Question about the '03 body pieces

[alia176]

Hey fellas,

My '03 needs a facelift. It's a two tone color with the bumpers and flares are a darker, matt grey color with weird looking indentations. Furthermore, all of these pieces are loose and missing fasteners due to the PO attempting what I have no idea. However, my buddy's 04 has all matching flares, same color as the body and bumpers while the flares don't have the dented features.

Can I swap our body parts? I'm aware of the headlight/grill change on certain years and newer but i'm interested before that body change for interchanging of parts.

Thank you.

 

[4Runner010]

From what I understand yes you can. I have a 03 and have color matched flares without the indentations on it? not sure if the owner before me did it before me or if it was like a half year or something.

 

[alia176]

From what I understand yes you can. I have a 03 and have color matched flares without the indentations on it? not sure if the owner before me did it before me or if it was like a half year or something.

Thanks for the info. I have seen other '03s with normal, not two tone fenders so I don't know the patterns that Toyota instituted. Maybe it's only for the Sports model in '03?

 

[daytonaviolet]

yes i believe you can just swap them out, ie 03 --> up to 05 bumpers, fender and door covers shall fit.

not sure if you know but the 06 actually has wider fender and door covers. only problem is if you go with the 06 style, then for sure you'll need to update the front/rear bumpers as well to match the thickness. but if you go with that route you'll also get the updated headlights (projectors).

something to think about. :lookout:

 

[RunninInGA]

I believe I've read that it isn't easy getting the trim pieces off - can anyone confirm?

 

[ukbloke]

I believe I've read that it isn't easy getting the trim pieces off - can anyone confirm?

It is not easy - those clips are a real pain to separate from the outside, and they may/will brake. Probably easier if you can get to them from the inside (e.g. dismantling door trim). Maybe there's some other trick that I don't know of.

I'd say that it is a lot of work to get all of these panels off, likely to be expensive to get replacement ones, and expensive again to get them all painted to match the body color.

I suggest you try to get used to them, perhaps replace the worst offending clips. I did.