I just took delivery of my new LS430 '04 Modern Luxury - The bluetooth for the phone is impressive. I have a couple of questions:

1) Does the car have a non-visible cell antenna buitl in - I and get a holder for my portable that allows for the connection of an external antenna to improve reception?

2) If not - is there a fully non-visible cell antenna that can be installed?

Thanks

 

First off, congrats on your new LS430. What color combo (exterior/interior) did you go for?

1) The 430's with Lexus Link had a cell phone antenna built-in, but the Lexus Link was analog so i'm not sure that antenna would do you any good on newer phones. I believe the antenna is wired into the rear window. There might be a way to hook into this antenna. Anybody know?

2) i've seen a small on glass antenna that mounts inside the corner of the front window. I think this came with a Nokia hands free kit. I've been using a full size window clip on antenna that is clipped inside my 430 to the middle pillar. I figure closer to my brain the better

Can you find a holding base for your phone that has external antenna output and maybe a charger, but NOT a hands free kit? What model of phone?

 

I have a Sony Z600 GSM phone with ATT. Sony indeed sells a car holder for the phone that allows for an external antenna connection (with or without a car kit). Charging can take place by either the Vehicle Power Adapter or by getting a more complex cable to hook it up to any number of kits. The holder itself is under $40 and the antenna cable is $24. I just want to know if there is antenna I can hook up to in the 2004 LS430

Sony Ericsson Z600 Accesories

Thanks for replying

 

If your dealer can not answer questions on whether or not your car has a built-in phone antenna, I suggest that you contact Lexus customer service by phone or through Lexus.com. Judging by its effect on my phones's signal strength meter, the phone antenna imprinted on the rear window of my 00 LS works very well with my non-Bluetooth Nokia GSM/TDMA/AMPS phone in its CARK-91kit. In my 00 LS there is a coax cable for the rear window antenna under the center console that can be activated by connecting two coax cables in the trunk. When I considered an LS430 last November I could not find anyone at the Lexus dealership who could provide information on the LS Bluetooth interface. I would hope that the LS430 still has a rear window phone antenna but Toyota/Lexus does not have a very good record over the past few years in implementing phone solutions in their cars. If your LS does not have an imprinted antenna, there are a wide variety of hidden antennas available from companies in the UK. A company that has hidden antennas, exports to the US and from which I have bought products is Dashmount: http://www.dashmount.co.uk/

 

Kansas,

Thanks for the suggestions. The dealer I spoke to has no idea. I will contact Lexus

 

Both Lexus and Lexus of Glendale informed me that there is no cell antenna on the back windshield on the '04 LS430