sfprankster's (mis)adventures with a UX250h
 

Here's my new UX250h on day1 with less than 20 miles, sans any mods...
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...bea08244a9.jpg

So let me get this thread off the ground and running with the simplest of mods, that only take a couple of minutes, at most. First off, some black aluminum valve stem caps I borrowed from my 2014 Prius. Went from the Lexus gray plastic...
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...fdd28ae101.jpg

...to some iJDMtoy black aluminum caps
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...f255f594c7.jpg

Here's another borrowed item from my Prius the fits like a glove. Some WeatherTech cup holders for when my sippy cup springs a leak...
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...8c30b42527.jpg

One more mod, easy enough a caveman, or myself, can do it. I changed out the halogen vanity light bulbs for some 5k LED's I also borrowed from my Prius, using a plastic pry tool available for a few $'s at most auto parts stores...
Before...
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...5ba568d8d5.jpg
After
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...0870b429ce.jpg
I have to wonder who at Lexus let them install halogen bulbs in the vanity lights? :egads:


Lastly, through the magic of a credit card, I had Computerized Tint of San Jose install Llumar ceramic tint, On the rear hatch and rear door windows, Llumar CTX5 was installed over the stock Lexus factory tint, essentially blacking out the windows from the outside. On the driver and passenger windows, a Llumar CTX 50 tint was applied over the Lexus factory tint. For the front windshield, I had Computerized Tint apply a sun visor strip of the Llumar CTX5.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...2e862d64ef.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...7ad1cd46e9.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...5f34437851.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...48a8f8eaee.jpg
Almost forgot, I also removed the roof rack, as seen in the Day 1 pic



In case anyone is interested, here's a link to my sfprankster's (mis)adventures modding a 2014 Prius on PriusChat

Coming SOON©, the de-badge. As soon as I can find a 3M eraser wheel locally... :cool:

Side note: the reason why many vanity lights still use the warm yellow/halogen color is due to the fact that it provides a natural light when putting on makeup, etc. Compared to LED that washes it out.

I'm a huge proponent for LED in every way but I guess this is the one thing I haven't changed in my cars. :D

Personally, I like the 5k LED's over the halogen bulbs. My comment was more to reference the vanity lights were the only halogen bulbs I've found. But the washing out the makeup application could be critical for some. :dance:

I pulled the hybrid badges off the rear doors with some dental floss, then gave the car a wash and wax (turtle hybrid spray wax) and the badge has completely disappeared. I think I'll do the same thing with the rear badges soon. No need for a special tool IMO.

I'm leaning the other direction, a wash first, then bust out the dental floss to cut the badges off. I've previously used Goo Gone on my Prius and the amount of elbow grease is more effort than I want to expend(long ago motorcycle injuries :cry: ). I used a 3M eraser wheel on my friends car and all the double sided tape backing was history in just a few minutes.

The hybrid stealth mode has been partially entered with the first stage of the de-badge process.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...95e03a17d8.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...0e0492d242.jpg
This was the easiest de-badge I have ever done. The double sided tape hadn't had time to dry out and become nearly impossible to remove yet. I didn't have to find a 3M eraser wheel. Some dental floss to get the letters initially coming off and my handy, dandy plastic pry tool to get them released. After that was accomplished the remailing sticky stuff came right off with my fingers. And VIOLA!!! Incognito hybrid almost done. :woot:

Just one more step, finding some front and rear hatch emblems without the blue ring to complete the hybrid incognito mode. :dance:
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...2178343093.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...180ba0edcb.jpg
Anyone know which emblems will crossover with those on a UX250h? I would like to put some white carbon fiber material behind a black Lexus "L".

Female designer no less :D

Spent the day at the car spa(Diamond Auto Detail San Jose). Hand wash, clay bar, light polish and a couple of coats of ceramic wax to make my UX250h all shiny. :bigthumbu
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...06dc6f76ce.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...e7c1fbb689.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...9595ce4c97.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...cf2f32f3de.jpg

Here's a better image of the front windshield visor strip.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...1a081e4069.jpg
Does anyone have any experience with ceramic paint coatings? Good? Bad? Other?

I do, it's great, can last up to a year - I've done it on my own cars along with full PPF. Fantastic protection especially here in the Chicagoland area. Will it 'cure' everything? No, but the average commuter this is fantastic and even moreso for a project/show car.

It's worth the price, IMHO - but what may be great to some, may not be for others, just depends on what you're looking to get out of it.

Thanx!! My weather is nowhere as extreme here in CA as yours. I don't foresee having any show cars in my future, just trying to keep this one on the nicer side with less overall maintenance. Around here the tree sap and tons of redwood and acacia pollen, in the spring, are my main concerns. Of course I can't forget to mention the occasional seabird launching yesterday's lunch. :eek1:
What brand(s) of ceramic paint protection have you used?

I've personally started off with CQuartz and currently run Modesta.

Not really sure what to expect for MPG, but this is the lowest of the first 3 tanks of gas. I live in an area(mountains) not conducive to good gas mileage in a hybrid, and this was better than I expected of an AWD. I made no effort to achieve better mileage, as I have been fooling around with all the different settings(cruise control, lane assist, etc.). In my Prius, I only averaged 44-45 MPG, so this is impressive to me. The Prius struggled to maintain 35 MPH in EV mode, without a noticeable downhill.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...5c89fc854c.jpg

I too was amazed when I opened the visor and saw the halogen bulb. I had some VLEDs t10 bulbs laying around and tossed them in, fits with the interior so much better now.