I both know what a pimp is and that that show probably made the expression famous. (In Germany there was even "Pimp my Fahrrad")
However, I was not aware that this is not generally used in day-to-day language by native speakers.
It exactly confirms how that expression became popular there. A direct false association with "improving" "the look of the vehicles." (das Fahrrad == a bicycle)
Well...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVCh6Xp_VD8
Also, very funny, from the Wikipedia page of the show:
"Viacom, the owner of the Pimp My Ride franchise, has made legal threats against a number of small business owners over the use of the words Pimp My... in business names. Businesses using the names Pimp My Pet and Pimp My Snack have been threatened with legal action for an alleged breach of a trademark owned by Viacom. The website Pimp My Snack is now known as Pimp That Snack."
And more from the "pimp-gate": https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=4274500&pa...