To MOD or NOT TO MOD: Do Most People SCREW Their Cars Up By Modifying Them?

To MOD or NOT TO MOD: Do Most People SCREW Their Cars Up By Modifying Them?
This seems to be an age-old question that gets tossed around once and a while. And, with good reason.

Let's paint a pretty picture:

So, let's say you just got out of your BMW store, you have made your purchase of a brand spankin' new 335i. Sure it makes plenty of power and has a buttload of torque from the factory. In fact, it seems just about right. Or is it? Some will never be completely satisfied.

I remember when the 335s first popped up everyone and their mother was doing all they could to get the Xede chip done. Then the videos of E92s beating E46 M3s were plastered all over YouTube.

But then you have to remember there are consequences to your modding habits; voided warranties and issues down the road.

You cannot blame the auto manufacturers either, as they are the ones left on the hook for some contraption it never thought up or tested on its vehicle. You have to think about this, OEMs spend countless hours testing their products, more so than Jimbo in his shed.

And this encompasses all of the components in vehicles interacting together.

Sure, you can do an engine swap but what about the suspension, brakes and all of the other gear required to make sure this Yugo with a Chevrolet V8 can make a turn?

Then there is the philosophical debate, cosmetics.

Don't even get me started on these fools. You know the clowns with the 323Ci and put M3 "gills" on the fender.

Yikes.

Anyway, we want to hear what YOU think.

Let us know in the comments below.








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WorldofLuxuryWorldofLuxury - 4/9/2010 11:14:48 PM
-1 Boost
The whole front bumper of that 7er is messed up, but I think it's kinda cool. Yes... most people screw up, but at least their cars become more personal. Man I love that original Bangle 7er. Only he could pull off those headlights; you guys should really see what the renderings had in mind.


Joe_LimonJoe_Limon - 4/9/2010 11:21:50 PM
+1 Boost
Modding is a learning experience, the more you do it the more proficient you will become in making something that is reliable. I really don't recommend modifying an expensive car the first time you do it...


Agent009Agent009 - 4/12/2010 8:43:00 AM
+1 Boost
I rarely keep a car stock. Stock is fine IF you want to blend into the crowd, but modding it can be a tasteful and rewarding experience.


JRobUSCJRobUSC - 4/9/2010 11:41:37 PM
+2 Boost
WTF is that monstrosity of a 7-series???


theoptimisticpessimisttheoptimisticpessimist - 4/10/2010 6:25:36 PM
+2 Boost
Did you mean monstrosity or mansory, oh wait same thing.


themantheman - 4/10/2010 12:17:27 AM
+3 Boost
Some reputable modification companies like Alpina, Brabus and Overfinch offer great, classy and subtle enhancement to your vehicle. I see nothing wrong with that if you have the money.

But going after Mansori, Hamann or Techart...These companies turn art instantly into a POS..

I suppose the worst form though is just going to an unknown shop to "sup up" your car...and well the (hideous) results in that 7 series above speak for themselves..




Agent63Agent63 - 4/10/2010 7:42:55 AM
+1 Boost
TechArt does great work for Porsche. The best any other company can do. They are almost like how Brabus is to Mercedes.


LACMANLACMAN - 4/10/2010 12:46:54 AM
+1 Boost
The camo Bentley GT on here the other day was a disaster. Those gold-plated Mercedes-Benz's and chrome Bugatti's and Hummers (among other expensive cars) in Dubai are tasteless. Once Mansory tuning touches a vehicle, its a car wreck.

We can be critics all day long until we turn blue in the face. At the end of the day though, its their car to do what they want to it. I can say "Yuck" and they can turn right around and ask me "Well, where is your stock one?" and shut me the hell up.

Basically, to each his own folks...


truckmantruckman - 4/10/2010 2:35:55 AM
+2 Boost
To me this is a waste of money, but what ever ? People have strange ideas, when people modify trucks they are almost always throwing there money away when they lift it, the majority of lift kits reduce wheel travel and raise your center of gravity, to change your suspension properly is expensive on a 4x4, If your kit increases wheel travel it will be money well spent.


eric452eric452 - 4/10/2010 2:53:28 AM
+3 Boost
thats not a 7 series

http://www.jorymon.com/vehicle/nissan-maxima-bmw-7-bmw-m3-lamborghini-toyota-supra-monster-sport-car/

its a modification monstrosity


BondMI6BondMI6 - 4/10/2010 3:38:47 AM
+3 Boost
To each his own.

