What is Bodystying?

Exterior body modifications which alters the look of your vehicle.

What are the benefits of modifying my rides exterior?

By modifying your rides exterior you can make a whole lot of difference to your rides appearance. Depending on how you want it to look you can then go down the whole unique "one-off" modifications or you can just add a little style to your rides appearance by using the mods freely available on the market.

What are the disadvantages of modifying my rides exterior?

If you are modifying your ride it is a good idea to declare all mods to your insurance company. Unfortunately modifying normally means an increase on your insurance but in our eyes it's worth while as everything is then covered should you need to make a claim.

What bodystyling mods are available on the market?

Nowadays it's down to the imagination to make your ride look different but there are plenty of bodystyling specialists available on the market for you to add a little style to your ride.

What is the legality of modifying my rides exterior?

There are no strict laws to modifying the exterior of your ride but there may be specific laws for each modification you will need to follow. Generally if your ride is able to pass its MOT test then it is deemed legal in that current state but beware there are some law requirements that aren't checked in the MOT that you could get stung for (for example Window Tinting).

What is a bodykit?

A body kit is a kit comprised of fabricated items designed to alter the appearance of a vehicle.

What is a bodykit made from?

Bodykits are usually made from one of two materials. GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic or glass fibre to be more specific) or ABS plastic (which is a plastic which is also used to make LEGO bricks!).

What does a bodykit consist of?

It varies on the type of kit and where you purchase it but usually you will find some of the following in a bodykit:

Front Bumper/Valance
Rear Bumper/Valance
Sideskirts
Spoiler

In more specialist kits you will find:
Wider wing panels
Bonnet Vents
Bonnet Skins
Arch Sections
Roof Scoops

What are the benefits of putting a bodykit on my ride?

By fitting a bodykit to your ride you are changing the look of the vehicle from its standard format. Bodykits are generally nicer looking than the standard vehicle kits and nine times out of ten they have a lower stance.

What are the disadvantages of modifying my rides exterior?

With a bodykit the parts come unpainted so you will need to have it all sprayed to match your rides paint another option is to have the whole ride sprayed in one go to save any mis-matches of colour (see Paintwork for more info).

If you want to keep your bodykit in tip top condition you will need to drive your ride a lot more carefully. Speed bumps and bouncy roads are a bodykits worst enemy so you will need to tackle them at a slower pace than before otherwise you run the risk of damaging your bodykit.

How will I damage my kit?

GRP bodykits have a tendency to split and crack when damaged. If you hit it really hard the whole section will smash into little bits so go carefully wont you?

ABS plastic bodykits are a lot more solid and less fragile however when they get damaged they crack or split and unlike the glass fibre kits they are a lot harder to mend.

What is the legality of putting a bodykit on my ride?

Having a bodykit on your ride isn't generally a problem as long as it doesn't have any sharp edges or likely to cause nay danger on the roads. Your car still needs to be MOT'd the same way so the tester will need to put your car on a ramp. If the car doesn't fit on the ramp with out catching on your bodykit then the tester can fail your car just like that.

Hint!

Fitting a bodykit to your ride isn't as easy as it sounds so it's probably best to take it to the specialists to have it fitted professionally.

What are they?

A replacement mirror from the standard wing mirrors. Usually placed on the doors, door pillars or on older style cars on the front wings.

What are the mirrors made from?

Most of the aftermarket mirrors on the market are made from ABS plastic however there is a growing demand for carbon fibre mirrors and the classic billet style mirrors which are made from aluminium.

What do the mirrors consist of?

Off the shelf most of the mirrors are available in a universal kit form. In the kit you will get one pair of mirror units which include tinted mirrored glass, the styled frame and the manual adjuster all built and ready to go.

Some specialists can supply you with an electric mirror kit and a mirror kit to fit a certain vehicle but in universal form you have to purchase a pair of base plates to enable a good fit to your ride. The base plates are usually available through the mirror supplier and cost around £10 - £20 a pair.

It is also very common now to buy off the shelf wing mirrors with the side repeaters built in. These are all installed and ready to go but you will need to do a wiring modification to your vehicle as the mirrors only come with bare wires.

What are the different types available then?

