HELP! how do I take off the wood bezel on the doors? ('07 Camry)

[germandebbie]

I just finished installing the wood center console/gearshift/gearshift-surround.
It was pretty simple... the only thing that slowed me down was figureing out how
to take out the 12v socket, because it had to be used again on the wood consoles.
The three major pices were all ordered from my local parts dept who were nice
enough to give me a wholesale trade discount. So I only paid the dealer cost prices
on these pieces.That's almost 23% cheaper than the cheapest online parts websites.
They probaby gave me the discount so I wouldn't bother them again... I must have
spent like an hour trying to track down the correct part number for each of the 7 wood
pieces) Oh, and I also replaced the plastic door handle covers with the XLE's silver
metallic-look handle covers.


Next, I got the 4 wood bezels for all 4 doors. Do I need to take the door panel
off and remove the old plastic bezel, in order to install the wood bezel? There
are several tabx, but also several holes. The holes are threaded on the inside,
but perhaps they are meant for self-tapping screws that get screwed in from
behind the door panel? Just want to be sure before I do anything.

I looked into the Toyota service/repair manual but didn't locate the part on
door panel pieces. Must have missed it. Can anyone please point me to the
right pages?

Edit: I just found it on page "ED - 11" and it looks like there are several
screws in the back... this means I'll have to take the door panesl off...
just gonna let my car stereo guy do it next week, since he has to take it
off to install the speakers anyway....

THANKS!!!


Now my LE sure looks a lot better. (well, exactly like a regular XLE)
Definitely better than any aftermarket wood trim kits!


CAUTION... anyone who is also attempting to replace the plastic
door bezels with wood ones, please be absolutely careful when
you see a screw with a red tip. Hand-tighten it LIGHTLY only. Toyota
has made this screw too long on all 4 doors, making it possible
to cause dimples on the wood bezel finish.




The color of the cupholder cover seem a bit off... wonder if that' just the camera
or should I go back and exchange it for another piece... will see what it looks like
when the sun comes out...

[akide]

nice how much did you get all those pieces for?

[germandebbie]

Originally Posted by akide

nice how much did you get all those pieces for?

The parts dept gave me the "trade" price, which I assume is what they charge wholesale.

The invoice is at home, so the following numbers are just off the top of my head:

1 x $105 - wood center console(whole console, including cupholders and tray)
1 x $195 - wood gear shift surround(one piece, but look like two pieces)
4 x $35 - wood door bezel (one for each door)
1 x $37 - wood gear shift knob (this price is correct, because they had it in-stock)

$480 total(give or take a few dollars..) I was quoted $670 to 700 from several
online Toyota parts dealers.

Yes, I do realize that's a lot of money. I could have gottne a complete wood trim kit
from wooddashexperts.com for about $250. However, as others on this forum have
told me, a wood dash kit will never look as good as the original Toyota wood pieces.
I think the extra $200 is worth it. I'll just not serve wine to my family/friends at this
year's Thanksgiving.(or tell them it's BYOB, bring your own booze)


I would have spent the extra cash and gotten the XLE, which would have all the wood
trim and stuff..., but stupid Toyota decided not to give the XLE a fold-down rear seat,
which I absolutely must have.... Why do they think that people who need
fold-down rear seats won't want a wood-rimmed interior? I just don't understand
Toyota sometimes....

[carlo$]

damn thats expensive. about 400.00

[germandebbie]

Originally Posted by carlo$

damn thats expensive. about 400.00

but I just can bring myself to spend about $250 for
an aftermarket wood kit that will look very ricey....

It obviously doesn't make sense for folks who lease their
Camrys. (or those who trade-in cars after every 4 or 5 years)
I always keep cars for a long time and care for them very well,
so I think the cost is worth it.

[lammydi]

Very NICE!!!
I have aftermarket kit and I can tell you this...my kit is NOT even come close compare to your upgrade which is 10 times better than my kit. Job well done.
I especially like the fact that you gain the new cover up coin tray/2nd 12v socket.

[germandebbie]

Originally Posted by lammydi

Very NICE!!!
I have aftermarket kit and I can tell you this...my kit is NOT even come close compare to your upgrade which is 10 times better than my kit. Job well done.
I especially like the fact that you gain the new cover up coin tray/2nd 12v socket.

Thanks! There's no 2nd 12v socket.... it's just the same 12v socket. I reused the
12v socket that was inside the original plastic tray. The wood uppoer console does
not come with it...

But everytime I see the photo in your signature, I can't help but stare at those truly
beautiful 20" rims... Someday I hope to move back to So Cal where the roads
are nice and flat... then I'll get 20" wheels and lower my car a couple of inches...
The area that I live now have freeways with more potholes than I can count....
Snow and asphalt just don't go well together...


If the place that hosts this photo keeps count, I'm probably responsible for a lot of
the clicks.... I stare at those wheels all the time....

[IPDaily]

yeah lammydi has one of the most tricked out camry's on here... it's a shame it's only a 4-banger....

[germandebbie]

Originally Posted by IPDaily

yeah lammydi has one of the most tricked out camry's on here... it's a shame it's only a 4-banger....

I don't think 4-bangers are any worse than V6s... I used to own a Mercedes E200(W210
chassis, the 4-eyed ugly Benz, a few years ago. It's just like a regular E-class, but with a
2-liter in-line 4-cylinder gas engine. I had no problem keeping up with traffic at 125mph.
(sadly, they don't sell the E200 in this country)

[lammydi]

Originally Posted by IPDaily

yeah lammydi has one of the most tricked out camry's on here... it's a shame it's only a 4-banger....

I know what you mean. I banged my head against the steering wheel everytime I needed it that "POWER" to pass the idiot that drive exactly 65mph on the #1 lane on the freeway. But hey! with the recent "Got Coolant" incident that my car is still in the shop...I will get the V6 a lot sooner than I thought!

[lammydi]

Originally Posted by germandebbie

Thanks! There's no 2nd 12v socket.... it's just the same 12v socket. I reused the
12v socket that was inside the original plastic tray. The wood uppoer console does
not come with it...

But everytime I see the photo in your signature, I can't help but stare at those truly
beautiful 20" rims... Someday I hope to move back to So Cal where the roads
are nice and flat... then I'll get 20" wheels and lower my car a couple of inches...
The area that I live now have freeways with more potholes than I can count....
Snow and asphalt just don't go well together...


If the place that hosts this photo keeps count, I'm probably responsible for a lot of
the clicks.... I stare at those wheels all the time....

Thanks man. There is a member on the cardomain actually went out and bought the same exact rims because he saw my pictures. Maybe you can go with 18"?
Thanks for a nice comment!!!