5th Gen Camry SE questions... - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Toyota_tech · 04-10-2010, 05:09 PM

Hello. Im a toyota tech and am looking to purchase either a 2004 Avalon because i like the way the limiteds look, but not many in my area. So i have been considering a Camry SE. Not really picky of 4 or 6. But have questions about what years offer different options. My friends wife got a Silver SE, and has everything i like. But i want a Super white. One came in with Super white, 4cyl, auto. I would like the Black badging, Blacked out wheels, and tinted headlights. Im not sure what years offered that. I also belive they have the Sport instrument cluster, but have had to replace a bunch due to them deforming. Any help would be great. So far ive checked out 2005's and all the white SE's have normal polished wheels and are ugly. Thanks

***Punks_Not_Dead5*** · 04-10-2010, 05:28 PM

The Gen 5.5 (05 and 06) SE's have the slightly tinted tails. All years have the black headlight housing.

My 02 came with the blacked out badging, so i would assume they all do.

The cluster on the 05 and 06's are very nice Optitron gauges. I haven't seen or heard of any deforming though?

The 05 and 06 came with 17" rims but they weren't blacked out, more of a gunmetalish look

Hope this helps some.

Toyota_tech · 04-10-2010, 05:35 PM

Yeah sorry. gunmetal color. Seems weird the 05's i have found dont have those wheels. White at least. I really like the white Se in ur sig. Looks great. Ill try 2006's as well. Thanks alot.

***Punks_Not_Dead5*** · 04-10-2010, 06:25 PM

Those gunmetal rims came on the Solara's also. Fairly rare these days too They're really nice. You could always check ebay or craigslist too for just the rims.

Thanks for the compliments also

Toyota_tech · 04-10-2010, 07:42 PM

Yeah i was wonsidering building a SE from a CE or something. Maybe even a XLE. I like the idea of Nav. But id have to get black badging, headlights and tail lights, and the cluster and wheels. haha. Rather just buy one. EVen working for toyota parts are expensive.

***Punks_Not_Dead5*** · 04-10-2010, 08:32 PM

Not worth buying a base or XLE and making it into an SE.

aka paco · 04-11-2010, 06:00 AM

I had simlar preferences when i was buying a Camry, I really wanted a camry with the "SET" oem body kit, and BBS wheels, but those are so hard to find and everyone i found was 3k more then similar year/mileage camry's..

also most with the kit i noticed where not even SE's.. so i decided just to look for a nice SE, i did settle for the little 5 spoke 16's, i would have loved the 17" gunmetals from the 05/06 but i feel i got my car at a pretty good price..

i ended up getting a 03 (Phantom gray)? i think the color is called, SE.

some of the differences i found reading up before i bought one.

SE's have 4 wheel disc brakes, where the LE has drums, black headlights, black pearl emblems, 3 spoke steering wheel, spoiler, front strut bar, sportier suspension, silver interior accents, silver cluster, foglights. i think a few other things i've forgot about.

the 05/06's have a couple nicer things like different grill, tails and cluster..

i'm really glad i waited and found a SE though, it took a bit of looking i was kind of suprised how few i found locally. i was looking for a 4 cyl automatic i dunno if that made it harder to find..

MrSo0h0o · 04-11-2010, 09:34 AM

the solara didnt come with the gunmetal 17's, only the plain silver. the gen 5.5 SE V6 was the only model to have the gunmetal version.

a few minor differences that werent mentioned, the rear trunk garnish is color matched to the car instead of chrome. the front bumper and grill are different from the gen 5 to gen 5.5.