What Really Happened on "Pimp My Ride"?
When television series "Pimp My Ride" premiered on MTV, it took the world by storm and inspired dozens of similar car repair shows. But like many reality shows, things weren't always as they seemed.
What Was "Pimp My Ride"? 
In the series, which ran from 2004 to 2007, young car owners could bring in their beat-up rides to have them remodeled and "pimped out" with the newest accessories like designer steering wheels, custom interiors, wheel lights, and specialized appliances. Host Xzibit worked with West Coast Customs and Galphin Auto Sports to remodel the car. Normally, shots of the remodeling process were included, but much more happened off-camera.
Car Additions Only for the Cameras
From champagne dispensers to DVD players, numerous additions were made to the cars in "Pimp My Ride." But in an "Ask Me Anything" session posted on Reddit, one of the contestants named Justin Daringer revealed the truth. He shared that the crew "actually take out a lot of the stuff that they showed on TV," explaining that potentially dangerous features like alcohol dispensers or in-car theatres were often removed once filming wrapped.
Non-Functional Additions
Similarly, some of the features revealed on the show were real, but they didn't work. A previous contestant, Seth Martino, told Huffington Post that some of the features, including LED lights and a cotton candy machine, were improperly installed and didn't work after the cameras left.
Only Exterior Improvements
Former contestant Jake Glazier sold his car after only a month, according to HuffPost. This is because he felt there were still numerous problems with the mechanics of the car, as the show had only focused on improving the exterior. Martino also pointed out that many of the additions added extra weight to the car, and the mechanics didn't install stronger motors to compensate.
"Pimp My Ride" is a fun show to watch, but it also provides a valuable lesson about making sure aesthetic additions to cars are also functional. If you're looking to pimp your ride but still keep it drivable, Oracle Lighting is an experienced custom automotive lighting company with options for interiors and exteriors, off-road accessories, and more. Shop our products online or call (800) 407-5776 or (504) 835-0055 to learn more.