Opinion: these are the dumbest things you can do to your car

Car makers spend thousands of hours and millions of pounds developing their cars to make them as good as they can possibly be, however they are constrained by budget and regulations, so there’s a huge aftermarket scene for upgraded parts to improve your car.

Some shiny coilovers on your sports car can make it handle better, or a nice new exhaust can improve performance and sound. However, there are some aftermarket accessories that are best avoided.

There’s no accounting for taste, but these are my least favourite car modifications.

1. Bonnet guards

Stone chips on your car’s bonnet are annoying and unsightly, but not as unsightly as a huge plastic panel stuck to the front. Bonnet protectors (otherwise known as bonnet bras) come in many different forms, ranging from vinyl strap-on sleeves to plastic strips which you attach with screws.

Drilling holes in your bonnet to avoid stone chips is a bit like cutting off your nose to reduce nasal hair – touching in a couple of stone chips with a paint pen is much easier than having to weld up the holes and paint the whole panel. Even the fabric ones can damage your paint over time. If you’re that worried about stone chips, consider a clear protective film instead.

2. Anything you stick to your steering wheel

All modern cars have airbags which deploy in the event of an accident, and it’s really important that nothing gets in the way as this bag explodes out of the steering wheel at over 100mph.

That’s why sticking glittery fake diamonds to the steering wheel emblem is a pretty questionable mod. The shiny accessory will look much less stylish when it’s embedded in your forehead after a minor accident, so just leave your steering wheel alone.

3. Seat covers

This is a controversial one. Seat covers make sense in commercial vehicles which lead a hard life, but in your daily hatchback it’s hard to see the value in adding them. They usually look pretty naff for starters, and finding ones which fit properly are tricky.

To me it’s a bit like putting plastic covers over your sofa. Yes it’ll look great when you take the sheet off, but it’s not exactly homely is it? I’d much rather enjoy my car while I have it and not worry too much about the odd mark here and there – it’s nothing a good wet vac can’t solve when it’s time to sell.

4. Noisy things

I’m a petrolhead, and as such I appreciate a good engine noise. A quality exhaust system on a sports car sounds great, cutting the backbox off your 1.2-litre Clio does not. As you’re screaming up and down the local highstreet, onlookers are not as impressed as you think they are.

Modifying your exhaust system cheaply with a hacksaw just makes your car, or motorbike, sound like it’s broken. You’re much better off leaving these modifications to the professionals – your neighbours will thank you.

5. Chrome-plated everything

Chrome on cars is slowly getting rarer these days. Citroen for example uses hardly any on its new cars, and sleek, blacked-out trim is the in-thing. Well that has clearly upset some people, because you can seemingly buy tacky, stick-on chrome bits to cover almost your entire car.

But just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Door handles, light covers, mirror caps and window surrounds can all be clad in plastic chrome which after a few months will look crusty and faded. Just leave it as the manufacturer intended – it’ll do wonders come resale time.

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Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

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