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General Information

Name
: The Lowlander
Year
: 2002
Make
: Toyota
Model
: Highlander
Color
: Vintage Metallic Gold
Packages
: Limited, Towing Package
History
: A hand-me-down that needed some love
AWD, 3.0 V6, 295,000+ kilometres and still going strong

288211

Modifications

Drivetrain
:
2004-2007 Highlander rear CV axles
(Looking for one of these still!) Torsen Type 2 Limited Slip Differential from a ‘99-00 Lexus RX300
Interior
:
- Dashcams -
Front dashcam (Viofo A119 V3) tapped into cigarette lighter fuse
Rear dashcam (Viofo A119S) spliced into rear windshield wiper motor wire

- OE luxury -
Gentex GNTX-177 auto-dimming mirror from 2004 Highlander LTD
Functional 2015 RX350 heated steering wheel with factory clockspring

- Misc -
WeatherTech floor mats in the front, OEM 2nd gen Highlander rubber mat in the back, rubber cargo mat
Added extra cup holder in center console
Added a USB extension cable to connect phone to head unit in place of original front cup holder
Ravpower RP-VC003 phone charger on right side power outlet and voltmeter on left side power outlet
Lexus F-Sport accelerator pad and brake pedal pad
Lexus GS430 cabin air filter tray with charcoal filter
Lexus RX300 sunvisors
2004-2007 Highlander LTD armrests and headrests
Exterior
:
- Fun stuff -
1999-2003 Buick Park Avenue Ultra tri-tone horns, with an added 4th tone (Running off a 30 amp Bosch relay with a 20 amp inline fuse to the battery)
Front windows tinted to match rear
1996 BMW 328i alarm siren
(Planned) - Hood struts

- Functional -
Roof rack delete
4Runner 27F battery tray
94R battery
Trailer hitch
Oil catch can
Dorman 68203 hood light
OEM power steering cooler (exclusive to 4-cyl model with towing package)
Votex DP006 magnetic drain plug (M12 x 1.25 plug - engine)
Cummins 3924147 magnetic drain plug (M18 x 1.5 plug - transmission)
2014-2019 Highlander OEM transmission mount
3MZ-FE gen 2.5 valve covers

- Brakes -
Goodridge 21550 RX300 braided brake lines
2008-2019 Highlander front brakes (caliper, pads, rotor)
2008-2013 Highlander rear brakes (caliper, pads, rotor)
2004-2007 Highlander rear ABS sensors
2009-2015 Venza rear brake dust shields
Audio
:
Pioneer AVH-2300NEX head unit w/ a reverse camera and microphone for hands free calling
Sound deadening in trunk lid, spare tire compartment, rear wheel wells, doors, and behind various trim pieces
(Planned) - Pancake subwoofer under driver's seat
Lighting
:
- Exterior -
OSRAM 9011 HIR1 high beams
Philips 9012 HIR2 low beams
LED reverse lights
LED turn signals
LED third brake light assembly
LED amber fog lights
LED license plate lights
LED rear side marker lights
2006-2007 Highlander Hybrid LED tail light retrofit
2004-2007 headlight assemblies

- Interior -
81980-53020 turn signal relay modified to accept LEDs
Full LED lighting
LED footwell lights wired to dome light
Exhaust
:
Magnaflow 91005 main/rear cat
22” glasspack
2015 Mustang GT muffler
Custom tailpipe increases ground clearance
Custom y-pipe
Custom front pipe
New exhaust insulators all around, riveted hangers above muffler have been drilled out
Suspension
:
- Sway bars -
Addco 2109 7/8" rear sway bar
OEM 1” front sway bar from a 2015 Lexus RX350
(26mm Front, 22.2mm Rear) sway bar setup
2015 Lexus RX350 front sway bar brackets
Custom heavy-duty rear sway bar brackets
2011-2016 Ford Fiesta rear sway bar end links (Aluminum)
2007-2017 Camry front sway bar end links (Perfect fitment to clear 2nd gen sway bar)
Mevotech MS86426 front sway bar bushings (Ramcoa)
Mevotech MK90397 universal rear sway bar bushings (Ramcoa)
"She handles friggin' great for an SUV!"

- Springs and Shocks -
H&R 29357-1 RX300 lowering springs
KYB Excel-G replacement struts

- Steering -
2012-2018 Dodge Charger AWD inner tie rods
2008-2019 Highlander outer tie rods
2008-2019 Highlander front knuckles

- General -
2009-2015 Venza AWD rear knuckles
2004-2007 Highlander rear control arms
2004-2007 Highlander toe adjustment hardware
Wheel and Tire
:
Winter: 2004 Lexus RX330 17 x 6.5" rims with Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 tires (225/65R17)

Summer: 4th gen Lexus RX350 18 x 8" rims with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires (235/55R18)

ARP 100-7715 extended wheel studs

Gallery

Comments

· Registered
Joined
·
2 Posts
Nice, I have the same ride and it has served me well.
Been thinking about changing or updating the CD, FM, Tape cassette to something similar to what you have
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,875 Posts
Nice, I have the same ride and it has served me well.
Been thinking about changing or updating the CD, FM, Tape cassette to something similar to what you have
I highly recommend it! Was the best thing I ever did right up there with the sway bar and lowering springs. My favourite thing about it is that I can hook Waze up to it and get reports of red light cameras, accidents, heavy traffic and cops. Before I had the head unit - I used to have my phone mounted on the air vents which was a pain in the butt to reach and would overheat the phone as well.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
2 Posts
Thanks for the reply. Any chance you have a photo of the Pioneer AVH-2300NEX head unit w/ a reverse camera.
Addco has discontinued the Sway bars for the highlander.
 
Last edited:

· Registered
Joined
·
1,875 Posts
Thanks for the reply. Any chance you have a photo of the Pioneer AVH-2300NEX head unit w/ a reverse camera.
Addco has discontinued the Sway bars for the highlander.
No problem - and yes in fact I do! Despite the sway bar being discontinued I was actually able to find someone who still had the jig to make me one. Addco 2109: Sway Bar 2001-2007 Toyota Highlander 7/8 Inch Diameter not sure if they will still make them but despite being labelled as "discontinued" I was still able to get one almost a year back.
289669
 
Last edited:

· Premium Member
2003 Highlander (MCU25L)
Joined
·
124 Posts
Hi, I have a 2003 Highlander, I removed the roof rack, and need help with getting a part number or diy solution to plug the rectangular holes in the gutter/rail.
Thank you, Alex.
 

· Registered
Kluger (Highlander) CV - 2006 - AWD
Joined
·
287 Posts
Have a look at posts by Lowlander and his excellent sticky "1st Gen Bolt-On Upgrade & Other modifications". I don't know how he finds the time! He's done exactly what you did and plugged the hole. Some manufacturers/after market suppliers actually have dedicated plugs for the holes though I haven't seen any for the Highlander. I actually went the reverse as I didn't have the roof rails so got a used set.
 

· Premium Member
2003 Highlander (MCU25L)
Joined
·
124 Posts
I ended up going to the junk yard and getting 1.5 in (3.81 cm) wide weather stripping from a minivan and using adhesive to hold it in place. Completely water tight!
 
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