1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

PC side moldings installer in Chicago?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by gring40, Aug 19, 2006.

  1. gring40

    gring40 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2006
    59
    7
    0
    Location:
    Northern Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    We've ordered a set of side moldings from PCshop.com, and would prefer to have them installed by a body shop in the Chicago area.

    Can anyone recommend a place where they have had a good side molding installation performed?

    What would I expect to pay for that?
     
    #1 gring40, Aug 19, 2006
  2. mike_m

    mike_m New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2006
    232
    0
    0
    I, and most others here have installed our own. Seriously, it's very simple, if you have just a little bit of patience. If you do a search, you will see many threads on install. The moldings you ordered come from Metro Toyota, and they have instructions in the box. If you really feel uncomfortable doing it, you can take it to any body shop, and they could probably put them on in less than 30 minutes. I would expect to pay around $50 for that work.
     
    #2 mike_m, Aug 19, 2006
  3. FireEngineer

    FireEngineer Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2004
    1,247
    124
    0
    Location:
    SW-Side of Chicago, IL
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Mine cost $40 for the install, took about 30 minutes to put on. But had to go back because the prep wasn't proper and they reinstalled with a different 3M tape for nothing. I've heard $20 to $75 in the Chicago area. Try calling a body/collision shop, they will be cheaper then a shop which does accessories.

    Wayne
     
    #3 FireEngineer, Aug 19, 2006
  4. onerpm

    onerpm New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2004
    477
    2
    0
    Location:
    MN
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    I hear you on the preference but, seriously, if you can put a stamp on an envelope straight, you can do that job in 20 minutes. (I just did my second set, this time on my wife's 2006.)

    If anyone were to charge you more than $25 to install them, you would be getting ripped off royally.

    rpm
     
    #4 onerpm, Aug 21, 2006
  5. gring40

    gring40 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2006
    59
    7
    0
    Location:
    Northern Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Long story short, I went to Dempster Auto Rebuilders, a good body shop in Evanston I had used before. Discussed the instructions and gave them the kit and waited while the work was done, maye an hour, but it cost only $20. The spacing is perfect and the moldings look great: we agreed on a 1/4" setback on each side (not mentioned in the instructions) where the front and rear moldings meet, and the clearance is good when the doors open. The color match as supplied is perfect.

    Several points to consider: 1) they do body side moldings all them time, whenever they repair a car door with moldings, so such a shop will have lots of experience, and 2) the car has to be clean, so wash it yourself before you bring it in (I did) or you will get a carwash at body shop rates, probably doubling your cost.
     
    #5 gring40, Aug 28, 2006
  6. DaddyLongLegs

    DaddyLongLegs Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2004
    54
    0
    0
    Location:
    Gainesville, VA
    I just put them on my Prius after having a runaway shopping cart hit my car from across the parking lot! Ouch! They are relatively simple to install. Some tips:

    1. Use blue 1" masking tape to establish the line. I prefered measuring 1.25" below the instructions dimensions because I wanted the reference tape below the intended installation point for the side moldings (more on that next) rather than above. Also, make sure your reference line for the moldings is using the same reference points at the bottom of each door.

    2. Buy some heavy duty rectangle or square magnets (1.5" X 1") at the hardware store. Place them on the tape line level with the top edge of the tape. These magnets serve as a great resting and alignment point for the moldings! They allow you to take off all the protective tape from the 3M tape and holding the moldings at an angle, press them on in one movement. Old body shop trick!

    3. Peel of the tape and using the reference tape and magnets, align the molding and carefully press in place. Remove the magnets and tape.

    I was very careful and took me about 45 minutes start to finish.
     
    #6 DaddyLongLegs, Aug 29, 2006
  7. Rick Grahn

    Rick Grahn New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2004
    285
    3
    0
    Location:
    Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TechLite @ Aug 19 2006, 11:09 AM) [snapback]305880[/snapback]</div>

    Try "the plastics surgeons." They did a great job on mine.
     
    #7 Rick Grahn, Aug 30, 2006
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)