Need Some Creative Minds!

[Nums]

I've been lurking around here for the past couple weeks trying to get my head in the whole car world (namely Camry). Hopefully that time spent will not be wasted and will spare me of some embarrassing comments.

This is what I've got to play with:



Its an old picture, but nothing has changed.

It's a 2003 XLE with tan interior and 62,000 miles. Only thing I've done to it so far is put in a new radio (Pioneer AVH-3300BT). Bought some new headlights (Spyder Halo Projectors), but thats not until Friday

I have some plans for LED mods especially since a bulb burnt out on my back window defroster button. Haven't decided on a color, but I'm straying away from blue as it seems over-used. A note, my radio can change to many different colors, so I have quite a variety I can choose from and still match everything.


I've been trying to rack my brain for ideas on what I can do to it. Anything from Butterfly doors to LED mods. I'm looking at anything and everything. Not really looking to go for the performance bit, but more so aesthetics. I'm not the hugest fan of chrome and I'm really touchy with the whole Ricer look.

I saw a black Camry on here that was "murdered out", and I didn't much care for it. I do have plans on doing a 35% tint on all windows, but the windshield of course. I haven't really looked at any rims or lowering kits. I would probably get rims and then a lowering kit to fit accordingly (if I do get rims).

Also, I am looking for opinions on tail lights. Should I get an aftermarket one (market is pretty small), or just tint the stock ones? Again I'm not really looking for a full blackout, I'll try to keep the contrast with some chrome accents like the badges.

Any thoughts from anyone would be appreciated. I need some help getting my mind turning on ideas!

[11LE]

Wheels and a drop are always popular. Also, look into lip kits, some are tasteful and not very rice. Rear end- keep it clean. Debadge, maybe spray tint the oem tails (aftermarket seems a bit corny to me). Exhaust and intake for sounds. Lambo doors- leave em on the lambos. HIDs are always a first in mods it seems. Read up on a few member threads, you'll get a good idea in no time!

[Nums]

Originally Posted by 11LE

(aftermarket seems a bit corny to me)

I thought the same. There were a couple I had considered, but the only way I'd use them is if I took them apart and painted the chrome in them to black.

Any particular reason you say to spray tint rather than film tint the tail lights? I know both are different methods of applying tint, but I'm curious as to whether there is a benefit over the other.

Any intakes/exhaust you recommend? I hadn't gotten that far in my research

[BlackG5]

since our car is pretty much the same--black gen 5... here's what I did..

BC coilovers
XXR 18x9.5
35% tint
TRD replica grille
yakima rack



enjoy the mod process, its long but rewarding..

[Punks_Not_Dead5]

First and most important is do what you like, ignore all the haters and make the car the way you want it.

As far as the tail lights, tint the OEM tails, and use the spray. It is a lot easier to do than the film. It is semi-permanant though (it eventually fades and wears off). I did mine with spray, if you want to see a pic let me know.

Get some nice 18" rims and if you want a moderate drop go with Eibach Pro Kit for springs.

If you go exhaust, i'd go full custom, as there aren't many choices out there for us as far as full kits, and the ones that are, are very pricey.

As mentioned there is a few lip kits you can get..but most reproduction as original kits are very rare nowadays.

Originally Posted by BlackG5

since our car is pretty much the same--black gen 5... here's what I did..

BC coilovers
XXR 18x9.5
35% tint
TRD replica grille
yakima rack



enjoy the mod process, its long but rewarding..

Your grille is actually a replica RS Grille. TRD never made any aftermarkt grilles for our car.

[GT-R]

Originally Posted by 11LE

Wheels and a drop are always popular. Also, look into lip kits, some are tasteful and not very rice. Rear end- keep it clean. Debadge, maybe spray tint the oem tails (aftermarket seems a bit corny to me). Exhaust and intake for sounds. Lambo doors- leave em on the lambos. HIDs are always a first in mods it seems. Read up on a few member threads, you'll get a good idea in no time!

Yes, keep it clean... debadge!!

[BlackG5]

Originally Posted by Punks_Not_Dead5

Your grille is actually a replica RS Grille. TRD never made any aftermarkt grilles for our car.

I know TRD never made a grille, and they sure as hell wouldn't put their name on the grille that WE both have since it fits so poorly and has a fake badge on it.

Originally Posted by GT-R

Yes, keep it clean... debadge!!

^THIS! or paint the rear badges black-- my SE came with black badges and I got asked several times if I painted them.. then I debadged.

