Hi, i've got a year 2005 lexus GS with ML/nav system and I wonder if it is possible to install "plug and play" a newer year 2008-2010 stereo in it that has the same ML/nav system. If it is possible, are there any restrictions?

Im exploring my options due to the Grom VLINE 2 that I want to buy, I rather buy a VLINE2 and install it and get good graphics with a newer gen stereo from a later year GS.

 

I don't think 3rd gen goes back to 2005. I have a 2006 GS430 and I upgraded my ML stereo to a 2008 ML stereo. I did this mainly for mp3 playback and my disc player was capping out. Everything is plug and play! Only issues I found is that it does not display the song names when playing mp3s and I don't have aux.

 

Nice! They do in Europe at least, got a January made GS from 2005.

Mind me asking, was the screen resolution improved with your swap? Do I need to replace both the screen and the cd unit or only one of them for the upgraded screen resolution?
And if I upgrade what year stereo do I need to replace it with, 2007+? is there a cap/gen shift or can I replace with a 2011 model stereo?

 

I believe in 2009 or 2010 the stereos got updated with fiber optics and they removed the cassette player. These newer stereos are NOT compatible with the older ones. I just swapped the stereo a newer 2007-2009 one will work assuming the connectors are the same. I tried swapping the actual navigation head unit with a newer one but it doesn't work since the connectors are different.

 

I'm wondering what you found out and decided to do? I'm the same situation: just bought a fully-specced GS300 (3rd Gen, manufactured in 2005) and am thinking of installing VLINE2 to get Android Auto on the touchscreen. I have the 4th Gen touchscreen navigation system (with Mark Levinson) with the not-so-pretty greenish pixelish interface. Don't care much about the stock interface, mostly about the resolution that I'd get with the VLINE2 attached.

Similarly I'm wondering:
- Is the native resolution of the 4th and 5th Gen touchscreen the same hardware wise?
- Would Android Auto through VLINE2 look fine on the 4th Gen touchscreen or would the resolution be too low?
- If the resolution is too low on a 4th Gen touchscreen, which parts do I upgrade to get the higher resolution? I don't care much about the newer interface or MP3 compatibility.


Not sure whether the US only got deliveries in 2006 of the 3rd Gen, but in Europe we got cars delivered in 2005 (that were also manufactured in 2005). Maybe that's what in the US is called '2006 model year', since that always seems to be +1?

Quote:

I have a 2006 GS430 and I upgraded my ML stereo to a 2008 ML stereo. I did this mainly for mp3 playback and my disc player was capping out. Everything is plug and play! Only issues I found is that it does not display the song names when playing mp3s and I don't have aux.

Which parts exactly did you replace and did it give you a higher resolution screen? I've read about other replacements that weren't plug and play, what did those do?

 

The actual stereo part is cross compatible if the plugs in the back are the same. The screen is not.

 

This is correct. Our "2006" MY GS is a 2005 model in the rest of the world. the US will always +1, sometimes +2 or a +.5. etc....

 

Hey sir, How can I do this for my GS430 -2006? My head unit like this and I want the newer (blue themed) one 2008 upgraded model
I'd appreciate your answer and reply

 

Hey sir, How can I do this for my GS430 -2006? My head unit like this and I want the newer (blue themed) one 2008 upgraded model
I'd appreciate your answer and reply