m3pare's Build Journal | 2012 WGM Prius Three

Hello everyone!

I’ve been a member on here for a few years now but I haven’t done a formal introduction of my build yet. A little about myself… Before my Priuschat addiction , I was a huge older Bimmer enthusiast for the past 7 years or so. I signed up on the forum in 2013 when my sister bought her 2010 WGM. I still remember going through @HAWAIIANBUILT ’s thread the night we came home from Longo Toyota to see how I could mod my sister’s new car. After a few more years of dealing with high maintenance cars with mediocre gas mileage, I was convinced to follow my sister’s footsteps. And so my search began…

With a WGM Gen III already in the family, I was set on two colors – either Blizzard Pearl (inspired by @HAWAIIANBUILT) or Black Onyx (inspired by the black Aimgain-kitted car w/ Lexus badges when you Google seach “vip prius”). I went to numerous Toyota and used car dealerships and ended up finding a lot of overpriced examples; most had some paintwork the dealers didn’t disclose to me until I had mentioned it. Almost a month went by before finding a good deal on another Winter Gray Metallic Three – with a solar roof! I thought that was rare at the time. Why not?

After an hour or so going back and forth at the dealership, I decided to pull the trigger. As of October 5, 2015, I was now the proud owner of a bone stock 1-owner 2012 WGM Prius Three equipped with the Solar Roof and 44,5xx on the odometer. I left the car overnight so their mobile detailer could clean it up before picking it up the next evening.

Having the car for almost 9 months now, I’ve been extremely happy with the Prius for daily use. It’s much more comfy than any old Bimmer I’ve driven and the newer creature comforts like solar cooling, touchscreen navigation, and oem Bluetooth are a huge plus. You’ll be able to see I can’t keep any car unmodified, which is why I visit the ‘Gen III Accessories and Modifications’ and ‘Private Sales’ sub-forums almost everyday. I’ll be needing a new daily for my daily soon. Haha! Hope you enjoy my build journal!

Joseph

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Here are some of my previous rides…

1995 BMW Dakar Yellow E36 M3/2/A (Widebody Project)
1995 BMW Dakar Yellow E36 M3/2/5 (OEM+ Project)
1995 BMW Cosmos Schwarz E36 M3/2/5 Supercharged
2001 BMW Schwarz E39 M5
2001 Honda S2000 AP1
1995 BMW Alpine White E36 M3/2/5 Slicktop (1 of 16)






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Current Mod List –

Exterior –

- OEM Toyota Prius Plus Performance Body Kit
- OEM Toyota Chrome Lower Door Moldings
- OEM Toyota Window Visors (to be installed)
- Modellista Front Nose Garnish (to be installed)
- VIP Modular VRC110 Wheels (18x8.5/+45F/+35R)
- Rolled/Pulled Front Fenders & Shaved Rear ¼ Panels
- Valenti SB LED Tail Lights
- Luciole Rear Wiper Delete
- Visual Garage Solar Roof Shark Fin
- MIT Accessories 3in1 Signal Mirrors
- MIT Accessories Chrome Mirror Trim
- Carmate CZ270 Blind Spot Mirrors
- DDM Tuning 5000k 35w HID Kit
- Front Parking Light Bulb-Delete
- iJDMtoy LED License Plate Lights (to be installed)
- @sfv41901 DRL Mod w/ Custom Harness
- @Burna J Rear Bumper Support Bracket
- 5% Limo Tint All-Around
- Gloss Black Roof Wrap
- Gloss Black Emblem Backings
- eBay Chrome Door Handle Trim
- eBay Roof Spoiler Lip

Interior –

- Clazzio Black PVC Seat Covers
- Husky Weatherbeater Floorliners
- MIT Accessories LED Illuminated Door Sills
- MIT Accessories LED Luggage Lights
- Carmate NZ511 Center Console Tray
- Carmate NZ512 Door Trash Bins
- @Dylan Doxey #filipinocombo LED Retrofit
- iJDMtoy LED Door Courtesy Lights
- eBay LED Interior Bulbs
- Gentex Homelink Mirror Retrofit
- ValentineOne Radar Hardwire
- YAC Aluminum Engine Start Switch Cover
- Razo Aluminum Shift Knob
- Door Striker and Door Check Arm Covers
- Coded Single Reverse Beep
- Coded Seatbelt Chime Off

Performance/Misc. –

- Megan Racing Street Coilovers w/ Front Swift Springs 8" 5K
- Specialty Products Company Camber Bolts
- Hotchkis Front & Rear Sway Bars
- Cusco Front Strut Tower Bar
- Cusco Center Power Brace
- Apexi Throttle Controller
- Injen Short Ram Air Intake
- OBD-Port Window Module
- Lexus GS300 Horns
- Noise maker unplugged

