From 550i to Tacoma

I'm now the proud owner of a 2014 Tacoma DCSB 4x4 TRD Sport. I've been driving BMWs for the past several years. I picked it up last Wednesday. I traded in my beloved BMW 550i for something more utilitarian.

Out with the old...


In with the new (new to me)...


It's a Toyota Certified Preowned with 24k miles. I'm a VW mechanic by trade and I put it up on the lift at work. It seems to be well cared for from what I can tell.

I did an alignment on it myself because it was pulling to the right a little. The caster on the right side was a little off but it was pretty easy to correct.

It's only one week in and I've already installed some Weathertech mats, an OEM bed mat, a Panavise phone bracket, a ProClip iPhone dock and last night I swapped the base rear-view mirror for one with Homelink controls. Sitting on my bench I also have a Clifford remote start with an Xpresskit bypass module I'll be installing once I have time. I'm considering some Wet Okole seat covers but I'm holding out for the Fall group buy.

I'm looking forward to a long term relationship with this little gem.

 

Welcome and congrats on your Tacoma!

 

Hey Matt I need to get with you regarding that sliding window bar thing. Can you PM me info if you still have any?

 

Pm sent, thanks

 

Read and replied! Thanks.

 

I am coming from 9 years of BMW sedans! 325i and 330i. Just got my Taco yesterday!

 

Awesome man, congrats. Post a pic of your new ride when you get a chance.

 

Welcome...
I work on Beemers all day long so I can drive my Toyotas.
Enjoy your New Taco!

 

@Dynosports

Cheers, mate. Do you work at a BMW dealer?

I work on Volkswagens, for a dealer myself. There's job security with the many pattern failures. I take it BMWs are the same in that regard just from owning several over the years. I doubt I would have the balls to own as many BMWs as I have, were it not for my mechanical abilities!

 

Yes I do work at a BMW dealer. We sell a ton of cars and do lots of warranty work. At $169 hr and the price of parts it is pretty expensive to fix your car at the dealer so I always recommend my friends and family not to own a BMW unless it has warranty. That is unless you can fix it yourself.

 

After reading a couple of posts on TW about tailgate theft, I decided I need to add a layer of protection in that area.

I started to looking at putting a clamp on the hinge. Then saw some of the various hinge locks offered. But to me they all seem easy to defeat. Can't you just remove 3 bolts and take off the tailgate that way? So I tried to take the bolts out and it's easy to do. It just takes a little longer for the 12mm one that faces the bed. So I guess the idea is to slow down the theives in hopes they will move on to an easier target.

I decided I'll never take my tailgate off. So why not just weld the little bracket shut? So I ordered an new bracket so I could keep the original one in tact in case I change my mind later on. I stopped in the local harbor freight and bought a cheap welder and auto darkening helmet. This is the first time I'm ever welded anything. Ever. Watched a couple YouTube videos and went after it.

I found a scrap piece of metal in the garage. Cut out a little sliver of it. Ground it down to the size needed. Then I proceeded to stack a bunch of noob booger welds until it looked sturdy enough. I coated it with some rustoleum paint and clear coat I already had laying around. And voila!











The only color paint I had around was silver. Close enough. You can't really see it with the tailgate closed.

 

Gratz on your new truck

 

I'm sure I'm not the first one to do this mod to the tailgate hinge. I added a few pics to the post for illustration purposes.

 

Some of that savings is likely going to be absorbed by mods! I'm finding out quickly!

 

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