Body kits, installing them right scores major style points

An auto body kit is one of the most exciting upgrades you can do to your vehicle. A good aero kit or body kit can really transform the appearance of the vehicle, and the installer will determine if this is a good or bad transformation. I would personally suggest you find a reputable shop experienced in your type of body kit work. They should know how to work with the material you selected, and how to color match, prep and paint the kit. They should also know how to, if necessary, make adjustments to ensure a proper fitting. Your finished product will be as good as the effort put into it.Having said that, it is never a bad idea to learn something new. Before you begin, make sure you designate enough time to the project to install your body kit right the first time. This type of body work requires a lot of patience if you are inexperienced at it. Here are some instructions to help you get started on the project. The first thing to do is to prep the body kit for painting. It will be much easier to work on before it is installed. If you do not intend to paint the whole vehicle, it may be wise to color match and paint the body kit prior to installation.Start by removing the pieces that will be replaced. This may include the front and rear bumper covers. You can find the bolts for the front cover in the fender wells and underneath the cover near the frame. Remove these bolts and loosen the cover. Depending on the application, be sure to remove any of the lighting that is attached to it, such as the headlights, side markers, fog lights, etc. Now check to make sure that there isn't anything else holding it in place, such as a grille or license plate holder. Carefully remove the front bumper cover and set to the side. Keep the hardware handy, as you will need it later. Remove the rear bumper in the same manner, as well as the trim panel located just above the bumper (if applicable). Most cars won't have side skirts at this point, but if it does, remove them by removing the bolts that hold it to the vehicle. They are located on the back of the side skirts.Take your replacement cover and carefully align it to the car and check the fitting. Some of the kits will have 3M adhesive to help hold the kit in place during this process. You may find that the foam inserts are an obstruction to the new body kit. You can either remove them or trim them to size, depending on the application. I have found that if possible, it is better to trim them to fit because they will help sturdy the body kit so it doesn't appear as flimsy. If you have done your research and purchased a good kit, then you should line up almost perfect. Make some markings as to where you will drill your holes. You can also use the old bumper cover to line up the holes but it may not be as accurate as the fitting approach. If you find yourself in a situation where the kit doesn't line up exactly, there are some things you can do to correct the problem. First, locate the problem areas. They will be most noticeable on the sides where it matches up to the fenders or in the very front where it matches up to the hood. If you notice one side has a bigger seam in these areas than the other side, try moving the cover to the larger seam side in very small increments until there is no longer a difference. The seam should be the same width as other seams on the car, most notably the same size as the seam from the fender to the door, or the fender to the closed hood. Using these same widths for the seams will create a "seamless" look for the finished product.If your problem area is in the front, you will have to adjust the body kit in small increments until it lines up. If you have too larges of a seam, try gently pulling the kit from the two sides to tighten up the front. it should have a little bit of play in it since it is not bolted down. If the seam is to small, try pushing the sides in towards the front of the vehicle to free up any space. Once the front is adjusted, look to see if the sides are aligned property. If you are happy with the fitment, place the bolts in the holes and tighten them down. Start in the middle, and work your way out to the sides making sure that your seams line up properly. If your kit comes with 3M adhesive on the back side, adhere the kit to the car once the proper alignment is made. This will help hold the kit in place and allow the seams to be smaller in width. In some unfair and unfortunate circumstances, you may find your kits not lining up after all these adjustments. These kits will require some body work or fiberglass work to be done for proper fitting, such as trimming or sanding up the side edges and refinishing them, or repositioning the bolts. Hopefully you won't encounter any of these types of problems, because they tend to have to be solved on a case by case basis. If you find yourself in dire straights, contact support@majesticmodifications.com and we can help guide you to the best solution.With your front piece of the body kit installed, you can concentrate on the side skits and rear bumper cover. The side skirts should be fairly simple, and will require drilling pilot holes in the bottom of the car. To ensure proper alignment here, attach the side skirt to the vehicle using the 3M adhesive (if provided). It should line up exactly with a small seam in the front and rear next to the fenders. If the seam is larger on one side, split the difference and drill the pilot holes for the bolts and secure it in place.Now move to the rear bumper cover. Follow the same procedures as above until you get a goof fitting. Again, you may need to remove or trim the rear bumper foam inserts, depending on the shape of the body kit. Secure it in place and enjoy the finished product. Good luck, and stay TUNED!
Source: Free Articles

