Sat Nav / Screen Stereo Replacement From Standard

[Drewjuk]

Hi people,

I have a Lexus ls 220d with the standard stereo, I want to put a screen stereo in with possible sat (not essential) Bluetooth is essential. I notice there isn't much aftermarket replacements and oem upgrades are stupidly priced.

Does anybody have any cheap suggestions, I don't want to spend a fortune on it, what after market models fit?

Thanks :)

[agent_dess]

Flyaudio unit is what you are after:

http://www.flyaudioglobal.com/Product/showProduct.aspx?id=322&SeriesType=1

Last i checked a while back they were around £1000-1500

[justin-hudson]

I am glad that someone else has asked the question but i want to know if the lexus sat nav unit would fit there the radio 6 disk unit was ?

also if the wireing harness is the same?

if not what do i have to get to make it work ?

[agent_dess]

Don't have any experience with the fly audio system but I do remember reading about it... There was 2 sides to it..

1) if you have a radio then everything u need to connect it will be provided by flyaudio

2) if you are replacing an existing lexus oem sat nav system for flyaudio then u need extra loom or have to splice some wires.

[justin-hudson]

Thank you I will look in to the flyunit. But l was hopeing to get a second hand Lexus sat nav unit from the scap yard a bit chepper

[agent_dess]

Im pretty sure its a straight forward process if your upgrading from Lexus OEM radio to Lexus OEM Sat Nav unit.... but you still looking at alteast £800 odd pounds even for a 2nd hand unit.

[justin-hudson]

Thanks for the info

[BubbaKLex]

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?index=0&sbk=1&nav=SEARCH&itemId=151038581104 Here's an OEM one for £650 on eBay uk buy it now not sure what's included with the unit though.

[Dave.D]

This is something I am very keen to look into as well (OEM sat nav).

I guess the million dollar question is how easily these will swap from a normal unit. Also interesting to see if anyone else on the forum has done this. Not sure if the Bluetooth and reversing camera would work without additional components.

[normski2]

Please be very careful before you buy a sat nav unit to fit into a car that did not have one in the first place. I'm not saying it won't work....but youll need to do a lot of research and digging around first. My gut reaction is that it is likely to be not possible.

I know of folk with series 1 is200's trying to do this and finding it was a nightmare....there is no wiring loom there to connect up to. You will need every scrap of loom from the donor vehicle...and that means carpets up and seats out on the series1. I would strongly suspect there will be the same issue with series 2 is's.

My advice would be to get chummy with a Lexus bod and ask the question of them first.

[normski2]

Knew there was talk about the series1 version...take a gander at this little lot.

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic/81629-factory-satnav-whats-it-worth/

NB this is series one 99-2005 is200.

[agent_dess]

Best thing to do is pull the radio out and maybe take pictures of the current wiring loom... U could then compare this to pictures of the sat nav version of the wiring looms....

I'm pretty sure u could get away with a straight forward swap minus features such as reverse camera and possibly micraphone.

As for take the unit out its a doodle... Really easy to do.... I can remove my sat nav unit in under 10mins (yes I have timed myself lol)

When looking for a used unit u might be better looking for the DVD version instead of the hard drive version that came in 2009 I think just because its got a hd and the bezel looks slightly different.

As always u could just phone lexus and ask if such an upgrade is possible or not ;)

[YTL2000]

This link from the CL forum may help:

http://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-second-generation/695451-flyaudio-china-unit-install-w-picture.html

In the CL forum is also a full thread detailing any issues and fixes for it.

[IS200D]

Apologies for reviving an ancient thread, just thought it more appropriate than starting a fresh one off.

I'm interested in replacing my basic head unit, and from what I can gather its a pretty simple swap - just wondered if anyone else has bought and installed the latest offering from China?

[KC14]

I would be careful buying the 3rd party/universal units from china, usually they are of poor build quality and the user interface i.e. software is not very user friendly. There also maybe other issues like installation and getting support.

Just a heads up buddy as I have been down that route a few years ago and ended up at a loss!

If you are going down that route please do the homework before you part with your hard earned cash.

Sent from my Iphone using Lexus OC

[IS200D]

Thanks for your advice, I've not read any really negative comments yet, so its good to get your perspective - did you not receive your purchase or was it faulty? A lot of sales seem to be in the states and they all seem pretty content, bar a couple of issues with radio frequencies and Bluetooth not as good as standard.

At the moment all I can see is overpriced units(in comparison to prices I've seen in lexus forums), so I'm not exactly rushing to get one. Also, one thing I really like about my current unit is the Bluetooth, so not sure I could handle defective quality in that area.

[KC14]

I received the purchase but trying to get support was very hard and proving that there was an issue with the software interface as the unit would become very sluggish after about an hour of use, the touch screen would start to respond after about 2-3 seconds and so on.

But this was about 5 years ago, so things maybe better now and the unit I got was for my previous car which was not a Lexus, perhaps I was one if the unlucky ones that got a lemon!

Sent from my Iphone using Lexus OC

[IS200D]

While i think quality and purchasing may have improved, the communication side of things worries me.

They are very friendly enough but its proving hard work gettting the answers (like why have prices jumped by 30% in the space of a few months for what looks like the same unit) I want before I even think about buying - so I can only imagine what things would be like if I had a problem after buying.

[KC14]

That's the main problem I faced buddy, their communication/support was very poor which is why after about of 6 months of trying to resolve the issues I got rid of the unit at a significant loss.

Hope

Sent from my Iphone using Lexus OC

[KC14]

Hope you don't face the same issues as I have, it's very daunting as you end up feeling helpless as you can't do much because the trader isn't in the uk.

Sent from my Iphone using Lexus OC

[IS200D]

Your experience has certainly made the prospect a whole lot less attractive! Basically I think you have to be prepared to write off whatever you spend - I wouldn't mind so much if they were cheap, but they want a bit too much to consider going down the old risk/reward route.

[KC14]

Your right, the units aren't cheap so spend wisely!

Sent from my Iphone using Lexus OC