Simple Fixes

5 Simple-Fix Cosmetic Issues

Buying a used car can mean finding a perfect vehicle for a great deal, but it also means you may have to cope with damage done by previous owners or normal wear. Don’t worry! In most cases, a few visual flaws here and there can actually lower the seller’s asking price and won’t cost you an arm and a leg to fix once the car is in your driveway. If you see a car with a few blemishes, don’t be afraid. It might be your best chance to pick up an otherwise great car, and with a little time and less money you can have it looking as good as it did on the show room floor. Check out our quick list of simple-fixes to see what we mean.

1. Door Dings

Parking-lot rash is all but unavoidable. If the used car you’re interested in was ever parked near other drivers, odds are the sheet metal has at least one or two dings in it. Not too long ago, that meant a trip to the body shop and hundreds of dollars in paint and repair. Now, depending on the type of vehicle, you may be able to use a paintless dent-removal company to fix the damage for a fraction of the money and in much less time.

Jeremiah Keenan, owner of Optimum Dent Removal in Illinois and Wisconsin, says his company uses specially-designed hand tools to repair the metal from behind the dent. That means not every wrinkle in your sheet metal can be taken care of this way.

“There are limitations,” Keenan said. “Depending on the size of the dent and location on the vehicle, we may not be able to help.”

If the ding is in the right spot though, paintless dent removal usually only takes an hour and costs between $80 and $100 – much cheaper than taking the car to a professional body shop. In some cases, your insurance may actually cover the repair, too.

2. Cracked Windshields

If the car you’re interested in purchasing has a cracked or chipped windshield, you can use it as a great bartering tool. Usually, cracks any larger than a quarter should be replaced fairly quickly. The good news is that there are many glass-repair companies out there that will replace your windshield in your driveway or in the parking lot where you work. That means no lost time out of your busy schedule to drop off the vehicle at the shop and pick it up again once the job is done.

These companies bring the windshield to you, remove the cracked or chipped piece right there on the spot and do the install all at the same time. They dispose of the old glass and are usually in and out in around an hour. Just like the dent removal, your insurance may cover the cost of the repair depending on your coverage.

While the glass itself can be pricey depending on your vehicle, many times the labor itself is not. Odds are, you’ve got enough going on to have to bother with scheduling someone else to meet you at the glass shop. In this case convenience counts just as much as your hard-earned dollars. You still get the same high-quality work you would expect from a full drop-off shop without all the hassle. Now that’s a simple fix.

3. Cracked Dash

Sometimes, it’s the damage inside that’s the most trouble. Even the newest of used cars can have cracked or torn vinyl dashes that can drag down the resale value of the car and be an aggravation to live with on a day-to-day basis. If that’s the case with your dream vehicle, there are several possible solutions to the problem depending on the size and location of the crack.

The do it yourselfers out there have the option of purchasing an automotive vinyl-repair kit from auto parts stores or specialty tool Web sites. These usually include special materials that can be blended together to match just about every interior color out there, and helpful step-by-step instructions make the process fairly straight forward. Don’t worry if you don’t feel comfortable taking on the project yourself. Odds are there’s someone right around the corner that can help out.

Most companies that offer interior/exterior detailing also offer interior repair. They tend to have much more experience fixing large and small blemishes and take very little time to get the job done right. Many offer vinyl repair as part of an interior cleaning package, so you might just end up with a flawlessly-clean interior while you’re at it.

4. Dented Bumper Cover

Nearly all modern cars come with painted, plastic bumper covers that make the vehicles themselves more aerodynamic. They also serve to cover up the ugly metal mechanisms that make up your car’s bumper system, but since they’re made out of hard plastic, they’re easily dented. Whether caused by another parking-lot nudge or a brush with a telephone pole or parking barrier, a big dent in your possible purchase’s bumper cover can be unsightly and embarrassing.

The good news is damage like this is fairly easy to repair yourself. The plastic almost wants to return to its former shape, so if you live in a particularly warm climate, the fix may be as simple as parking the bumper in the direct sun on a good hot day. Once the bumper is as hot as it’s going to get, you can usually reach behind the bumper cover and push the dent out. It may not look exactly like it did when it rolled off the show room floor, but it’s guaranteed to look better than it did before the repair.

If you aren’t lucky enough to live in an area with balmy temperatures and plenty of sunshine, don’t worry. Many places that offer paintless dent removal can also take care of superficial damage to your bumper cover. Professionals may use heat guns to warm the plastic thoroughly before massaging it back into place. Since there’s a real risk of damaging the paint or the plastic itself, this type of repair is best left to someone with a good amount of experience.

5. Yellowed Headlight Lens Covers

The king of simple-fixes, clearing up those clouded or hazy headlight lenses can make your used car look brand new again. Most headlight lens covers are made of polycarbonate – a family of plastic that’s incredibly durable and very clear when it’s first created. Unfortunately, over time the protective coating on the outside of the lens wears down and the plastic reacts with UV rays from the Sun. The result is a dingy look that can lower your visibility at night and be a solid bartering tool when it comes time to pick up a used car.

The good news is fixing your headlight lens covers is easy and inexpensive. There are several kits available from local automotive parts stores and online. Usually comprised of sand paper or polish and preservative coating, these kits take a little less than an hour to use from start to finish and drastically improve both the appearance and function of your headlights. Expect to pay around $20 for a do it yourself solution.

Many automotive detailing services will also be able to help you clear up your headlight lenses and may offer the service as part of a larger exterior detailing service. Whichever way you go, getting rid of yellowed, hazy lenses will make a big difference.