Covering HybridSD Badge Holes with BMW Side Markers

[Rokeby]

Last time I asked for help on a project -- the glove box 12V battery booster
-- folks were most helpful. I'm hoping that I haven't worn out my welcome
and that will be the case again.

Well, I've got another project in mind that this time is only slightly over my
head. It is this; I want to cover the holes left when I remove the HybridSD
badges on the fenders with operational "arrowhead" shaped side marker
lights like you see on some of the BMW 3 and 5 series cars.

OK, OK, let there be peace in the kingdom. Take a deep breath and hear me
out. Admittedly this is a little loony, but an obsession is difficult thing to
live with.

There was a time when I was going to cover the holes from the HybridSD
badges with Subaru "pzev" badges. Well, no longer. I've only been able to
get one used pzev badge set -- five separate pieces -- and anyway, now I'm
going in a different direction and I don't want anything chrome on the
fenders. I figure I might as well put something over the holes that adds
something to the car, and something that adds to safety is a good thing.

(Yes, I know about a potential $$ hit on resale. I'll take the chance.)

Euro and Asian market Prii have side marker lights in addition to the
HybridSD badge. So, the idea of marker lights is not totally alien to the
Prius. But the OEM Prius' side marker lights are not long enough to cover the
two holes under the badges. I've checked out a gazillion cars, and the BMW
side lights are the smallest, most stylish ones that will cover the holes.

The parts:

http://priuschat.com/forums/attachme...1&d=1225237468

All together, the parts come to ~$40 from an internet source, as an
example:

Bimmer Specialist

I'm going to do this. Right now, I'm searching the wwweb for a full scale or
dimensioned drawing of the holes I have cut in the fenders. If hard pressed,
I can take measurements from the lights and confirm the layout by making
a proof cut in some sheet metal. Somewhere along the way, I'll need a
circuit drawing or word picture of where to hook into the turn signal wiring.

But, before I walk purposefully but naively into this swamp, I'd like to ask if
there's anything in the way of bodywork or electrical that I need to be
especially mindful of... you know, crocodiles lurking just below the surface
that will take a good sized chunk out of my butt... or my wallet.

[Rokeby]

Here's a couple of not really good pix showing my progress so far.

http://priuschat.com/forums/attachme...1&d=1226286306
http://priuschat.com/forums/attachme...1&d=1226286306

I wasn't able to find a BMW body style 92/90/60/46 side marker light cutout
template anywhere on the WWW. So I carefully measured a light and made
my own. First from stiff card stock And then from some copper roof flashing
that was lying around the shop.

Much to my surprise, I was able to cut the copper, albeit slowly with
multiple passes, with a "box cutter" retractable blade knife and titanium
blades from Irwin.

I won't be cutting into the fenders with the box cutter. Still working out how
I'll do that. Like the Prius side lights, these also attach by the compression
of the flat spring to the right, and a notch on the left catching the edge of
the ctout. No screws or anything.

While I'm planning to use OEM BMW orange lights, there are a number of
alternative afte rmarket styles/colors available, clear, smoked, black,
crystal:

eBay Motors: BLACK 04 05 06 07 08 BMW E60 LED SIDE MARKER LIGHTS (item 260301495983 end time Nov-15-08 11:48:30 PST)
Bimmian LED Side Lenses for BMW 5 Series and M5 - 2005+ E60
eBay Motors: 04-08 BMW E60 528/535/550 LED SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SMOKE (item 260302908277 end time Nov-18-08 09:38:56 PST)

[tinyfoot]

This should look very cool - looking forward to the completed project. I haven't had my prius apart yet (yet), so I am of no use to you for information. But I will be watching and learning from you!

[subarutoo]

I like the marker lights, but whats wrong with the Hybrid badges? I don't get that part.

[Rokeby]

subarutoo,

A good question.

For reasons which are buried in my subconscious, I am bound and
determined to dechrome our beloved Amapola.

I blame all this on PriusChat. Apparently I've caught some kind of
particularly virulent virus since I came aboard back in Jan.'08.

Prior to this, over many decades and more than a dozen vehcles, the only
customization I have ever done was an aftermarket cruise control and a
leather steering wheel cover. But, I consider myself somewhat handy.

