So you want to purchase a body kit for your vehicle? If you're not familiar with the industry and how these parts work, you've gee to the right place. We here at Creative Auto Designs intend to provide you with the keys to ensuring the best possible experience in transforming your car from OEM to Aftermarket. You've already taken a step in the right direction by looking to this guide. Putting a kit on your car is an investment and it is in your best interest to educate yourself about the process involved in getting it done right.
1) FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE PRODUCT. There are many manufacturers and styles out there for body kits. Many gepanies produce similar style kits but utilize different names for their styles. Be sure to reference the pictures that the gepany is using to advertise the specific style to ensure that you are in fact ordering the style that you want and note if there are any custom modifications that may be shown in the advertisement. Just because one gepany calls their parts one name, does not mean that another gepany is selling the same parts even if they happen to use the same name. If you are unsure as to what the style is called, ask! If you are not sure what exactly is included in the package, ask! If you aren't sure what a particular part is called, ask!It never hurts to ask questions before you place an order to avoid confusion or incurring processing charges. Additionally, all aftermarket aerodynamics are intended and designed for show purposes only. As a result, some parts may require you to modify or remove existing safety equipment on your vehicle. This may or may not be a violation of your local vehicle codes and transportation regulations. Creative Auto Designs is not responsible for any modifications that you make to your vehicle. We advise buyers to contact their local law enforcement agencies to determine whether or not such an installation is considered "street legal" in your area. Do your research before you order to avoid paying cancellation fees, restocking fees, or return shipping charges. Bottom line: there is no such thing as a bad question so when in doubt, ask for clarification.
2)SHIPPING ISVERY EXPENSIVE. Body kits, hoods, etc do not weigh very much, but in terms of physical dimensions, they are extremely large (as wide as, or as long as, your vehicle.) Due to the size of the parts, the majority of these items must be shipped through a freight-specific carrier, much like the ones that deliver items like home appliances or big-screen TVs. These specialized services are employed whenever our products exceed the maximum dimension-limits for your typical carriers (Fedex, UPS, etc). We are frequently asked the question "Why is shipping so expensive when your parts are so light?" The answer is because shipping charges are based on a gebination of the actual weight of the package as well as its size. Meaning that while your box 'only' weighs 45lbs, the actual billable weight (volume taken into account) is more than twice that due to the size of the box. Keep in mind that the shipping charges include not only the transportation fees but also packaging, handling, materials, and 100% insurance coverage. While shipping is extremely expensive, do keep in mind that we do not profit from it; what we charge is exactly what our suppliers charge us. We have done a LOT of research in acquiring the contracts that we have in order to ensure the lowest cost, fastest transit times, and most reliable way to get the parts to you without them being lost or damaged. There are costs that can be cut in these areas, but trust us when we say it is not worth it to deal with these 'cheaper' alternatives that are unreliable. Remember, you always get what you pay for! We are not able to accept requests to arrange for your own shipping, but we do allow for local pickup at our warehouse.
3)AFTERMARKET PARTS REQUIRE A PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION You will find a very low percentage of aftermarket body parts that can easily be installed on your vehicle with no modifications. The majority of these parts are created with hand-laid fiberglass or carbon fiber and as such, have slight variations from piece to piece. This is where your body shop gees into the picture. Depending on your car and the extent of the kit you are trying to install, anything from sanding/shaving to trimming may be required to achieve a professional result. You may also be required to modify, or in some cases remove, the reinforcement bar and/or foam shock absorber. Remember that body kits are designed to to allow your vehicle to stand out from what everyone else has and if installing one was so simple, every one would do it. The fact of the matter is that to achieve a look that very few other people have, you have to be willing to put in the time, money, and work to achieve the best possible look on your vehicle. That being said, not all shops are created equal and the quality of the shop is often just as important as the quality of the parts you are trying to install.
DON'Ts: A) Attempt to install the parts at home, your garage, or in your friend's backyard. Chances are you will not succeed and you may just end up breaking something in the process. B) Take the kit to your local Honda Dealer, Collision Repair Shop, and ask them to install it for you. A large majority of these shops have no experience with customer aftermarket parts and typically only work with OEM accessories that typically snap right on. C) Expect to paint and install your body kit for pennies on the dollar. Prices vary widely depending on location, extent of body work needed (i.e. wide body kit installation is more expensive than a single front lip), and quality of shop. You should expect to pay anywhere between $450 - $1200 for paint/install on your typical 4pc body kit. Finding a shop ahead of time is all the more important if you live in a small town, where its possible you may not be able to easily find a local shop that has the appropriate experience.
DO's:A) Seek out Custom shops that have extensive experience working with your particular type of aftermarket part (Duraflex/fiberglass, urethane, Carbon Fiber, etc). B) Research and pick a shop prior to purchasing a body kit. Call ahead and make sure they are qualified to perform such an installation.
Just because a shop has 30+ years of experience working with collision repair and body work, this does not qualify them to perform the installation. Do your research and always look for samples/references of their past work. If they've never done anything close to show-quality work, it's not reasonable to expect that they are capable of putting these parts on for you. Remember, this is a specialized industry and not every shop has the expertise to properly perform an aftermarket body kit installation on your vehicle.
4) AFTERMARKET PARTS ARE NOT MADE BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS.Aftermarket body parts are not manufactured by their respective vehicle manufacturers and typically do not exhibit OEM fit-and-finish out of the box. Carbon parts gee with a clear coat and are ready to be installed out of the box but other items such as Duraflex or Urethane parts may only gee with a top layer gel coat. Additional surface preparation such as sanding and filling may be necessary before the parts can be painted and installed. Parts may also require some additional edge and surface work in order to achieve the best possible fit and finish on your vehicle. They do not gee pre-drilled and your shop will have to align the part prior to drilling it to achieve proper fitment. They are not a perfect fit out of the box either and they do not include installation instructions. If your shop doesn't know how to proceed with the installation, you need to find a different shop. Fitment modifications may be required as well. This may include, but is not limited to, sanding, shaving, trimming, application of heat, and/or molding.Your shop may also be required to modify or remove the existing reinforcement bar or shock absorber. The part molds are test-fitted before production begins, but every part has slight variations and they are not test-fitted before leaving the assembly line. The flex-resins of the DuraFlex material aid in achieving proper fitment on a vehicle to a certain degree. In addition, the controlled application of heat to key areas can allow shops to manipulate seemingly problematic installation areas into problem-free bolt-up applications. Our manufacturer will review any fitment issues that you may be experiencing with your purchase, however resolution guidelines will be handed down on the premise that the shop has adequate aftermarket experience and is able to perform routine body kit installation procedures. Many timesa bumper that appears to be several inches too wide for a vehicle can, and will, fit properly on a given vehicle if approached appropriately. DO NOT expect these parts to fit just like a replacement part purchased from the vehicle manufacturer, but if you're going to an adequately experienced aftermarket professional, they should have absolutely no problem getting these parts installed and looking great on your vehicle.
These are key steps in avoiding headaches and disappointment in your purchase. If you fully understand each and every one of these statements, then you're a great deal ahead of many other buyers that share your interest. The key though is to understand what is going to be necessary to achieve the results you are looking for. If you still have concerns or questions about a possible purchase, the best piece of advice that we can offer is to contact us so we can discuss your application more in depth. It may sound like a lot of work to get a body kit installed on your ride, but when done correctly the results will show for themselves. Good luck with transforming your vehicle into one ofthe hottest on the streets!
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