jgrooms

Do you absolutely, positively know for sure if a 2000 or 2001 ES300 wood-faced Pioneer radio will fit a 1997 ES?

Thanks - J

EGainer

we have the double din radios, you can make anything fit, you will just need to have a kit built around it so that it is flush with the car.

jgrooms

I don't want to install an aftermarket radio; I want to install a Lexus, model year 00-01, ES300 factory radio - (they have a wooden faceplate) - into a 97 ES300. My concern is whether or not the connector plugs on the radios are the same (both radios are made by Pioneer).

A representative of my local Lexus parts dept. said it would not work, however, he also said that no radios in an ES, of any year, came with a factory radio with a wooden faceplate. He seems to think that all wooden faceplates are aftermarket kits.

I disagree because all the radios I have seen on the 00-01 model years have the labeling printed on the wood faceplate itself, whereas the aftermarket kits are cut out around the labeling.

Because the parts guy is oblivious to the fact that 00-01 models factory radio DID come with a wooden faceplate, I question his opinion as to whether on not they are interchangeable.

So… I would like a second opinion as to whether or not a 00-01 model year Lexus ES300 radio is compatible with the wiring harness of a 97 ES?

Thanks again - J

r4z0r3ck

Why not just buy a wood dash kit? Its more simplier and cheaper and the results will be the same.

squarehat

Was this wood faceplate found on special edition ES's (i.e. Platinum Series and Coach Edition)? I've been in an non-Platinum '01, and it has the same black plastic as my '96. The aftermarket wood kits do have cutouts for the labeling. That allows the backlighting to show through at night. An all wood faceplate, if it's as you describe, would need transparent plastic inlays to allow the light to shine through, otherwise, things would be confusing at night.

EGainer

no man, lexus does not come with wooden faceplates, nto even on upgrades. i've seen it on some cars, it was aftermarket and looks ugly. even my dads ultra LS43 doesnt have wood

r4z0r3ck

I thought all 00-01 comes with the wooden faceplate? Or it prolly was a package, but the plantinum series does come with one.

jgrooms

Every 00-01 model year ES I have seen has the wooden faceplates. Here are a couple pics...

jgrooms

Here is a pic of a typical 97-99 faceplate. Notice the location of the pre-printed "compact disc" labeling (on 00-01 models it is in a different location and printed directly on the wood).

jgrooms

Here is a pic of a typical 00-01 faceplate. Notice the labeling is printed on the wood itself and the LED lights are integrated into the wood (instead being cut around). It should also be noted that the wood part of the faceplate is flush with the plastic areas (instead of being raised, as is the case with aftermarket kits).

jgrooms

Here is a typical aftermarket wooden faceplate kit. Notice there is no printing on the wood (I couldn't find an actual photo of the faceplate but trust me, there is no printing). Also notice the cutouts aroung the labeling.

So, I think these pictures prove that the 00-01 model year Lexus came from the factory with wooden faceplates.

Having said that, Does anybody know for sure whether or not the 00-01 radio (and a/c controller), plugs are compatible with a 1997 model?

Thanks again - J

albertldee

hmmm i'm wanting to know the answer did yo get the 00-01 to work in the 97

Jazzer

I'm willing to bet that these people don't even own these cars anymore, since the thread is about 11 years old! But I can tell you that the 2000 has different connectors than the 97, if that helps...

JohnOlson

I just bought a wood face Pioneer off eBay that was billed as a '97 which is what I need but like Jazzer pointed out the plugs are different so no, it did not work.
I am still looking for a fully functional '97 Pioneer but not willing to buy the other eBay unit listed for $375. Ouch!