Choosing the Right Body Kit for Your Mercedes
While your Mercedes certainly offers plenty of style and aerodynamics, you might find that adding a body kit can offer added benefits. You can achieve everything from a unique look to better performance and handling on the road or track, but you’ll need to make sure that you choose the best possible option for your needs. What should you know about body kits and aerodynamic add-ons? Here are some important things to consider.
Front Spoiler
While rear spoilers are the most famous and most visible, front spoilers provide quite a few performance benefits. Of course, they also add to the look for your Mercedes, as well. Front spoilers (also called air dams in some areas), provide additional down force and streamlining at the front of your vehicle, where the greatest concentration of airflow will be.
Rear Spoilers
Rear spoilers come in several different flavors. You’ll find that your options range from small spoilers that are little more than additional lips on top of your trunk lid to “wing” spoilers that stand far up from the body of your car. A spoiler’s job is simple – they provide down force on the back of the vehicle where there’s less weight. This ensures better contact with the road surface and overall handling. You’ll find that larger spoilers don’t necessarily offer any additional down force, though. They’re really more about style and appearance than functionality.
Rear Diffusers
Rear diffusers are built into the rear bumper. Their job is pretty self-explanatory – they diffuse the airflow coming from under the car, helping to cut a cleaner path through the atmosphere while driving at speed.
Skirts
Skirts fit at the bottom of the vehicle, over the stock body panels, and often coming slightly lower than the bottom of the OEM body. Skirts do several things, including offering a sportier appearance for your Mercedes. However, what they really offer is better aerodynamics overall, helping to reduce resistance and streamline your vehicle.
How to Choose the Right Body Kit
The right body kit for your car might be very different from the ideal option for another driver. It’s important that you know exactly what you want out of body kits and aerodynamic trim pieces prior to making a purchase. For instance, if you really only want more down force on the rear of your car, a rear spoiler is all that’s necessary. On the other hand, if you want the best possible aerodynamics and a unique style, then a full body kit is the way to go.
First, you’ll want to ensure that the kit you buy is manufactured specifically for your Mercedes. While there are one-size-fits-all kits out there, they’re really not advisable. They offer poor fit and performance, and chances are very good that you’ll find they don’t last long. Always opt for a kit made to fit your car.
Buy Brand Name Kits and Accessories
When you venture out into the world of body kits and accessories, one of the first things you’ll notice is the number of “off brand” options available. These are usually very affordable and made to look high quality – don’t be fooled. While off brand options can help you save money initially, they’ll cost you more in the long run. Moreover, smart shoppers can find ways to save cash while still getting the quality that comes only with brand name kits and accessories.
Some of the names you should know when you start shopping include AC Schnitzer, Arkym Aerosport and AMS Performance, Blitz and Agency Power. Shop smart and buy the best quality you can afford.
Stan Thompson offers advice on car parts from body kits to air intakes and more. Visit VividRacing.com for vividly designed and engineered for speed auto parts.