I am sure this device has been mentioned before in these forums but I just wanted to blow the trumpet again.
If you are looking for an iPod solution for your RX (and lots of other models), are fed up with FM transmitters and underwhlemed by the Lexus offering that can only function if you set up playlists for everything you want to listen then you need to look at the:

SoundLinQ2 (SL2Vi) from Vais Technology (http://www.vaistech.com)

I have just had this unit fitted in my 2008 RX400h and I can now browse my iPod using the touch screen display. I can browse by Artisit, Album, Playlists, Genre, Audiobooks & Podcasts. I can also playback iPod movies through the front display unit (assuming I am stopped with the parking brake on). The following is cut and pasted from the Vais Tech Website:

Key Features:


Audio input dedicated for iPod™ integration
Audio Source selection and iPod™ controls via OEM Radio or
Steering Wheel Controls *
Artist/Song info displayed on the Navigation screen or Radio display **
Track info displayed on the Navigation screen or Radio display
Browsing by Playlist, Artist, Album, Genre, Audiobook, Podcast ***
Charging iPod battery while driving
True Plug & Play solution
Improved sound quality
Warranty: 1 year

* Some functional limitations could apply depending on the Lexus model
** Available ONLY for the Lexus models with Radio supports MD Changer with MD-Text or CD Changer with CD-Text
*** Available for Fifth Generation Navigation System,





SoundLinQ2 SL2i KIT



MSRP $239.99
Sale Price $224.99



Item includes:
SoundLinQ2 SL2i unit
Audio Harness
iPod™ interface harness
Operation Manual
Installation Manual
1 year Limited Warranty


I paid for UPS shipment which was another $50. I also paid £80 for fitting by a very nice chap called Damian who does fitting work for Lexus Sidcup. Installation took half an hour and he was impressed how everything just worked. The wiring looms and connectors are all high quality.

So in total I paid about £140. This unit is far superior to the Lexus offering and quite a bit cheaper (I had it in my last RX, its crap !).

Also - there is an option in the SL2vi's software to 'press' the 'I Agree' button for you on the safety warning that appears everytime you switch on the car. So now, when I start the car, 5 seconds later there is a little beep and the display switches to the map display by itself - Yes !


Have a look at the website for all the details. If you have any questions, I will be happy to answer them.

I dealt with a very nice chap called Eugene at Vais Tech who was very helpful.

Stop struggling with your iPod and get this unit, I love it.

Cheers,

Andrew.

Thanks for this - I have an RX300 SEL. It has the SatNav and I have just received a promotional flyer from Lexus re: thier IPod integration kit {£199} - I was considering the purchase but now i've seen this !!

Does this kit fit the RX300 2003 model ??

Where can I find a UK supplier installer ????

Hi

I fitted one of these to my LS430 a while ago and agree it is superb.

There is a UK supplier somewhere but the price is way more than you can get direct, the manufactorer sells on ebay or phone them direct, pay by credit card and it arrives in a few days.

Any car audio shop/fitter can fit it, I'd never done it before and it took me 20mins all in, it just piggybacks into the back of the radio, ie. pull out the plugs that are there, plug them in the unit and plug the plugs supplied into the radio. job done.....

Works great and the best thing is not having to "agree" with the sat nav any more.......

Pete

Your RX300, 2003 is covered, have a look here:

http://www.vaistech.com/manuals/Application_Guide.pdf

Read Haylands post below this one ref the UK. You are better off buying direct I think. Anyway have a chat with Eugene Kaspin [info@vaistech.com] and he will let you know about a UK importer.

Ref fitting, the unit itself is so simple that anyone able to follow instructions can do it. I got mine fitted by a pro because I had no idea how the centre console comes out and nor did I want to try it on my brand new shiny baby ! My local Lexus service department were happy to reccomend the bloke they use.

Cheers.

Hi

ab plus, did you get the SL2i or the SL2Vi ?

Would just like to clarify because I am slightly confused by your post -- you refer to the SL2Vi at the top and then quote the price of $224.99 for the SL2i later on.

I presume you got the SL2i, please confirm so I know I am purchasing the right one !


Many thanks for the heads up by the way

I have the SL2Vi fitted to my LS430 and it's great. I didn't fit it myself as I had my local Lexus dealer do the business. Which was probably a good idea as they had alot of problems fitting it but now it's done, it's great. Perfect sound quality and no more tape adapters, and for a giggle, you can watch a movie on the touch screen. It sees the iPod as a minidisc player and it also now has a dvd changer for watching movies from. So long as you have it in park with the handbrake on. I imported it from the states direct from the supplier as I found the UK suppliers to be much more expensive. I still have to press the "I Agree" button on startup but I imagine as Lexus fitted it, the made sure the screen stayes up.

Hi Typhoon,

Sorry for the balls up, I bought the SL2Vi, I must have cut and pasted the wrong bit from the VaisTech site. Anyway, the only difference between the 2 is that the SL2Vi allows you to play iPod videos through the touch screen.

