Best cheap or free appearance mods
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 595
Likes: 0
From: Miami, FL
Best cheap or free appearance mods I'm looking to get a few things done eventually like- black wheels, CETA paintjob, blue dash lights, WS.6 hood, HID lights, and maybe more. But I don't have even close to enough money to pay for all that, and I'll probably be spending more under the hood and under the floorboard than I will on the appearance. So are there any cool appearance mods you guys have done relatively cheaply?
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,535
Likes: 1
From: The Houndstooth
Its not completely free, but you can spray paint your factory brake calipers and rotor hubs black. The no-rust look is in I hear 
. Also some type of black paint or sound deadening type coating carefully applied to the wheel wells always makes a car look better.
Some people remove the ever so often "fading bird" logo from the back panel between the tail lights completely, leaving it solid black. There are some threads on how to do that if the search isn't acting up.
If you have a manual / non-power antenna then you can pull the ball off the end of it... trim it down shorter and re-attach the ball for a less "RC Car" appearance.
Last but certainly not least.... keep it clean... literally! wash it, vacuum and keep it shiny all the time
So many people tend to neglect this one... in the winter time especially.
. Also some type of black paint or sound deadening type coating carefully applied to the wheel wells always makes a car look better. Some people remove the ever so often "fading bird" logo from the back panel between the tail lights completely, leaving it solid black. There are some threads on how to do that if the search isn't acting up.
If you have a manual / non-power antenna then you can pull the ball off the end of it... trim it down shorter and re-attach the ball for a less "RC Car" appearance.
Last but certainly not least.... keep it clean... literally! wash it, vacuum and keep it shiny all the time
So many people tend to neglect this one... in the winter time especially. 
formerly mystic-t/a (changed 02/05/2013)
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 403
Likes: 0
From: Oakley, CA
What is CETA?
As for mods...
Like dduncan said, keep it clean, that is one thing that will catch peoples eyes no matter who they are.
Overlays (cheap, but you get what you pay for)
Paint stock rims black
Paint calipers, rotors
Side molding delete
Smooth locks (suttle but cheap)
Exhaust tips
Think thats it
As for mods...
Like dduncan said, keep it clean, that is one thing that will catch peoples eyes no matter who they are.
Overlays (cheap, but you get what you pay for)
Paint stock rims black
Paint calipers, rotors
Side molding delete
Smooth locks (suttle but cheap)
Exhaust tips
Think thats it
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Originally Posted by mpe488
how would you paint stock rims black and actually do a good job cheaply?
-clean very well with a degreaser (dish soap)
-sand with a high grit sand paper (very fine sand paper)
-use primer
-spray each coat very thinly
-sand lighty between coats
-finish with a clear coat (if you want them shiny)
-dont hit curbs with your rims
Copy & Paste Moderator
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,763
Likes: 206
From: Eastern MA
Since you have an A4, you can install a leather shift boot.
Its only $20-$30.
Here is a pic of my leather shift boot on my auto:
Link in case image doesnt show:
http://users.rcn.com/my57chevy/shiftboot.jpg
Here is my write-up of how I installed a leather shift boot on my auto:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showpost....11&postcount=3
Its only $20-$30.
Here is a pic of my leather shift boot on my auto:
Link in case image doesnt show:
http://users.rcn.com/my57chevy/shiftboot.jpg
Here is my write-up of how I installed a leather shift boot on my auto:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showpost....11&postcount=3
calipers painted, paint the brackets in your engine bay....check junkyards out, this morning i found a demolished black SS 
R.I.P. but ya i took the black filler panel thing off the back and now i have a cheap *** berger panel complete with SS emblems and free vinyl inserts 
R.I.P. but ya i took the black filler panel thing off the back and now i have a cheap *** berger panel complete with SS emblems and free vinyl inserts 
Originally Posted by Gipraw
that has NEVER been free..
here's one: remove the visors. I'm really liking it now, although my gf is PISSED i have no mirrors, so she jacks my rear-view to check her make-up.
