Rear Spoiler Question

[barneyfife911]

I ordered a 2004 'Runner Sport with the rear spoiler with center high mounted light. Dealer has got a vehicle in stock that matches what I ordered, less the rear spoiler, which he says he can add. Is it the same thing I would have gotten on the ordered vehicle being built in Japan??? Thanks for any feedback.

 

[snowjay]

The shape of the spoiler is the same and the dealer gets them already pre-painted. The only difference is the location of the CHMSL. On the factory spoilers it is right in the center of the spoiler (left/right & up/down) and is the same shape as the CHMSL on the tailgates w/o the spoiler. On the port or dealer installed spoilers the CHMSL is an LED unit. It is in the center (left/right) of the spoiler but wraps around the bottom edge.

This is a factory spoiler: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1176

This is a port/dealer installed spoiler: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&postid=15098#post15098

 

[Mark86]

Another difference is if you look behind the spoiler, the factory one does not have the center stop light. There is just an insert the color of your car in there. When you get the spoiler installed by the dealer, the center light is still there. It is just deactivated. It does not really matter. I just pay attention to minor details.

I thought Sports and Limiteds came standard with the spoiler. I have been on many lots in New Jersey and passed many others. Every Sport and Limited had the spoiler already installed.

 

[snowjay]

Another difference is if you look behind the spoiler, the factory one does not have the center stop light. There is just an insert the color of your car in there. When you get the spoiler installed by the dealer, the center light is still there. It is just deactivated. It does not really matter. I just pay attention to minor details.

I thought Sports and Limiteds came standard with the spoiler. I have been on many lots in New Jersey and passed many others. Every Sport and Limited had the spoiler already installed.

Good point. But you cant see the factory light behind the spoiler unless you get up close to the truck and look for it. It's not very obvious.

I also thought that spoilers came standard with sports and limiteds but I checked my brochure and it's an option for all models, comes standard on none.

 

[srbigbutt]

I think I like the look of the Dealer installed Spoiler better. I have seen all models with and without the Spoiler.

 

[snowjay]

I think I like the look of the Dealer installed Spoiler better. I have seen all models with and without the Spoiler.

I agree. No big red light breaking up the paint on the back. Although if my truck came with a factory spoiler I wouldn't complain either.

 

[Jim]

I agree that the CHMSL on the factory spoiler looks a lot better. If you did go with a port/dealer spoiler, couldn't you order the body insert and replace the original body mounted CHMSL with it? I guess if you had to pay to have it painted that might get expensive, but at least it would be one less thing for us detail freaks to worry about

 

[srbigbutt]

If you don't want to wait for your 4Runner to arrive then why not just get it.

 

[snowjay]

I agree that the CHMSL on the factory spoiler looks a lot better. If you did go with a port/dealer spoiler, couldn't you order the body insert and replace the original body mounted CHMSL with it? I guess if you had to pay to have it painted that might get expensive, but at least it would be one less thing for us detail freaks to worry about

From what I've seen it's not an insert you can buy, they use two different tailgates and the one with the factory spoiler just has an impression where the CHMSL would be.

But we actually said the dealer spoiler looked better.

 

[Mark86]

I think that the factory one looks better. I do not like where the center light is placed on the dealer one. It does not matter which spoiler you have because the 4Runner looks a lot better with any spoiler than without it.

 

[snowjay]

I think that the factory one looks better. I do not like where the center light is placed on the dealer one. It does not matter which spoiler you have because the 4Runner looks a lot better with any spoiler than without it.

Definately any spoiler is better than none!

Do you know if the factory CHMSL uses bulbs or is it LED's also. I think thats why the dealer one is where it is because it is a row of LED's and doesnt require a big bezel. I kind alike the fact that it is hidden and isn't really noticable, but it's damn bright and there is no way to miss it when I step on the brakes.

 

[Mark86]

Definately any spoiler is better than none!

Do you know if the factory CHMSL uses bulbs or is it LED's also. I think thats why the dealer one is where it is because it is a row of LED's and doesnt require a big bezel. I kind alike the fact that it is hidden and isn't really noticable, but it's damn bright and there is no way to miss it when I step on the brakes.

I am starting to like the dealer spoiler better. I did not know it had a row of LED's. That is why the light is positioned differently. You would not want to blind the driver in the small sedan behind you! :biggrin2: I do not think there are LEd's in the factory spoiler.

 

[snowjay]

I'll try and get a close up picture of it tomorrow.

 

[barneyfife911]

You guys are the best! Thanks for all the replies and comments. I will go this Saturday to look at the truck and may just go ahead and get it. Again, I appreciate all the input here...

 

[toybox]

On the dealer installed one can you see the brake light from inside the car or the rear view mirror?

 

[snowjay]

No you can't physically see it as it's still part of the spoiler and sits flush with it, and you can't see the spoiler in the rear view mirror either. When you step on the brake its like any other light and you can see the reflection on the things behind you.

 

[4Runner2003]

Mine was installed at port, but you can see the original stop light behind the spoiler

 

[Mark86]

Mine was installed at the factory. In the New York/New Jersey area, all of the Sport's and Limited's come with the spoilers on. I do not have a stop light behind the spoiler.

 

[srbigbutt]

Thats not true. You can get any model with or without the spoiler. Most sports and limited have them but its not a standard option.

 

[Mark86]

Thats not true. You can get any model with or without the spoiler. Most sports and limited have them but its not a standard option.

I did not mean that the spoiler comes standard on these models. It was listed on my sticker as an option and added to the price of the car. What I meant is that I had no choice to get the car without a spoiler. Salesman told me it is was an option that I had to take if I wanted a Sport or a Limited.