LS430 ML Bluetooth add-on

[Antharro]

My facelift LS430 has Bluetooth built in, but for phone calls only. I'd like to upgrade this for music. Putting aside the FM transmitter options, it looks like my options are:

1) GROM Audio, either GROM-BT3-TOY, GROM-USB3-TOY, GROM-AUX1-TOY, or if I'm feeling flush with cash, GROM-VL1-LEX4VL2

2) VIAS Tech SL3b-L

3) MusikImAuto BlueMusic 2720 6+6, or BlueMusic 2737 audio + handsfree kit, both with the 6+6 splitter cable.

I'm leaning towards the MusikImAuto solution as it's the cheapest and there seem to be a couple of good reviews on this forum... but I can't figure out from the website if it can pull track info (song name, etc) and show it on the LS's display. I'm going to ask them.

Does anyone have any input on these, or other options I should consider?

[lex - eleven]

Cheap as chips option but works just fine. I use youtube to play music I want and its ok.

[SpicyBlimp]

8 hours ago, Antharro said:

My facelift LS430 has bluetooth built in, but for phone calls only. I'd like to upgrade this for music. Putting aside the FM transmitter options, it looks like my options are:

1) GROM Audio, either GROM-BT3-TOY, GROM-USB3-TOY, GROM-AUX1-TOY, or if I'm feeling flush with cash, GROM-VL1-LEX4VL2

2) VIAS Tech SL3b-L

3) MusikImAuto BlueMusic 2720 6+6, or BlueMusic 2737 audio + handsfree kit, both with the 6+6 splitter cable.

I'm leaning towards the MusikImAuto solution as it's the cheapest and there seem to be a couple of good reviews on this forum... but I can't figure out from the website if it can pull track info (song name, etc) and show it on the LS's display. I'm going to ask them.

Does anyone have any input on these, or other options I should consider?

It doesn't show track info, it shows up in the audio screen as a 2nd CD changer device and any music played from the phone just shows as a never-ending 1st track on an imaginary CD.

Works well though and steering wheel track change controls still work with it. I think the GROM systems show the track info but are very expensive in comparison.

[BigBoomer]

The ML system has none of the MP3 capability of later stereo systems, so the BlueMusic just works like a CD Player.
Remember this is an 18 year old car. 
My phone is plugged into a cable to charge whilst I drive and it set to never lock the screen when charging so I only have to glance at the phone to see what is playing.
I can't comment on the other systems as I considered them all WAY too expensive when I investigated my options.
I've also tried cassette adapters (noisy, poor sound quality)and FM transmitters (better but have a whine and prone to interference).
The BlueMusic has excellent audio quality and is about as simple as they come to install.
 

[Antharro]

Thanks @BigBoomer, I was hoping you'd see this. Completely agree with the cassette adapters and FM transmitters. Plus I'm looking to make this installation look as "factory" as possible, so the fewer wires and adapters the better!

I've gone with the German option - seems very good value for money especially compared with the equivalent GROM product. I'd like to have the built in screen show track info, but I can live without that for the price difference!

[Herbie]

Just to point out that yes, the Grom is very expensive compared to the other things you mention but it is a full, stand-alone Android computer and does so much more than just play music and give track info like the other things do.

You can download any apps from the Google Play Store to the Grom and run them directly from there, without any need for Android Auto or apple CarPlay. This means you have access to all the latest navigation and maps such as Waze, Google Maps, Sygic and more, plus YouTube, Spotify and all the other streaming services as well as Internet Radio and even live TV (not on the move, of course, but great for when you're parked up for longish periods of time).

[Antharro]

I wasn't referring to the GROM-VL1-LEX4VL2; I don't want to spend that much. I was looking at either GROM-BT3-TOY, GROM-USB3-TOY, GROM-AUX1-TOY all of which are significantly cheaper than the former, but still more expensive than the MusikImAuto BlueMusic option.

[Herbie]

25 minutes ago, Antharro said:

I wasn't referring to the GROM-VL1-LEX4VL2; I don't want to spend that much. I was looking at either GROM-BT3-TOY, GROM-USB3-TOY, GROM-AUX1-TOY all of which are significantly cheaper than the former, but still more expensive than the MusikImAuto BlueMusic option.

