Boston Area Modding and some random questions re new 2009 Camry LE V6

[CTZP]

Does anyone have any recommendations for custom shops/modders to do some basic work on a new Camry I just bought?

It's 2009 LE V6 Silver, but I don't really have the time to do any mucking around, so I'd rather pay someone some money for the labor and of course, the equipment.

I just want to:

1.) Get a nice black grill, not exactly SE version, just the stripes but blacked out.
2.) Get some nice 18" wheels
3.) Maybe a some bodykit work that will make the car appear lower but without doing anything to do the suspension (is this even possible?)... I prefer a more pleasant cruise and Boston's roads are NOT suitable for low cars anyway.
4.) Maybe LED lights/Halo lights - slight lighting mod

That's it, anybody have any suggestions?

Oh, and here's a stupid question. The LE comes with Telescoping steering wheel right? I took a quick look at the reference guide and didn't immediately find the mechanism to adjust it.

[moky-tron]

to answer your question:

1. you can check your local forum to see which car shops, mechanic shops and body shops they recommend.
2. 18" wheels are very easy. ebay, craigslist, kijiji, again, your local forum might have recommendations where the aftermarket shops are.
3. bodykit work you can check www.razzi.com or www.rksport.com
- your car would look a bit lower, but you will still have the huge fender gap
4. ebay. a couple of members have these. do a search on gen6 halo lights, or gen 6 led tails

[CTZP]

Thanks Moky.

Do you have any suggestions for local forums? I tried Boston Camry Forums in Google and nothing really came up.

I am really looking for someone who knows exactly what you've suggested and where to purchase them. I would love to just pay someone to buy it wherever they need and install them. Not outrageously pricey either

How much do you think all this will run me? I could actually keep the stock rims for a few thousand miles until I scratch them up (parking in Boston, parallel pretty much is the only thing you can do) before I go for the new ones.

[moky-tron]

type in google maybe boston car forum and it should lead somewhere.

with regards to looking for someone, easier said than done buddy. i don't recall a member here from boston yet. the surest way you are going to get your car done in the manner you like, is for you to do it yourself and look for the shops yourself.

painting the grille should be maybe 100-200 i guess, but that would depend on the body shop you are getting it done from. the bodykits would be just a few hundred bucks if i remember correctly. check the site and see who are the authorized retailers.

the rims, that's different. you can buy cheap rims and tires, or you can buy expensive ones. it depends on your style and your choice

[bandit]

If you wanted a bodykit, why didnt you get a SE?

You can also go on cardomain and search for people with Camry's and even in your area.

This person is from Boston and has mods. You can ask him if he goes to any shops and if he can recommend any. - http://cardomain.com/ride/2545151

Also, the time the car is spent in the shop being modded, you could be doing it yourself. Theres a difference between having no time to do it and not knowing how to do it.

[CTZP]

Originally Posted by dcemureviews

If you wanted a bodykit, why didnt you get a SE?

You can also go on cardomain and search for people with Camry's and even in your area.

This person is from Boston and has mods. You can ask him if he goes to any shops and if he can recommend any. - http://cardomain.com/ride/2545151

Also, the time the car is spent in the shop being modded, you could be doing it yourself. Theres a difference between having no time to do it and not knowing how to do it.

Thanks, I will take a look at Cardomain.

I didn't get an SE for a few reasons, mostly, they don't make many without being tricked out with options I didn't really want. And to get a Grey interior, it was order and wait or nothing at all.

The LE was a steal though, I got an extended 7 year Platinum warranty and about $500 below invoice, effectively it was probably more than $1000 below invoice.

[bandit]

Originally Posted by CTZP

Thanks, I will take a look at Cardomain.

I didn't get an SE for a few reasons, mostly, they don't make many without being tricked out with options I didn't really want. And to get a Grey interior, it was order and wait or nothing at all.

The LE was a steal though, I got an extended 7 year Platinum warranty and about $500 below invoice, effectively it was probably more than $1000 below invoice.

The Camry isnt like the Scion where it was meant to be tricked out easily. The Camry is a family sedan.

No shop will carry LED taillights so if you want it, get it from eBay and just pay labor. I suggest buying all the parts and just pay for the labor. They'll probably rip you off on the parts.

As for the slight lighting mods, I suggest buying the leds and install it yourself. If you have time to eat, you have time to do this. Just do a search on the forums on what LEDs people are using and install it yourself. Its just a matter of popping out clear plastic covers, removing bulbs, placing new leds and popping back the clear plastic covers. You can see my cardomain page for pics or take a look at my thread with pictures - bandit/dcemureviews Update Thread

[CTZP]

Originally Posted by dcemureviews

The Camry isnt like the Scion where it was meant to be tricked out easily. The Camry is a family sedan.

No shop will carry LED taillights so if you want it, get it from eBay and just pay labor. I suggest buying all the parts and just pay for the labor. They'll probably rip you off on the parts.

As for the slight lighting mods, I suggest buying the leds and install it yourself. If you have time to eat, you have time to do this. Just do a search on the forums on what LEDs people are using and install it yourself. Its just a matter of popping out clear plastic covers, removing bulbs, placing new leds and popping back the clear plastic covers. You can see my cardomain page for pics or take a look at my thread with pictures - bandit/dcemureviews Update Thread

I will definitely try the simple things like this myself.

Thanks for the suggestions.