Here is the correct copy:

Key Features:

Audio input dedicated for iPod™ integration
Audio Source selection and iPod™ controls via OEM Radio or
Steering Wheel Controls *
Artist/Song info displayed on the Navigation screen or Radio display **
Track info displayed on the Navigation screen or Radio display
Browsing by Playlist, Artist, Album, Genre, Audiobook, Podcast ***
Simple push button change over between audio and video
Charging iPod battery while driving
True Plug & Play solution
Improved sound quality
Warranty: 1 year

* Some functional limitations could apply depending on the Lexus model
** Available ONLY for the Lexus models with Radio supports MD Changer with MD-Text or CD Changer with CD-Text
*** Available for Fifth Generation Navigation System,

Please refer to our SL2Vi Application Guide for additional information.


For more information about our products please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page or contact Customer Service department

You can download SoundLinQ2 SL2Vi Installation/Operation Manual (ver 4.44)

Please see SLi, SL2i, SL2Vi and VML (MultiMediaLinQ) comparison chart



Order processing may take 1-3 days.


SoundLinQ2 SL2Vi KIT
Orders for SL2Vi can only be placed over the phone
(720) 733-2348
Retail Price $349.99





SoundLinQ2 SL2Vi-P4 KIT ("Package 4")
Orders for SL2Vi-P4 can only be placed over the phone
(720) 733-2348
Retail Price $419.99


You need to check the application guide (http://www.vaistech.com/manuals/SL2Vi%20Application%20Guide.pdf) to make sure you order the correct package type. Where it says 'RES' in the application guide it refers to Rear Entertainment System.

If you don't want front screen video (which is a bit of a gimmick anyway) then the SL2i is the one and my original pricing stands.

Good luck !

You can turn the 'I Agree' function on off. Its off by default. Page 17 in the manual says:

Activate / Deactivate “I Agree” Automatic Bypass Function


Put your device in Simple Mode by rapidly pressing the [SCAN] button 8 times (MUST BE DONE within 1-2 seconds).
Push DISC REPEAT button to hear a long beep to toggle the “I Agree” Automatic Bypass Function ON and OFF.
(For vehicles not equipped with DISC REPEAT as a physical button, push and hold the REPEAT button until you hear
a long beep to toggle the “I Agree” Automatic Bypass Function ON and OFF.


Have fun !

Hi Pete,

Just think, one day Lexus might actually build in something for MP3 players, I hear they are quite popular !

Personally I think Mr Levinson should be shot for not even including a customer accesible Aux in socket, then we wouldn't have to go to all this bother.....

Cheers.

Your RX300, 2003 is covered, have a look here:

http://www.vaistech.com/manuals/Application_Guide.pdf

Read Haylands post below this one ref the UK. You are better off buying direct I think. Anyway have a chat with Eugene Kaspin [info@vaistech.com] and he will let you know about a UK importer.

Ref fitting, the unit itself is so simple that anyone able to follow instructions can do it. I got mine fitted by a pro because I had no idea how the centre console comes out and nor did I want to try it on my brand new shiny baby ! My local Lexus service department were happy to reccomend the bloke they use.

Cheers.

(ps, Typhoon just pointed out that the price I mentioned was for the SL2i not the SL2Vi, my mistake sorry. The difference between the two is the ability to play videos from your iPod through the touch screen - V standing for Video.)

I'm very tempted. Installation looks easy enough to do yourself.
Anyone know how to gain access to the plugs at the back of the radio unit on a RX400h ?

It is very straightforward. My installer had the section of the centre console below the touch screen out. Unfortunately I was making him a cup of tea while he has doing it so I didn't see how it was done ! Somebody here is bound to have tried though !

Piece of cake - look through these forums and there is an explanation with photographs. In summary though:

1 remove gear knob by unscrewing it
2 pull up the wooden/aluminium (400h) trim from around gear shift
3 reach under panel with the cigar lighter socket/heated seat switches and pull forwards
4 remove 4 bolts that hold radio in with a long socket (tricky bit as 2 bolts are high up so you need to get down low to look up and see them) - would advise magnetic socket or chewing gum in socket to make sure you don't drop the bolts
5 pull radio out - have someone help you sitting in the passenger seat as an extra pair of hands is useful at this point
6 unplud radio from car wiring loom, plug Vaistech loom into radio back, plug car loom into Vaistech loom
7 follow instructions to program/set mode on the Vaistech
8 refit

Incidentally, you can put the Vaistech box in the passenger footwell of the RX at the bottom of the dash, at the front of the tranmission tunnel. It is easy enough to get the wiring from the glovebox to the box of the tricks and back up to the radio.

Does anyone know if this will work with an Iphone 3g ?

Hi Andrew,

I have wanted to buy this for a while but I was put of by the no mention of ship to uk on the website.
Did you order over the phone or the web site?

I have just picked up my new rx 400 with lexus ipod doc.
Did yours display text with your old ipod doc?
Does it display text with the Vais one?

The engineer has told me the it will not display text on mark levison system on the rx 400.
Is this true anyone?

