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ofthatilk

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  1. I have done further research and now find the Parrot RKi-8400 to be a particularly appealing product. It offers exactly the functionality that I am after. Also, it is (more or less) in keeping with the styling/design of the car, as opposed to other products offering similar functionality (like an Alpine, for example). Does anyone know if it is possible to install this device on a 2002 Lexus GS300? If so, where would be the best position for it? I don't think it would make sense to put it in the glovebox, as you could not see the info on the the device's display in this case. As mentioned before I do not possess any technical knowledge as far as installing car audio devices. In my naivety I was hoping that it is possible to separate the radio/cassette part of the GS300's head unit from the navi part, with the intention of replacing the radio with the Parrot RKi-8400. Can this be done?
  2. http://gromaudio.com/store/usb_adapters/grom-usb2-toy.html, section "main characteristics": Converted USB disk into virtual CD changer --- 2002 Lexus GS300 Head Unit (HU) supports CD changers with max. 6 CDs The GROM device emulates a CD changer, therefore it is restricted by the limitations of the HU. Browse your music files via car stereo buttons --- 2002 Lexus GS300 HU has 6 touchscreen buttons to change CD 1 thru 6 (but no disc up-down buttons), plus 1 up-down button to change TRACKs on a CD. Navigates through directories and map them to the disk buttons on your car stereo --- 2002 Lexus GS300 HU CD changer supports max. 6 CDs, ergo GROM can map max. 6 directories on USB drive. GROM USB User manual §3.5 - Only 6 disks are supported on most car stereos. - Up to 99 disks are supported on stereos with DISK UP and DISK DOWN buttons. --- 2002 Lexus GS300 HU supports max. 6 disks. GROM USB User manual §3.4 - As soon as you connect the GROM USB adapter to a USB portable data medium, the GROM will enumerate root directories, translating them into virtual disks. Their number depends on the number of discs supported by the specific car stereo. - It is recommended that you have as many directories as possible on a root level as subdirectories will not be recognized by the car stereo. --- 2002 Lexus GS300 HU supports max. 6 CDs, therefore the amount of root directories that the GROM device can map to the HU of the 2002 Lexus GS300 is 6 (SIX)! --- My USB stick has 17 root directories (music genre), most of which then have further subfolders (music sub-genre), then some music files (miscellaneous artists) and some further subdirectories (specific artists) with music files. Root:folder=<music genre> ___L1:folder=<music subgenre> ______L2:file=<artistname - trackname> ______L2:folder=<artistname> _________L3:file=<trackname> (i.e. file names are song titles only) I usually select a L2-level subfolder to play the files contained therein. THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE WITH THE GROM USB DEVICE. In my case I would only be able to play tracks from 6 of my 17 directories. Also for each directory come "virtual disc"/playlist I would end up with a flat list of (1000s of) files/tracks in alphanumerical order. This would give me an entirely random/chaotic playlist, since the majority of my filenames are tracknames only (no artistname in filename), and GROM flattens my existing structure into 1 playlist, in my case at the <music genre> level. GROM USB User manual §3.4 - On your USB portable data medium, create one directory (folder) for each disc your radio supports (i.e., Disc 1, Disc 2); save all of your music into these directories. - All MP3, WMA, iTunes, and OGG tracks will be enumerated and found once you select the appropriate disk. - The GROM itself will enumerate subdirectories and turn them into a flat list of tracks. http://gromaudio.com/support/usb-faq.html section "How many files per directory ?": We have tested with ~1000 files in a directory. So technically no limits but be aware that it might take longer to switch between files and proper ordering may not be possible. ----This information is generic and vague, and not related to any specifc HU. Red Book specification limits the number of tracks on an audio CD to 99. The 2002 Lexus GS300 HU supports only standard audio CDs with max. 99 tracks each. (CD-text is also not supported.) ---- Neither on its website nor in its product documentation does GROM specifically confirm that its USB device will definitely allow playlists of more than 99 tracks on all HUs/car models, nor does their Compatibility list (under http://gromaudio.com/store/usb_adapters/grom-usb2-toy.html) or "Application Guide" (under http://gromaudio.com/grom_application_guide.pdf) specify a maximum number of files/tracks per playlist for each compatible HU/car model. GROM USB User manual §3.5 - The following operations are supported by the GROM USB: o Change virtual disk/playlist --- but only 6 for the 2002 Lexus GS300 o Change tracks forward and backward --- via the 2002 Lexus GS300 HU's track up-down button o Change +/- 10 tracks in SCAN mode --- Yes, this is "browsing" in its narrowest sense, i.e. random hopping. The user will not know for certain which track lies 10 tracks ahead of / behind the current one. He might find what he is looking for, but odds are he won't. This certainly is NOT a tool enabling the user to look for a particular track that he would like to listen to. o Display track # and track title where available --- track TITLE display not available on the 2002 Lexus GS300 (HU does not support CD-text). o Display current track playing time o Random and Repeat functionalities o Restore last positions for up to 4 USB sticks o Restore last playlist positions in up to 20 virtual disks
  3. Hi I have one question regarding the OEM navigation head unit: Can the radio/cassette part of the head unit be separated from the navi part? My intention is to put in an aftermarket single DIN headunit, but I don't want to lose the air vents (as "extream" did). 2002 GS 300 (MKII) Thanks for info!
  4. Have UNITRAC Focus 3000, 235-45 R17 Z (97) I think the Z and 97 rating may actually be too high for this car, i.e. it's too rigid a tyre, hence causing vibration at higher speed - does this make sense? Thinking of getting MICHELIN Primacy HP 235-45 R17 W (94) instead.
