This was a thread in 6/07 on the West Coast. Let's try it on the other side. I've decided I'd like to have the tinted upper tail lights for my 2008. Don't want 'em enough to buy them. However, if they are interchangeable I will trade for a good, clean 2nd Gen set. Mine are just 3 months old, used daily but lovingly washed and waxed regularly, not a scratch on 'em. Will consider driving between North Carolina and New York (downstate) for a quick turn around hot-swap. Your light colored Gen II would look really good with Gen III lights. Mystify your friends; sow confusion amongst your enemies.
Re: Gen III for Gen II Tail Lights -- Wanna Trade? You don't have Gen III lights. You have Gen II lights just like the 2004-present. Prior to that they were Gen I lights. Unless you live in Japan.
Re: Gen III for Gen II Tail Lights -- Wanna Trade? Oops, still another newbie mistake! I'm getting good at that. Thanks for the gentle correction.
Re: Gen III for Gen II Tail Lights -- Wanna Trade? The top of the lamp assembly isn't tinted, the internal plastic is actually black. Be aware, some drivers had problems with the black brake light plastic melting in hot climates. I suspect that's why they switched the upper part from black to silver.
Re: Gen III for Gen II Tail Lights -- Wanna Trade? Thanks narf, interesting info that. If it was/is a widespread problem, I would think there would have been a recall. I see plenty of dark lenses in my area. So, maybe I'll consider lights from north of the Mason-Dixon line as Grade A, Primo Stuff. Call me crazy, I'm still interested in a trade.
Re: Gen III for Gen II Tail Lights -- Wanna Trade? Have you tried the parts department at your local dealer? Can't you just buy a pair of the older assemblies?
Re: Gen III for Gen II Tail Lights -- Wanna Trade? Yes, he can. They run about $180 MSRP for each (left or right) light assembly for the 2004-2005 Prius (the two years when they had the black uppers): Toyota Parts Cheap.com I assume, but am not sure, they will fit on the 2006-2008 models.
Re: Gen III for Gen II Tail Lights -- Wanna Trade? Alternatively, he can explore getting them from one of those Prius salvage vendors I've read about here, e.g.: Autobeyours Salvage and Rebuildable Prius cars Or, he can explore tinting: http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-modifications/36301-my-new-tinted-taillights-emblems.html
Re: Gen III for Gen II Tail Lights -- Wanna Trade? Boo, Thanks for the input. You seem to "get" the spirit of this thing. It's not a big deal. I've got an itch about wanting the darker lenses. Maybe there's someone out there who want's to go the other way. There's no harm in two of us -- consenting adults presumably -- getting what we want. Thanks for bringing the cites for other options into the thread. As luck would have it, I've looked at them all, each involves spending money-- $360 US the pair, yikes!! -- that I'd rather use elsewhere, like maybe BT or Tom's suspension goodies. As to tinting films; I may be way out of date on this, but I've seem too many exterior film applications that got frowsy looking over time -- splits/cracks at the edges, bubbles, scratches, etc. That's not for me. Gimme the real thing any day.
