David in LA

I thought I'd start a thread on cheap mods...say those less than $100 or better yet free!

Here's the list of those I've done or thought about doing...
- remove rear undertray: $0
- DIY rolled fenders: $10 for a baseball bat
- hardwire V1: $10-15 for wire, crimps
- remote V1 display: $50
- recover center tray in leather: $40-50 for leather and glue
- recover door panel inserts in leather: $40 for leather
- stainless steel mesh grill: $20-25 for mesh and adhesive
- drill additional hole in stock rear sway bar: $5 for a new drill bit
- drill holes in airbox: $5 for a drill bit
- replace crap Nokia rear speakers: $50...no need for highend speakers there
- hardwire garage door opener: $50 for switch and wires; or for used Homelink
- VW Passat cupholder: $40
- silver hood emblem: $75-100
- 3M stoneguard for headlights: $60
- Rubbermaid storage case in trunk: $20
- PIAA high beam lightbulbs: $50
- vanity license plate: $40
- Bumperplugs: $35 from bumperplugs.com, or $10 if you DIY
- Euro trumpet horns: E115 now but I bought mine when they were much cheaper
- remove rear cassette tray and replace with empty tray: $15
- white turnsignal bulbs:$10 (but first you have to do clear corner mod:

What other mods have other people done?

graham_mitchell

Not exactly a mod... but what about Rennlist membership!

kkim

RS short shift lever. I've seen them on sale between $75-100 in the past.

Adrienne

Great list, but I'm struggling adding to it with the $100 limit.

So....
Short shifter from Gert ~$95 (at today's exchange rate)
Sirius Satellite radio receiver $145 (okay, a little over $100, but it was on sale!!)

Joe S.

First mod done: Remove front license plate - $0

mborkow

"-remove rear cassette tray and replace with empty tray: $15"
alas, this one has gone up in price...
another good mod for less than $100 is the key conversion (from switchblade to key-fob and lighted key cap)

grmnxtc

Another for Early '95 models...

Keyless Remote to built in Alarm...$80
Ignition switch Light (White LED) $10


Clive.

texas911

$10 Techron fuel system cleaner.

Jastx

Optima 75/35 battery at Costco -- $99.95

mnmblu

Really, this is a good thing to do eh? How often?

nman413

b4 oil change

Ray Calvo

- Replace wiper blades: $2/a pair for Lexor NR rubber refills
- Front bumper license hole plugs: Prob. about $2 for two plastic plumbing plugs from the hardware store (had RTV glue and touch-up paint already)
- Windshield stone hit repair: approx $2 (bought a repair kit from J. C. Whitney ages ago; have lost track of how often I've used it on various cars but had to buy a resin refill bottle due to so frequent use in this glorious area).
- Invisishield/Stonguard clear vinyl protectant along fender edges: $0 (had pieces left over from the front hood/bumper installation, cut sections out of them).
- Built-in garage door opener: approx. $40 for an aftermarket hand-held opener and another console-mounted CEL acknowledge rocker switch, some wire, solder, and creativity.
- Transmission oil fill tube: approx. $10 for a 6 ft length of vinyl tubing and a funnel (when ready to refill I insert the tube into the filler hole, run it out the fender, lower the car till its level, then hold the other end of the tube high, stuff the funnel in it, and start dumping in fresh oil).

- RE the rear fender rolling: I know the "traditional" tool is a baseball bat, but no way could I fit one between the tire and the fender lip. So I used a piece of steel water pipe.

mnmblu

Why would this make a difference??

David in LA

You can wind up with carbon contaminants in your oil that has been loosened by the Techron.

David in LA

I couldn't fit the fat end of the bat under my fender either...I sawed off the **** and used the narrow end. Another bonus of using this end is that as the lip began to fold in I was able to use fatter parts of the handle to bend the lip further in.