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Future Plans…

- Repair burnt LEDs on Valenti taillight
- Swap customized vanity plate from old car
- Aimgain Roof Spoiler
- Custom subwoofer enclosure and upgrade speakers
- Clazzio wrap door panels to match seats
- More Cusco braces
- Sideskirt extensions
- Tint 3rd brake light
- Drilled/slotted rotors and upgraded pads
- Re-do window tint lighter to 40%
- G's headlights?
- Install rear camber plates?
- Air suspension?
- Color change?
- Paint roof and front bumper lower accent gloss black?
- Reupholster roof/pillars in alcantara?

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1st night with the new ride…



1st mod - Mike’s chassis braces…



Carmate CZ270 blind spot mirrors…



Valenti SB LED taillights…



Tanabe DF210 lowering springs…



WGM Prii @ 1/30/16 mod party…



FRS Wheels + eBay roof spoiler + stubby antenna + lowes wiper delete…



PCH cruise/shoot with fellow Prii buddies @BZJIN and @Michael Delacruz



Petersen Museum Tech Day 2016…



Rear bumper support bracket mod thanks to @Burna J… (no more sag!)



Clazzio PVC black seat covers + Husky all-weather mats + LED interior lights…




Door striker and door arm covers…



Black front and rear emblem backings…



JDM flush wiper delete thanks to @saulbassfan …



Hoarding more mods awaiting install… (Who can guess what’s in the boxes?)



2-step detail with Chemical Guys V36/V38 followed by a few coats of sealant wax…





Daily and the weekend track warrior I just sold …



Time for the plus performance kit to be installed…



Drove out to @Dylan Doxey's pad the next morning for LED retrofits… #teamnosleep #filipinocombo




Installed Cusco front STB and Injen intake while waiting…



New VIP Modular wheels finally mounted…



Back again @ Dylan’s to finish up the LED retrofits + install LED luggage lights…




Now to Masta @sfv41901’s pad to install 3in1 mirrors + LED door sills…




Had Tony the Fender Roller pull the front fenders and shave the ¼ panels…



Polished and installed the chrome lower door moldings and mirror trim…



Installed chrome door handle trim and rolled by the Kyoei USA bbq…



To be continued...

 

Thank you Chris!! Your car has been a big inspiration to my build.

Went to iJDMtoy a couple weeks back and picked up some LED door courtesy lamps and license plate lights. Installed the door lamps the same night...



Box of goodies came in couple weeks back from HybridPit. Hotchkis front and rear sway bars! They should be installed within the next week or two...



Just recently visited my buddies at 11 Motors in Baldwin Park and Eric of Hsu Designs wrapped my roof gloss black and installed a gloss black windshield banner for me. Installed my black Visual Garage sharkfin first thing after getting home...



Bonus shot of the Prii on her first road trip last year to Yosemite. Averaged 57MPG on the way back to LA...



Dropping some parts off for paint next week...

 

Thank you pare!! Appreciate all your help with the parts.

Thank you Sean!! Can't wait to complete the headlight project soon.

Salamat pare!! Love your build as well. Can't go wrong with Blizzard Pearl!

 

Thank you Rodney!! It's been a pleasure experiencing the camaraderie shared throughout the local enthusiasts of this forum.

Thank you Andrew!!

Thanks pare!! Can't wait to experience #lifeonair soon...

 

Next on today's agenda... prepping for this Saturday's PCH cruise.

- Megan Racing coilovers with front Swift 8" 5k springs
- SPC front camber bolts
- Hotchkis front/rear sway bars
- AVS slim-profile window visors

 

So much for leaving my daily "stock"...

Gotta keep seafood city on the down low pare!

 

Finally buttoned up the coilovers, camber bolts, and sway bars yesterday afternoon with a good friend of mine. Definitely needed that second pair of hands to shave some time. Coils are .5" from maxed out in the front and maxed out in the rear with both collars still. Front will be raised another .5" soon after scraping up the PPP splitters last night. Haven't gotten to the visors yet so that'll have to wait until next week.

Also went to pick up an Apexi throttle controller from HybridPit and ending up leaving with their latest prototype bolt-on chassis brace for road testing. More info coming soon from HybridPit!! Stay tuned. Please excuse the messy garage and dirty trunk carpet.

 

Thanks bro! I'll hit you up by the end of the week with parts list to order/quote.