	M3 - The classic mirror. BMW started this trend off years back. When the aftermarket wing mirror trend kicked off the M3 were the people's choice. A simple design with the mirror off set from the door.
	Evo - An aftermarket spec creation, these mirrors are very plain and simple and tidy up the look of any ride.
	K6 - A mirror ideally suited for a bigger car. The K6 is a big, chunky mirror which comes with led side repeaters built in.
	M8 - Similar to the M3 mirror, another BMW creation originally. These mirrors have that typical BMW approach; nothing fancy just sleek, trendy looking mirrors.
	SLR - Mercedes started off this trend with their futuristic style mirrors. These come with LED side repeaters built in.
	DTM - More of a cupped style mirror for those that don't like big chunky mirrors hanging off the side of their car.
	Billet / Euro Style - Back in the olden days all vehicles had mirrors similar to these but when the design of the car advanced the billet style mirrors fizzled out... until now. We are in an age now where futuristic is a thing of the past, we want retro and as a result people are hunting car boot sales high and low for a set of original 1970's style Billet Mirrors. It is common for people to modify a pair of motorbike mirrors to fit nowadays as it adds to the uniqueness of any ride.

What are the benefits of putting Aftermarket Mirrors on my ride?

It's all about the style. We'd be lying if we said it was for anything else. Mirrors simply add to the style of your ride, it sometimes finishes a rides look off but if carefully selected and thought about it can increase the attention to detail which earns you the extra brownie points at shows (this is where to motorbike mirrors come in!)

What are the disadvantages of putting Aftermarket Mirrors on my ride?

The main downside to having aftermarket wing mirrors is the fact that you can't see b*gger all out of them! Some have smaller mirror glass; some don't adjust as far out as you want them to and some... well there just as good as the OE spec mirrors for the car are they? But surely, that's what modifying is all about!

What is the legality of putting Aftermarket Mirrors on my ride?

There is no law that officially states that your mirrors are illegal however to pass an MOT they have to meet the T.U.V standards. Most off the shelf mirrors will have this but if your modifying own mirrors to fit then you are taking the law into your own hands so try to remember that sharp edges, loose fitting, and general tatiness isn't going to do you any favours!

What is Exterior Lighting?

The Lights on the exterior of the vehicle to indicate your presence on the roads at night. They also supply you with night vision.

What are the benefits of modifying my rides Exterior Lighting?

By changing the lighting you are increasing the style factor to your ride. Certain styles can increase the visibility depending on the spec.

What are the disadvantages of modifying my rides Exterior Lighting?

Some lighting will decrease your visibility or create vision problems for other road users which can be a big downfall, maybe not for you but for other road users.

What can I modify then?

Pretty much anything and every thing when it comes to lighting. Suppliers offer a massive range of lighting for most vehicle types. These normally include:

	Head Lights		Tail Lights
	Fog Lights		Front Indicators
	Side Repeaters		Undercar Neons

What is the legality of modifying my rides Exterior Lighting?

It all falls back to the MOT when it comes to the law. Your ride must meet the MOT laws otherwise it won't be allowed on the roads by law. This means:

* Headlight alignment must be correct or adjustable by the tester to realign.
* Tail lights must have suitable reflectors or nasty looking stick ones added to pass successfully.
* Side repeaters must be visible from the side of the vehicle
* There must be turning signals (indicators) on all four corners of the vehicle that are in fully working order and visible.
* Fog lights must have a separate on/off switch from the head or side lights

What is a Bootlid/Tailgate?

The tailgate or bootlid as its otherwise known is the door on the back of the vehicle. This door gives to access into the boot of the vehicle, well on front engined cars anyway.

What are the benefits of modifying my rides Bootlid/Tailgate?

It's all about the style. There are many different mods you can do to your bootlid / tailgate to give it a different appearance and uniqueness. Removing the lock can also make life harder for thieves too so its pays to modify your ride.

What are the disadvantages of modifying my rides Bootlid/Tailgate?

Removing the Lock: Seeing as it makes thieves harder to access your boot it means it also makes life a little harder for you too. There are simple solenoid kits available to make this easier for you though so don't worry your boot will soon release by the press of a button!

Smoothing: If your smoothing your bootlid you will need to relocate your number plate and the little light that shines on it otherwise you won't get through your next MOT.

Painting: Unfortunately with most exterior mods your ride will not look complete until you've had it sprayed to match your rides colour so make sure you save some extra cash for the bodyshop!

