Multimedia convert Japanese to English

[leskeith]

Can somebody please help? I am thinking about purchasing a 2008 Lexus is250 awd. The car has been imported to the UK from Japan but the multimedia display screen menu is in Japanese and the buttons outside the screen in English. Is it possible to change the software/ display screen menu to English and if so how. Who would I contact or where. Lexus UK will not help because the car is imported not by them.

[Malc1]

might help you if you read the newish Post  Ls600hl  about similar troubles

Good luck

 

 

Malc

[Malc1]

Les . any thoughts ?

Malc

[leskeith]

Hi Malc I had a look but it didn't help..Anyhow I bought the car and use Google translate on my phone but it's not ideal. My unit is not like others I've seen. It also has a mini disc and TV. There is also a hard drive in the unit where the sat nav is stored and music but it says I need a lexus tool to update this which seems to be via a WiFi connection. Lexus website doesn't recognise my vin number and of have to pay for it anyhow. Everything works fine.

[steve2006]

I know the feeling, mine announces an expired toll road card and something else in a relaxing female Japanese voice at start up.

At least I can now reset the time from memory 😀

[Toyoda]

On 12/21/2022 at 3:10 PM, leskeith said:

Can somebody please help? I am thinking about purchasing a 2008 Lexus is250 awd. The car has been imported to the UK from Japan but the multimedia display screen menu is in Japanese and the buttons outside the screen in English. Is it possible to change the software/ display screen menu to English and if so how. Who would I contact or where. Lexus UK will not help because the car is imported not by them.

There is a company in New Zealand that can do it, all you will have to do is to send them hard drive. However, it's not worth it as all it will do is translate so it won't change the OS which is dedicated only to the Japan region.

I think if you pop your plastic cover where the hazard warning light button is, there could be a CD player for maps, if there is one like the rest of the world has you could possible update your maps.

You also can get away with switching the hole unit to UK one if you don't bother about JDM extras, or switching hard drive, that technically should change it to UK software. 

In my case I have the same story as steve2006, just an input for a toll card, sexy lady greet and the rest of the system is updated through their sort of G portal which is I believe outdated and doesn't connect.

The best way to live with OEM setup is the grom V line, it just works without much hassle, or find aftermarket display and some of them actually looks good in IS unlike GS or LS models.

I don't think TV will work unless you can find the way to expand the frequency for UK range.
For radio its the same story as TV, they only channel you can enjoy is radio 2 as its below 90 FM. but for radio there are radio frequency expanders, just google them.

Also if your car has power supply and AUX in armrest storage you can get Bluetooth AUX adapter that powers through USB, even the dirty cheap one will do the job as long as you have quality AUX cable from music gear shop as they make difference.

I think I covered most of the things I discovered over my ownership, hope it help🙂
 

1 hour ago, steve2006 said:

I know the feeling, mine announces an expired toll road card and something else in a relaxing female Japanese voice at start up.

At least I can now reset the time from memory 😀

I know right! took me almost 8 moth to find how to change the clock as it was in unusual place 😅

[Matthew1995]

Hello 

 

I have an imported ISF but it will be the same, you can just replace the unit with a UK spec and it will work , they are not that much from eBay these days! 

If you need any other help with an Import IS feel free to message me as i had to sort out the fog lights etc ,