Picked up my new PC3 today - HIDs installed, debadged, more to come

I fooled around with my tails today and designed some vinyl overlays that leave the essential lights uncovered while visually reducing the size of the light assembly. Still assessing the result. Changes/refinements may follow.

 

ufourya,

Did you paint the sides of the tail lights or did you buy them? Or did you cover them with vinyl?

 

I'd be curious to see how rear turn signal visibility is with those wraps on. It looks like you only left barely a sliver showing.

 

I made templates out of lucite and cut around with an exacto type blade - certainly wish I had more sophisticated equipment! It took a few tries and is still not perfect. Actually there are two templates - one for the sides that wraps around at the top and leaves the turn signal clear just where the light bulb is. The second covers the back-up lights. A big pain is correctly locating the cut-outs for the vortex generators as I don't have the proper tools for cutting them into the template.

I am thinking of a lighter smoke or red for the center stop light as well. I think smoking the entire tail would look really nice, but am concerned about the permanency of paint/legality. Law enforcement with time on its hands seems drawn to me. I have been stopped three separate times for tag issues. Covered tag with lightly smoked plastic, tag inside front windsheild, and clear plastic cover are all no-nos around here. I have given up on that as I have better things to do with my time than converse with public servants. (Like wasting it at Prius Chat.)

Do you have a link to the jdm garnish? I'd like to see how it looks, cost, etc.

 

Thank you. OUCH! I think I'll keep refining the vinyl 'til I'm happy. $15 and some elbow grease vs. $350.

 

The sliver is where the bulb is, so it's not a problem. At night the whole thing lights up as the vinyl is translucent. Maybe I'll edit later with photos.

 

View attachment 38514 View attachment 38514 Turn signals lit by emrgency flashers + new lightly smoked stop light. Top center stop remains uncovered. It does not bother me in OEM condition.

 

I like the de-badged look as well, I'd do it in a minute to the rear of my car but they tell me there are holes where they are mounted not just adhesive. I had 2 Audi TT's and de-badged them too also my '06 G35.

FYI I used dental floss instead of string and got the badges off with no worries, it was the Glide brand I used.

There are people that make film for tail lights if you want to make them all red you might consider that option.

Cheers

 

yuck

 

Jealous, huh?

 

You made this guy jealous.

 

Seems so, but if I'd known that he won a trophy for YARD OF THE WEEK, I'd have been more careful in my assessment.

 

I just debadged my C today and it does look nicer and people won't constanly tail gate me because they read I drive a priusC.