Los Angeles Car Customization Makes Life Behind the Wheel Easier

Never mind the movies or TV shows where people do all sorts of customizations with their cars- it’s not all about adding video screens everywhere or adding even more horsepower to your ride. Most of the customization that happens today are mostly for convenience and utility, not to win races on the drag strip.

One way to do this is by having Bluetooth, GPS, and XM Sirius systems installed into your car. These are all examples of technology that we already use every day. Bluetooth allows you to connect your phone through a Bluetooth receiver in your car’s stereo system. This makes using the phone while on the road easier, since you can make and answer phone calls while in transit, without having to take your hands off the steering wheel. GPS integration also does the same thing, only instead of your phone, you can program and get directions from your GPS systems with voice from your car’s audio.

Now, the XM Sirius system is especially important for people who love their radio. This hardware is satellite radio- your radio antenna gets its signal not from lan-based radio towers, but from satellite, so that you can listen to your station even when you’re out of range of its tower, no matter where in the United States you happen to be driving.

Bluetooth, GPS, and XM Sirius installations are quite useful, but there are features you can add to your car to actually aid you in the task of driving. There are rearview cameras and parking sensors out on the market that can be of invaluable help in the more difficult driving situations like parallel parking. These devices can make a huge difference: in the case of parking sensors, these will let you effectively gauge the distance of objects you could collide with while maneuvering in tight spots. Rearview paring cameras, on the other hand, do away with the problem altogether by showing you the view from your car’s blind spots, through video screens on your dashboard.

Another option is auto glass tinting. Now, tinting your windshield and/or the windows isn’t just for show. The newer glass tints can effectively increase visibility on very bright days when your eyes are getting the sun’s glare, or filter out both UV and heat. These can make you car cooler (and make your air-conditioner work less), and shield your eyes and your car’s interior from long-term damage from the sun.

So before you write off car modifications as vanities or luxuries, ask yourself what would make your life behind the wheel easier. We all have different needs, depending on how we use our cars: whether you’re having Bluetooth, GPS, and XM Sirius put in so that you’re always connected, or you’re putting in parking cameras and sensors to help you make parking safer, or having your windows tinted to keep the sun away from your expensive new upholstery.

Fixing your car up with custom components like Bluetooth, GPS, and XM Sirius can make your driving experience run much more smoothly. These setups let you talk on the cellphone and work with your GPS easily, and listen to satellite radio from anywhere. Getting rearview cameras and parking sensors are particularly useful safety features, so your car doesn’t have blind spots while maneuvering. And auto glass tinting is a good defense against sun damage to your eyes and your upholstery.

- Eddie Borgwardt