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Rockerdan's Plug-in thread

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by rockerdan, Sep 14, 2012.

  1. rockerdan

    rockerdan PiP Rocks!

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    I dont consider either my front or rears to be flush at all....they look 100 times better then the stock sunken in look though. A good look, is the rim flush with a slight tire stretch, this is always best for lowered cars, helps with clearance too. But since im just on stock wheels i have no tire stretch and they are very narrow tires/wheels to begin with, so being flush or beyond with stock wheels would look wrong IMO.

    I measured alot before going with these 22/10 spacers.....the rears stock are set way in further then fronts, so this is why i went with thicker in rear. These look IMO like it should come from factory. Very nice, stock looking. But 25 rears with 15 fronts would probably look really good IMO, and if i did t again Id go that route due to the fact you can use 15mm in front with built in studs so they just slap right on quick.

    Dan
     
  2. rockerdan

    rockerdan PiP Rocks!

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    Oh you have a different wheel with different specs then stock PiP wheels i have. So all the sizes Ive mentioned do not apply to you setup. You need to measure them stock, and see what you want.

    Typically all the cars ive done with wheels, I have always got the exact wheel with ET I want, so I did not need spacers. Spacers are typically used with stock wheels to make them look better IMO.

    Just take a 2foot level, and hold it against your tire, and you want the outside of tire to be near flush to inside lip of fender, that is how i measure mine always. Just measure the space from inside edge of level to inside of fender LIP and that is your spacer size you want.

    as for the studs, just look at the pics I posted, remove caliper, remove rotor, take a socket and extension and a small sledge, rotate the stud to front and tap it out, you need to rotate each stud to front for it to be able to be tapped out the back with sledge. You need to put entire front of car in air so you can spin the wheel to orient stud to front. They are easy to pop out once you got everything off. The spacers I bought were inexpensive and I must say very high quality, they also come with longer studs for this type.

    Dan
     
  3. crazyjeys

    crazyjeys Member

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    Got it rockerdan! Thanks for the info and taking time to post. Step by so process for the mods that you've done. Cheers!
     
  4. rockerdan

    rockerdan PiP Rocks!

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    (y)Anytime!
     
  5. benalexe

    benalexe Member

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    Great mods on the car. Love the headlights. I think I am like your GF in that I don't understand the spacers. Interesting plugs where the plate was. When you said plugs I originally thought you were referring to the back up sensors I think the car would be great with both front and rear sensors. Hard to see where the front of the car ends so the sensors would make so much sense ont he PIP.
     
  6. rockerdan

    rockerdan PiP Rocks!

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    thanks!

    one of the best mods that does not cost alot is LED lights and HIDs.....I want to do my signals next.

    As for spacers....the biggest thing i hated about the prius is the rear wheels are sunk in making it look goofy as hell IMO. Adding the spacers(rear specifically) makes the cars "stance" look fantastic. Pics are very tough to show it however. But if you saw my car next to yours in a parking lot, mine would look bolder/wider. Its one of those things that is cheap also for a look and also helps the handling slightly with wider footprint.

    Dan
     
  7. mrstop

    mrstop PWR Mode

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    Looks great! Where did you get the front license plate relocate kit?
     
  8. rockerdan

    rockerdan PiP Rocks!

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    I just modified the stock bracket and mounted it to lower grill. about 10 mins of work only.

    Dan
     
  9. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Everything is looking good, except, I don't understand the desire to use blue LEDs for the front parking lights. White LEDs would match the HIDs better. IMO, swapping the white LEDs from the back license plate to the front and putting the blue LEDs in back would look better.
     
  10. Electric Charge

    Electric Charge Active Member

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    Hey Dan,

    Did you ever consider installing the LED headlights the Advance model has? Wondering how much it would cost, and how it would compare against your upgrade.
     
  11. rockerdan

    rockerdan PiP Rocks!

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    yeah i considered it...but the cost for OEM advanced setup is not something i was willing to do. Not cheap to say the least! This HID setup is very cheap in comparison.

