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A car may appear to be as complex as quantum mechanics but even a total beginner can roll up their sleeves and perform some basic automotive maintenance. You may be aware of the simple tasks you can do yourself in order to pass your MOT, but there are other simple upgrades that are simple to complete and can help make a car run smoother, boost performance and even add some value if you decide to sell it. We’ve put together a guide of some simple upgrades a total novice and do with ease. Best of all, you can use eBay to get everything you could possibly need while avoiding expensive garage fees and saving your cash.
A fresh filter
One of the simplest upgrades you can do with your car is installing a fresh set of filters. All cars have a number of filters that should be periodically replaced; including oil, air, cabin and fuel filters. Even EVs have filters that should be periodically changed.
Make sure to use the eBay garage feature to find the correct parts for your car. All you need to do is enter in your car’s details (the registration number will do) and you’ll be able to filter the correct parts for your car. Several manufacturers even have official stores selling OEM spare parts.
Air, fuel and oil filters should also be periodically changed to ensure your car is performing perfectly. All are designed to filter out small bits of dirt and debris that may otherwise cause internal damage but can eventually become clogged, reducing performance. They’re relatively straightforward to replace and should provide a noticeable performance boost to a car if the filters haven’t been changed in a while. To find the interval for changing these filters and how to change them, check the handbook.
Genuine Ford Air filter
Price: £11.99 | VIEW OFFER
Bosch Screw-On Oil Filter
Price: £6.50 | VIEW OFFER
Cabin filters meanwhile should be changed to make a car’s interior a more pleasant place to be. If you own a car previously owned by a smoker and you can’t shift that baked-in smell, take a look at the cabin filter and see if it’s been changed. The service interval for most cabin filters is between every 15,000 and 30,000 miles but is incredibly easy to overlook.
Bosch Active Carbon Cabin Pollen Filter
Price: £16.30 | VIEW OFFER
A new lease of life
Most automotive greenhorns will know that small scuffs and scratches can be treated with a bottle of scratch remover but did you know that there are other visual improvements you can make to your car if you use the correct products.
The most obvious visual upgrade you can make is to invest in a good quality black trim restorer. External black plastic eventually succumbs to UV rays and begins to fade over time. Not only does this leave the trim looking grey and tired, but the plastic is more brittle and it can remove value from a car.
A black trim restorer provides a new coating to a plastic piece of trim and some premium examples can last for two years before needing topping up. It’s simply a case of applying it using a foam applicator and letting it cure, a really easy way to add some extra value to a car.
Gtechniq C4 Permanent Trim Restorer
Price: £22.45 | VIEW OFFER
The same thing can happen to a car’s headlights, UV rays can cloud a car’s headlights over time, reducing visibility and again reducing a car’s value. After all, who’d want to replace a pair of headlights in a car they’d just bought? Thankfully there are kits available for restoring headlights. Many make use of sandpaper and are really straightforward to follow, an easy upgrade and a way to increase both road safety and value.
Turtle Wax Headlight Restorer Kit
Price: £10 | VIEW OFFER
Topped up
You’ll be aware that you need to keep your windscreen washer fluid topped up in order to pass your MOT, but there are other essential fluids in a car that need to be topped up regularly to keep everything running smoothly.
The most obvious example is engine oil. It’s very straightforward to check if your oil needs checking, a quick look at your dipstick will show you if it’s running low. Running a car with no oil can be financially ruinous so its a good idea to keep a car topped up with the correct oil.
Castrol Edge 5W-30
Price: £34.99 | VIEW OFFER
Another common task you can perform is topping up your car’s coolant. Coolant helps regulate an engine’s temperature and prevents it from freezing in the winter months. Look for the markings on a car’s expansion tank which will determine whether it needs topping up.
Granville Red Antifreeze and Summer Coolant
Price: £8.99 | VIEW OFFER
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