Usual workshop disclaimers apply. Please do not attempt this or any other Modification unless you
feel completely confident you can complete the task without damaging yourself, other people, or
more importantly your Lexus !!! Go careful & take your time, & use glues, sprays filler etc
in well ventilated areas, and away from anything your wife/girlfirend would be upset if damaged/split on.



As many of you are aware, the IS200/IS300 has a pretty good sound system as standard in the SE/Sport versions.
It does have a bad habit however of the dreadded ERR3 CD Changer fault CD Changer fault occuring just
outside the Warranty period.

So alas many of us have decided to not pay the huge cost of OE Lexus replacement of the Head Unit, and gone
for other options regarding CD Palyers, DVD Players, Screens etc.

There are however very few options for the IS200/300 with regards to replacement Facias to hold CD/DVD players in.
Some are pictured below.

Firstly the Aftermarket
The Autoleads Facia FP-25-00 (fitted with a fold out Kenwood DVD Player)

This normally costs about £15 or so from Ebay and is suitable for Single or Double DIN Head Units

Secondly the official Toyota Part No 55413-53010
The Toyota Double Din Blanking Plate

Cost is approx £45 from Lexus Dealers
The problem with that Toyota panel is that you lose the heated seat buttons.
You also have to cut out a suitable hole for the head unit (either Single or Double DIN).

The problem I had was that I wanted something that looked like it came from the factory,
and in their original form, neither of these Facias fitted the bill. So a bit of modifying was in order.

I bought the Autoleads Facia and this is what you get in the kit

As stated above this can be assembled in Single OR Double DIN form depending on your requirements.
For me Single DIN was required for my new Head unit, so was fitted with the small cubbyhole beneath the H.U.

I bought some Self Adhesive Felt to line the cubbyhole box.

Very Good mate where it the best place to get ice from I need a head unit for the altezza

I also purchased from Halfords a Spray can of Plastic Primer (Grey), a Spray can of Satin Black,
a small tube of fine texture Bodyfiller(P38) and some various graded sheets of Wet & Dry Paper.
Plus a small tube of Super Glue

Here you see the cubbyhole/pocket in place in the outer frame.


At this stage you can decide whether or not to use the Autoleads supplied Head Unit Trim, or the one that came
with your H.U. You may not want to decide for definate now, but to keep your options open, sand, paint etc the
supplied trim or Head Unit trim depending on your opinion,so later you have the option of which to use.

Then I glued the cubbyhole/pocket into place in the fram and filled the front joins with suitable filler.


Then once dry I sanded with course grade Wet & Dry until the whole front was smooth.


Then a coat of Grey Plastic Primer was applied and allowed to dry.


Whilst the Facia was drying, the cubbyhole/pocket was lined with the Self Adhesive Felt.


Once the Facia has dried, examine it closely for finish, as it might become apparent some surface
imperfections. If so Fill and repeat task of sanding and reprimer.

Once you are happy with this stage, you can assemble the rest of the kit, and test fit your Head unit.


Remember above you have 2 trims to fit the Head Unit. Decide now which to use and wether you are repainting
the one that came with your head unit or not. Spray in light coast the Satin Black and give at least 1 hour
between coats in a warm room. At this stage you may need to use some very fine grade Wet & Dry to
remove any Spray imperfections. I would suggest leaving the paint to harden for a few days in between
coats of paint or Wet & Dry. Patience here will provide much better results. Don't stop until you are
happy you have the desired results.


Once happy with the finish, reassemble the complete kit ready for fitment.
If needed I have detailed pics for dash/CD Player removal to help you.
PM me your email address, or alternatively I will do another walkthru.

You may be using external amps, or the new Head unit to power your Speakers. If using the
Standard Speaker Set-Up with the new Head Unit, you will need the Amp By-Pass Lead from E-bay.
This fits inline from the output lead from the Amp to the Speakers to the back of the Head unit Din Plug.
( & in so doing By-Passes the Stock amp, hence the name)


The cost of this lead is about £35 from a couple of sellers on E-Bay.
I can't help with any more information about this lead, as all my Speakers were replaced with new ones.

So now you should gone from removal of your Original Lexus Head Unit


to an empty space in your dash


to now having your freshly modified Facia in place along with you replacement Head Unit.



All I can say is the feedback I have from the people who have done this mod is that they are very happy,
and the personal feedback from LOC members that have been in my car is that it is finished in a way that
makes it look like it was a factory job. That's good enough for me.
A big thanks you to LOC Member Cous3 for the pictures, as I didn't take any when I did my own !

Hope this helps you.

Wozza

Having been in the car, and poked and prodded the fascia, I can saftley say that, had I not known that the fascia was custom made, I would have thought it was OEM from Lexus, the finish matches the rest of the dash brilliantly.

Great mod/write up Wozza!

Good write up there Woz.

Job well done.

Stav

Good darts woz tidy looking job, great write up.

Where did you get that black felt?

Cheers for your kind comments guys.
I am (hopefully)saving myself 4-5 PM's a day being asked how I did it.

I bought the Self Adhesive felt from HERE
order code ASAF1 @ £2.15 PLUS p+p .
It took me ages to find some on the net.

top job wozza! class...

Cheers, I hope you find it useful

Post up some pictures when you are done !

Done mine this week as well Wozza just got to finish it off then get the sat nav interface sorted out then get it fitted and it does look alot better than it does when you first put it all together without all the joints showing and i'm trying to find something so it'll match the rest of my dash kit being as i have the wood pack fitted?

I have a few bits of MDF lying around

Dont think it'll match the rest of the kit somehow matey

Now its time to swap the drivers h/seat button with the TRC/Snow button.

Im sure i'll be doing this once the dreaded "error" shows its ugly head.

Keh?? whats that about?

I'm confused too ?

Have to admit , I,ve seen Wozza,s Ice with my own eye,s and believe me it looks like a pro job , obviously hours and hours of fine sanding , patience and a keen eye for a top finish , not to mention the sound that it all emits , really its to die for !
Regards
Paul.

Hi guys n gals,
i'm a complete newb to the world of Lexus and a now a proud owner of a simply superb platinum ice IS200 Sport.(best car i ever owned)

This thread was exactly what i was looking for with regards to replacing the original sound system with something ipod compatible.

I've ordered all the necessary bits and bobs and i am now eagerly awaiting the delivery of a shiny new double din pioneer head unit which i hope does the car justice.

Congratulations and welcome to the forum.

Your car looks exactly the same as mine I just got mine too (well a few months ago now).

So Trig did you modify the facia when fitting the new Head Unit ?