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Added a rear Ultra racing strut bar. I didn't like the look of not having the cover plates on the rear hatch where they normally go to access the strut top bolt. So, I cut my existing plates to accommodate the bar. Gives it a more finished look. I could probably do the cuts over again on the spare set of cover plates I have but figured, no one is going to see this but me. And I'd end up spending an entire weekend trying to make it perfect and or continuing to buy more of the cover plates...lol. Jacob gave the recommendation on how to cut it, otherwise you can see all my cardboard templates that I was going to try and mess with by either cuttting the piece in half or glueing them, rubber sheet behind the brace...etc. This proved to be the simplest and cost-efficient way of making it look nice.
As an added bonus it holds my car cover nice in the back hatch spot. Stuff doesn't go sliding around the hatch.
Finally after sitting on this for over a year I did the Navi LEDS to white. This i s my test board at the moment but I did white leds with red *****. It looks really cool when it's in sport mode and you see all 3 red rings. When it's in normal/eco and the blue ring is illuminated, not sure how I feel on the red ring. Seems out of place. I wish there was a way I could do this so that when you selected a different drive mode, the volume/track ***** would follow whatever color is being used. It can be done but I'm trying to keep things simple. So with my main navi pcb board today I am going to do all white leds including the volume/track *****. I MIGHT change the center most upper CD led to red, only because the white light reflects back off of the bottom side of the HVAC. While I do that I am pretty sure I am changing my Parking light on the center console to all red. I like that the park button has it's own color. I tried blue and various other colors and I think red looked the best. I'll snap photos of all that tonight/tomorrow.
Anyways, magnification is key when dealing with small SMD components. Makes it way easier to do. Also fine tip soldering tools and tweezers...etc.
JDM power folding mirror retrofit with Aliexpress "auto fold" mirror module installed (plug and play) on 2016 USDM CT200h F-sport.
Overall, a fun mod to do.
Working on getting the new cluster working. Couple things to work through but nothing major. One annoying thing is that when you open the driver side door it shows the passenger door opening and vise versa. Rear doors are correct on the display. I'm going to make an extension harness that swaps the driver/passenger side door harness connectors so when the passenger or driver door is opening it will show correctly on the lcd display. I'm just waiting on the connectors and pins. Should be an easy enough thing to do, and if I can figure out how to snake it up into the headliner even easier than running the two wires through the front. Don't mind every error/light on the dash. I have nothing plugged in..lol
The newer display is nice. It's does modernize the interior quite a bit and brings it up to what we probably should have had in a modern lexus. Attached a picture of the part number on the gauge cluster. These are like unicorns, almost if not harder than the blue sway bar kit..
When I got my cluster, the outer housing was damaged, and some items were broken on it via the tabs. The lens was in a very scratched/nicked state. I ended up getting a different cluster from the UK and then swapped over all my stuff into the new housing. On top of that I also was able to get a new lens cover thanks to Dorian in our FB group who did the research on part numbers on it!
Now the cluster looks brand new and I'm quite pleased with it! It definitely updates the overall feel of the interior. I also finally completed the android auto ebay ($250) box. Think Grom Vlite/Vline minus the insanely huge markup on it. Does the SAME thing, looks the same...etc. It's wonderful! Completely changes now how you interact with the car and it brings in a nice modernization!
On a side note, it looks like Lexus uses the same cluster even though one cluster looks like it has two lcd screens (one main one and then above for the temp), whereas the UK one has a larger lcd screen. But in reality, it's only the covering that is divided/partitioned. Makes sense on their end and it would be a software/firmware thing for the cluster.
This is the cluster that has a separate temp above the main screen (notice the covering is blocked off)
This is the doner cluster from the UK that I am swapping parts from. Notice it's the same screen but the covering isn't partitioned off.
Cluster 1. Same part number, LCD, and board.
Cluster 2. Same part number, LCD, and board.
Comparision of the speedo covering.
Original lens on top. All hazy/scratched and looks like butt. Below it is freshly transferred case and new lens! Looks brand new!
Gauge cluster in before putting back the airbag. Complete white LED conversion done. Makes the interior look nice and modern like all the Lexus models come now.
Toyota and Lexus Join Mille Miglia For The First Time
Slideshow: A five-car lineup spanning more than five decades of Toyota performance and engineering will tackle one of Italy's most celebrated automotive routes.
