This is the Part 1 of 3 write-up for my recent modification/upgrade project for my 2014 GX. For disclosure, Carlinklife did provided me with their most recent developed hardwares for this project, however, Carlinklife has no control of my review opinions for any of the products I used for this project. As always I had in the past, I will give my honest opinions for every products that I have experienced.

Digital Cluster (or cockpit) has become so popular now days. After market products to retrofit vehicles without those technologies were just a matter of time. For 2nd generation GX, the aftermarket digital cluster started appeared on market about a year ago, and the early version of the products were full of technical challenges, and were not really for the prime time. However, after months development and testing by Carlinklife, their most recent offer on GX digital cluster is vary promising. Although I was still skeptical, but decided to give it a try to see how it performed against what it has promised.

GX digital cluster arrives in a very good packed and professional looking package. Compare it with OEM Cluster (see photos below), it is vey well made. Besides the main cluster connector harness, Digital cluster also included two additional connectors, one multiline harness with two USB ports marked with System Update and Protocol Update, and a HDMI port which is used for display navigation map and info when integrated with Carlinklife GX infotainment upgrade unit.





Installation is very straight forward and simple. removing the mirror control switch panel and engine start/stop button panel, then cluster trim piece and left side vent trim, you will see two 10mm bolts where secured OEM cluster. After removing the bolts, make sure you move the steering wheel hallway out and down, slide OEM cluster out is a fairly easy task. There is only one harness to disconnect from OEM cluster. Then just replace the digital cluster connect the harness, route the USB cables to the left side vent area, route HDMI cable to the right behind infotainment are (if you decide to retro Carlinklife upgrade unit in the future to take the nav info integration feature), then put all the trim s and with panels in revers order, that is all to it. For the two USB ports, I see others just tucked them behind vent since those ports are only used for software updates, but for myself, being wanted everything to be perfect, I had extended two USB ports to a blank space on the panel with a Toyota style flush mount USB ports extension (see photo below), which makes easier for the future software updates.



The Carlinklife digital cluster performed surprisingly well. As based on Lunix OS, it is very fast in startup and response to switch input. The overall graphic design has lots of newer Toyota OEM digital cluster element. So the overall feel and looks give you a very good "OEM" feel. For my usage about a month, It didn't give me anything as "out of place" feels and everything works well with the GX environment. The most recent updates also fixed several display and conversion issues reported by earlier adaptors, and I have tested every possible function and indicator for the digital cluster, and found no missing or errors. Following is a short video clip that I cycle through all the configurable cluster graphics and setting about this cluster (please ignore the beeping noises in background which were from the radar detecter and dash cam during startup). Overall, I like the product for what has promised. There are some areas that I think could be improved for future improvement, such as customize the display of information pages. For example, most of GXs do not have the advanced drive assistance such as adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, individual tire pressure display, etc., for those ones, if we can turn off the associated pages on display and without have to cycle through them. Those are easily achievable via software updates. Another cosmetic issue that I have notice is the cluster surface reflection. looking at both OEM cluster housing and this one, the outer transparency protecting glass is curved angles which prevented reflection when installed, however the digital cluster outer protection just a simple flat surface. At installed position, it will emits certain amount of reflection. Although it is not as "distractive" as it showing in the video clip. I understand the tooling for making it like OEM could be challenge to manufacturing from cot aspect, but it would be mice to see the improvement in the future.


For conclusion, this is a pretty much a "Plug-N-Play" upgrade and gave the GX a much needed "Lexus Luxury" element. It performs very well and covers just about every driving and vehicle information available for GX models. However, with current pricing point, it is definitely not for everyone. for the most part, I would put it as a "nice to have" product rather necessity. But if someone with broken OEM cluster, this product will offer an excellent alternative. Of course, as demanding increases and manufacture processing and technology continuing advance, future pricing point could be lower to a point that would appeal to everyone.

 

Thanks for the review, interesting upgrade

 

I wonder what is different with the 2020-23 models given that on their site they only state this is for 2010-19?

https://carlinklife.com/products/lcd...-gauge-cluster

 

Possibly due to different ECUs and harnesses or pin outs, may require different hardware and programming.

 

nice review. I do wonder if 20-21 are also different from 22-23?

 

I was told by carlinklife that this is due to the difference in dash configuration. The 20-23 have a digital speedometer.Plus the dash looks different is appearance.