Hello all. My ES350 was built early 2019 with apple CarPlay only. After trying Ottocast to add Android auto it was no fully functional due to no touch screen. So I played the guinea pig and bought a used radio on ebay from a 2021. And it works! I now have Android auto (wired) fully functional.

 

I think your post will make a lot of people with 2019 ES cars happy. Those who got screwed by Lexus tried numerous fixes to get AA in their car with little success. This is a good idea, albeit expensive. GOOD LUCK and thanks for the info.

 

In the $280+ range (Ebay), it's worth it for me. I was frustrated for 2 years until now.

 

Can you tell me the exact search term you used and year? I see units offered as 2018-2021 and am thinking it wouldn't have AA.

 

What part of the radio you bought?

 

I bought the radio itself. Make sure manufacturing date is 2020 and newer. Also you most pay attention to if you have Mark Levison or not. Ebay will say 2019 and above fit but only 2020 and newer have the AA

 

What radio did you buy?

 

Be aware that the radio Yuso bought is for the US and Canada scheme of radio operation. US/Canada uses the HD "standard" for digital AM and FM radio whereas Australia (where you're located) uses the DAB standard for digital radio. For analog AM and FM there's some minor differences in AM and FM broadcast frequency bands and for AM differences in frequency spacing between stations.

Also, US/Canada sold ES radios have SiriusXM satellite radio reception built in which would be useless for you since Australia isn't within SiriusXM's reception area.

 

For model year 2020 radios, you'll also need to pay attention to date of assembly of the ES it came out of. 2020 ESs assembled through September 2019 do not have Android Auto.

 

This is really interesting because I asked around a year and a half ago and a "service tech" told me that the swap would be impossible to do.
Glad someone tried it and can confirm it.

 

I'm in USA, Mark Levison radio just search on eBay, 2020 and up radio unit will fit. No programming or flash needed. I just sold the vehicle and it was working just fine.

 

I thought Lexus dealers can retro add Android auto software to the early 19/20 models that only has Carplay?

 

Not in the USA

 

Back in 2020 when owners were complaining that Lexus should retrofit their 2019's with AA, it was discovered that in Spain it would be installed free of charge and took about 2 hours to do. It was also available to be retrofitted in Australia but at a charge of $250.00. Other countries may have also offered to retrofit but these two are the only ones I know of. In any case, Alex is correct in posting that this was never available in the USA... We got screwed...

 

What did you buy exactly? Just the head unit? Did it come with all the seat controls?