Auto financing scams

Car dealers are often portrayed as predators just waiting for an unsuspecting customer to come along. This is because many people believe that they are always on the prowl for unsuspecting buyers that are not very knowledgeable about cars. This can be unfair because we can argue that there are car dealers out there who would not cheat just to get an extra profit. How do you tell the difference?To avoid becoming a victim of sneaky car dealers, look out for the following auto financing scams.Yoyo scamYou will be allowed by the dealer to bring the car home as soon as possible. The dealer will take care of the financing, a few days later he will contact you again and tell you that there was a problem with your financing plan. He will tell you to set up a new financing scheme through him which, of course, will be at a higher cost and this will also entail a very high profit on the dealer's part.Be wary of this trick and avoid it at all costs if you detect it. If you have a bad credit standing, don't have your financing done by the dealer and make arrangements for your own financing. If you ever do avail of the dealer's financing, you should never drive the car back to your home immediately. Wait for at least 24 hours just to make sure that the processing of your financing scheme has been completed already. By allowing 1 whole day to pass by, you are assured that the dealer cannot use this scam on you.Window etching trickWindow etching is a very common scam. What the dealer will do is to offer to etch the VIN number of your car onto the window of the car for a price. Basically, the price ranges from as low as $300 to as high as $1,000. Some buyers think that they did a good job by being able to talk down the price to a few hundred dollars, but unfortunately for them, a few hundred dollars is still a good amount of money. The best way to avoid this kind of scam is for you to buy an etching kit that you can do on your own. This is available in most auto shops and costs around $20. See how much they profit from you!Preparation feesFor preparing your car, the dealer will often add an additional preparation fee to your bill. Just to conduct a test drive, replace fuses, or take the car's plastic cover off will have your bill increasing by at least $500! If you visit other shops, you can get the information that these add on costs are already included in the MSRP as set by the manufacturer. Some dealers automatically add it to the buyer's order to make it look mandatory. To take care of this scam, you can ask the dealer to classify it as credit (it should be identical to the amount of the preparation fee) on the following line. If the dealer does not agree to this, you can just simply walk away from the dealership. Market adjustmentThe dealer will convince you that the vehicle you want is selling like hot cakes and very popular. In order to sell you the vehicle, they will do some "market adjustments" amounting to a few thousand dollars. This is usually indicated by a tag near the MSRP tag set by the manufacturer. Even if the car you want is very popular and is very much in demand, if it is in stock you should not be tempted because getting a "popular" car is not worth it if you have to pay a few thousand dollars more. You should never pay more than the MSRP set by the manufacturers. If you do, then you are allowing others to take advantage of you.Warranty extensionAlthough this type of scam is old already, it is still being used and there are many who fall for this trick. What happens in this kind of scam is that when you make a loan for the car, the dealer will tell you that you are required to purchase an extended warranty because it is one of the conditions of the bank. There is a simple way of avoiding this scam. Ask the dealer to specify clearly in writing that the extended warranty is required for the loan to be approved. The dealer will most probably find a way to have it excluded. If he persists in including the extended warranty, do not do business with this guy and go to other dealerships. These are some of the most common auto financing scams that are utilized by some car dealers. Always keep these in mind if you are going to buy a car. If you or a friend were treated fairly by a dealer in the past, consider using the same dealership again. It’s a good indication that they do care about their customers and aren’t just looking for a “fast buck.” Think very carefully and do not buy on impulse. Good luck to you and go get that car!
Source: Free Articles
Other Interesting Articles

importing a japanese used car

The majority of used car buyers do not even consider purchasing from a Japanese car auction, because they believe it is too difficult. However if you understand the correct process then you will find it is not that hard at all. He is a snapshot of how to import a find and import a Japanese car.1. Find out all the legalities of importing a car from Japan into your country.2. If you are still looking for the right Japanese car, then find the best Japanese Car Auction websites, and start your search today.3. Make sure you check the market price before you give the go ahead to your buyer to purchase your chosen car. Always decide your budget and set a limit that you will not go above when it comes to auction day. There will always be another car that you like, so there is no need to spend more than you have set.4. Make sure you check the authenticity of the exporter/dealer before issuing them with a check. This can be confirmed through the Japanese embassy in your country, or by checking that the dealer is a member of JUMVEA - the most reputable organization in the Japanese used car industry.5. Once the car has arrived in your country, you will have to reproduce the documents that were sent to you by the dealer. You will need to pay an import tax, get your Japanese car tested and insured. Once this is all done, you are free to drive your new car home.

How do i start a hot engine in summer?

