I thought I would post this question to those of you who have installed some type of iPod integration for their RX400h. I have read through the forums and many people post right after it was installed and say it is great. What I would like to know is has it caused any problems with the car?

A little back ground. I purchased my RX400h about two years ago. It was one of the first ones at the dealership. Love the car and it has performed great. One problem, I have to use a cassette adapter to listen to my iPod. I know in the grand scheme of things not a big deal. Anyway, I talked to my dealer today about adding a Denison or VAIS unit to the car, and they said NO! They don’t recommend it and Lexus doesn’t recommend it because it could ruin the hybrid system and could void the warranty. I left the dealership disappointed.

I know people on these forums have installed it themselves and it doesn’t look hard to do, but I am curious if it has done anything to the car? It is an expensive car (at least to me) and I would hate to install a $300 gadget and end up having to replace the entire car.

Also, I did post this same question to “the other” forum, because I am curious to know what peoples experiences were. Also if you recommend any specific solutions, I would love to hear it.

Thanks in advance!

 

Have had my Vais SL1 for 1 1/2 ys now, no problems works well. No Hybrid problems related to unit. Was upgraded once for free with latest firmware about 6 months ago to allow disable of aux function (choice) and allow song title to return quicker when telephone quirk occurs.
Would recommend, no problems with Lexus warranty when my hybrid system had a failure with the power inverter.

 

Thanks for the response. Did you install it yourself or did the dealer do it?

 

Did it my self! There are numerous past threads documenting the install. Not difficult but challenging to remove and replace screws holding in radio!!
Well worth the effort!!

 

Thanks for the responses Larrytrk. I kinda thought more people would respond. Based on some positive responses on another forum, I think I am going to purchase the Vais unit after I get my tax return back :-) Since I can't find a local dealer to install it, I guess it will be a DIY project. Any advice besides the screws I should be aware of? Did you have to unplug the 12 volt battery or anything?

 

Here is a thread lexus owners club, hope it works, you may have to join.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=227901
1. don't have to disconnect battery.
2. Don't have to disconnect shift ****, Just leave key in and move out of way into reverse!
3. use magnetic screwdriver if you can or place cloth or plastic in open spaces below radio, the screws will drop out and fall into the bowls of the car.
(ask me how I know-had to buy 2 more from dealer or toyota, cheaper)
Mount unit in Passengers foot well for easy access later for updates or aux use.
I put i-pod cable in glove box, works fine.
Good luck, most pieces just pop in or out, esp. shift boot cover and plate below radio.

 

From what I understand though, the Vais unit only lets you play songs from playlists on the iPod. It won't let you browse at random. However, I believe the Dice Electronics unit lets you do that. http://www.diceelectronics.com

I'm personally waiting for the video integration solution as I want to us the front monitor as well.

 

You are limited to the text capabilities of the radio in the 400H!
I have the Dension unit (similar to Dice)in my Porsche 997S, which uses the PCM screen and has those other capabilities.
This is not available in Lexus at this time!

 

larrytrk, Thanks for the great information. I do have couple more questions because I have heard conflicting responses.

1) Are you limited by the 99 songs per playlist and limited to 99 playlists? I have over 4500 songs and would like to put it on random and let it play.

2) Your response to Leroy, made me wonder. You can read the song title etc on the radio, right?

I would like to run the wire from the VIAS unit to the iPod to the center console, do you think there is enough slack?

Thanks again for the wonderful information. Its great to hear from someone who has it installed.

 

1. Not sure about number of songs, ck with VaisTech Info on website and you can DOWNLOAD THE MANUAL for more info.
2. Yes, song title and artistl limited to number of letters in title and artist like on CD's now,. Leroy wanted all i-pod functions showing, not available now!!
3. as to cord length for center console, I don't know. That might be stretching it a bit from passenger footwell mount. the link I sent has it mounted in the center lower console! Further back will probably require an extension to the i-pod cord?
That's about all I can say now!!
It's a good unit!!

 

to 1)
the 99 limit is a limit of the radio LCD display, it shows only 2 digits. if you push the TEXT button on the radio it shows the title (and play list) in text mode and there is no limit to the number of songs. so you can do what you want (actually i play it the same way as you like to do). the only limit of the vaistech unit is that you must have at least ONE play list. with the track button on the steering wheel you can move tracks up and down.
the vaistech unit is not allowing you to use iPod buttons if the iPod is connected to the vaistech cable.

i have the unit installed since last september and it works very well. meanwhile the dice unit is also available and reported to work fine (dice unit is much cheaper). dice unit is allowing you to use the iPod buttons.

if you install the vaistech unit don’t forget to program the unit as CD1 (it comes standard as MD device and this is not working correctly on the RX400) as described in the install manual.
if needed i can send a pdf file describing the install process step by step (send PM with e-mail address if you like to get it).

 

I installed the unit today, and everything is working as expected. We took a couple short trips and the unit worked great. We are driving to my parent’s house tomorrow which is a longer trip so I will let everyone know if I have any problems.

The installation was easy and the instructions were spot on. However, as I was trying to put in the last bolt back, I lost the end of my socket to the car. Oh well. I was amazed at how easy the car came apart. It bothers me in a way. You spend all this money on a car and it comes apart without much effort.

Thanks to everyone that posted. The input was a great help.

 

I want to think everyone for their posts. I did have one issue with the unit on the trip to my parent’s house yesterday. My wife started the car, to come home, and the Vias unit didn’t recognize my iPod. No messages were displayed it just defaulted back to the CD player and started playing a CD. I hit the “disc” button to get it to switch back to the iPod, but no luck. It was like the Vias unit was not installed.

We pulled over and restarted the car and everything worked again. It was weird. I hope it doesn’t happen again. The only theory I can come up with on why it didn’t work was how my wife starts the car. She usually gets in and just turns the key to ACC and then situates herself, puts her seatbelt on, stores her purse and then “starts” the car. I am not sure why she does this maybe it comes from driving a manual most of her life. Anyway, when I installed the Vias unit and programmed it, the manual always had me put the car in ACC, so maybe it thought it was going to be programmed. Anyone else have this problem?