[A777R]

Well I am in the market for the new Fronx and due to the atrocious pricing on the top end version, doing extensive research on after market additions - some of them cosmetic and some of them functional.

What has completely surprised me is the level of fit and finish some of these car accessory dealers are showcasing on YouTube. They offer discounts on Maruti genuine accessories and the fit and finish looks on par or in some cases even better than the OEM fittings.

For example they are offering piano black finish on the centre console with a smaller touch screen that even Maruti does not offer. Maybe this has become the norm in the last few years but I was still surprised by the kind of options being offered for relatively reasonable prices.

Now obviously the electronics such as ICE and LED lightings could be of suspect quality but everything else that these dealers are fitting looks really good (at least in the videos).

If this trend continues, I genuinely think it would not be such a big risk to buy the lower variants and get them upgraded.

I suspect a couple of big reasons for this trend are -

1. A vast and updated catalogue of genuine Maruti spare parts and accessories
2. The modern car is much more modular and easier to modify than the older ones

This is just a random video from a dealer in Delhi who claims to accessorize 6 Fronx(s) every day amongst many other cars. (I am in no way associated with this dealer but he has been putting a lot of Fronx videos lately)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbLHWwmpXOY

[GTO]

1. Years back, I had thought of the car accessory shop as a declining business - full article (The local Auto Accessory shop - A declining business). And to some extent, I stick by a lot of those opinions. Today's top variants (and many mid-variants) are very well-equipped & come with practically everything! Even the OEM sound systems have improved (it was a must-have aftermarket accessory at one time), sunfilm has been banned and dealers throw in freebies for mandatory stuff (e.g. floormats).

2. But there are a lot of buyers of sparsely equipped lower variant cars keeping the business alive. Plus, the sheer size of the market! Today, more 15 - 25 lakh cars are being sold than at any point in the history of the Indian car scene. These customers have a bigger wallet for accessories than an Alto customer.

3. And I must compliment the after-market for responding with truly high-quality, tempting upgrades. If you are willing to spend, you can get top-quality body wraps, PPF, LED headlamps, leather interiors, 18 - 22" rims, ICE etc. in the market. These have replaced sunfilm, Autocop security systems, horn upgrades, blinking Pioneer stereos etc which were mandatory accessories from 1990 - 2010.

For my 530d, Superb & Sunny, I never visited the auto accessory shop. But for my Thar, I practically raided the after-market with an F16 (link to modifications (My Modified Mahindra Thar 4x4 Review | Red Turbo-Petrol AT Convertible))!

4. Due to manufacturers also overpricing the higher variants, there are splendid options in the aftermarket to convert your base variant into a top one - link to thread (The curious case of the ‘converted’ Cretas! People buying lower variants & then adding extra goodies).

[Mr.Boss]

Originally Posted by A777R

I suspect a couple of big reasons for this trend are -

1. A vast and updated catalogue of genuine Maruti spare parts and accessories
2. The modern car is much more modular and easier to modify than the older ones

Adding a bit,
3. Growing technology & tools for reverse engineering. We spent hours or even days to measure and develop a 3D CAD models a decade ago, not that's done in seconds with 3D scanners

4. Base & mid variants are loaded with basic features and provision for additional features these days (earlier that was not the case, pre-wiring, mounting provisions will be missed)

5. Market (people) is encouraging or moving towards these accessories

6. Change in business model. Earlier accessories means sun film, audio, park assist, seat cover, wheel cap, alloy wheels, aux lamps. Now majority of these are either OE fitment or illegal to use. So we move towards something else

[saisree]

IIRC, most of the Creta sales used to be on the E variant and there were lot of modifications that were available in the aftermarket to match the top variant except for the sunroof. The aftermarket business is still on for the ICE, horns, lights and just that, there is a slight decline in the bullbars and the chrome strips.

[Samba]

In the earlier years, we used to visit the car accessory shops for fitting accessories like stereo, seat covers, floor mats, sun films, upgraded headlight bulbs and horn with a relay.

The experience was mixed. I never liked the way the mechanics handled the car. There was always a chance, you end up with a shoddy low quality wiring job, or they do not pay attention on the fuse ratings, or cutting/tapping the original wiring. Few inexperienced mechanics used to end-up breaking the plastic clips while opening the door pads, or any plastic panels. I also hated when they cut or remove the oem seat covers while installing the aftermarket ones.

So, I always had to be present and monitor their work thoroughly. Right from inspecting the fuse ratings to the quality of the wires they used, the way they were installing the seat covers, etc etc.
My presence and intervention used to irk the mechanics as I used to resist them whenever I found their work to be shoddy. I absolutely hated it.

Am happy I do not have to visit the accessory shops anymore!

