December 2004 4ROTM - Luxury

[Luxury]

Silverstars

Thanks krosno3.

I finally got around to installing the Silverstars in mid October but am placing the post on this page to keep it close to my original post on the topic. For these pictures I am parked maybe 25 ft or so away from the garage door. They were easy to install and I am pleased with the result.

 

[Luxury]

License Plate Frame

While in Santa Barbara this weekend I picked up a black liscense plate frame to match my 4runner. Cost only $10 and they said I could return it anytime so I thought I would try it on for a while. Ultimately, I think I am going to paint the old blue frame. I am thinking about leaving the letters chrome and having the rest black. Do you think that will look good? I think screw caps would be good too. The blue plate is actually just resting over the black one, because I didn't take a before photo (notice the lack of screws).

CLICK HERE to go to a good thread that talks about various options for more generic 4runner related license plates. Or CLICK HERE to go to another thread that discusses LPFs.

 

[CopperX]

That's a really nice t4r that you got there, Luxury.

I am suprised that you haven't had the door sill protectors installed though. :

BTW, I did a little photo-chopping to your license plate frame so you can have an idea how the black is gonna look on your truck.

 

[Luxury]

License Plate Frame

That's a really nice t4r that you got there, Luxury.

I am suprised that you haven't had the door sill protectors installed though. :

BTW, I did a little photo-chopping to your license plate frame so you can have an idea how the black is gonna look on your truck.

Dam man, that is awesome. Thanks a lot.

Edit: Oh, I just noticed it is on the black one. I was thinking about doing the all black thing to the Alumni blue one. I'm not asking you to do more work, just clarifying what I am planning. Maybe you chose the black one because it was easier with the already black background behind the text.

As far as the door sills go, I have a guy that is supposed to be getting me a discount on them as well as the exhaust tip, heavy duty floor mats, and a few others.....but it has been taking a while. Good call though. Those are right up my alley. I hadn't posted about them yet for a couple reasons, I'm already set on getting them and I haven't thought about them lately.

 

[CopperX]

didn't spend too much time but you get the idea...

 

[alpha]

Here's what is next ($65 total from Pepboys):

Hmm.. from the pics, looks like a planned 9005 Conversion..

I've heard Silverstars don't have a long life expectancy though..

Anyways, very nice truck. The chrome handles look better than I expected, but probably because you have silver running boards and a black truck. Ever think about getting a chrome grille from a 2005 to match the handles?

 

[Luxury]

License Plate Frame

didn't spend too much time but you get the idea...

Thanks again CopperX

The chrome handles look better than I expected, but probably because you have silver running boards and a black truck. Ever think about getting a chrome grille from a 2005 to match the handles?

For sure, I am totally considering it. It is actually my front runner of all the grill choices. Originally, I was completely excited about this chrome grill from this Japanese shop called Shuei, but I have had a lot of trouble contacting them and they said a few unerving things like "no returns". Anyway, I created THIS THREAD to summarize all the options currently available for grill replacements and inserts. The link is also in my sig.

I am also going to order a T&H Chrome Bull Bar, so I am not sure if it is going to be too much chrome up front with the grill and guard. On partznet I found a grill called something like "metallic grill", and the rest of the descriptions were various paint colors, so I contacted them to clarify, but haven't gotten a response yet. If it pans out then it will be a steal at about $115 before shipping I assume. Especially when considering the JDM Chrome Cover is going for about $150. Lets keep our fingers crossed.

I love all the feedback, even the suggestions that I am already considering. They help solidify my choices and are much appreciated.

 

[Sac State]

Gaucho?

A Gaucho's fan? How does your team look for the upcoming Big West basketball title? I know the women's team is pretty good.

 

[Luxury]

Re: Gaucho?

A Gaucho's fan? How does your team look for the upcoming Big West basketball title? I know the women's team is pretty good.

Yeah, the women's team is really good. When I was in school we typically went to their games. I think the men are getting better, but they have their work cut out for them to catch up to the women. I don't follow any of it very closely. Based on the fact that you asked the question, and your username, you probably know more than me about college basketball and even UCSBs team.......especially because I didn't have TV or the paper for the last couple years.

