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Here is where to buy side moldings and bumper guards.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by Arizona Charlie, Jul 9, 2004.

  1. Arizona Charlie

    Arizona Charlie New Member

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    Side moldings made for the 2004 Toyota Highlander fit the Prius as if they were made for the car. They come with a glue strip on the back of the molding and go on easily. Best way to install them is to apply masking tape directly below where the molding will fit on the door. Check to see that it looks right and then install the molding with its bottom edge directly above the tape. Be certain that the moldings clear the door openings when opening the door before installing them permanently.

    Highlander moldings come pre-painted in Super White, Salsa Red Pearl, Millennium Silver and Black If they do not come in your cars colors, buy them in some other color, take them to your local body shop and have them custom painted to your cars color. I bought them from the Toyota dealer where I purchased my car for $333.00 for the four moldings which is a 30% discount from retail. If you are buying a new Prius you might get your salesman, as I did, to convince the parts dept. to sell the moldings to you at the discounted price. I do not recommend cutting the moldings to install them on a lower spot on the door since they will then have to be sanded and repainted.


    You will need two each of the following part numbers. The numbers are for Millennium Silver moldings.

    75731-48020-BO for the front door
    75732-48020-BO for the front door

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    For pictures and where to buy front and rear bumper guards and side bumper protectors:

    1. Go to ‘Autosportcatalog.com’
    2. Search for ‘bumper’.
    Click on ‘vinyl protectors prevent dings.
    It will take you to the page in their catalog that shows the guards installed on a car.

    You can also call Autosport at 1(800) 726-1199 to order a catalog which has lots of very nice accessories and other goodies.


    Arizona Charlie
     
  2. Astroprius

    Astroprius New Member

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    Can you post a couple of pictures of what these look like on your Prius? Or, depending on where you are in Arizona, perhaps I could get a look in person...
     
  3. fcrimifd

    fcrimifd New Member

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    SideMouldings

    Just had one and eight inch wide, black side mouldings with chrome trim installed by a body and fender mechanic for $20.
    Purchased from J.C. Whitney.com/ for $29.99 plus $7.99 S & H.
    Looks fabulous!
     
  4. michelle

    michelle New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(\"Arizona Charlie\")</div>
    You listed the front door twice. Do you have a part number for the back doors?
     
  5. bruceha_2000

    bruceha_2000 Senior Member

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    Prime Advanced
    The numbers are different, I'd bet the second is the back door, just a copy and paste oops. Changed the part number but not the description.
     
  6. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    I personally like 2" bumper protector strips which will protect your bumpers from most parallel parking scrapes (chipped paint on rear bumper from a car's front license plate bolts; corner scrapes to front bumpers from your turning into a parallel park; and corner scrapes to rear bumpers from another car turning out of a parallel park), but will not protect your bumpers from a heavier collision.

    bumperdefender.com has nice color matched strips for a good price (about $80 for front and rear). You can get 4 free samples from them to try to match your car's color. I like their bumper protector strips because the color is impregnated - it goes all the way through. Compare, for example, the popular side moldings sold on this site where the color is painted on and can scratch and chip off to expose the white or other color undercoating.

    I have a Magnetic Grey Prius, and found a pretty close match with bumperdefender.com's Dark Grey. It looks fine. And if I cared enough for an absolute color match, I could have spray painted the bumper strips with Toyota Magnetic Grey paint, which if it chipped, would expose the pretty close match of the bumper strip with its impregnated color.

    Also, nobump.com has these small (about 1") round bumpers that get screwed into the top screw holes of your front license plate. These give you some protection, but probably protect the rear bumper of the car in front of you more from getting dinged by your front license plate screws when you parallel park.

    If I can figure out how to do it, I'll post pictures later of both the bumper strips and license plate screw hole round bumpers. PHOTOS ARE NOW ATTACHED:
     
  7. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    SUPPLEMENT RE FRONT BUMPER STRIP:

    When I installed the front bumper strip I elected to locate it on a line that ends up covering up the bottom 1/3 of the tow access hole - see picture below:

    [attachmentid=9852]

    I figured (perhaps mistakenly) that this wouldn't be a problem in the event I ever have to get towed. I figured that either the tow driver can still go through the exposed top 2/3 of the tow access hole, or we could pry back or cut/punch through the bumper strip as necessary.

    Does anyone have any thoughts about this?
     
  8. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Boo @ Jul 17 2007, 09:55 PM) [snapback]480729[/snapback]</div>
    You don't need that hole for any normal towing. Maybe if you were way down in a ditch and they had to pull you out with a rope or chain - but really, there's little use for that in the real world. Unless you haul a boat on top - then that thing is invaluable! It doesn't seem like you'll be able to get that plug out unless you first cut out the hole in the bumper strip. I like what you've done, BTW... except for covering the hole! :)
     
  9. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Jul 18 2007, 02:28 AM) [snapback]480756[/snapback]</div>
    Thanks! I feel better. Glad to hear that I don't need that hole for normal towing . . . just for the kinky stuff. :lol:
     
  10. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Boo @ Jul 18 2007, 12:55 AM) [snapback]480729[/snapback]</div>
    NOTE: Another member replied that if I ever have to get towed by a flat bed truck, a tow hook that is supplied with our Prius needs to get screwed into that hole which is threaded.
     
  11. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Boo @ Jul 18 2007, 03:19 PM) [snapback]481109[/snapback]</div>
    FOLLOW UP:

    I went back to the owner's manual. It suggests that you only need that hole and hook in the odd emergency situation where you have to get towed with a rope/chain through the hook.

    I also went back to my car and tried prying back the bumperstrip to remove the plug and access the hole. It was easy to do --- notwithstanding the 3M super-duper glue, I was able to pry back the bumperstrip with my fingers.

    So all in all, I'm not worried any longer. The bumperstrip stays where it is. Although if I could have a do-over ...
     
  12. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    I also just finished installing the PriusChat Shop body side moldings. Here's how my Prius looks with both the PriusChat Shop body side moldings and the BumperDefender.com 2" wide, full width, color matched, front and rear bumper guard strips:

    [attachmentid=10039]

    [attachmentid=10038]

    [attachmentid=10040]
     

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