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Possible to order or install factory add-ons after purchase?

Discussion in 'Gen 5 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Tipjar, Jul 24, 2024.

  1. Tipjar

    Tipjar Junior Member

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    I was surprised to hear the Limited trim level can include ventilated seats, a digital rear view mirror, and 360-cam. (But not a power lift gate, I think. Or was it not one with kick activation?) What other features do you know of that are exclusive to the Limited trim level?

    And even so, good luck finding or being able to order the features. Every dealer I've approached has said a custom order will not get produced, and that dealers have to choose from the limited pickings Toyota makes available within that dealer's distribution district. If I search I've found the Toyota vehicle locator to be frustratingly inaccurate. I don't just mean whether a car is in transit, in stock, or reserved. I mean you can enter features through the search filter with a 500-mile radius of San Diego or Pheonix and get "no exact matches", but if you change the zip code to cities with the same radius like San Francisco or Flagstaff all of a sudden there ARE exact matches....A bit of a moot point while 5th gens are still off lots due to the recall.

    I'll get to my actual question...Say I find a Limited that lacks the digital rear view mirror. In theory the wiring harness of Limited should already be set up to accept it. Can I then order the part and have a dealership install it? Same with other features. Technically, it wouldn't be a modification; however, it still is adding something after production.
     
    #1 Tipjar, Jul 24, 2024
    Last edited: Jul 24, 2024
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    dealers can install digital rear view mirrors. idk if the wiring harness is there or not
     
    #2 bisco, Jul 24, 2024
  3. Hammersmith

    Hammersmith Senior Member

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    Limited comes with power liftgate but no kick activation.

    I think the search function is actually accurate, but it has a really annoying habit of changing the search radius when you're not looking. So you might have been actually searching within a 20 mile radius when you thought you were searching 500 miles. If I were you, I'd redo your searches by reentering a zip code, then change the radius to 100mi, then 200mi.

    You can do anything with enough money and labor(trust me), but the wiring harnesses are actually different for the most part.* The only harness we've had a report of having the wiring without also having the option is the SE dash harness. At least one owner has found that particular harness has the connectors for the front footwell lights. But the LE harness doesn't have those same connectors even though the LE and SE are the same trim level. If you get a Limited without digital rearview mirror, it won't be an easy add. At that point you'd be better off adding an aftermarket unit.

    All that being said, it is absolutely possible to add any OEM feature, but you're looking at significant cost in parts, and either a massive labor bill(if you have in installed by a shop) or dozens of hours of work(including almost certainly pulling the dash out to get full access to the PDBA and ECU wiring).



    *For example, I found 9 different floor wiring harnesses for just the 2023 HEV Prius. The Prius Prime probably has another 5 versions.
     
    #3 Hammersmith, Jul 24, 2024
    Tipjar likes this.
  4. Hammersmith

    Hammersmith Senior Member

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    Pretty sure(like 99% sure) that's not the case with the gen5. I'm sure they can install a non-stock digital rearview mirror(possibly even one distributed by Toyota), but they can't install the exact setup you can get from the factory(at least not without a mid 4-figure bill attached to it).

    Among other things, if that were true, there would be Accessory Installation documents regarding it on TIS and there aren't. The only dealer installed mirror accessory option is for the frameless mirror upgrade you can get on the mid trims.
     
    #4 Hammersmith, Jul 24, 2024
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  5. pramodhrachuri

    pramodhrachuri New Member

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    #5 pramodhrachuri, Jul 26, 2024
    Tipjar likes this.
  6. Tipjar

    Tipjar Junior Member

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    I called Toyota's national number and was lucky enough to get a customer service rep that seemed knowledgeable and experienced (like, citing case examples instead of holding while they 'researched an answer' from their screen). She said any Toyota trim level with any combination of features (or, custom order) can be done regardless of answers from dealership employees. I'm still foggy on whether or not she said dealerships are officially allowed not to participate in the custom order process. Most are taking about six months (some less), the longest she'd seen took a year. We were only talking about the 5th gen Prius, I don't know what the story is on other models. For instance, I'm pretty sure it's no longer possible for the Venza which is being discontinued after 2024 here in the USA.
     
    #6 Tipjar, Jul 27, 2024
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