Some designs clearly could use enhancement and/or more power. The question is, is it done tastefully or not. If so, everyone applauds. If not they cover their eyes........


gkearns56gkearns56 - 4/10/2010 7:03:22 AM
+2 Boost
There are only a handful of cars that can pull off the doors that swing upward and the 7 series is not one of them. Remember the gull wing doors on the old MB roadsters; that was beauty. The hood on this 7er looks like a POS jig saw puzzle. I have seen several modification companies have an art to really enhancing the beauty of a car. Remind me to NEVER use these fools.


SteveSteve - 4/10/2010 7:50:00 AM
+1 Boost
Modding your car is an expression of individuality. Just look to the millions of Harley-Davidson rider "individuals" to see how that works.


Agent63Agent63 - 4/10/2010 7:50:08 AM
0 Boost
I use to be a rice-rocket kid rolling around in my 99' GSR with a bodykit, 18" wheels, springs, and a gigantic non-functional spoiler thinking I was the coolest guy on earth. Oh and of course you can't forget the Alphine subs and speakers that will boom your panels loose. That was so 90's.

This day and age people upgrade to luxury cars to tune. They are more tastefully done these days with proper aesthetically pleasing 'mods'. They are no longer purely exterior modifications. More people tune their ECU and change more motor parts than wheels, spoilers and body kits, that is something of the past.

There still are many tuners out there who are independent. I feel that those individuals have a passion for cars and passion in creating their own vehicle, whether its doing a front end conversion or swapping motors. To each their own. However, reality is reality, we see more luxury-tuned vehicles than import-tuned vehicles. More Mercedes, BMW's, and Audi's are tuned these days than ever before.

If you got taste in cars then by MODDING your car it's not a tragedy. I've seen some very nicely tuned cars exterior, interior, and under the hood. Much respect to those builders.


KZ258KZ258 - 4/10/2010 4:42:58 PM
-1 Boost
this is my kind of an article.

i will ALWAYS mod. i hate factory products and components on my car or any of my electrontic devices. the manufacture, i think, always uses the bare minimum requirements throughout the entire car. EX: the stock pulley on my car weights like 9lbs. underdrive? 2lbs. difference? increased gas mileage and performance. this pattern is the same with almost all the available engine upgrades to the common car.

BMW especially proves my point in this(no auto steering wheeling tilt, base model is horrible).

i am not a poser tho. i will not dress up my "330i" to look just like an M3 or whatever. i will try to make it look more appealing without the overkill.

another side note: real modders drive stick, real modders do their OWN labor.


SteveSteve - 4/10/2010 6:41:45 PM
+2 Boost
"Real" bikers ride Harleys. Yeah, I've it all before ;-)


LexSucksLexSucks - 4/10/2010 9:20:59 PM
0 Boost
They're folks who have over 100,000 miles on their modded EVOs. All they've done to it during that time is normal maintenance. Just because the author of the article doesn't have the balls to mod his vehicle shouldn't give him a reason to knock the folks who do.


tangotango - 4/11/2010 2:50:43 PM
+1 Boost
I have modded in the past, but one of the things I was always mindful of is when it comes time to sell the car. I always keep original pieces and avoid making adjustments that cannot be reverted. Now, I would never buy a modified car, not even one that has aftermarket rims. Rims and tyres, if not properly matched to suspension position can seriously destroy a car's handling. Bone stock for me. This has nothing to do with balls (or any other body part) being absent or not big enough. I just want my vehicle the way the manufacturer intended it to be. Simple.


LexSucksLexSucks - 4/12/2010 2:29:48 PM
0 Boost
"I just want my vehicle the way the manufacturer intended it to be. Simple. "

Which may not always be the best state of tune. Instead of just not even considereing any car that has eftermarket wheels, You do realize that you can find out for yourself if the wheels are properly matched by checking the offset of the wheeks (among other things)? There are people who know what they are doing when they modify thier cars. Original doesn't always mean best. Would you discount a car if the owner put on better tires than the original equipment tires? At that point the car isn't the way the manufacturer intended it to be so I guess you wouldn't consider that vehicle?

If a person doesn't know crap about cars, then it is best for them to stick to the "100% stock" rule to prevent problems. That doesn't mean that if a car is 100% stock, it is always better than a car that has been modified. If a person is into cars and knows what to look for, purchasing a modified isn't a scray proposition. The modified car might already have mods that he planned to get. Now he doesn't have to.

It comes down to this; Vehicles are not at there best in stock forms. It is possible to make the car better than stock yourself in almost every aspect. But some folks think that the car is always best stock. For that person I'd say; "Get a Clue"
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