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Paint Protection

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by momstoys, Sep 11, 2006.

  1. momstoys

    momstoys New Member

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    One downside to our Prius is that it takes very little pressure to scratch the paint (Tideland Pearl). After taking it to the shop to repair the damage done by a commercial lawm mower of all things, it came home with different small scratches. I took it to another body shop and they will take care of the problems but I'd like to prevent a few in the future. Is there a good source for a bumper strip for the side and some sort of vinyl that I could place under the door handles? Also a strip for the back bumper to protect it? My fingernails are not long but the area just under the door handle is qetting quite scratched up.
     
    #1 momstoys, Sep 11, 2006
  2. Ichabod

    Ichabod Artist In Residence

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    The Prius Accessories shop here on Prius Chat is a good place to start. You can get side moldings there... I ordered mud flaps from Deland Toyota (check ebay) to protect the sides further. You can get a rear bumper applique probably from your Toyota dealer, but also online. You can also have "invisible" plastic bra installed on the front, and you can probably have the same material put inside the door handles to protect from people's overly long fingernails, gigantic diamond rings, steel gauntlets, etc.
     
    #2 Ichabod, Sep 11, 2006
  3. tbullock

    tbullock New Member

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    #3 tbullock, Sep 11, 2006
  4. Charles Suitt

    Charles Suitt Senior Member

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    <_< QUOTE: "...bumper strip for the side..." Perhaps you mean "Body Side Moulding."

    Do a Search on "body side moulding" Many have added this to their Prius. Not sure, but I believe current cost is about $125 color matched plus whatever a shop charges to install... or installation is do-it-yourself if you feel condifent. No drilling, attached with adhesive strips, instructions included.

    Here's a photo:


    [attachmentid=4980]
     
    #4 Charles Suitt, Sep 11, 2006
  5. Jmad1138

    Jmad1138 New Member

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    all good advice. What do you think would be resonable for a body shop to charge?
     
    #5 Jmad1138, Sep 11, 2006
  6. momstoys

    momstoys New Member

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    Body side mouldings it is. Thanks Now for the doors. A neighbor suggested that I buy some clear or smoke vinyl as used to cut glare on windows as this should be easy to apply. I prefer something heavier like the bumper protectors but this "might" do for awhile. Would it damage the paint or would the UV protection in this stuff help? Can the bumper protectors be moved to the edge of the bumper or is their size, shape restrictive? We get all our dings on the edge of the bumper.
     
    #6 momstoys, Sep 11, 2006
  7. Charles Suitt

    Charles Suitt Senior Member

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    <_< Actually, my Dealer's affiliated body shop installed the Body Side Mouldings without charge. Took them about 30-40 minutes. Seems anything over about $50 would be excessive - IMO.
     
    #7 Charles Suitt, Sep 12, 2006
  8. findlj

    findlj Junior Member

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    Yes I would agree. We bought ours from Metro toyota in Cleveland and they were an easy install and looked great.
     
    #8 findlj, Sep 21, 2006
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