You’re thinking of buying a new vehicle. You love your current one, but it’s time for a change.
If this sounds like you, then you’re not the only car owner to feel a little separated from their prized possession. If you feel like it needs a refresh, or perhaps you’re just bored of how it drives and looks, don’t part ways just yet. We’ve got some amazing tips and hacks on how to makeover your luxury car yourself so it runs completely different. Don’t worry if you’re not a mechanic, because after you’ve read this, you’ll be comfortable enough to trust yourself.
Why You Shouldn’t Rush Into a New Purchase:
New cars are constantly on the scene, and it’s easy to feel like yours is looking a little outdated. The chances are, it isn’t. There’s a ton of hassle involved in making a new purchase – including emotionally bonding with your new vehicle (it sounds a little sappy, we know).
Owning a vehicle is like having a friend. If you treat it right and trust it, it will be there for you. But, you cannot walk away from it without having tried your best to reignite the flame. Keeping your current one enables you to throw your finances towards investments and not one-off purchases. It’ll unleash a sense of pride, provide a new hobby, and save the environment from another car being on the road.
How To Care For Your Car:
Before you even begin thinking of making over your car, you'll want to ensure it's up to date on its maintenance first. You don’t need to be a mechanic or technologically minded to learn how to makeover your luxury car. In fact, you can begin by learning to care for your car.
Breakdowns happen to everyone, and it always occurs at the most inconvenient moments. To be safe on the road, ensure you are in the know of these basic tricks to improve how your car runs. We can’t go into too much detail, which is why we’re focusing on the two most important aspects.
Tyres
Checking the pressure and tread of your tyres is extremely important. The minimum depth of tread on your tyres should be 1.6 millimeters. If you fail to observe and check your tyres, you could face penalty points and a large fine. Under-inflated and/or over-inflated tyres can lead to damage on your car and roads. Take a close look at the handbook that came with your car, and observe the tyres before any long journey, as well as for a regular check up.
Brakes
Always be aware of how your car drives, because you’ll know if something is wrong better than anyone else. When it’s safe to do so, every so often, perform an emergency stop in a derelict area. To check the brake discs yourself, take a close look at the visible disc. It should be shiny all over with no irregular patches. Don’t worry if you spot faint lines, as they’re generally harmless. If you notice irregular patches or deep grooves, replace the brake discs, or take your car to the nearest mechanic.
How To Makeover Your Luxury Car Yourself
Once you've covered the regular maintenance, you can begin thinking about how to makeover your luxury car. You'll be amazed at what a few small changes can do for your ride!
Refresh The Dashboard
Cleaning and updating the dashboard can make a massive difference to the overall interior of your car. As most passengers are looking forward, it’s what they see most.
If there are scratches and smears on the speedometer, purchase new glass, or use a specific cleaner to remove them. If you notice that the knobs and switches are looking worn, replace them to make the world of difference. Once they are off, give the inside a wipe as there might be loose dust or debris hidden. You might find that the dashboard looks a little dull, and if so, invest in some new paint to make it look like new again. On the other hand, you could choose a completely different colour to revitalize your luxury car.
Try this product to remove scratchers without damaging your dashboard.
Make The Seats Like New Again
Consider how much time you spend in your car. It’s probably a lot, and the chances are your seats a looking a little worn. Foam seats can become uncomfortable and non-ergonomic over the years, so we suggest re-foaming them.
For fabric seats which are in need of a clean, use a vacuum cleaner to remove any noticeable dirt. Then, fill a bucket warm water. Add a scoop of laundry detergent to the hot water to make your car upholstery like new again. Thoroughly scrub each seat, but don’t get them too wet. Dip a towel into cool water to remove any excess dirt and detergent from the seats’ surface.
For leather seats, begin by vacuuming the interior. Then, sparingly apply a car upholstery cleaner and carefully wipe down the seats. Allow the seats to dry naturally, and ensure there’s no soap spots left behind.
Here’s a seat cleaner which will remove dirt without damaging the delicate leather. A quick clean is an easy way to makeover your luxury car.
Renew Your Car Electronics
If you’re wondering how to makeover your luxury car, then start with your car electronics. Depending on the specifications of your vehicle, it’s likely you have a sound system, GPS system and more.
Invest in a brand-new music system for the ultimate driving experience. Buy a new stereo which offers iPhone/iPod support, satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, GPS navigation and MP3 playback for the best sound quality.
Also consider a high-tech display and cutting-edge layout to enhance the appearance of your car. We recommend full-colour animated displays with touchscreen monitors for a modern feel. Go for a colour which matches the interior of your car, and excellent bass for a high-quality sound.
Update Your Tyres
Updating your tyres will make a massive difference to not only the appearance of your car, but the performance of it. Additionally, it's the perfect way to makeover your luxury car. It’s important that you choose ones which fit your car correctly, or you’ll be spending more on gas, and not to mention, making your car less safe. Double-check the speed, size and load rating of your car before making a purchase.
Opt for premium brands for the best expertise and appearance. If the tyres are high quality, you’ll hear the roads less when driving, and notice a significant improvement in handling. Alternatively, you can give your tyres a deep clean for a quick fix.
Give Your Car a Thorough Wash
Chances are that you’ve never really given your car a thorough wash. If so, it's a simple way to makeover your luxury car. It might be time consuming, but the results are completely worth it. For less than $50, your car will look like new again, and you’ll feel that special bond again.
Invest in a dedicated car cleaner. Steer clear from dish soap and laundry detergents, as they’re too harsh on car paint. A good car wax will give your car that squeaky clean look and bring out its colour even more. Without a wax, it won’t look as polished. A household glass cleaner will work perfectly fine on the windows and mirrors – just make sure you opt for one that’s ammonia-free.
Set aside a decent amount of time to look around your car for scratches. No matter how well you look after it, it’s inevitable that there’ll be an occasional scratch you haven’t noticed before. Buy a scratch kit which restores paint blemishes and removes chips and scrapes. Finish off with a wheel and tyre cleaner to really bring your car to life and makeover your luxury car.
Change The Colour of Your Car
Like people change the colour of their hair, you can change the colour of your car. We recommend leaving this to the professionals. Times change and trends occur, so what was hot when you bought your luxury car might no longer be the ‘in’ colour. Discuss with a professional about matt wraps, gloss whites and everything in-between. Repainting a car is an extensive job and requires excellent precision in nooks and crannies you wouldn’t be able to reach at home.
You could try a respray to lift and brighten the current colour of your car which has likely dulled since you purchased it. When exposed to weather and poor road conditions, it naturally dulls without us even noticing. But to keep it protected, we recommend investing in a car cover to protect it from the sun, rain and even falling debris.
The Benefits of a Car Makeover
A car restoration has great benefits – even if you only adopt two or three of the above tricks. Rather than letting your car rust, bring it back to life and give yourself a project -- makeover your luxury car. The tips above on how to makeover your luxury car can even increase the value if you are considering selling it.
There are so many options and methods to customize your car, so don’t give up on it just yet. From electronics to a good ole’ clean, it’ll look like a completely different vehicle once you’ve applied the above tricks. Do you know how to makeover your luxury car? Send us your process and experience in the comments.
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