  5. Sorry, I am aware that similar posts already exist in this forum, but none cover the topic from a layperson's point of view. I cannot and will not do any work on the car myself, any installation beyond plugging in a 12V power lead is completely beyond my capabilities ... I own a 2002 Lexus GS 300 which has an integrated Satnav-Audio headunit. I wish to add handsfree calling functionality (low priority) and play MP3 files off a USB stick or SD card (high priority). I would like to be able to navigate through several layers of folders on my USB stick and select specific tracks within those folders. I do not have an iPod, but would reluctantly buy one if I had no other choice. Is there a solution which would allow me to do both (handsfree + MP3s) or do I need to address both issues separately? I have read good things about the Parrot MKi9200 but was told by my local car audio fitters that this device is not suitable for my particular car due to installation issues. A more detailed explanation was given but I am unable to reproduce it as it was too technical. This incompatibility has also been suggested here in the forum but contradicted by some contributors. Never really got clarified. The problem with most iPod/USB controllers that feed into the car's headunit is that the '02 GS300 headunit does not support CD text. Ergo very limited browsing functionality will be available with any of these devices. I understand they basically emulate an external CD changer, and hence I merely get sequential browsing through the USB stick (i.e. step-through, track 01-02-03-04-..., no titles or other metadata), as I would get from any conventional CD. This is not good enough. I have looked at the Denison Gateway 300, but due to the limitations of the headunit it only allows step-through title selection on USB sticks. Products like XCarLink and Grom seem even more restrictive, as they limit USB MP3 playback to 10 folders (but apparently only 6 in the '02 GS300) with 99 files each, no further sub-folders possible and no further browsing capabilities (again only step-through). The VAIS VML (MultiMediaLinQ) seems to have similar limitations with USB sticks although I am not sure about this one. The Dice RDS Modulator is another option but I would have to buy an iPod which was not my intention. I have tried a cassette adapter and two different FM transmitters, but none of these deliver acceptable audio quality. Any further ideas, as well as feedback from people using any of the systems mentioned above would be appreciated. Please keep it to useage/compatibility aspects. Cheers!
  6. Just a little update on this problem: The fuel issue and tyre vibration are definitely unrelated to the VSC light. I have had a very bad experience with the garage that replaced the O2 sensor. When I drove off, I realised that the VSC and VSC OFF lights were still on. I returned immediately and was told (as described in my previous post) that the VSC system was unrelated to the O2 sensor and to make an appointment with them for further analysis. I was also told to expect the "check engine" light to come back on again, and it might have to be reset several times before it would stay off. They went on to explain that it may not stay off at all as following the replacement of one O2 sensor the remaining ones (being "old") were now sensing different exhaust gas values to the new sensor, and there would be a continuous discrepancy which could only be rectified if all were sensing correctly, i.e. ALL sensors would eventually have to be replaced. They suggested that Lexus would always replace all 4 sensors rather than just a single one. This all sounded a bit dodgy and illogical to me, so I took the recommendation posted here and went to an independent Lexus specialist to analyse the problem. They discovered that the previous garage had changed the incorrect O2 sensor (!). I knew they were not Lexus experts but am still surprised that one could f... up this simplest of jobs. (Maybe I should have taken the warning sign when they previously replaced the radiator on my Camry and missed the "minor" item of replenishing it with water...) Anyway, the new garage has now replaced the correct O2 sensor and ALL lights have gone out. Problem solved!. I went to JEM in NW9 after finding several positive mentions elsewhere here in this forum. Yes, it is a 90 minute drive for me, but looking at the hassle I've already had with this issue it was worth it. I can only confim that JEM are very good, professional and courteous, and I will definitely go there again for any technical issue. Still have the tyre vibration, and thinking of replacing them with new, high quality ones, which is a shame because the current ones are also new and I don't think I will get much money for them at all, as they are rubbish...
  7. Hi all, I'm new to owning a Lexus (2002 GS300) and new to this forum. I've read several similar posts but nothing matching my exact circumstances, so I'll post this query here. I test drove my GS300 on 10/10/2009. It had the "Check Engine" light on then. The guy said he will have it looked at. The car was very, very low on fuel. I picked up the car on 19/10/2009. Re. the check engine light, I was told an oxygen sensor needed changing. Car still low on fuel. Also all 4 tires had been replaced (came up at MOT, old ones were worn), not sure if old and new tires are exact same dimension, new ones are 235/45 R17 97 Z. As I drove off, VSC and VSC OFF lights came on. Seller said it was due to same problem with O2 sensor and it will reset once the sensor was changed. Now I've had the O2 sensor changed, bank1 sensor2. Check engine light has reset, but VSC and VSC OFF lights are still on. Garage said no connection between VSC system and check engine light - they think it's a seperate problem, but they are not Lexus specialists. Tires all have the correct pressure, etc, and obviously they are not worn since they are new. They are "entry-level" quality (Unitrac Focus 3000), and there was an initial problem with them being poorly balanced, which caused vibration at speeds exceeding 60 mph. They have been rebalanced and I was told this cannot be improved further, but there still is some residual vibration at high speeds, wich may be down to the poor quality of the tires themselves. Not sure if this is related to the issue with the VSC lights. I read in one post about VSC lights being associated with fuel issues. Maybe something was triggered when the car was running that low on fuel before I bought it. Initial refill was 69 litres. Do we need to / can we input new tire data in the car's computer after a tire change? I was quoted £120 to diagnose this fault at my nearest Lexus garage. Want to avoid this cost if possible. Any ideas?
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