Fair enough David, but you did say:

Quote

1) GROM Audio, either GROM-BT3-TOY, GROM-USB3-TOY, GROM-AUX1-TOY, or if I'm feeling flush with cash, GROM-VL1-LEX4VL2

 

[Antharro]

I'm not feeling flush with cash. 😄 Would love to have the GROM-VL1-LEX4VL2 tho!

[BigBoomer]

As well as the BlueMusic I also bought and fitted one of these.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/JZK-Converter-Voltage-Connectors-charging/dp/B06XSCCLCD
I soldered it to the power supply for the Cigar Lighter in the ashtray so it is only powered when the ignition is on.
I ran a short USB-C lead out to where the phone is mounted or if you have wireless charging you could use it to power that.
I use the 2nd socket to power my TomTom Satnav.

[Antharro]

I have two of those fitted to my Mitsubishi GTO project car. 🙂 One for the dashcam, one to charge the phone, then two extra sockets for whatever they're needed for. Excellent idea. I was thinking about fitting one to the Lexus, so thanks for the reminder!

[Micholas]

Sorry to revive this thread.. but how did you get on with the BlueMusic? Is it any good? 
 

Do they do a pre-facelift version, I checked their site and everything seems to be 2003-07 onwards for Lexus LS. Maybe someone’s tried this on a pre facelift? 

[BigBoomer]

18 hours ago, Micholas said:

Sorry to revive this thread.. but how did you get on with the BlueMusic? Is it any good? 
 

Do they do a pre-facelift version, I checked their site and everything seems to be 2003-07 onwards for Lexus LS. Maybe someone’s tried this on a pre facelift? 

They do if you go direct.
https://www.musikimauto.de/BlueMusic-Bluetooth-Audio-Toyota-Lexus-57

or with the handsfree microphone
https://www.musikimauto.de/BlueMusic-Bluetooth-Audio-Freisprecheinrichtung-Toyota-57
They are 6+6 Bluemusic modules with a 6+6 to 5+7 adapter.

If you want to use it with your CD Player, you will also need a 5+7 Y-cable.
https://www.musikimauto.de/Toyota-57-Y-Stecker-gross

or for simpler wiring get the mixed adapter.
https://www.musikimauto.de/Toyota-Y-Stecker-klein-auf-gross
The Bluemusic module plugs into the 6+6 socket, the 5+7 plug goes into the CD Player, and the CD Player cable goes into the 5+7 socket.

 

[Micholas]

10 hours ago, BigBoomer said:

They do if you go direct.
https://www.musikimauto.de/BlueMusic-Bluetooth-Audio-Toyota-Lexus-57

or with the handsfree microphone
https://www.musikimauto.de/BlueMusic-Bluetooth-Audio-Freisprecheinrichtung-Toyota-57
They are 6+6 Bluemusic modules with a 6+6 to 5+7 adapter.

If you want to use it with your CD Player, you will also need a 5+7 Y-cable.
https://www.musikimauto.de/Toyota-57-Y-Stecker-gross

or for simpler wiring get the mixed adapter.
https://www.musikimauto.de/Toyota-Y-Stecker-klein-auf-gross
The Bluemusic module plugs into the 6+6 socket, the 5+7 plug goes into the CD Player, and the CD Player cable goes into the 5+7 socket.

 

Wow thanks so much. Funnily enough I emailed them and asked them the same question and they responded today saying they couldn’t supply one. Probably because the staff only look at the car names in the description like I did. 
 

Is the sound connection good? No impact to sound quality? 

[BigBoomer]

Superb sound quality. I cannot tell the difference between a CD and a high quality FLAC file played over the Bluetooth connection.
If you use MP3 files then they do lose a little of the fidelity because of the MP3 compression, but they still sound great.
My only regret is that I didn't get the one with the microphone as it makes it way easier to take phone calls.

[Micholas]

Awesome! I think there’s a 3 week lead time but I’ll order one today! 👍🏻

[Supafly]

Does anyone know if there are similar devices for the late LS400?

I'm sure I've seen something about splicing an aux into some of the amp wiring but if there was a tried and tested plug in solution I would go with that for the time savings alone.