The SL2i & SL2Vi both work with the iPhone & the iPod Touch. The Vais Tech website doesn't mention the 3G model but it wouldn't make any difference as the connector on the bottom of the phone won't have changed.

Thanks for the reply, just wondered if this would cause problems with the actual phone function of the iPhone if it is being used as an iPod in the vehicle at the same time, presumably an incoming phone call would automatically disable the iPod function ?

Also, where does the iPod sit in the vehicle ?


Many thanks

Hi, I ordered on line direct with Vais Tech. You can contact them at info@vaistech.com to discuss. They are very helpful.

The Lexus kit does not display text, you have to remember what playlist has what in it.

The Vais Tech kit displays Artist & Album listings on the touch screen of the car. I reccomend you have a look at their website, www.vaistech.com and look at the SL2i or SL2Vi. There are pictures of what the touch screen will display. www.vaistech.com/sl2i.php

Its a much better solution than the very dissapointing Lexus offering in my opinion.

Have fun !

Hmmm not sure as I don't have an iPhone. I assume that if you are listening to music and a call comes in the iPhone stops playing and deals with the call as you say.

The Vais kit has a lead that attaches to the bottom of the iPod/iPhone, there is no holder. I opted to have the lead come out in the glovebox and the iPod seems quite happy to live in there out of the way. Probably not such a good solution for the phone though.

Cheers.

I'm not sure this answers the question, but I leave my old 4G ipod in the glove box connected to the vais and have my iphone bluetoothed in the usual way. Both work independently and completely normally. I just have to remember to take the ipod out of the car every now and again to keep it up to date by re-syncing with my itunes.

I can connect the iphone directly to the vais and the iphone gives marginally better sound quality over the levinson sound system. However, I can't be bothered to keep connecting and disconnecting every time I use the car; it's much easier to leave the ipod in the glovebox and the iphone in my pocket.

Does anyone know of a UK installer in the Leicestershire area. I desperately want on of these units but don't fancy installing it myself. Or would Lexus fit it for me?

I too have the standard Lexus iPod kit and am totally underwhelmed by it. This VAIS kit looks great, but I have a Nov 2005 RX-400h SE-L, does anyone know if it will fully function with this car? The VAIS PDF only shows info for the 2006-2008 RX-400h models. I understand they altered the Navigation system in the later models, is this what the issue is?

Many thanks
Mark

The SL2i and SL2Vi don't fully work with the iPhone 3G - playback is OK but the phone will not charge as the wiring harness does not supply the required 5v feed - this is only an issue if you want the phone to charge while its in the car but to my mind its not much use if it doesn't

Vaistech have an upgraded version for audio (the SL2i-UP) which costs a few dollars more and will charge your 3G phone - the upgrade for video playback still isn't available yet but is promised soon

Hope this helps

Spoke to Lexus today, they are unwilling to fit the unit because it is not Lexus approved...

ab plus -- I see you have a 2008 RX so I am assuming you still have at least 2 years manufacturers warranty -- did you speak to Lexus to find out about any warranty implications that could result from fitting the kit ? The indirect impression I received from Lexus was that if it is not Lexus approved they will perhaps void the warranty -- is this nonsense ? I certainly hope it is...

Thanks

We too have an Oct 05 RX400h SE-L, would really like the SL2Vi model from VaisTech but as Mark Burton said, the application guide says its only good for 2006-2008 models (when in 2006??). I really want the iPod info on the touch screen rather than the cramped radio LCD. Is there any way to find out whether the screen is compatible?

Can anyone with the SL2i confirm whether they get the iPod track details on the radio screen (track name)? Or just "disk 1 - track 1" ? I don't see any info about MD Changer capabilities in the car or the manual, so I assume we'll have to go with CD Changer mode, but it does have CD-text. My wife is probably going to use this the most, she listens to audiobooks a lot and I'm worried she won't be able to navigate around, plus, if for example she presses Track+/- on the wheel, whether she'll be able to get back to her previous position (can you scan through tracks with this unit?)

Would be so handy to see one working...!
Cheers
Durwin

Hi Durwin,

Best way to be sure is to drop Vais Tech a line at info@vaistech.com, they are very helpful.

Cheers.

If you can control the audio on the Nav screen then you will get track names, artist name and album title, including excellent menu navigation. I know this is possible with all MultiMedia systems that can play the DVDs from the head unit. If you cannot control the audio from the screen, then you will not get the track names etc on the screen and you would be better off getting the cheaper Lexus unit (I think its the Dennison unit , http://www.dension.com/icelinkgateway500.php)

I bought my Vais unit from http://www.cheaptoyotaparts.co.uk/componen...d,44/Itemid,26/, and I fitted it myself. (Took me a few hours because I was nervous of getting it all wrong, but it is straight forward. Just do NOT drop a screw, it will rattle forever and the joy of your Lexus drive will be severely impaired). The supplier can fit it for you if you can get there. Otherwise, your Lexus dealer might do it or you could get an independent. You are not interfering with anything major, the unit simply plugs into the back of the headunit and hey presto.

Jaroph