It’s possible to spend just 10% of a car’s value to double its resale price. Here’s how…
While recently sprucing up a rather tired and neglected 14-year-old station wagon for resale, it dawned on me how many significant improvements you can make to a car without spending much money. If the vehicle in question had been sold in its tatty condition, the best offer I would have received from dealers would have been R15 000.
Instead, with some work, I realised that figure could jump to R30 000. I therefore set out to see what I could achieve for just R1 500. Task number one was possibly the most rewarding I have ever had the pleasure of completing…
1. DIY dent removal
Total cost: R0,00
There was a large dent in the roof where a boisterous child had climbed onto it and altered the aerodynamics with one jump. Thinking that I may have to try a kitchen-sink plunger to suck out the dent, I first opened the door and gave the roof lining a whack with my hand. To my surprise, it immediately popped back to shape. Now, if only all car jobs were that easy. If this doesn’t work, try the suction trick; if the metal is deformed, it’s going to need panel beating.
2. Sort out the seats
Total cost: R129,00
Next job was the seats. These were in good shape but dirty. I scrubbed them but soon realised that it wasn’t making much difference, so I bought a set of basic seat covers in black, grey and blue to mask the stains.
3. Polish the headlamps
Total cost: R0,00
Moving to the front, I spotted a pair of jaded headlamps. The polycarbonate had spent many years subjected to bright sunlight and was unsafe. A lamb’s wool pad fitted to an electric drill and some polishing with burnishing paste returned the sparkle. This did take some time, though.
4. Check the tyres
Total cost: R500,00
The spare tyre was brand new, so I intended to replace the tyre in the worst condition with this. However, when I removed the wheel, I realised that this tyre was so worn out on the inside that it would have to be ditched. It wasn’t useable even as a spare, so I had to buy another tyre.
Tip: Never judge the condition of a tyre by looking at the outer tread. Many cars exhibit a negative camber, meaning the inside of the tyre takes a greater load and wears more than the outside.
5. DIY basic service
Total cost: R627,00
I decided to do a basic service. The oil cost R300, and new oil and air filters R327 combined.
6. And some body filler
Total cost: R75,00
This model has plastic wheel trims with a centre badge held in place by the wheel nuts. The wheel trims had some damage but, after I was unable to find matching replacements at a scrapyard (even non-matching used examples would have cost me R150 each), I resorted to some polyester body filler, emery paper and a can of silver spray paint to improve the appearance.
7. Clean the rear lenses
Total cost: R4,00
Lastly, I noticed the dirty rear lamps. I removed three screws from each side, detached the lenses, unplugged the globe cluster and saw that everything was covered in a layer of dust. Cleaning the globes and washing out of the lenses with soapy water did the trick. This is a logical – and important – job on older cars because dust does eventually creep into all lenses.
While I was working on my car, I also spotted a hole in one lens where extra dust was being drawn in. Some silicone sealer and a piece of plaster tape to smooth the surface did the trick, and I finished it off with a spot of red paint. However, if you’re considering selling your car or trading it in, it’s important to take care of even small details like this as they can affect the overall value of the vehicle.
You can get an idea of the trade-in value of your car in South Africa by using online resources that offer valuations based on factors such as the make, model, age, and condition of the vehicle. In addition to the lens repair, a globe of incorrect wattage required replacement and the interior lamp needed a new festoon globe. Luckily, I found one among my hoard of (sometimes useful) junk, although the lugs were partly snapped off, so I had to use some quick-set steel epoxy to get the fitting to stay in place.
Tip: Always take an expired globe with when you want to buy a new one. This double-filament item should have its bayonet pins offset both in depth and angle. Someone was too lazy to obtain the correct-spec globe and had forced an incorrect unit to fit.
At R165 under budget, after my repairs the car appeared presentable and more befitting its low-ish mileage. Doing some basic repair work is a great way to increase the value of your car, even if the labour takes up hours of leisure time…