Now most of the cars come with 6 air bags- So installing an after market seat cover is not even an option for me. If I want to install one, will get one from the dealer, as an OEM accessory.
The accessory shops do offer seat covers which are compatible with the airbags, but I won't trust them where safety is involved.

Most cars come with projectors and leds, so upgrading the headlights are not anymore required.

Now I use the horn as less as possible, so upgrading the horn is not required either.

Sun-films got banned in many states of India. So it's no more an option for me too. Few cars come with factory fitted tinted glasses, and they are actually nice.

Regarding the ICE, now almost every cars come with a decent factory fitted music system.

In today's date most of the base model cars also come equipped with a decent level of features.

Lastly apart from installing few basic accessories, if the original wiring is touched/tampered by the accessory shops,the factory warranty gets void. And now with the extended warranty schemes, most cars are covered for 5-7 years.

Now the car owners are much more well versed, and safety conscious than they were a decade back.

These are the main reasons I feel for the down-growth of car accessory shops.

[ashis89]

On a related note, a decade ago the dealers and service centres used to offer a small range of accessories - a couple of seat cover options, rubber mats, perfumes and a bunch of chrome kits. Today they are trying to catch up with the accessory shops with OE branded tyre inflators, dashcams, LED bulbs, HID kits, touchscreen units, a variety of mats and even in house ceramic coating. They even entice us with knowledge that their accessories will not hamper warranty. IMO, the accessory market and the options available for each model, has grown leaps and bounds and that gives each of these players the room to grow further.

[Samfromindia]

Originally Posted by Samba

Am happy I do not have to visit the accessory shops anymore!

Same here. The only accessories I purchased were from Ford OEM which included Seat Cover, Bumper Appliques, Illuminated Door Sill Plates, Car Cover.

[Tgo]

Originally Posted by A777R

If this trend continues, I genuinely think it would not be such a big risk to buy the lower variants and get them upgraded.

The only accessories I would like to install on my “Base Model” car which are specific to the model of the car would be:

Stereo
Seat Covers
Steering Wrap
Floor Mats
Fog Lamps
Damping
Sun protection film

For the Stereo I would go for the plug and play options as far as possible and only to gain Android Auto/Car Play if not offered as standard.

Damping, only to the interior shell, and only if the interiors are being stripped apart for the stereo install.

Fog lamps, too only if the BCM supports it and the factory control stalk can handle the function. I cannot stand a non OEM switch on the interior of a brand new car.

Steering Wrap is fairly straightforward as wel as the seat covers, and I would go to a shop which specialises in this only. Would be happy to pay over showroom price for a nice snug install which doesn’t tend to crease in the long run and can withstand the wear.

For the film too I would go for a high quality product and install.

The thing is - going to a specialist accessory shop for each item, rather than bundling things together, in which case you have a cheap product bundles with an expensive one.

For cosmetic upgrades, i would buy the OEM trim or panel from the factory spare parts list and install it myself, or at the ASC.

[BleueNinja]

I prefer to go for top variant or second to top variant for extra active & passive security and other essential features that base variant might not provide.

For example when i bought Harrier i initially zeroed in on XT variant but stretched till XZ variant because i couldnt have gotten 6 airbags , off road ABS, perimeter alarm, hill decent control , cornering lamp and traction modes retrofitted.

But that's me, there are many people who buy the base variant with a clear idea that they are saving that extra money which they can use to personalise their car according to their requirements and taste. Creta and Seltos initially amped up the trend because their OEM parts were easily available in open market unlike Toyota and VW whose OEM parts aren't easily available in market.

Seltos's base variant itself is equipped with 4 airbags, all disc brake, steering mounted controls and other goodies which makes it lucrative at the price point at which it's offered. You can simply buy the base variant and take the car to any decent accesory shop get a decent lightning setup, a sound system with infotainment retrofitted, you can basically tweak the whole interior of the car to look like the top variant and in some case even better!

This flexibility has led to rise in increase of businesses who are catering to mod friendly audience. I mean you can find so many shops that are willing to provide ceramic or ppf coating , however the craftsmanship might differ.

Then there are cars like Thar and Polo wherein people are buying/bought top variants but the sheer number of after market mods available for suspension, engine remapping etc make these cars mod friendly. Here people are buying after market mods to enhance their car's capabilities to suit their needs. I recently bought Thar and what amazed me was that in the thar thread itself it seems like every thar has it's own individual characterstic and appearance which i feel is great.

So i think at a high level there are accesories and mods available which affect the "asthetics" of your car and then there are accesories and mods which cater to former as well as performance aspect of your car where modifications have been done not only to personalise the car but enhance the performance as well.

I really hope government relaxes some of the norms it has around modification of car, that would help the market thrive even more.

