If anyone is familiar with BMW, you know that BimmerCode is a mobile app for BMW models that allows the user to connect to a Bluetooth OBD tool to change factory vehicle coding to change settings, enable/disable features, remove navigation disclaimer screens, etc. There are even entire forums and FB groups dedicated to "coding your BMW", so it stands to reason that a similar interface exists for Lexus vehicles as well. Could be wrong (and if I am, someone should get on this - big money in the ability to modify vehicle software) but if I'm not and this does exist, where can I find more information?

 

Carista sells a consumer version and techstream is the Toyota/Lexus software their techs use

 

Carista App does this. Tons of hidden settings to tinker with.

 

As a Carista user and former BMW coder, the two worlds are very different.

Carista/Toyota/Lexus "coding" is for basic features whereas you can go much deeper with the BMW stuff (by design) Lexus doesn't really offer line-level module access where say you can retrofit/activate say (Triple beams) or what not. or stuff for other markets.

When I used to code BMWs, you would even use a hex editor. Just so you know what you're getting into on the lexus stuff. you should be satisfied with most abilities of carista (stuff toyota allows you to change) but you won't be getting much deeper, say for retrofits.

Carista is cool though. The amount of stuff you can "code" for example on the new ES is pretty cool. Except I found most of it was in the car settings using the touchpad lol. But i did do some stuff like disable Active Noise Cancellation or adjust the # of blinks for the easy blinker.

 

I already have a Veepeak OBD Bluetooth tool I use for my BMW. Any chance I can use it with Carista or does Carista need it's own Carista branded tool to function properly?

 

That or any OBD adapter should work just fine with Carista. No need for a specific one

 

Thanks, guys! I was able to change a few settings, but there's one thing in particular I was looking forward to disabling but there's no option for it - the navigation disclaimer screen. So not worth the $9 I paid for one month of the app.

 

please enlighten… this a new world for me

 

Unfortunately it's not capable of even a fraction of what BimmerCode can do for BMWs. @E46CT mentioned that most of the settings you could change were already available in the car's settings & menus and I can confirm this to be accurate. However, I was able to silence the incessant seat belt chime with the app, which is clearly not a standard option in any car's settings. (My office is consists of two buildings side by side, so a seat belt to cross the parking lot is just inconvenient and unnecessary.)

BMW's app exposes common items people would likely want to change, such as how many times the blinker blinks, entry lighting timing, disabling warnings, etc., but where BimmerCode excels is in their "Expert Mode", where limitless coding options are exposed to the user to the point where you could render your entire vehicle totally inoperable if changing settings you're not familiar with. Also doesn't help that a lot of the options are in German.

But I'm realizing now that I took BimmerCode for granted given how few options Lexus has to customize settings because the only 2 things I really wanted to do with Carista was to enable video in motion for my kids and disable the navigation warnings when starting the car. BimmerCode (a $10 app + $30 Bluetooth adapter) allows this in their primary options while Lexus not only offers neither option, but you have to purchase a $200+ module just to enable video in motion.

Not thrilled. There has to be something more than Carista.

 

The two features you are trying to customize on the Lexus just aren't possible.
There is no provision to bypass video in motion anywhere. As you can imagine this is a safety feature meant to curb distracted driving. All Toyota/Lexus vehicles have been that way since they offered navigation.
You would need to get an aftermarket unit to provide that function, like the one from BeatSonic.
And the navigation warning screen can't be disabled. Either wait the few seconds for it to disappear on it's own or hit continue. I honestly don't even notice the screen anymore...I had to think about it for a sec when you mentioned it.

Even if you have a Toyota Techstream you can't change the two features you mentioned...and that is the dealer level diagnostic/customization tool/laptop.

 

Anything is possible. It's just programming.

With the fob in my pocket, my BMW would automatically unlock as I walked up to it and lock as I walked away, and I wanted the Lexus to do this as well, so I made it happen.

I connected the Lexus App to my smart home program (Home Assistant) where it exposed a slew of vehicle sensors - one being a binary sensor for the presence of the proximity key. I set it up so if the proximity sensor was on (key present), Home Assistant sends an unlock signal to the car. If no key present, Home Assistant sends a lock signal. It also starts the car when my alarm goes off every morning.

 

I would agree with your opening statement...however there is likely a small group that will have access to the equipment and expertise to do that.
As for your walk up and walk away function, that is also limited to your home, I assume. Once you leave home, the function also stops.
Admittedly very cool to have though.

When it starts you car in the morning, as you walk up to the car and the door unlocks, does it shut the car off? If yes, let me know when you can bypass that feature...cause so far nothing will that I've seen.
For the video in motion one of the signals the radio looks at is speed...most of the bypass units just cut the speed signal, but then it can mess up the navigation accuracy as it can only rely on GPS location.
If you don't have navi, then not an issue. It's the same speed signal that also locks out menu functions so they are just grey while the vehicle is in motion.

For us Canucks we have only received the Lexus and Toyota apps in the last few years...so it's fairly new for us.

 

I'm well aware of the perceived limitations within Lexus programming. But I want what I want, and have the engineering and technical background to at least attempt to make it happen. I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel so, yes, it shuts off when opening the door, and it always will.

As for my app's connection to the car, it works from anywhere. Lexus app sends command via internet to a server > server sends command to 4G carrier > 4G carrier sends command to car > car receives. My app sends commands to the same server. Same logic applies in reverse, as my app listens to that server for changes in various sensors in the car and responds accordingly to those changes. IE, if the car loses the signal from the proximity key, my app is aware of the change and sends the server a signal to locks the doors.

 

Achieving video in motion was a simple wiring mod away for the 2IS ML system. I have never seen it mentioned for the 3IS but I would suspect it could be done in a similar manner. I did it to my 2IS, but still rarely used it so I never bothered looking into the workings of the 3IS ML.

 

The irony is if I had the equipment and expertise this would be the first thing I would change...not the Navi warning screen lol!! I mean it's just programming...right?

I would think that with just using the wiring you could get it to work. The Navi looks for speed and a Park signal (I think these are the only two signals) ..so with a wiring mod to simulate the car in Park and not moving (no speed), the video in motion should work.