Hi everyone. Got around to purchasing and installing a GROM USB unit on my LS. This was an easy mod that really brings the car into the modern era. I chose the GROM over the VAIS due to expandability, I may want to add bluetooth later and with GROM it was much more affordable. I ended up putting the unit behind the heated seat controls, velcroed in. I ran the USB wire into the ash tray area which I don't love and am considering rerouting it somewhere else. What I love about the interior of the LS is how clean everything is. Have to a wire sticking out and the ash try lid open bugs me. Highly recommend this product so far!

 

Congrats! If I had a navi equipped car I could have gone the same route. I opted to go with a replacement radio, and like you said, it updates the car's tech instantly.

 

Looks nice. I wish mine didn't have NAV buts a custom luxury. Oh well. Now where to put my phone and cable....?

 

I have a similar set up on my non-Nav 2005 using the USA SPEC unit.


For around the same price as Grom, I chose the USA SPEC as I prefer BT streaming over USB. It does come with a USB charging port which I use for my dash cam. Sound and phone quality are good. Installation is easy, just a plug and play. Operation is seamless using the "SAT" channel, highly recommended.

 

Nice. I wanted the bet fund quality possible so went with the wired USB. Sounds good on the Mark Levinson!

 

I have the GROM as well and for this year LS it works out pretty good. I don't use their mobile app because it ate up way too much cell phone data and isn't really necessary unless you have the paid subscription to Spotify and just have to have the name of the artist show up in your Nav. I mostly use Pandora and can see the artist on my phone so the app is not worth having on my phone.

For a phone holder, I've tried about 3 others and none of them worked out. I was finally shown this holder on another post and this mount and holder together are the only thing that really work IMO. It's a bit of money but ultimately it's worth it because of how sturdy as well as how easy the phone just goes in and out of the holder. I need to get a picture of mine but trust me, this is the way to go.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/152536615197?rmvSB=true

These are phone specific and if Google you should be able to find a least a 10% coupon.
https://www.proclipusa.com/product/a...to-medium-case