NYLONDave

Yes is does charge and you can change between your disc/dvd and the ipod/iphone. It treats the iphone as an external CD drive. So you toggle between the disc and iphone by pressing the disc button on the radio. Note this is all based on my '07 experience. Not sure the stereos are the same in other years Dave

I have an '07 RX400 and have the dealer installed cable - I think they got me for 150 GBP intsalled when it 1st came out. With the 3G iphone it will work like it does with other non 3G Ipod accessories. You get a message saying that its not compatible with the device and do you want to switch to airplane mode. If you do not switch to airplane mode the device will play the current track or album you have already started playing. If you have tried your phone on older ipod docks you'll know the score. So to use my Iphone 3G in my car I select a playlist hit play then plug it to the Ipod dock in the glove box and decline the message on the touch screen. It will then play through the playlist - though you wont have any control over the track selection. Not ideal, but neither is the phone or the car - I would love blue tooth audio on both. I do have an ipod as well which is my usual device in the car though I do have some good driving tunes on the phone - so its only when I want to listen to something specific Dave

Pretty clear from the booklet how to get text and have gone through the paces with no luck. Though the guy who installed said the system did not currently support text. will give them a call to see if I can get any more info. D Yes it does have the Levinson system. The booklet that came with the equipment should describe how to get text. Tim

Mine does not support text for some reason. Do you have the Mark Levinson 11 speaker arrangement. Let me know as a bit of text would help. Thanks, David

I booked it through my Lexus dealer. Lexus park lane. You can call the installer Kevin on 07831123566. I think they cover the London area. They install a black clip, for lack of a better term, in the back of your glovebox. It's like a spring loaded plastic clamp that holds the sides of your ipod. Then there's a cable that comes from your stereo and plugs into the bottom of the ipod. The installation looks pretty professional. Comes with a Lexus instruction manual so assume this is an official Lexus UK add on. System hsa worked pretty well - I have set up 5 playlists w/ the majoity of my music so its a pretty good solution. The lack of text is the only downer Hope that helps. David

Just had the official Lexus ipod integration kit installed on my '07 400h. Paid 200 GBP for the device and the install (they came to me) Basically the kit provides a neat dock in your glove box that the ipod clips into along with the ipod connector which is wired into the stereo. The ipod shows up as an external CD-changer. Pressing disc twice engages the external i-pod. The down side is that Lexus has not been able to get the system to read any of the text info from the ipod (strange since I believe the VAIS kit does give you this functionality). You're basically limited to choosing tracks from your first 6 play lists. Each playlist shows up as a seperate CD (#1 to 6) and then you can navigate between tracks on each CD and these are listed as #1, #2, etc... . You do not have the option to search by artist, or song etc... You can play songs randomly across the play lists though this is driven by the lexus stereo and not the ipod shuffle so the time between songs is much longer then it would be. A definite improvement over an fm transmitter in terms of sound quality but not the full integration I would have hoped for. I haven't had a chance to put it through its paces since I'm still at work and had it installed during lunch. If I have any more relevant info. I'll post it here. Any questions let me know.

I think the C charge and the 400h's semi-environmental creds are the reason. I just got mine in June and the dealer said they were flying off the shelves (basically selling themselves). If the new C charge goes through in Jan (25GBP a day and no resident discount for high polluters) you can bet that there will be a fire sale on chelsea tractors and a run on 400hs. I think that level of C charge will actually impact peoples behavior. I was considering a range rover sport and am now glad I didn't go down that route as I could not rationalize that sort of C charge JMHO Dave

NEWS FLASH!! Actually contacted my Lexus dealer and they said they have just received ipod integration kits from Lexus for new Lexus models and that they will install for 200GBP. Having it installed on Thursday will let the board know how it goes.

Figured I would post in this forum as well. Though I think the general Audio forum gets more traffic I'm considering picking up SL2i (KIT) from VAIS to install in my Lexus RX400 and was looking for some recommendations for some reputable shops in or around the London area to install it. Have contacted VAIS and they will ship the unit to the UK. Am considering installing myself as I've done a few basic stereo, amp, installs as a teen-ager (many moons ago). Though honestly would prefere to go the professional route as I don't have the tools or familiarity w/ removing stereos/panels w/ the Lexus. Thanks, Dave

I'm considering picking up SL2i (KIT) from VAIS to install in my Lexus RX400 and was looking for some recommendations for some reputable shops in or around the London area to install it. Have contacted VAIS and they will ship the unit to the UK. Am considering installing myself as I've done a few basic stereo, amp, installs as a teen-ager (many moons ago). Though honestly would prefere to go the professional route as I don't have the tools or familiarity w/ removing stereos/panels w/ the Lexus. Thanks, Dave

Hi all, Just found the care care section (never scrolled past the Rx) so have picked up some info. there. Though would be interested in any first hand experience with the Lexus RX and paint protection/films. Cheers, Dave

Hi all, New to the board as I'm about to close on a RX400h SR. Looking to see if any one is familiar with the vehicle protection program my dealer is pitching at me based on me asking if they install 3M paint protection film (I'm an American ec pat in London so that's what I know the product as). The dealer said they don't do paint protection film but they do offer this vehicle protection program that provides 3 year paint cover (supposedly they apply a sealer) and 3 year interior stain cover (similar to what I have on my leather sofa). 440 pounds for 3 years. So, does any one know if you can get paint protection film applied to bumpers and lower quarter panels to the RX in the UK? And is anyone familiar with the paint/interior protection from Lexus and think its a reasonable purchase? Thanks in advance, Dave PS. Looking forward to my new purchase as I have been w/ out a car for a number of years. Impending birth of our first child has gotten me into gear.