raceforgt

Im surprised it works too, I had my doubts. Two Lex dealers near me said it wouldn't so I took a huge gamble. But it does and I'm happy cause the seller listed the item as "no returns."
Otherwise I know the ML system pretty well. I looked into it and it's an impossible upgrade to complete because not only do you have to rewire the entire harness with the ML amp (which is about $1200) ripping out the seats/carpet to do it, but you need the ML speakers/sub (about $150 each) which there are more of and are actually placed/turned completely differently in the car. If you can't replicate this placement you actually wind up with a horribly tuned interior that sounds worse than original pioneer.
Just thought I'd add some knowledge I picked up somewhere along the line!

sakataj

iTrader: (182)

got pics of BOTH radios with the plugs showing them side by side or im calling shenanigans lol

raceforgt

aw come on sakataj you gonna make me do work.. my ML is already installed and bolted in my car. i will try to have pics up next couple days if i have time to take out the ML again

jkgs300

iTrader: (1)

98-00 GS300/400 are not compatible with 01-05 Gs300/430 head units

SixEye

OK, forgive me but I just wanted to confirm. You had a Pioneer Premium System with a Pioneer amp and CD changer and you just replaced it with an ML headunit? I think I will be doing the same since my LCD is going berserk.

raceforgt

That's right SixEye. Original Pioneer premium system, all factory no nav and no ML parts. Had the LCD go out and found only an ML radio on ebay that was in "new" condition. Two Lex dealers told me the ML would not work if installed in the Pioneer system. So I took a gamble and by looking at the back plugs I decided I would try anyway. The plugs were perfect, I hooked it up and it worked 110%. Not 100, 110 because I swear the sound is much better than before with the Pioneer.
Hope this helps.

...by the way for all 98-00 GS owners, the plugs are completely different. Plug and play will NOT work and you may need to mod/splice wires, where I can't help you.

ThomasGS4

iTrader: (19)

I was talking about Nakamichi and ML aren't interchangeable. I never said Pioneer and ML weren't.

The Pioneer and your ML look the exact same.

NYGS3ANDY

I have the stock radio with a system. Mine had wood trim on it so i did not want to change it. You can buy something called a hi low adapter. U run it from your factory amp to an aftermarket amp.
http://www.installer.com/hilo/

raceforgt

Right, they're not. Going back to the fact that 98-00 and 01-05 GS radios are not interchangeable, Nakamichi was used in 98-00 GSs and ML in 01-05. I think for each generation though, the upgraded radio (Nak or ML) was basically the Pioneer with a very minor internal modification for better sound. That's probably why the wiring is all exactly the same and they plug and play directly.

Newchapter

iTrader: (2)

So, that said, think I could use the LCD out of the Nak to repair my Pioneer?

Rock-a-Lex

iTrader: (4)

So if I'm following this thread correctly, those with a '98-'00 GSXXX with the oem Pioneer system(s) cannot interchange with anything else?

Since ML was only introduced in '01+ (and all ML's are interchangable with all Pioneers IN THOSE YEARS), then the '98-'00 GSXXX owners are SOL without an interchangable upgrade; am I understanding this correctly? If so, sucks for me...lol

raceforgt

Correct. The 98-00 GSX00 radios are single DIN and the 01-05s are double DIN. Completely different sets of wiring and plugs going into each. So the old Pioneers are interchangeable with the Nakamichis and the new Pioneers with the Mark Lev.

Take out your radio. If the plugs in the back look like this, you have an 01-05 double DIN version. If you're missing an entire white plug you have a 98-00 version. If the plugs match, be it Pioneer, Nak or Mark Lev the radio will work. That simple.

Rockero28

iTrader: (8)

Actually, you can use a Pioneer 01-05 GS radio in a 98-00 GS. You would just have to rewire the plugs via adapters. It's really not that hard to do, if you really wanted to do it. It just takes a little time and knoledge. i have done this for people before. A couple of diferences are that the 01 uses a digital volume control, has the RDS, Traf and TYPE features, which display trafic infor, as well as station and cd info. Note that using burned cd's will not display any info about the artists, or music in the cd, but will work fine. Bootleg DVD's will not show any info either if you have a DVD system running through the radio either. Another diference is that the CD changer is wired through the speakers in the 01, so that will be part of the rewirring process. It goes from the 2 stock plugs in the car, to 1 plug in the radio. I am about to do this for someone that wants to install an 01 radio into their 98 GS. This is my 99 with an 01 Pioneer adapted.

Rock

Rockero28

iTrader: (8)

Here's the wiring I did, to make everything work great!

Thanks,
Rock

truenoboy

This may be the same route I have to go, but I have a couple of questions for you.

1) What do you mean the CD changer is wired throught the speaker? Is that apart of your wiring picture above?
2) Did you simply just use factory plugs? The 2 plugs from the 98-00 and 1 plug from the 01+.
3) Any reason why the second plug in the back of the radio is not used? I would image that it is needed for something important.