So, the HybridSD badges have to go -- although if I get desperate I could
just paint them. I've considered covering the holes with a simple elliptical
plate. But it would still look like something is missing. And it seems to me
that installing the BMW side marker lights is a net positive. (With a
possible hit on resale, but I see that coming a long way down the road.)

My hangup also extends to the Circle-T badges on hood and liftgate. How
I'm addressing those is detailed here:

Debadgng: Circle-T/HybridSD Hole Cover Plate

This is a sad. sad situation, but I'm working through it slowly.
All this isn't work, it's therepy.

[subarutoo]

My Subaru came with the side marker lights. I was thinking or removing them and putting Hybrid badges over the holes. Just kidding...if it works for you, go for it. The Prius is a great blank canvas, and with so many of them around its nice to see one a little different from the herd. I do like the shape of the bimmer lights much better than the foreign market OEMs that Prius decided we didn't need over here in Amurica. I was going to do the OEM lights, but I like the bimmer lights much better. Maybe I'll join you, but the badges stay. If you could attach a pdf of your template, it would be a big help to other users.

[Rokeby]

subarutoo,

+1 on the "arrowhead" BMW side markers vs. OEM Prius.

I've intentionally held off giving dimensions for the template I''ve made. I
laid it out for simplicity in cutting. I'ts not the shape on a BMW. I'm slowly
working towards getting dimensions on the "official" hole.

Today, a 525i parked next to me in the parking garage. This is crazy. So, I
went back at lunch time and removed one of the side markers to see the
real hole -- the light is spring loaded and easily slips out and in.

Between what I've made and what I saw, I can now get a very close
approximation of the real thing. I think this is important as any/all of the
aftermarket lights are designed for the OEM hole, and I'd hate to put out bad
info. It's also in my interest as I'm not sure how long I'll be hot for the
orange lenses. I have a suspicion at some point I'll be switching to smoked
lenses with orange bulbs.

I'm moving forward and will of course post my progress.

[Rokeby]

Although I really wanted to debadge the HybridSD badges, this project
has stymied me for a year. To overcome psychological and practical
barriers, I finally identified three separate steps that I can address
sequentially:
* Install the BMW side markers, I'll do this.
* Get the lights wired in, I may need professional help here.
* Choice, or necessity, of installing LED bulbs,

The good news is, I've gotten the side marker lights installed:



None of the three body shops that I visited were eager to take on this
job. Even at ~$300 estimated cost they couldn't guarantee that they
wouldn't gobber-up the panel with bends or dents, or overheat the
panel, and burn the paint requiring a whole panel repaint. However by
talking to the techs and slowly learning what the constraints were, I
figured out how I could do it for only ~$100.

The pictures and accompanying text in this album pretty much tell
the story:

PriusChat Forums - Rokeby's Album: BMW Side Marker Light Mod

I must admit that the picures aren't that great. And I didn't take
enough of them. Well, I was so nervous that I was right at the point of
throwing-up throughout the whole process. It took about two hours.
However, one hour was to recharge the Dremel tool.

Looking back, it wasn't that very difficult at all. I just had to get over
the fear of screwing-up a non-reversible modification to the body work
where anyone/everyone could see it.

So, now I'm looking for some electrical help to get the lights working.
(In the meantime, I'm elated just to have the chrome badges removed.)

With luck, this step won't take another year to complete.

[Midpack]

Originally Posted by subarutoo

I like the marker lights, but whats wrong with the Hybrid badges? I don't get that part.

IMO, the HYBRID badges are overkill on a Prius - busy, superfluous ornamentation. Who, that cares, doesn't already know that a Prius is a hybrid? But then, I think less is more when putting badges on cars. I'd take them off my car if there weren't holes underneath...

[bedrock8x]

I believe this is required by law, so that emergency workers know that this a hybrid and take necessary safety precautions.

Originally Posted by Midpack

IMO, the HYBRID badges are overkill on a Prius - busy, superfluous ornamentation. Who, that cares, doesn't already know that a Prius is a hybrid? But then, I think less is more when putting badges on cars. I'd take them off my car if there weren't holes underneath...