jgbackes

iTrader: (2)

I don't smoke and every little space is worth its weight in gold in an IS. I purchased a "LEXUS IS 250 350 Interior Leather Box (Exchange Ashtray)" off e-bay item number was 300528029443. I was going to lose the power plug for my iPhone charger so I thought it would be a good time to hard wire the charger.

The installation manual is in Japanese so except for a few drawings it wasn't of much use. I went onto the alldatadiy website and download the instructions for taking out the ashtray. It's a very simple process.

I did not disconnect the battery as directed, but I was careful not to short out anything. D.A.I.S.N.A.I.D.

These instructions are for my automatic, you might have to modify the steps a little if you have a manual transmission. This DIY is broken into three posts, disassembly, iPhone charger install, reassembly.

• Ensure the parking brake is set
• Start the car
• Move the gear selector to the drive position
• Turn the car off
• Remove the gear selector **** by unscrewing it counter-clockwise
  
  
• Use your fingernails or a plastic pry tool to pop up the rear of the upper left hand panel garnish about ¼ of an inch
  
  
• Pull the left hand panel garnish backward toward the rear of the car until it comes free
  
  
• Repeat the procedure for the right side panel garnish
  
• Remove the console panel sub-assembly by pulling up toward the roof of the car. I had to use a panel tool from the side to get some extra leverage. There are eight clips holding the panel down
  
  
• Remove the two screws that are holding the ash tray down
  
  
• Pull the ashtray back and up while wiggling it a little
  
  
• Disconnect the power connector from the plug on the ashtray.
• Remove the wooden cover on the top of the ashtray by releasing the two clips visible on the rear bottom edge opposite the shiny metal ****
• Place the wooden cover onto the new cubby in the reverse procedure

jgbackes

iTrader: (2)

If you are not planning on adding an inline iPhone charger you can skip to the putting it back together

Adding a iPhone charger

• I purchased a lighter sized iPhone charger made by Belken.
  
• Carefully smash the charger in order to remove the circuit board and connectors without damaging them
  
  
• Cut the wires that go to the lightbulb at the white connector. There's no place for a light in the new cubby
• Cut the lighter wires as close to the lighter as possible. Longer wires are always better than shorter wires.
• Trim just a little of the insulation from the black and red wires that used to be connected to the lighter
• On the Belkin circuit board locate the wire that used to go to the center post, that's the positive lead.
• Solder the red wire from wiring harness to the positive lead on the circuit board
  
• Solder the black wire from the wiring harness to the ground lead on the circuit board
• Take the wired circuit board out to the car, plug the wiring harness in and make sure the light on the board comes on when you turn on the car. If the light does come on you can plug in your iPhone cable and test that it does charge.
  
  
• Disconnect the wiring harness and wrap the entire assembly in electrical tape to protect against shorts
  
  
• Reinstall the connector and route the cable out between the carpet and the center console

jgbackes

iTrader: (2)

Putting it back together

• Install the ashtray making sure to get the front tangs into the slots. Everything should fit perfectly, if not, you don't have the tangs in the right location
  
• Install the two screws that hold down the ashtray
  
  
• Reinstall the panel sub-assembly make sure all eight clips click
• Reinstall the right and left garnish pieces
• Screws on the shift know

All done

These pictures should give you an idea of how much space is added.

mojo77777

iTrader: (2)

you paid $225 for that?

shiny250

iTrader: (4)

I don't know if you posted the right picture or if I'm just blind, but I don't see the extra space you made. All I got out of this was how to permanently wire an iPod charger to the cigarette lighter. Did you remove the whole cigarette lighter assembly? Where did the extra space come from? My apologies if these are stupid questions.

jgbackes

iTrader: (2)

You paid $45,000 for your car?

jgbackes

iTrader: (2)

I put in a few more pictures to give you and idea of the amount of space. Also it's leather lined and comes with a cool little shelf for sun glasses.

Heckler

iTrader: (1)

Looks great. I have a list of mods a mile long but I may be adding this one.

iRock

iTrader: (12)

Looks good. Where is the charger coming out at? Arm rest?

GilIS250

iTrader: (10)

I thought of doing something similar when I installed my iPod adapter, but since I didn't want John Doe walking down the road and spotting my iPod I decided to run the cables underneath the shifter and thru the bottom of the armrest... paid off ;-) Now I keep the damn iPod in there and don't have to worry about someone breaking a window just to steal my iPod. Though, I must say this is quite neat for someone who would want it.

brociouz

iTrader: (65)

Extra space is always nice. Reminds me of this product sold on L Tuned Parts: http://www.l-tunedparts.com/product/?id=2168

jgbackes

iTrader: (2)

Yep, that's the same part. Thanks for the link!

jeff

iRyan

iTrader: (7)

that looks good but im not quite sure about it being worth that much though

shiny250

iTrader: (4)

Ah I see. This is a pretty good idea actually. I usually have no place to put my phone cause the cupholder is always holding something. Nice work!

Jeff Lange

iTrader: (1)

You can buy the box from Sewell for $87.

http://is.sewellparts.com/oem-catalo...-ISF-2011.html

Part number 55441-53070.

Jeff