[arabianobsession]

^Chill, okay?

[Punks_Not_Dead5]

Relax all i was doing was clarifying.

Mine is a real RS grille, last one produced and it fits perfectly fine... and i also have an authentic TRD emblem on it. But i have a lot of TRD parts on my car, so the emblem is appropriate.

I wasn't slamming you in anyway, i was just clarifying so the OP didn't get confused and start searching for a TRD grille.

[Nums]

Originally Posted by Punks_Not_Dead5

i was just clarifying so the OP didn't get confused and start searching for a TRD grille.

Thanks for that

I don't much care for the black out look on the badges, it just looks like I'm trying to hide them. If anything I'd just remove them, paint them for a certain contrast, or keep them as is.

I've been thinking about the tail lights. I'd probably try to get the shop to put on film on my tail lights when I go to do the rest of my windows, rather than deal with spray on.

Originally Posted by Punks_Not_Dead5

First and most important is do what you like, ignore all the haters and make the car the way you want it.

As far as the tail lights, tint the OEM tails, and use the spray. It is a lot easier to do than the film. It is semi-permanant though (it eventually fades and wears off). I did mine with spray, if you want to see a pic let me know.

Get some nice 18" rims and if you want a moderate drop go with Eibach Pro Kit for springs.

If you go exhaust, i'd go full custom, as there aren't many choices out there for us as far as full kits, and the ones that are, are very pricey.

As mentioned there is a few lip kits you can get..but most reproduction as original kits are very rare nowadays.

Yea this is my everyday car, so I can't get too aggressive with a drop.

I've never really heard anything about custom exhausts. What would be involved in doing something like that? Are we talking full-custom-manufacture-everything-on-the-spot exhaust? Or is like buying pieces and modifying them? Sorry if these seem like dumb questions, but I've never talked to anybody that has a full custom exhaust.

Anyone have any recommendations on an air-intake? I do have some concerns though, as I heard a lot of aftermarket air-intakes actually cause more harm than good..

[arabianobsession]

As long as you don't go crazy oiling the filter, you will be fine. Just know that the intake won't give you noticeable gains in power, it's more there for the great sound it makes

[Nums]

Originally Posted by arabianobsession

Just know that the intake won't give you noticeable gains in power, it's more there for the great sound it makes

Thats alright, like I said I'm not trying to go for performance. Anyone here have an intake installed on their camry and has a video of it? I'd love to hear the difference.

[Punks_Not_Dead5]

Originally Posted by Nums

Thanks for that

I don't much care for the black out look on the badges, it just looks like I'm trying to hide them. If anything I'd just remove them, paint them for a certain contrast, or keep them as is.

I've been thinking about the tail lights. I'd probably try to get the shop to put on film on my tail lights when I go to do the rest of my windows, rather than deal with spray on.



Yea this is my everyday car, so I can't get too aggressive with a drop.

I've never really heard anything about custom exhausts. What would be involved in doing something like that? Are we talking full-custom-manufacture-everything-on-the-spot exhaust? Or is like buying pieces and modifying them? Sorry if these seem like dumb questions, but I've never talked to anybody that has a full custom exhaust.

Anyone have any recommendations on an air-intake? I do have some concerns though, as I heard a lot of aftermarket air-intakes actually cause more harm than good..

Removed all the emblems, makes it very clean looking.

For the custom exhaust, just go to an exhaust shop... you can pic out a muffler and have them weld it on(or bolt)...if you want to go a bit more advanced you can get a highflow cat converter, and do a catback exhaust.

Air intakes, you can do drop in filters, as stated just don't over oil it. Or you can get a Short Ram Intake (SRI) You can also go custom with that to save money.. this is what i did...i also have pics if you'd like.

[Nums]

How would I go about removing the emblems? I don't recall seeing any information on that topic, so I'm guessing its fairly straightforward.

I'm not mechanically inclined whatsoever, but intakes look like they would be fairly simple to install, assuming I get a kit built for my model. A custom one would probably be outside my range.

I think I've seen your intake before when I was browsing around the forums. If I recall correctly, yours did not have a certain valve (can't think of it right now) for if the filter were to be hit with water (my apologies if I'm off-base here). I wouldn't mind seeing a picture of it though, just to get an idea as to what it might look like if I did it.

And thanks for the info on the exhaust.

[arabianobsession]

^This is a little off topic, I apologize, but where in WI are you from?