How to make an old car new: choice tech upgrades to transform your ride on the cheap
Can fitting the latest aftermarket infotainment and safety technology give your old car a new lease of life? Well, yes… and no
Here in the UK we live among an ageing population, and that goes for cars just as much as people. The latest data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders shows that the average car on UK roads is nine-and-a-half years old; a third of cars are more than 12 years old.
This, alongside a dwindling number of private new-car buyers, suggests the country is turning its back on newer vehicles in favour of keeping older workhorses. But given the allure of gadgets promised by the latest models, is it possible to install the latest car tech in an older car?
The short answer is yes, but whether it’s worth doing so is more open to debate. First, however, we need to understand exactly why people are hanging on to their cars for longer.
For one, car reliability has vastly improved over the past few decades. Ben Townsend, head of automotive at vehicle risk intelligence firm Thatcham Research, told us: “The automotive industry has made tremendous strides in increasing the lifespan of cars in recent years. This stems from focusing on reliability, utilising higher-quality materials, refining manufacturing processes, and enforcing strict quality control.”
Secondly, cars are becoming more expensive. A new BMW 3 Series Coupe M Sport would set you back a snip over £25,500 two decades ago. Today, you won’t get a foot in a base new BMW 4 Series (the contemporary equivalent) for less than £45,000 – a rise of roughly 76 per cent.
This figure is generally in line with wage increases and inflation, but it’s important to point out that prices for things such as property and food have risen far above this for years, meaning households have less disposable income.
With this in mind, eBay Motors loaned us its 2005 BMW 330Ci. This is fitted with tech bought from its online marketplace and shows how far you can go in terms of modernising an old car.
To provide an accurate idea of how much each item cost, we’ve provided an estimate for fitting, multiplying the number of hours taken by the average mechanic’s hourly rate of £60.
If you'd prefer to splash the cash on a new car rather than upgrading your old one, there are plenty of car deals via the Auto Express Buy A Car service and you can choose the best offer from dealers around the UK. There are used cars and leasing deals, too, while we can even help you sell your old car.
Our subject car: BMW 330 Ci
- Price used: £8,990
- Auto Express Marketplace 2022 equivalent: £32,000
The BMW E46 3 Series is not so old that it feels archaic, and it still delivers a much more analogue driving experience than equivalent models today; the version we have here is the 330Ci powered by a 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine with 225bhp.
That might not seem like a huge amount of power, but the 330Ci is certainly no slouch thanks to its relatively low 1,500kg kerbweight; 0-62mph takes just over six seconds. A throaty aftermarket exhaust helps the BMW to sing freely, while the six-speed manual gearbox is both satisfying and refreshing in equal measure. And we managed to achieve more than 40mpg on the motorway, so everyday running costs won’t break the bank.
So, how can you upgrade an old car? We find out below...
Blind-spot monitor
- eBay’s choice: CISBO Blind Spot Detection System (£150 + £240 fitting)
While not a full replacement for physical blind-spot checks, blind-spot monitoring systems provide a decent back-up.
Most modern systems typically appear as a light mounted within the door mirrors, or even live camera feeds in the gauge cluster. Aftermarket systems tend to be less elegant, with the one in the E46 coming in the form of pods mounted on the windscreen pillars.
The ones here were a little sensitive, but that can also be the case with factory systems.
One thing worth bearing in mind is that the installation was tricky and time consuming, with eBay’s technicians taking four hours to complete the process. Add this on to the purchase price and we’re not sure whether the huge expense is worth it for the safety benefit it provides.
Dash cam
- eBay’s choice: XTRONS Phone Mirroring Unit (£70 refurbished + £180 fitting)
- Our choice: Kenwood DRVA610R210 Dash Cam Bundle (£250)
Car insurance prices are sky-high nowadays, and older cars typically demand higher premiums because they don’t have the latest crash-prevention technology. So, fitting a dash cam to an older car is a way to not only provide peace of mind, but also to save you cash.
Besides acting as a fantastic means to provide evidence for insurance claims, dash cams are a great way to record events such as road trips or hot laps on a track day. We recommend opting for one that shoots in at least 1080p (4K resolution should give the best image quality), while a large-capacity microSD card is key for storing hours of footage.
The front and rear dash cams on the BMW are housed next to the rear-view mirror and third brake light and offer decent picture quality.
Head-up display
- eBay’s choice: Unbranded HUD Unit (£20 + £60 fitting)
Head-up displays (HUDs) are usually pricey options, but many of the options available online will set you back less than a short taxi ride in London.
Unfortunately, you get what you pay for, with many systems failing to provide the type of instant response and breadth of at-a-glance data you’d expect from a factory system.
For example, although the HUD retrofitted to the E46 is crystal-clear, it works by reflecting off a square of plastic film fixed to the windscreen, which really cheapens the whole effect. Plus, despite plugging directly into the vehicle’s onboard computer, it can be rather slow to register your speed. Given that it’s there in your eyeline, you do also tend to focus on that rather than the main speedometer and thus occasionally stray over the limit.
