Is Toyota's Part Departmet Screwin Me?

[LunarMist]

I went to a Toyota dealership near me and got prices on some 2005 Camry parts that I wanted retrofitted on my 2002 Camry LE. I want to replace:

• My '02 LE headlights with the '05 SE headlights @ $269.36 each
• My '02 LE Grille with the '05 LE/SE Grille @ $166.50
• My '02 Tail Lights with the '05 Tail Lights @ $170.87 each

The guy at the parts department actually heads that department and he talked to someone in the service center or something and he told me that it would take 1.5 hours to install each headlight and a half hour to almost an hour for each tail light. But he said that he worked something out for me so they would do all the installations for 3 hours of labor. He said to keep it on the hush because Toyota is not allowed to negotiate deals when it comes to the labor hours. But I read on a thread in here somewhere that it only took 10 minutes for a guy to install the '05 headlights on an '03. So am I being screwed for labor hours of what? Has anyone on here done anything like what I want to do?

[Super Kaioken]

i emailed trdparts4u about the grille and they quoted me:

I am showing 2 different grilles for the 2005s
53101-06050 GRILLE SU 110.39 XLE
53101-06060 GRILLE SU 110.39 SE
plus shipping

I emailed a toyota dealership nearby too. and they gave me the same price. I'll order it from trdparts4u though. which grille are you getting?

[LunarMist]

I dont really know. Because I have a Camry and its Lunar Mist Metallic. I think either grille would be nice. The thing is Toyota charges different prices on the same parts in different parts of the country. So a person in Florida might be quoted $110 for a grille but in California they might charge $160. Is trdparts4u a better bargain?

[MadDawg]

i asked the parts department how much stock springs and struts for the 96 camry le would cost... 960$ minus install

i can buy sports springs and have them installed somewhere else for less than that

[Super Kaioken]

well of course it'll be the better bargain since its cheaper for the same product

[Toysrme]

I'm not sure... All of the 92-01 ES headlights cost $200usd a pop new, but only 92-96 are projectors.


They're bending you over and analy raping you on the install.

Admittantly, I don't know anything about 2005 Camry, or Camry's for that matter. That being said...

92-01 ES's to change headlights you simply:
1) Unplug the three/four electrical connectors
2) Remove weather cover between frame and front bumper. (A few push clamps)
3) Remove three bolts
4) Sharp & quick jerk striaght outward
Headlights pop out. It's a five min project if you're not fishing for a 12mm socket and a screwdriver to pull the cover up with.


Tho it took me around 45 min to pull my tails and replace all the bulbs. Ugly ass 92-94 ES tails and their sixteen bulbs...

Once you get the carpet out of the way, the tail lights have maybe 5 or 6 10mm nuts holding them on.


These people use cordless drill/driver's, impact drivers, and air tools.


I would laff my ass off if it took three hours to do what you wanted them to.

[Dainfamusgc]

well they screwed me big time when i got the corolla sub antenna and nut, i paid $93.xx, in the FAQ i think they had both parts for $50 or so, i also got the s2000 antenna which was $26 from the honda company, in the faq its listed as $21 so that wasnt bad.

[terrastrife]

youd be the only person with an actaul honda s2k antenna then, not a copy prob :P

[articledon]

while you are spending a 1000 + on cosmetics to make your 02 look like an 05 the gen 6 drops in a year. At that point it wouldnt matter if you had an 02 or an 05 it will still be the previous generation.

Personally I like the rear lights of the gen 5 over the gen 5.5. If I were to change them I would rather go for some aftermarkets. I have seem some that look real nice on a car at work(i could post a pic).

Also the front grille rather than the 05 grill I think the billet(?? I think thats what they call it??) grill looks better and it cost about the same.

if your leaving no rock unturned the 05 has different hub caps and front fascia

[whocares04]

Originally Posted by terrastrife

youd be the only person with an actaul honda s2k antenna then, not a copy prob :P

nope...i have an actual s2000 antenna....

[Chet]

Toyota dealerships use book time and they do not want to vary from that. I took my Cam in for a complete 30k service. I know they only spent 2 1/2 hours on the car because they called to tell me it was done 2 1/2 hours later yet they charged me 7 hours labor. I called the service manager to complain and he told that the service guy did 2 or 3 things at once - like while the trans oil drained he changed the plugs. I then talked to their customer complaint guy and he told me they double-teamed the car and that they charge full book time for each service performed. Didn't matter to me how they serviced the car - if I got it back in 2 1/2 hours then I felt I should be charged 2 1/2 hours labor. Unfortunetly, Michigan law allows them to charge full book time even though the actual service time may be less. The customer complaint guy finally offered me a $150 credit on future service work.

[Super Kaioken]

that sucks....that they have to charge you that much.......wonder how the new gen is gonna look..........

post pix of the aftermarket tails i wanna see. I think the chrome 05 grill looks better than the aftermarket billet.....

[N Somniac]

yeah, the labor is non negociable, it's based on the Flat Rate (and no, toyota didn't make up the rate) - it's a rate that all shops would go by.. it's best to purchase the items and install yourself... personally I would eBay it.. I work for Toyota, and even my discount (which is huge) is still rediculously higher than anything I've bought off the internet... take the coolant tank.... eBay $30, Toyota discount $67, normal customer $129....thats without labor charges.... we like to call this, the wonderfull world of the Dealership.. always expect higher with ANY dealership

[ASG14]

Originally Posted by terrastrife

youd be the only person with an actaul honda s2k antenna then, not a copy prob :P

I wrote the DIY, and i have a REAL S2000 Antenna,

Parts are different all over the country, and state! I have gotten a quate for an antenna mast in Stamford and it was $54, called up Hartford where I go to callege and it was like $40 or less, do not really remember. It is amazing! And yes, I did get the official S2000 antenna for $21 which I thought wa sa really good price.

[ASG14]

I think there has to be some wiring changes for the '05 lights to fit the '02-'04. They are much different, and also have DRL.