Installing navigation system from scratch
My 03 did not come with the NAV system, and have left me yearning. Therefore I am now planning to purchase all the necessary parts and install it on my own. Has anyone attempted to do this? I want to make sure I purchase all the right components to avert all unnecessary headaches.
Thanks in advance for your input. |
Why?
For about $400 you can get a GREAT TOMTOM910 that blows away the Lexus system, is portable and, well blows away the Lexus system! I use mine INSTEAD of my built in Lexus NAV in my '04 LS. Don't be a fool and dump that kinda money on mediocre equipment into a very used car when the portable technology is better, dirt cheap and, well, better! |
I agree with daryll40 that the portable units are far superior to the Lexus system and as an added bonus, the portable systems are not proprietary in that you have to pay Lexus a fortune for the update and can't control it when you want to. While it is nice to have a built in system that is all clean with no wires, the added flexibility of the portables makes it a no brainer. I have a Garmin unit that is more accurate than the Lexus and has more information. Updates are sent to it on line when you USB it to your computer at home. I just spent $280 for the new update on the Lexus which you can spend for a brand new Garmin 530C.
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it will be TONS of $$$$$ and it's not as easy as you think.
Getting the WIRE HARNESS and the NAV UNIT will probably set you back a good 4-5K then you have to buy the SCREEN and the Antenna. It would be cheaper to trade the car in for a NAV version. Mike |
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You can do the Alpine .
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...and then addthe Blackbird that sides into the Alpine Head Unit in above pic
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forget the crap above... this is what you what...
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uses same software as lexus cars...
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Watch it! Those portable navs are hot items for the bad guys.
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Carefully consider that one of the top auto crimes is the theft of portable systems, at least in New York City. The ancillary costs of replacing a window and dash repair add to the cost of the crime.
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Thanks guys for your input. My primary reason for choosing to go with the OEM NAV system is mainly because there is no clean way to install an after market unit. I had planned on purchasing the needed components from eBay and local salvage yards to offset the overall price. I will take your suggestions into consideration and may decide to go with the aftermarket option if the OEM proves to be too much of a headache. Thanks again.
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Just get a TomTom or Garmin and keep it hidden in the glove box. Most of your driving (I THINK) is stuff you won't need it for anyway. You can pull it out and suction it to the windshield in 10 seconds when you need it.
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That eclipse system someone mentioned earlys seems pretty nice for a non nav car. In Dash install, fold out screen (not a big fan of these; would this block the ac or any buttons on the dash?), and is removable/portable as well. You can take it with you!
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Great Advice D40,thats what this sites about
Originally Posted by daryll40
(Post 2893200)
Why?
For about $400 you can get a GREAT TOMTOM910 that blows away the Lexus system, is portable and, well blows away the Lexus system! I use mine INSTEAD of my built in Lexus NAV in my '04 LS. Don't be a fool and dump that kinda money on mediocre equipment into a very used car when the portable technology is better, dirt cheap and, well, better! |
I have the Garmin NUVI 660, its a bit more money than the TomTom but from all the research it seems to be a far superior unit.
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Originally Posted by luca
(Post 2898589)
I have the Garmin NUVI 660, its a bit more money than the TomTom but from all the research it seems to be a far superior unit.
I disagree...had the Garmin but sent it back. Here is why: The Garmin does not, like the TomTom, have the CURRENT TIME just above the ARRIVAL TIME. I LOVE that feature that was on my old prior-generation Garmin. I like to look RIGHT AT the screen and see that it's 12:45 and I should arrive at 2:10. Garmin requires you to change the screen to see that...the another maneuver to change the screen back. Also, I found the TomTom "exclude" feature to be easier. If it routes me thru Elm Street but I know that Elm is under construction, I can just look at the route description, line by line in easy text format, and easily exclude Elm Street for a reroute. Garmin is more complicated. Also the text line-by-line route is excellent on TomTom and not available on Garmin. When I program a route, for example, to go from Pittsburgh to New York, I generally know to take the PA Turnpike to Harrisburg then I-81 to I-78. I like the ability to glance at the route description to see if it's taking me generally that way. If it has me going thru Erie, I know something is wrong. It's much more complicated with the Garmin. I've had both and TomTom is better. |
We could argue all day about which is better...the point is they are all better than our very expensive OEM units.
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The OEM nav looks really nice. Cars are a hobby as much as they are transportation. If the man wants to to indulge himself and install an OEM nav, then more power to him.
Maybe the next car I buy will have OEM nav. I'm too frugal (and my wife wouldn't let me anyway!) to spend the money to do the major surgury to install an in-dash nav in my old 00 LS. And, you gotta remember that OEM nav is vitually free when buying 3 -4 year used car. They often don't add value and increasingly, OEM nav reduces a used car's market value. IMO, the windshield is a bad place to attach a portable nav - I do that only in rental cars. The same Pro.Fit Legend bracket I have my portable nav on in my 00 LS400 also fits the LS430. The power cable is mostly hidden inside my center console and plugs into an extension cable that is hardwired to the auxillary power port. Mounted on the bracket instead of the windshield, my portable nav is almost invisible from outside the car due to the tinted window and especially when the windshield sun shade is in place. There is no telltale suction cup mark on the windshield that thieves look for. My wife can reach the nav from the passenger seat without stretching. She can't begin to reach it when it is mounted on the windshield. I can reach it without stretching or leaning forward. There is a lot less glare on the nav screen when it's on the Pro.Fit bracket than when it is mounted on a windshield. The nav is easily removed from it's cradle which is attached to the bracket. I have an extra cradle attached to a suction cup mount and an extra power cable for use in rental cars. I would imagine that just about any portable flat screen nav would fit on one of these brackets - Magellan, TomTom, Garmin. |
Kansas, although your nav is not OEM it looks great in your ls. Very neat and tidy.
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Haven't posted here in a while, but here's my Kenwood unit installed.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i8...s/IMG_0982.jpg |
Originally Posted by ScrewFace
(Post 2902731)
Haven't posted here in a while, but here's my Kenwood unit installed.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i8...s/IMG_0982.jpg |
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