I did this Apple CarPlay upgrade to my 05, I really enjoy driving the LS more regardless gas prices skyrocket spike! The BeatSonic trim kit are rare to find and it's expensive as well...but they are the only company sell it, it came with the plug and play adapter which allow retaining the factory navigation, A/C control, backup camera and best of all retain the Mark Levinson amp incorporated with the aftermarket radio, I only lose the MODE, track up/down function. I like how the Sony radio still have the volume **** and it has good features vs the OEM radio. I like how the trim piece color match with factory. The sound quality is up a par compared with the OEM radio.

Before the OEM radio removal.

The finished setup.

 

After completing 5 or 6 trans fluid drain/fills over the past couple of years, I ended up getting sloppy and stripping the drain plug on the last one, so decided to (had to) replace the pan and did the filter while I was it. Pan bolts (20 on 04-06, 19 on 01-03, I believe) came out fairly easily, except for a couple of the frontmost bolts that don't have much room for access due to the exhaust mounting bracket. Recommend having a thin 1/4in wobble extension handy for those. Magnets definitely had accumulated some shavings as visible in the picture, but it doesn't appear to be an excessive amount? Replaced the pan with new bolts.

I checked the temperature with an Autel scanner. If you don't have access to a scanner that reads ATF temp or Techstream, I recommend shorting the OBD ports as shown in the FSM. Don't use an infrared gun, by the time the pan gets to 115 deg F, the fluid is obviously hotter, so you'll never get an accurate reading. I think I underfilled the last drain/fill because of this. My crappy eBay Techstream cable crapped out and I ended up using an infrared gun.

A couple of other points: (1) the filter doesn't come with an O-ring, so make sure to purchase it separately, (2) the new pan doesn't come with magnets, so those need to be transferred from the old pan, (3) the fluid refill procedure is slightly different when you are dropping the pan (see attached document) versus doing just a drain and refill.

Also replaced the trans mount, Bank 2 Sensor 1 O2 sensor, and ABS/Wheel Speed Sensor (not pictured). The O2 sensor came out with very little effort so thankful for that, the connector was a bit of a pain in the *** though.



 

Installed a back up camera on my 2006 Ls 430 Wow what a job 2 days not camera MFG not Lexus fault.
But I know how well built the LS 430 is.Details that the Lexus MFG put into quality. Making sure there is no possibility of a rattle ever.
It was a wired camera type I had to take apart a good part of trunk covers and back seat I will keep this car as long as I can. This is the best auto I have owned.in my 60 Years of driving.
I can afford a new one.

 

New ceramic tint installed...20% all around and 70% windshield. Also had PPF installed on the headlights to keep them clear after recent restoration. Looking good for an 18 year old boat!

 

About 23k of driving in my 5 years of ownership got me to this point. I didn't drive it much the first few years but now that it is my daily driver, I'm putting about 10k a year on it.

 

[QUOTE=Lxsdrvr;11320457]New ceramic tint installed...20% all around and 70% windshield. Also had PPF installed on the headlights to keep them clear after recent restoration. Looking good for an 18 year old boat!


Are you not worried the police will stop you for tint? Did me for factory stock tint.

 

[QUOTE=Oppie;[url=tel:11320530]11320530[/url]]probably depends on location. I have 5% all around and 40% on the windshield and never get pulled over. But i’m in south florida, 9/10 cars here have dark tints

 

I'm not too concerned as I live in GA and there are lots of cars with even darker tint around here. I probably would have went one shade lighter (legal) if I had a black interior.

 

Took my 2004 LS430 to get tint. They called and said, “We don’t want to do a bad job and we think the fact that your driver window stalls out will mess us the job.” It’s true, the driver window does get tired and stops halfway up sometimes. It will move again but it takes a minute or two. So now I have to buy a window motor if I want my windows tinted. I got one ordered and it’ll be here Friday. I took the door panel off and found that my door speaker is beyond busted. See the photo below. So, the cost are all adding up lol

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before you open that window motor, try using 303 Automotive Protectant, its a $12 bottle and fixes a sticking window which is a common LS issue. maybe you can return the window motor

 

I wish that worked. I saw the suggestion for the 303 on here and did that as my first step. I ran the motor outside of the car and it is definitely makes some strange noises when listening up close. I am not very knowledgeable about to determine if the motor is failing but it does not seem like the regulator. We will see tomorrow.

 

Finally installed the new telescoping steering motor and new rubber bushing in the boss. Took maybe an hour total - that top bolt for the motor was a pain to feel for and then find a socket/extension that would get to it without the brake pedal shaft and such in the way. The motors do have a start and an end built in, so when you put in the new one dont re-attach the boss/bushing until you've figured out whether the new motor is all the way "in" or all the way "out". My column was stuck all the way out but when I put in the new motor it was in the "in" position but I didn't know that, so when I tightened it all up it would spin once then stop since it thought the column was in when it was actually out. So I loosened the bushing bracket and removed the boss screw all the way, then pressed the switch to the all the way out position until the screw stopped spinning, screwed the boss back on to where the threads were just poking out of the end, and then re-attached the bracket and then it worked great. Also you want to clean all the dirt and old grease off the telescopic column itself - mine was covered in dust and had a light film of surface rust from the humidity, so I cleaned all that off with a towel and alcohol and liberally applied some white lithium grease all the way around with my finger. Also applied white lithium to the tilt screw while I was there as well as the telescopic screw after cleaning off the old black grease. Anyway, could prob do it again in 30 minutes having done it once

 

Just got around to replacing my pealing B-pillar. It was a simple job and while I was at it, I installed some JDM window visors. That was another easy install. After installing the visors I found another set of them brand new in my basement. Do I sell or hold on to them?????

Replaced pealing B-pillar

Installed JDM window visors

 

@daddykay24 These would be hot items for someone in Pacific NW or a smoker.

 

Not so much “to” the LS but “for” it. My previous subwoofer box just wasn’t satisfactory so I’m building a new one. This one should hit a lot better.