel area. We have also seen aggressive vehicles with pointy, dagger style bolts that give the vehicle, an even more badass aggressive look. Please explore our affiliate products to see which wheel bolts are available and which ones best compliment your vehicle.

BRAKE CALIPER DECALS Another way to update and modernize a used luxury vehicles exterior is by applying custom decal to the brake calipers. Standard brake calipers are another feature where function is usually more focused on than aesthetics. Stock calipers are normally a plain metal with no logo or design elements on them. Some high performance and higher trim vehicles pay attention to how the calipers look and not just how they perform by painting them cool attractive colors and including logo and in rare instances using carbon fiber material to make the calipers.

If you have plain standard brake calipers you can do a couple things to show attention to detail and make them look special. The easiest option would be to add custom brake caliper decals. Decals come in a variety of designs, we suggest choosing a design that is related to the vehicles brand, either the vehicles logo or the name but there are plenty of options to choose from the suit your style. Decals are inexpensive and easy to install. They are not very noticeable, depending on the style of rims you have but when they are recognized they complete a high end look for the entire vehicle because even the smallest, forgotten about area has a touch of style.

Brake Caliper Covers – Another way to upgrade the look of your stock brake calipers is to install brake caliper covers over your existing calipers. These cover are designed purely for aesthetic purposes and do not provide any functional benefit. They give off a high end brake custom look because they are visually larger, the cover fits over the existing caliper and the massive surface area of the caliper cover hides the front and side of the stock caliper. The caliper covers are even designed with intricate hardware details that appear on the actual high end calipers. The caliper covers are available in a variety of bright popular colors and decorated with vehicle logos that match your car or with popular brake companies, like Brembo. Brake caliper covers provide a great value because they allow you to dramatically change and upgrade the appearance of both, your front and rear brakes for a very affordable price and with basic installation requirements.

Another option would be to paint the calipers (and add a decal on top). Higher trim vehicles usually have bright contrasting brake caliper colors like red or yellow but any custom paint color will help enhance the appeal of the calipers from the plain metal color. While the cost of the paint itself is inexpensive, applying the paint cost money because the calipers have to be removed in order to properly and fully cover the surface of the calipers. We would suggest waiting to paint your calipers until the next time you are having your brakes serviced since they will already be accessible to paint at that time and want incur any additional unnecessary labor costs. Please explore our affiliate products to see which brake caliper decals are available and which ones best compliment your vehicle.

We tried to make this list as comprehensive as possible but the options are endless. Our suggestions cover the most impactful changes and additions that are sometimes made by countless car enthusiasts in order to update and modernize a used luxury vehicle in an affordable way. The car customizing industry is constantly involving so these suggestions might change as new trends and styles emerge.