What can I do to my tailgate then?

It all depends on the type of car and the appearance you want to pursue. You have the common mods, being different and then you have the just plain nuts mods. It all depends on what you're into, here are a few that we have discovered:

* Smoothed Bootlid
* Semi-Smoothed
* Delocked & Debadged
* Bad-boy'd
* Suicide/ Lambo'd
* Welded-up

What is the legality of modifying my Bootlid/Tailgate?

We haven't come across a law that states that you can't have a modified tailgate / bootlid however someone somewhere has probably been fined for it along the way.

The best thing is to make sure that you keep all edges smooth and if relocating your number plate make sure its visible and it has a number plate that works and your MOT tester will be happy!

What is a bonnet?

The bonnet is the panel that sits on top of the engine. It's designed to cover the engine up for safety reasons and to improve the overall look of the vehicle.

Why would I want to modify my bonnet and what can I do to it?

There are several reasons why people modify their bonnets the original and most useful reason is to vent the bonnet to allow the cooler air to release from the engine bay more easily. Bonnet scoops came along to help suck cool air in to the engine bay and more directly into the air filter on some cars.

It is now part of the fashion to have a modified bonnet. There are bundles of vents and scoops available for all vehicles as they also improve the look of the ride. Its got to the stage now where just adding a scoop isn't good enough this where bad-boy style bonnets come in and more recently suicide bonnets which open sideways or from the middle or backwards or anyway you can think of to be different to be honest!

There are also a range of replacement bonnets available nowadays which include full carbon fibre bonnets, fibreglass skins that fit on top of your bonnet and also full Perspex (see through) bonnets.

What are the benefits of modifying my rides bonnet?

As mentioned earlier vents and scoops allow hot and cold air to be released and sucked into the engine which helps the engine perform a little better. Modifying your bonnet also adds style to your ride and is a common modification on the car scene nowadays.

What are the disadvantages of modifying my rides bonnet?

There isn't so much as a disadvantage that would put you off modifying your bonnet, they are all little niggly points that don't really effect the overall effect. Depending on how you have modified it depends on the downfall. For example a mk2 Citroen Saxo has a built in grille with its bonnet. It's common for people to smooth that grille off. This will decrease the airflow entering the engine bay and may affect the temperature within. A simple solution here would be to have an alternative scoop or cold air feed at the front of the ride to make up for the loss of the grille.

What is the legality of of modifying my rides bonnet?

There is no law against modifying your bonnet providing it is safe. It needs to have no sharp edges or anything that might cause danger to other road users. If your MOT tester is happy with you modifications then you're free to go!

What are wings?

The wings are panels that are placed on the four corners of a vehicle. There main use is to help the aerodynamics of the vehicle but they also help a vehicle look more attractive.

How can I modify them?

As with any parts of a car, it can be modified quite easily, all it takes is a little imagination. There are specialist companies out there nowdays the will make modified wing panels for you.

The common mods found on wing panels are:

* Wide Arches
* Vents,
* Engraving/Stenciling

What are the benefits of modifying my rides wings?

Not many people modify their wings unless they have a good reason for it. Not because its dangerous or unsafe but because generally there is no great reason too! Vented wings normally help airflow into your engine or brakes as well as look smart.

Stenciling or engraving is purely for the looks where as wide arches are for a wider stance and allow a little more room for bigger wheels.

What are the disadvantages of modifying my rides wings?

Front Wings are generally easier to modify and remove as they are generally bolted or welded on. Watch out for those European cars though it has been known for cars to have bonded on wings which means the only way to get them off is to destroy the entire panel!

Rear wings are only really touched if you are going all out on your bodystyling. The trouble with most rear wings is there is not seam so you have to remove the entire rear quarter panel of your car to replace them! Don't try this at home kids!

What is the legality of modifying my wings?

If professionally fitted there is no problem at all with the legality on wings. Make sure there are no sharp edges or anything that will cause for concern and you will be fine!

What are Doors?

Its fairly self explanatory but the doors are the panels on the side of a vehicle that allows you to get in and out of a vehicle. They are also very useful when you are driving as it prevents you from leaning to far and falling out from the vehicle.

Why would I want to modify them?