Cheers!

[PrideRed]

Other than standard cosmetics and electronics, the car accessory dealers have diverted their attention to more profitable options like tuning, performance upgrade and mechanical modifications. Overlanding, offroading culture has taken interest in country and OEM's are providing hardly any options. Take example of Thar, while cosmetic/electronics may get accessory dealer a sum of 50K per car, aftermarket suspensions, tires, winch, offroad protective gear and we are talking a bill upwards of 2 Lakh.

While the sub 10-15L rupee cars go to accessory shop for HU, trims, chrome, LEDs etc. the offroad oriented cars, SUVs, performance cars are going for mechanical upgrades which I believe most accessory shops have started focusing on.

[Sheel]

+1 to all your points and the fact that factory finish is factory finish. Any component fitted as OE in company's robotic / automated plant will have a different level of fit and finish which can not be matched at your neighborhood accessory shop. And I am not even bringing in warranty here.

Originally Posted by Samba

Now I use the horn as less as possible, so upgrading the horn is not required either.

I am forced to upgrade to a horn with a higher decibel rating, though it gets activated with the flick of a switch and I don't use it inside city confines and even I don't press it continuously. I have saved myself and my SUV / car from damage from e-ricks on highways, young lads with earphones on 2 wheelers, tractors, these species won't listen to the feeble OE horn (Ford Endeavour's OE horn was somewhat audible to them) and hence, guilty as charged.

But this installation is carried at my home with my trusted electrician with relays checking out correct load and all.

[GoBabyGo]

Hello - Few months back I was looking for a car for my sister's son (Toyota Glanza base model or Maruti-Nexa Baleno base model) and we were discussing about accessories. I saw some videos and finalized an accessories shop in Rani Bagh (Delhi). I met that guy and attached is the price list of various accessories (All are OEM accessories except LED bulbs) they had in stock. Though my sister's son later bought Glanza V model as that was the only model readily available hence did not opt for these accessories. I spent some good time in the shop as one Baleno was under modification and I was very impressed with the kind of work they were doing.

Although factory fitted is the best, however, some reputed accessories shops are excellent in terms of their work and fitment quality. I do not wish to share the contact details of the accessories guys as of now, but I must say their work is exceptional.

[raj4466]

As someone who has my best buddy into the business, I can say that the availability of child parts, access to part numbers and over the counter sales have helped the industry a lot. We now can help customers upgrade the necessary features that the base variants miss using genuine parts and in 90% cases with OEM wiring. With plug and play harness availability, the old 'warranty will be void' scare tactic by the dealer is also not working much.

Even though I'm not a fan, Android head units paired with gloss black panels are selling like hot cakes due to the OEM looks they can give to the interiors. We recently swapped the new leather wrapped steering wheel with steering controls and clock spring along with an android install on a new baleno which had a dealer provided pioneer unit. He was very happy with the new looks and the OEM parts being used.

[Zippy_wheels]

Well, other than possibly voiding the warranty, we get warranty on standard OEM accessories in top end variants. Plus, all of it can be dealt with at one dealership rather than running around. Manufacturers come up with periodic updates and recalls to fix certain issues - all of this will not be done by accessories shops. Most of them just promise warranties but will rarely honor them.

In any case, a lot of the accessories are chinese and I just dont trust them. I know OEM's also get a lot of equipments manufactured in china, but atleast their QC is better.
Case in point, I bought an android unit for polo, the costliest available, and it still had chinese words and badly written instructions with spelling mistakes. It never really integrated well and was a compromise.

There have been a few cases recently where vehicles caught fire and manufacturers blamed it on after-market accessories. It is an argument which is very hard for a customer to win - especially when dealing with financial loss or loss of lives. It is also a fact that the road-side mechanics are no electrical engineers and use any fuse or copper strip in place of fuse. They use old wires that were lying around and electrical tapes to do the joints. I have never heard a mechanic say no, and most of them end up screwing up the car by not admitting they have not done something before.

Its best to buy a variant that has all the features you like, rather than run around for these in the after-market. I made that mistake once, and ended up spending 2+ lakhs, and never ending troubles, and I am not going to do that again.

[Redwood1970]

At the end of the day, it all boils down to the installer. Having seen work done on the roadside, it makes sense to go only for the reputed accessory shops out there.

Why just single out Maruti / Hyundai. We have a long threads on VAG cars where many users have upgraded their cars with features not available in Indian versions.

Similarly, the accessor market is now maturing and like a few members pointed out above, the availability of child parts as well as the necessary know-how in fitting them has been a key.

I'm surprised to see rear washer wiper being offered aftermarket. For SUVs and hatchbacks, this is a much have which many carmakers don't offer on the base models.