I think that is the first time I've seen a question including the word Gaucho without it saying: What the hell is a Gaucho anyway?

 

[Sac State]

Banana Slug's

Hey, it is better than a Banana Slug!

Gaucho=S. American bullfighter and matador

Yeah, Sac's womens team has their work cut out.

 

[Luxury]

License Plate Frame

Thanks to CopperX I remained excited about my liscense plate frame paint plan, so I picked up some supplies. I based my choice of paint on 4route's thread on painting emblems. I used these materials/tools to tape off the letters that I wanted to remain chromed.

 

[Luxury]

License Plate Frame

Applied the primer without sanding the very smooth surface of the chrome frame (probably should have lightly sanded, but I was lazy). I waited like 30 minutes and applied the paint. This is where I am at now, waiting for it to dry. I painted it at about 11:30 pm last night, and when I touched the taped portion this morning, it was still a little tacky. I couldn't find anywhere on the can the time to let it dry.

 

[Luxury]

Custom License Plate Frame

So, I got home from my window tinting at 7:30pm and easily removed the taped-over lettering. I ended having to mask off the entire area again with a solid piece of tape because I missed the top thin edge of the plate. It was hardly noticeable with the dark primer, but I didn't want it to bug me later when it is on my 4runner. So, I'm letting it dry again. Keep in mind, this plate had been on my Mustang for 3+ years, so the chrome letter area needs a little polishing. It was hard to get a photo that showed the distinction between the chrome and the black. Some angles made it look solid black.

Update: I got it all mounted up. The only difference in the second & third pic is a minor detail, the $3 black screw caps from Pepboys.

 

[Luxury]

Front Window Tint

I took some before and after pictures of my window tint. On the sides I got Matte black 35% tint. It cost a total of $75 for the side windows @ www.campbelltint.com Click HERE to go to a thread that links to tint regulations by state.

Note that the flames are just reflected off their wall. I got my fill of flames on my Mustang. Especially at approximately $75 per door. I didn't pay anywhere near that for my stang, but that was a special situation.

 

[Luxury]

Front Window Tint

Driver's Window Tint:

 

[Luxury]

Moonroof Tint

Well, here is a pic of the moonroof before, but I don't know how much good it is without an after pic in the same lighting environment (which for some reason I didn't take). I had 50% of this Metallic Heat Reflective Tint put on for $35.

Update 6/3/05: CLICK HERE to go to a thread that warns it might be dangerous to tint your moonroof.

 

[Cleric]

Hey Luxury,
It's been my experience with aftermarket tints that they usually don't quite match the color of factory tints. How do your front and rear windows match up in the sunlight? If it is good, I will have to find a shop in my area that uses the same brand of film.
Thanks.

 

[Luxury]

Tint Details

Well, they match as good as possible.....which isn't all that great. This tint shop really knew their shiz. There were trade-offs with every tint:

1. There was a 28% that would have matched the tint of the rear, but it had a slight metallicness/reflectiveness to it that would have made it look slightly different than our matte rear sides.
   
2. I chose the 35% because the 20% would have looked darker from the inside. It would have looked a little closer on the outside, but I didn't want to see that difference on the interior, and I definitely didn't want to hinder the use of my side mirrors at all......I love those gigantic beauties. We even cut out samples of each of the tints and viewed them from the inside and out.
   
3. I had trouble following all the color differences that they were talking about, but the bottom line was that our front sides already have an extremely green hugh to them that the rear sides don't. Basically, I think you want to look for a tint that is more bronze, but I am not even certain which I ended up with.
   [/list=1]If I lived in a hotter climate, I would have also tinted the windshield with the tint I used for the moonroof. On the moonroof note, has anyone noticed that their moonroof cover seems slightly thinner than in some other Toyota's (like my girlfriend's Corolla) and a lot thinner than some other makes?
   
   Here is a scan of the tint I got for the sides:

 

[Luxury]

Tint Details

An here is what I used for the moonroof tint:

 

[DjGorilla]

Your not gonna start scanning your gas receipts and posting them too? JK