Well it's all to do with the style of your vehicle. To make the outside of the ride match with the rest of the bodywork the doors may need a bit of tarting up and attention. This won't stop you from falling out of a moving vehicle any less but it will increase the style factor of your ride.

How can I modify them?

There are more and more door modifications becoming available on the market nowadays. Some of which you will have seen, some which are very rare and some which are... Well just pointless really but all in all it's the effort that counts!

Here are a few of the most common door modifications you will find:

* Delocked
* Dehandled
* Smoothed-off

There are also a series of door modifications that come in kit form that allow you to open your doors in different ways. Here are a few examples:

* Lambo doors
* Suicide doors
* Gullwing doors
* Butterfly doors

What are the benefits of modifying my rides Doors?

When it comes to door modification it's really all about style and the wow factor as you pull up to a cruise or show. To pull up with a non-modified, normal opening door is fine but you can imagine the reaction you will get when you pull up next time with your new, super smooth, dehandled, lambo doors!

In theory by removing your locks or handles will also confuse any thieves planning on breaking in never mind when the door does eventually open it opens upwards!

What are the disadvantages of modifying my rides Doors?

When it comes to delocking, dehandling or even adding a door kit to your ride there are few downsides that you must bear in mind. For originality and style it's a definite thumbs up but for practicality and reliability it's not quite so hot.

Delocking: By having no locks it means you now rely on your alarm or remote central locking fob to enter the vehicle, if your battery on your fob or on your car dies, your stuffed.

Dehandling: Much like delocking, by dehandling the doors you now have to rely on using a push button or remote fob to access the vehicle, if this fails you are of course locked out of your own ride. This also means you are stuffed.

Door kits: Depending on the style of kit you have purchased depends on the situation, Lambo doors aren't too bad as you door now opens upwards so the only down side is the weight of the door when opening from inside. Butterfly or gullwing doors are slightly different. The doors now open in a completely different manner and this will mean trouble when a car parks the normal distance away from you in a car park. Try to avoid parking anywhere near anyone else and hope for the best that when you return to your ride someone hasn't parked close to you otherwise you won't be able to open you doors properly!

What is the legality of modifying my doors?

Door kits must be professionally fitted and MOT testers or vehicle inspectors will be able to tell if they haven't. If the door shows any sign of danger then by law they are allowed to refuse you the right to drive it on the road.

It's also a really touchy subject with dehandling your ride as some MOT testers don't like a car with not outer handles. The law doesn't state that your are not allowed to remove them however it does state that if a registered MOT tester or vehicle inspector marks your vehicle as unroadworthy because of it then you are not allowed the use in on public roads by law.

Sorry guys that's the law so make sure you pick a "mod-friendly" tester when it comes to your MOT.

What is a Fuel Cap?

The fuel cap is the removable cap to the fuel filler neck which joins to your fuel tank. Its purpose is to lock the line so it is air tight and to also avoid fuel spilling out or being stolen. On some vehicles the cap is behind a lockable door on the bodywork.

Why would I want to modify my Fuel Cap?

Modifying your fuel cap doesn't make you car perform any different but it is quite a common mod especially on older vehicles as they can look untidy and gash as standard.

How can I modify it?

The easiest way to modify them is to buy a cap specific to your ride if available. There are universal kits available that take a fair but of modification to fit but if the direct fit one isn't available on your ride then this is your only option.

Whatever anyone says or advises please do not settle for second best with a stick on fuel cap, these are cheap, tacky and damn right nasty and you wont earn yourself any brownie points for even concidering to buy one!

What are the benefits of modifying my rides Fuel Cap?

Its all about the aesthetics when it comes to modifying the fuel cap. There is no performance increase or decrease at that matter it simply makes your filler cap look a bit neater than the OE spec factory one.

What are the disadvantages of modifying my rides Fuel Cap?

Generally there isn't a bad point to modifying your fuel cap. There is not power decrease and it doesn't effect your ride in any way unless you lose the keys!

The universal kits are a pain to fit and will look silly if you don't know your way around a tub of filler so if you unsure ask a bodyshop to fit it for you.

What is the legality of modifying my Fuel Cap?

We've never heard of any reason why fuel caps are or should be illegal to be honest. If it's a universal kit then the fitting must be air tight and well fitted but this is all self explanatory really.