It is usually a cold engine, which is exposed to extreme weather that most often is difficult to start. However, hot engines sometimes have problems too. Hot engines can be tough to start, and many people do not know how to deal with this situation when it occurs. With the intention of overcoming this dilemma, it is important to know exactly why it happens.The most common reason why a hot engine will not start is because the problem is related to fuel. When your car engine is too hot, fuel cannot circulate well, due to the way vapour obstructs it workings and therefore the engine just will not start, as it should. You can find out more information on this subject online at autopages.com.au who suggest to keep your engine running at the correct temperature and to protect its alloys and metals, you need to use a properly designed coolant.A car engine will keep gaining temperature until it has been turned off. During this time is when the highest concentration of vapour is circulating around and chances are, that it shall obstruct the engine to a greater extent. Obviously, when and if you are driving in hot weather and have just turned off the car engine you may experience start problems. The solution is simple; you must wait for a few minutes until trying to start it again. The most sensible solution of course, is to use a high quality engine coolant.Fuel injected engines do not experience this problem as much as other engines, because the fuel remains inside the injectors under high pressure. Owing to this, fuel injected engines do not become so easily subjected to vapours as other engines. Therefore, the vehicle does not have the same issues when it comes to starting a hot engine. It may be time to change over your old vehicle to a newer model with fuel injection, and when this becomes an important issue, you can go online to OzFreeOnline.com and begin a quick search by entering and submitting all the data you have researched for your new car. Let OzFreeOnline.com do all the work for you.Another reason why you may have an engine, which is hard to start while hot, is that it may be due to seasonal weather as refiners change from one fuel blend to another. Petrol refiners often change a higher volatility fuel to a lower one when summer approaches. This is simply because hot weather causes fuel to evaporate more quickly. If refiners change back to a higher volatility fuel, while vehicles are still exposed to days of extreme temperatures, this may cause swift evaporation of the fuel which, in turn would create too much vapour within the engine.
Source: Free Articles

Bmw 650i pros and cons

The BMW 6 series was relaunched in 2004 with the BMW 645i. This car was a two door, four passenger luxury sports car. This car is ideal for a sports car enthusiast who would prefer a larger, more practical car compared to the 650's 2 passenger, lighter peers. In 2006, BMW upgraded the 645i to a 650i by increasing the engine a little. When including options and taxes, the 650i tends to run at about $80,000, so it's not exactly cheap. Here are the pros and cons of the car:
Pros
Amazing handling: The car is amazing to drive. When you drive the car, you feel as if you have total control over the vehicle. A car such as the Mercedes CLS (also priced near $80k) just cannot match this car's handling. The BMW 650i definitely has the handling one would expect from a German-made luxury sports car.
Gadgets: The BMW 650i comes with BMW's Idrive, an all-encompassing electronic system. The Idrive controls the navigation system, music, air conditioning, as well as communication system. The Idrive also has voice command, making it easy to use when driving. Some believe the Idrive is a bit difficult to operate. That's hogwash. Within two weeks of owning the car, anyone competent enough to use a computer or a DVD should be able to operate the Idrive flawlessly. The Idrive is the gadget-lover's ultimate car toy.
Interior: The interior of the 650i is beautiful. It has modern, classy feel to it. Your taller passengers will certainly appreciate being seated in the front though, as the back is not exactly spacious.
Acceleration: With a V8 and 360 hp, the car isn't exactly going to be outrun by a Civic. The acceleration and amazing breaks can also help you get out of accidents that other cars wouldn't be able to avoid.

Cons
Reliability: Expect to make stops at the service center every now and then. While it is a wonderful car, it is prone to electronic and tire issues.
Price: At about $80,000, it's not exactly in the everyman's budget. But if you are willing to spend this much money on a car, the 650i is definitely a good one to check out.



Source: Free Articles

Succeeding as an automotive marketing director

The job of an automotive marketing director is one of the most difficult in the industry. Marketing new cars, trucks, and other vehicles is an important aspect in determining the success or failure of an automotive firm. Indeed, developing winning marketing campaigns and distinguishing between your product and the competition is a key factor in drawing consumers to their local dealership. Automotive marketing directors are in charge of the busy design, sales, and administrative professionals that help put together marketing campaigns. Due to the high stress and importance of their job, automotive marketing directors may not realise that they need to sharpen their skills in order to succeed in their jobs. A director who is immersed in managing multiple marketing campaigns can often lose sight of how they can improve upon themselves. These marketing executives need to ensure that they are at the top of their game not only for their own professional success but the overall success of the firm. The question for automotive marketing directors is how they can improve upon skills while in the thick of their stressful lives. The first step in increasing productivity in automotive marketing positions is to develop an inventory of skills needed for daily success. Automotive marketing directors may be busy during their days but they need to take a few minutes to review this list of skills and determine whether they are getting the job done. These inventories are an important first step towards success. A marketing director may realise that they are not keeping up with the latest in industry news. Marketing directors in the automotive field need to stay updated on what their firm is doing, what other firms are doing, and the major trends in the automotive industry. The Internet makes finding news very easy and an automotive marketing director, with trade publications and news sites available with the click of a button. Automotive marketing departments also need directors who are creative. Directors need to look back to past campaigns on a regular basis in order to avoid repetition in corporate marketing. As well, directors need to speak with their designers and developers to determine the best way to promote new product lines. A combination of conversation and creativity can lead to great campaigns. Finally, automotive marketing directors need to be strong communicators. Directors can organise informal meetings, one-on-one sessions, and online forums in order to stay in contact with their subordinates. The ability to communicate with co-workers reflects on the ability of a director to communicate product information to the general public.
Source: Free Articles