Buying a bodykit online? What to check before fitting
Half the bodykits that arrive at our workshop don't fit out of the box. Here's how to spot the bad ones before you buy — and what to ask the seller.
Customer-supplied bodykits are great when the parts are good. They're a nightmare when they're not. Here's what to check on arrival before booking your fitting slot.
1. Material
- PP / PU plastic: flexible, easy to fit, paints well. The good stuff.
- ABS: rigid, decent for splitters and diffusers.
- Fibreglass: heavy, brittle, chips badly. Often needs trimming.
- Cheap polyester resin: cracks at the first speed bump. Avoid.
2. Mounting points
Lay the part next to the car. Do the bracket holes line up with the OEM mounting points? If not, the installer will be drilling holes in your car. Ask before booking.
3. Panel gaps
Dry-fit the part if you can. Are panel gaps consistent left-to-right? A 3mm gap on one side and 8mm on the other isn't 'we'll sort it on the day' — it's a returns problem.
4. Seller will replace defects?
Confirm in writing before fitting. Once primer and paint go on, you can't return it.
What we do at the Cambridge workshop
We inspect every customer-supplied kit before quoting — material, fitment, mounting points, paintwork. We send you a photo report. If it's good, we book you in. If it's not, we tell you to return it before you've spent any more money.
Filed under Bodykit
See the bodykit service page