Want to upgrade your auto but don’t know what to do or where to start? There is a vast market for car mods across the world, and many auto enthusiasts are finding value in updating and upgrading specific parts of their auto to help them enjoy driving it more and to make a higher-performance vehicle than the one they have.
But why do people choose to carry out mods over buying new ones? Not everyone has a penny upfront to invest in a high-performance car, nor do they want to. These specs can greatly increase the cost of a vehicle if the manufacturer offers them or if they are available for a specific model of car. Modding your existing one can be done incrementally, meaning you can make the upgrades as and when you can afford them. This approach puts you in control of your budget and allows you to still get to ride in the one car that you love and make it your own. However, it’s important to note that car modifications can be costly, with some high-performance upgrades costing thousands of dollars.
However, before you start, it is crucial that you understand the laws around modding your car and what is and isn’t legal in your state when it comes to vehicle upgrades and modifications. This knowledge empowers you to make informed decisions and be a responsible car owner, giving you a sense of control over your car’s modifications and ensuring you’re still going to be covered should you need to make a claim or be involved in an accident. This understanding gives you the confidence to make the right choices for your car.
So, with this in mind, what can you do to help you improve the performance and aesthetics of your automobile? Let’s explore some specific upgrades, such as upgrading your air filters, tires, ECU, and intercoolers, that can significantly enhance your driving experience and make you fall in love with your car all over again. The anticipation and excitement of planning and executing these upgrades can be as thrilling as the improved driving experience itself. It’s a journey of discovery and enhancement that will keep you engaged and eager for the next step.
Air Filters
New air filters are a simple and seemingly basic upgrade to make, but they can massively impact your car and add some power.
However, not all air filters are the same, and you will need to look at what options are available for your specific model. Otherwise, you will not get the right ones. The cheapest filters are low quality and made from paper, and they are likely to be the ones you get replaced at each service. While they do the job, they do not offer anything in the way of added performance.
Performance filters tend to be made from oiled foam or cotton, like these Aeroflow filters, which are made of cotton and pre-oiled. Performance filters typically last the lifetime of your car and don’t need replacing if you maintain them properly. So, not only can you benefit from improved performance, but you can also reduce waste, as you don’t need to replace them at all with the correct care.
Tires
An easy upgrade but an essential one if you want to improve handling and traction. New tires, specifically performance tires, can massively enhance traction and give you a smoother drive on the road. As your tires are your car’s only source of contact with the road, investing in the right ones is a must for every driver, not just those wanting to make performance upgrades.
The idea is to find the right type of tires for the driving you will be doing. Drifters, for example, will want different tires than drag racers, and people living in extreme climates will need different qualities from their tires. Pay attention to the driving you will be doing, the terrain, environment, and the manufacturer’s recommended tires to pinpoint the exact tires you need to make the changes you want to happen. This level of understanding and preparation will ensure you’re always ready for the road ahead.
ECU
Modern cars are equipped with ECUs or engine control units. The ECU takes readings from various sensors within the engine to deliver appreciative settings for the demands placed on the engine. These settings are usually predetermined by the manufacturers and programmed into the ECU to provide safeguards for the engine, e.g., in cases where services are not carried out, or drivers use substandard fuel.
The engine’s performance is typically limited to lower than the maximum performance and potential. This is where ECU tuning or mapping comes into play. In simple terms, ECU tuning is like unlocking a car’s hidden potential. Auto enthusiasts often unlock the ECU for greater power and torque. This gives gains of up to 20 to 30%, depending on the engine and the potential.
It’s also worth knowing that the ECU is not always compatible with performance upgrades and standard mods. In such cases, you might need to invest in ‘off-market maps, ‘which are essentially custom software programs that you can upload to the ECU. These maps not only give you the performance gain you’re looking for, but they also support any other mods you might be making in the future, such as airflow intake and exhaust upgrades. These maps are designed to optimize your car’s performance based on the specific modifications you’ve made, ensuring a seamless integration of all your upgrades.
Intercoolers
You want your engine to breathe; to do this, you need cool airflow, which an intercooler provides. Most intercoolers are used with turbochargers or superchargers and are added to cars to cool down compressed air. Cooler air is dense, which is better for combustion, increased power output, and boosted performance. Make sure you buy quality parts when upgrading your vehicle to give you the best performance to avoid causing more damage and making your car potentially unsafe.
When cooler air is injected into the engine, it provides more oxygen, allowing the vehicle to burn fuel more efficiently, which in turn leads to increased horsepower. This can be extra beneficial if you drive on a hot occasion, as it allows the engine to stay cooler and not overheat. Plus, cooler air reduces engine knocking, which is a term used to describe the undesirable sound and vibration that occurs when the air-fuel mixture in the cylinders detonates prematurely, something no driver wants to experience.
Suspension Upgrades
Your suspension controls how your car handles and its stability, and upgrading your suspension can give you an improved performance and an aggressive stance. You can purchase performance-focused mods for your suspension, such as sports springs, which lower your car’s center of gravity, reducing body roll. Body roll is the side-to-side movement of your car when you’re taking a corner, and reducing it enhances your car’s stability and cornering abilities.
It’s important that you understand the legal limits when changing your suspension and do so in accordance with the terrain you usually drive on. While a lowered suspension might look and feel amazing to drive, if you regularly navigate roads with speed control measures, you will find this isn’t as practical and cause damage to the bodywork.
Brakes
Modding your brakes can significantly enhance your driving experience. While on their own they won’t necessarily make you go faster, if you don’t have high-quality brakes, chances are you brake sooner, which means it’s slowing you down and impacts how you can drive, especially in different climates.
It’s worth noting that if you are making performance upgrades to make your vehicle faster, then you need to upgrade your brakes so you can ensure safety at all times. Because if you’re driving faster and push your car to its limits and your brakes can’t handle this, it’s a recipe for disaster.
By upgrading your brakes, including brake lines, pads, etc., you can accommodate the additional heat generated when driving at higher speeds and reduce the need to replace them as quickly. So, if you are looking at modding your car, upgrading your brakes is a good way to boost performance and increase safety when driving.
Regular Maintenance and Servicing
While not as fancy or alluring as the above options. The best way to ensure your car is driving to its full capabilities and is safe to do is to maintain your vehicle and ensure you’re carrying out necessary maintenance and repairs as required. This means you can reduce significant faults occurring as you address them quickly and not letting them get worse. Neglecting repairs will impact your vehicle and the mods you add on. If you’re investing in making it as good a ride as possible, you must also ensure top-notch maintenance and care for all components.
In addition, regular service every 12 months or 10,000 miles, whichever comes first, will help you reduce excess wear and tear on components, highlight any potential errors or safety problems you need to rectify, and keep the car in excellent condition constantly.
Perforce mods can be a great way to enhance your vehicle when carried out correctly. By paying attention to what your car is capable of, what you need, how and where you drive, and legal guidelines for car mods, you can make beneficial improvements in multiple ways.
