My new PiP with RAV4 side molding

Notice the size of the side moldings on the neighbor's gold Merc 4Matic, just huge with chrome inserts. The other neighbors silver RX450H also has big side moldings. The RAV4's on the Prius are much more elegant.

Hey! Hey! Hey! The black roof is a feature, not a bug. Odd that Toyota doesn't offer the solar roof on PIP's and Prius3/5's. The roof ends up looking all back viewed from front or back and the black/white contrast gives it some edge.

Especially makes no sense on the PIP as keeping the car cool via solar power seems part of the PIP's DNA.

Thanks, Allannde. But I was referring to Blakemaster's picture where it looks like his front bumper has been removed

Color match is perfect. I had originally put side moldings from mail order and they were white no metallic pearl. I took them off and put on the Toyota ones from the RAV4.

On painting the mud guards pearl, the black contrast is nice but does render them invisible next to the black tire and I'm thinking about it. Just wonder if it is too much bling?

i took a rock through the front bumper with 400 miles on the car ... ouch! had it repaired and resprayed and it's not noticable ... actually back to perfect ... love this car ... sat and steaming bluetooth, wow!

hb toyota had no trouble matching price of other advertised toyota dealers ... tell 'em blake master sent you!

Ouch. Sorry to hear. I was hoping for a "happier ending", like you were getting a body kit installed or something.

Allannde,
Is the mudguard the Eurostyle?

I think you are right with the 3M "bra". Does it cost much?

Thanks, BlakeMaster...

Yes the mudguards are "Eurostyle" from PriusChat Shop.

The 3M is on the hood, front fenders, outside rear view mirrors, door edges and door handle cups and cost $300. I paid $500. for less on my '06. The difference is it was done through the dealer. Unless you look close, you cannot see it. The same people did my '06 and it still looks new. It was a company here in Spokane called Quality Auto Trim.

There is a difference in film quality and 3M seems to be the best.

Cool look... Any tips on installation (placement, alignment, etc.)?

Sure, at the risk of saying something which has been said before.

First the vertical location of the BSM.

If you stand right next to the car by the back door and look down toward the ground you will see the point which extends out from the center of the car the most. That is the point which will provide the most protection from "parking lot rash". It is about a foot above the bottom of the door.

Second the horizontal alignment

I think it looks best to have the long straight part of the BSM toward the long straight body belt line of the car. The very slightly curved (not counting the ends which curve a lot) opposite side of the BSM should align with the bottom of the door (and molding if you have it). If done this way, the slope of the top edge of the BSM turns out to be just right.

But this is all a matter of what looks good to you. This is how I like it.

P.S. I don't think it's been mentioned, but the RAV4 moldings are from the previous generation, not the current generation RAV4. I think they look great and am about to order a set. Next I'll have to PriusChat Marketplace my OEM, new-in-the-box lower moldings....

Are you sure about that?

Very nice. Anyone found these in gray?

Winter Grey Metallic is not a RAV4 color but I think that the Silver Metallic BSMs which IS a RAV4 color) would look SUPER GOOD with the Winter Grey Metallic.

Hm, that might be interesting. I saw that Rav has a Magnetic Gray, but that looks darker than the PIP gray.

I was considering the black side moldings with the Pearl. Someone thought the lower side moldings were black (in the pick they look that way) and liked them. Got me thinking of having the lower side molding painted black and doing a flat black upper side molding.

The black upper side molding might look good with the Winter Grey Prius. Sometimes a partial contrast like Silver grey and Winter grey is less appealing than going for a full contrast like black vs. grey.

There are losts of possibilities. Here are some Vensa BSMs:

One of my friends just got his PiP delivered, and he said the bottom silver/chrome molding came already attached with the Advanced Package. I also ordered an Advance Package (should be here in a week or so), and I love that bottom chrome molding that Allannde has on his Blizzard Pearl.

But it seems like you guys are saying you've had to add them on as an accessory. Can anyone confirm/deny that the Advance Package comes with the bottom molding? Here's a pic that he put on his FB page.

It was an option, either port installed or dealer installed, depending on whether or not you pre-ordered it along with your car

Toyota Prius Plug-in Accessories