I am acquiring a 2008 Lexus RX400h, with a navigation system, and have been using a Garmen GPS in my Toyota, which needs an update. Do I need to update the GPS system in my "new" (old) Lexus or are updates automatic? I'm perusing the manual for the new vehicle, but thought I might get some advice here. Thanks!

 

The last update to the GPS DVD was in 2018. No updates have been made since. You can buy this version from the dealer or eBay. You're much better off using your smartphone and the maps apps.
Bob

 

Thanks Bob!

 

I have had that car since new. Didn’t think original nav system was very good and ridiculous price to update. Smart phone constantly updated for maps, etc.

 

There is at least one hidden “feature/easter egg” you will lose if you update. However the biggest problem is your maintenance reminder will stop working after a certain date. I have a 2006 RX400h that you can set maintenance reminders after 2020 so that 2008 will probably do the same soon. I don’t know if the 2018 update will fix that in which case it would be worth updating!

 

I updated my navigation system by replacing the head unit... cost me @$325 now how rear camera, Android Auto, YouTube, many GBs with of my songs on the system, hands free Bluetooth so integrated phone and texting, etc

 

Please tell us what head unit you have.

 

Mine is the Atoto S6 now replaced by S8, got it from Amazon... love it!

 

Thank you very much.

 

How good are the HVAC controls? I had a cheapy chinese android touch screen on my TSX and the HVAC was unusable. I stand by my solution the best- get a bluetooth adapter for the vehicle. in this case the BT45-TOY3 for calls and audio, and a CD Disc mounted Cell phone holder. works great for both of my old vehicles. no need to mess with the original equipment.

 

My HVAC controls are sperate from the head unit so not applicable this is not a TSX its an RX330. Being Bluetooth my phone automotaically connects to my head unit when I enter my car, as it does with most any new car, then is completely "hands-free" using Android Auto. I can make calls by touching a button on my steering wheel and telling it to "Call Home Depot Boise", or "Hey Google, what is the weather for Boise for next 10 days" or "play blind faith can't find my way home", I can also send and receive texts via vocie and have them played to me through the stereo never touching my phone. Lastly i has a mciroSD so I have tens of GB's worth of my music on it... perhaps this is what your unit does too but this is for others to perhaps consider as an option. This unit gives 100% full access to all apps on my phone (YouTube, Microsoft Word, GasBuddy, Waze, etc.Good for you if you opted for someting else and it serves your purpose.

You mention of "Cheapy Chinese", this is right from the maker of your BT45-TOY3 (here's the link - https://www.usaspec.com/t-about.aspx). Pretty much every electronic thing you've bought in the last decade is made in China - toasters, washing machines, computers, hair dryers, light bulbs, etc


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The website says it’s out of stock. Plus I don’t see how you get the HVAC controls to work with this unit…

 

I do not believe it has HVAC on it perhaps ther are some mfg/models that do I don;t know and did not need it, for my RX 330 HVAC is separate from head unit. Most any double din works in a RX 330 I'll assume a 350 as well, I bought the Atoto S6 the newer upgraded model is the S8 it is the same size a little more functionality you can also opt for an OLED screen for a few more bucks Amazon will have a few to choose from. "Double din" is a very common size so pretty much any mfg (Pioneer, Kenwood, Alpine, Denon, etc) should have most all the same functionality as the Atoto
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Is the atoto S8 a direct navigation replacement or is any modification needed and will existing back up camera still work?

 

I can only accurately speak to my usage on my RX330, and this would likely be the same regardless of which double din head unit used not pushing one brand over the other everyone ahs their own prefernces/reasons to buy what they buy

Modification/additional parts needed:
Head unit - mine was $230 end of last year I did not opt for the highest end model
Faceplate/dash kit (Metra) - Amazon $23
Rear camera - my 330 did not have one - $80 now for the Atoto others may work as well. It works awesome and it switches on like a new car when put into reverse also lowers stereo sound when backing up then switches back to regular screen when out of reverse
Amplifier interface - $80
Steering wheel stereo control - $50 (allows you to use all the steering wheel buttons they are programmable)
There may have been a wiring harness adapter can't remember if the amp interface solved that or if I bought another for @$20)

*** Correction - mine is an S8 not the S6 as earlier mentioned I just saw the box

Modifications = none. Head unit bolts right in with brackets provided no cutting, can go back to my original unit anything plug-n-play so can be undone if you want to sell te car and keep the unit

Install,
mechanically very quick and easy aside from my running the rear camera wire from fron to back that took some time and frustration
Electronically it was pretty straight-forward but tthere was a fair amount of soldering (some use butt connectors I'm not a fan of them). Instructions were quite good on the harness showing what went where and the wires all came well labelled. All in all it will take the better part of a day does not requore any extra wirines to be run to power or ground everything is included but does require a few inline taps not provided
Programming was easy

Forgot in my initial talk about this I get full screen Google maps and/or Waze can also do split-screen showing maps and music in the corner if wanted . Mapping can be done via voice only ex - "Navigate to nearest Costco" "navigate to nearest gas station" "Navigate home" navigation voice plays through stereo of course while also playing music, I can answer the phone by pressing one button on my steering wheel, ajujst volume or FF/RWD songs on my steering wheel so the previous mention of someone not wanting to play with their phone is solved by updating your head unit all mapping, calls, texts, info can be accessed by voice and/or one touch buttons on steering wheel or screen just as can be in most new cars this just brings my 20 year old car to new car infotainment date. Lastly can also charge your phone when on. Here's a few pics

Showing reverse camera

How music loks when playing. Lots of EQ settings I've never messed with

Waze maps, it can be zoomed in/out,destinations can be done by voice. Waze gives excellent locations of police also any potential dangers (road damage, cars on side of road, speed traps, etc)

Screen showing some of my phone's apps there are a few more pages, any apps on yor phone will show here. You can have your backgrond anything you want

Whole stack picture, it looks OEM