    Dan
     
  12. Electric Charge

    Electric Charge Active Member

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    hey Dan,

    Are you still happy with the Xenon bulbs? I am really considering getting these, since the XenonSupply kit is $129 and includes the premium components (really need to figure out first if I am allowed to do this with a leased car), but have a few questions.
    • Did you get the optional Accessory Relay Wiring Harness?
    • Any reason you went with this kit and not other kits on the market?
    • Do drivers frequently flash their lights at you?
    • How did you hardwire your radar detector? Do you have to leave the fuse box cover off?
    Thanks!
     
  13. rockerdan

    rockerdan PiP Rocks!

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    Just got home from a drive, love these headlights! they are so much better then stock. I lease this car and I will certainly put the stock bulbs back if i dont keep the car so I can sell them.

    I just went with normal premium kit for 129, super easy plug n play kit, best ive ever installed. they have a great DIY video too. Xenonsupply was highly recommended for the prius, due to their ground wire setup which does not show up in reflection. Have not been flashed so far, but you can always lower them slightly if you worry about this. The pics i posted show the very good cutoff of the stock projectors.

    Hardwiring my detector i just ran wire down under dash to fuse panel above your left foot. was able to put cover back on with wire coming out, its not too tricky.

    Dan
     
  14. Electric Charge

    Electric Charge Active Member

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    So did you install a fuse tap install a new fuse in an unused slot? I'm in process of hardwiring my dashcam in my other Toyota, and they aren't making it easy if you want to keep the fuse box cover on (low profile fuses, no room, etc.). Haven't checked the Prius yet, but I would like to install a dashcam in this car as well.

    Thanks for the info about the lights. I am always hesitant to install after-market bulbs in an OEM enclosure, but your cut-off line looks pretty good, and since the Prius comes with projector headlights, I'm thinking about pulling the trigger on this one.
     
  15. rockerdan

    rockerdan PiP Rocks!

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    many ways to tap in.....this time i looked at a blank spot, stuck wire into it to make sure it was a POWER ON point. Once i knew it was a power on point I took another fuse and slid it into blank spot with wire. Basically just a way to hold the wire in securely. Be sure to "break" the fuse that your using for holding wire as I didnt want to have it power across the fuse.

    The cover is flexible and snapped right on no problem with wire coming out, or you can create a slot in cover side for wire. Really its not rocket science, whatever works is fine its only a radar detector. lol

    Dan
     
  16. bkessler

    bkessler 2003-> 2012 plug-in

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    Loving the whole look. How hard we're those lamin-x tails to install? I'm thinking about getting some as well, but would hate to mess it up and wind up with bubbles, etc.
     
  17. wotcher

    wotcher Member

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    i have the lamin-x. they're insane! do you have experience with vinyl? I didnt use a heat gun. It would have helped is an understatement. my lamin came pre-cut. the problem is that pre-cut pieces have a small amount of forgiveness to keep shape. it would have been easier to use a large piece and then cut after you molded it. there's a reason why on the laminx website they rate 2012 prius tail lights a 5 out 5 difficulty. theres too many curved surfaces and angles.
     
  18. rockerdan

    rockerdan PiP Rocks!

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    Its easy to work with....heat it if you need to stretch it with a hairblower, use some water sprayed on before, use the precut pieces makes it easy.

    I was worried as i had bubbles, but after about 2 weeks they all were gone. takes some time but the material is breathable and the bubbles will all go away on their own. Still i worked with the install squeegee to work bubbles out initially.

    Dan
     
  19. Electric Charge

    Electric Charge Active Member

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    So how come you cut the fuse? Are you using a separate ground point? Which fuse slot did you use? Last but not least, were you able to hide the wire running from the detector to the fusebox? Trying to figure out if I need to take the interior apart in order to hide the wire.
     
  20. rockerdan

    rockerdan PiP Rocks!

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    ok....well it depends where you mount it. I mounted mine on the dash, so i ran wire down hidden next to shield extrem front, then it goes under the dash, i had to take alot apart on left side of dash to do this. very tricky!

    I grounded the ground to a bolt under dash that was easy to get at when dash was apart......

    The positive wire goes to fusebox, I first used a tester to see which EMPTY slot had power on one side when POWER button was turned ON. Then as I said before, i slide a new fuse into that empty slot to hold the wire in. You want to "break" the fuse cause i did not want power running across it since it was empty to begin with.

    you can just barely see the radar detector on these pics....its centered on top of dash using suction cups to windshield and laying on dash sorta wedged in so it does not move.

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