Infotainment
- eBay’s choice: XTRONS Phone Mirroring Unit (£220 + £120 fitting)
- Our choice: Sony XAV-AX4050 (£380)
- Honourable mentions: Porsche PCCM (From £1,400), Land Rover Classic Infotainment (£999)
Our lives are dominated by screens, so it’s not surprising that infotainment systems have become one of the most integral elements of a modern car. The likes of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto enable seamless mirroring of your mobile phone’s interface, providing access to your entire media library, notifications and sat-nav directions all when on the move.
Just because you’re driving an older car, it doesn’t mean you have to miss out on any of this functionality; most older cars with a radio can be retrofitted with a newer aftermarket system that contains many of these features.
While you can easily walk into your local branch of Halfords and pick up any old double-din stereo unit (you may also need to buy a replacement fascia kit to hold it in place), many of us want a more authentic experience. With this in mind, manufacturers including Land Rover and Porsche now sell aftermarket units designed to fit legacy models and look as if they’ve been there since the car left the factory, despite having all the very latest technology.
These units are admittedly very expensive (think more than £1,000 plus the cost of fitting) but really do feel worth every penny. Plus, if you don’t have a model from one of these brands, there are some companies, such as Blaupunkt and RetroSound, that although not offering full smartphone mirroring, still manage to provide features including Bluetooth connectivity for media streaming while maintaining a period-correct look.
The one eBay fitted isn’t one of the bespoke units mentioned above, but the physical buttons, as well as the specific typeface used on them, do blend well with the E46’s interior and could pass as original to the untrained eye.
The display itself, while a lot more responsive than what it replaced, isn’t all that great to look at, though; the edges of the screen overlap slightly with the plastic moulding, meaning some content is obstructed. It isn’t all that bright or crisp, either, and we think it’s a shame that the existing steering wheel buttons aren’t connected in order to be able to adjust the music track and volume.
Reversing camera
- eBay’s choice: XTRONS Phone Mirroring Unit (£20 + £180 fitting)
Reversing cameras have become ubiquitous thanks to the popularity of touchscreens and EU regulations that demand all new cars have some form of reversing detection system.
At the time of the E46’s launch, however, reversing cameras were a rarity. Nevertheless, this one has such a device installed on the bootlid and has been wired in order to show a live feed via the infotainment system.
The execution here isn’t perfect, though; the camera angle is a bit too low, meaning it’s difficult to get a solid view of what is behind. The picture quality isn’t exactly cinema-grade, either.
Nevertheless, such a set-up can be a really handy addition; the ability to programme the car’s exact dimensions in order to generate accurate parking guidelines really does make the feature feel as if it’s been there from the factory.
Speaker system
- eBay’s choice: Gladen ONE 165 E46 (£700 + £120 fitting)
One of the most desirable upgrades available on the new BMW 4 Series is the optional Harman Kardon sound system; it’s up there with some of the best car sound systems on the market.
Older cars typically have less-advanced audio systems with fewer overall speakers, resulting in a tinnier sound, typically also with less bass. You’ll need to ensure whatever you replace your current set-up with has an RMS (power value) that’s compatible with your car’s electronics. Also consider whether you want to replace the standard set-up like-for-like with coaxial speakers, or go for a full bespoke sound system.
The E46 has been equipped with a new speaker system complete with a new amp and subwoofer mounted in the boot. The result? Much punchier sound than one would usually expect from an older in-car sound system; it goes a long way to injecting more life into your streamed music.
Tracker
- eBay’s choice: TruTrack FMT 100 GPS Tracker (£20 + £30 fitting)
- Our choice: TruTrack FMT 200 GPS Tracker (£15)
No one wants to lose their pride and joy, and while a tracking device won’t stop thieves from trying to take it, installing one should hopefully make things a lot easier when you’re attempting to get your car back.
The tracking device eBay chose to fit to the E46 happens to be the predecessor of our reigning car tracker champ, the TruTrack FMT 200. Both require a small monthly subscription in order to work (you can also pay a hefty fee for lifetime access if you wish), but this grants you access to several fantastic features in the TruTrak app, such as geofencing and real-time tracking.
Verdict
Should you upgrade your old car?
So, should you buy a new car or upgrade your old one instead? Well, the answer is not that straightforward.
The E46 we see here is a prime example. Overall, the project cost eBay around £2,500 – although this doesn’t include the £1,000 estimate for fitting.
Thankfully, many of these upgrades can be done by taking things one at a time.
However, older cars such as the BMW here don’t have the same ergonomics as their contemporary counterparts. The screen, for one thing, is mounted much lower than those in more modern cars, so your eyes are off the road for longer. The integration of safety elements isn’t quite as seamless, and you’ll still miss out on things such as autonomous emergency braking or lane-keep assist.
In conclusion, most people will be better off upgrading to a newer car because it will be safer, more spacious, more reliable and more environmentally friendly. However, if you don’t live in an area restricted by emissions zones and want to daily-drive something a little older and bursting with character, there are options out there meaning you don’t have to miss out on some of the most popular and fundamental pieces of modern tech.
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