4 DIY Projects for Cars

Do-it-yourself (DIY) projects are very popular since they help save individuals from paying expensive professional fees. Also, there’s plenty of information available today for various improvement projects. In particular, you can find easy-to-follow instructions to help resolve different car and vehicle issues. And if you need to replace certain car parts, you can easily order car parts and auto accessories that suit your car’s specific make and model from trusted retailers. Best of all, DIY projects for vehicles can be completed within a day—even if you’re a first-time DIYer. It doesn’t matter if you’re enhancing your car’s appearance or improving its performance. Here are DIY projects for cars you can easily do, regardless of your skill level:

Restore Your Car Headlights

Over time, your car’s headlights can get dirty and foggy as their protective coating wears out. This is mainly because road debris and the sun’s UV rays damage the coating. As a result, your headlights may not provide the same level of illumination as they did before. At times, it may feel like you’re driving blind in the dark, rain, or snow. Also, foggy headlamps don’t look very appealing. Fortunately, you can DIY headlight restoration using items you may already have at home.

Begin with cleaning your car’s headlights with soap and water. You may also use glass cleaner to remove any dirt. Then, get a small amount of toothpaste, about the size of a fingertip, and use a piece of cloth to rub the product on the headlight. Make sure your headlights are wet when you do this for the best results, and repeat the process as needed. Afterwards, rinse off the toothpaste and wipe the headlights dry. This should help remove the grime that makes your headlights appear cloudy.

DIY Projects for Cars – Install a Backup Camera

If your car doesn’t come with a backup camera, as many newer models do, installing one is a good idea. Backup cameras provide drivers with a live view from behind when  they put their vehicle in reverse.  This car accessory provides a clearer view of what or who is behind you, making your drives much safer.

While you have various backup camera options, installing a wireless backup camera is a good idea. This is easier to do because this type doesn’t require attaching wires to connect the camera to the display.

Before installing the backup camera, turn off the car’s engine and safely disconnect the battery terminals. Then, find the area where you want to mount the camera. Typically, the best places are on the rear license plate or near it for a better view of the back. Once you’ve mounted the camera, connect it to a power source, which can be the taillights or the license plate light. Then, follow the manufacturer’s instructions about how to properly connect the camera to the display. 

Change the Engine Oil

As you put more mileage into your car, the motor oil will break down and become less effective in lubricating vital engine parts. If you continue driving with dirty engine oil, you can potentially damage your car. This makes changing your engine’s oil a good candidate for your next DIY project. Another maintenance task you might consider is upgrading your BMW’s n54 charge pipe for improved performance and durability.

As a recommendation, you need to change your vehicle’s engine oil every 5,000 to 7,000 miles or about 8,000 to 11,000 kilometres. Also, during this time, you need to replace the oil filter. 

When changing the engine oil, lift your car high enough, so you have room to work under it. Next, keep your car secure using a hoist or jack stand and locate the oil pan and filter. Position an oil drain pan underneath to catch the old engine oil before removing the drain plug. Let the engine oil drain until it’s empty or when the flow slows down to a trickle. Then, replace the oil filter and put back the drain plug. Fill the engine with the manufacturer’s indicated volume of oil using a funnel to avoid any spills or messes. 

Rotate Your Car’s Tires

Because they’re in different positions and roads aren’t 100% even, tyres don’t wear out exactly at the same rate. For example, one tyre may roll over more road hazards than the other three. To ensure they wear evenly and last longer, rotate your tyres every two years.

When rotating your tires as a DIY project, ensure you have the right tools. These include a car jack, jack stands, and a lug nut wrench. Then, do the rotation according to the kind of vehicle you have. If your car has a front-wheel drive, rotate the tires in a forward cross pattern. This means removing the left front tire and putting it to the left rear while the right front tire goes to the right rear. Then, the left rear tire should be moved to the right front, and the right rear tire is positioned to the left front.

On the other hand, if you have a rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive vehicle, follow an x-pattern when performing a tire rotation. This means you interchange the left rear tire and right front one while switching the right rear tire with the one on the left front.

DIY projects are meant to be easy for anyone, even if you don’t have professional training. It’s the same with these DIY projects for cars. As long as you have the proper tools and the correct replacement parts, some car maintenance and upgrades can become your next DIY project. 

Photo by Craig Cameron on Unsplash