Is it worth it to do the NAV update on my 2007 RX350?
 

I recently bought a 2007 Lexus RX 350 with the original maps. I wanted to know in addition to the updated maps is there anything else you get when you update the navi to 10.1 (the most recent I think).

Thanks.

I heard it is worth it. Yours probably has 2006 maps for a 2007 version. The V10.1 is current through NOV of 2010.

It is always late by a year.

That's 4 years of updates.

Only drawback is you lose the Navigation override hidden menu, which allows you to change your destination while you are driving. This is because the new map also updates the software and, to my knowledge, nobody has figured out how to access the "service" menu on the new software.

Also, unless the dealer is installing for you at no charge, it is very easy to DIY. There are plenty of posts here on how to change out the dvd.

I also heard that it is worth it, just haven't pulled the trigger myself. With all of the free nav apps on the iPhone, I just can't see spending the money right now as I don't really need it.
If you do decide to go with it, post up your review..

Got a point, no need to waste money.

It got rid of the requirement to always say ok to get it to go to the map without any input from me. Expensive for that one little irritation, but if I put in the preset keys for places --I can at least use the presets while driving I believe. Such arrogance to presume that they know best as to when you should change or alter destinations, when the rest of the world uses aftermarket devices that you can do anything with. But it is nice to have built in so I should quit complaining.

Thanks for all the replies. I'll be doing the update at my dealer this weekend.

you can find upgrade discs on ebay for much cheaper and always install yourself, it's very easy

I usually give the advice of getting it every other year, unless you live somewhere or travel a lot.

There is a big problem with buying these $75 Lexus Navigation discs. They are an illegal copy of an original Lexus DVD. It's a fact that Lexus charges way too much for these upgrades, but supporting these software pirates on ebay is not the way to go.

Unless you find yourself not being able to locate many addresses, I say don't get it. The original that came with 2004 RX330 was in my car for awhile until I found a 7.1 update and just recently 10.1 went live. But the fact of the matter is update if you need it. Most people dont even use it at all.

Very true. However the one time you would need it and if you do not have the GPs on your phone...that would be the day you swear at your version for not showing you a house that is 10 years old!

I say shut the front door!

LOL!

+1

Sometimes it is hard to determine which is which on eBay as they will show you the original Lexus DVD in the product information and then ship you a burned DVD. I do not have have the NAV system in my RX330, however, this is a problem across industries and products -- what is OEM and what is a copy.

If the DVD is the latest version and sells below $150 you can be certain it's not a Lexus OEM DVD. Most of the time these pirate sellers last only a few weeks before eBay finds out and gives them the boot. If you read the customer feedback on these sellers that offer the latest version for $65 to $85, you will see comments like this:
* Works but not OEM
* Not from Lexus, it's a copy

I heard that Homeland Security is shutting down these illegal sports jersey makers, why not go after these pirates as well.
You just can't sell copies of these discs...period.

Also, what if you spend 75.00 on a disc and it doesn't work??

Be careful people..

No, just Steelers and Penguins jerseys in their latest raid. :D

Yes, it's well worth it to get the 2010 version especially when your version is so old. The standard retail is about $199 but some Lexus dealers do offer them at a discount. Installation is a 2-minute job--super easy. Some dealers charge $75 to install which to me is a big rip-off.

There is one problem with all the Lexus/Toyota NAV system regardless of vintage. When you enter in a destination, it'll tell you the miles and driving time to get there. On very long all day trips involving hundreds of miles, the driving time is totally screwed up. It can be off by 3 or more hours. Easiest way to check that is if you do the same routing on Mapquest. Mapquest's estimated driving time will be about 3 hours LESS than your car's estimated driving time. At first I thought the driving time would be updated once you started rolling and cruising at highway speed but the driving time remains off until you are almost at your destination. I contacted Lexus as well as with the local dealer with this issue and they couldn't provide an answer. I also thought it was just unique to my car or disk until my 2 neighbors were telling me the same issue on their Lexus after they came back from a very long cross country drive. I should mention that there is no problem with the distance given and the map data.

Nav Distance
 

What you are seeing is the averaging the Lexus Nav computer does.

I drive from LA to Vegas twice a month. The computer averages the speed. So if I am driving 85. It still shows it taking 1 hour to do 60 miles.That's just the way it works.

It also works in the other direction. Say you on your trip and going 5 mph through a parking lot. It doesn't show that it will now take 10 hours to get 60 miles. Still shows 1 hour.

There is a place in the settings to where you can change your driving speed that it calculates the time based off of distance.

Yes, I know the computer averages the speed but shouldn't it be updated on the driving time after driving for couple of hours on highway speed? On a 10+ hour trip, the NAV driving time initially is off by 3 hours or more and this "error" gap seems to taper down as I get very close to my destination. Why is Mapquest estimated driving time so accurate? I'm not sure what Mapquest uses for an average highway speed for their driving time calculation. So are you saying your LA to Vegas driving time from your NAV is very close to your actual driving time? I should say my experience with this problem has been persistent in all previous NAV versions since I average about 4 cross country drives a year and I buy a new NAV disc each year. Maybe the setting in my vehicle's NAV is incorrect but how do I get that adjusted? I looked thru the menu and can't find such an adjustment.

Nav Adjustment
 

I looked through my Owners Manual. And didn't see any adjustment for cruise speed.

JForce do you know where it is?

The tapering you see is the result of the averaging. As you near the destination. The distance and time with be closer. As the longer the distance the error would be bigger.

Your Internet Map also averages. When you type in the destination. It averages the distance.

For example I just typed in Los Angeles to Key West in Google maps.

1 day 23 hours
2,905 mi

What is 2905 miles divided by 47 hours?

61.8 MPH

If you take I-10 east and I -75 south all the way. And drive 75 miles an hour. It would be 39 hours. So your off by 8 hours on Google maps.

Distance
 

Just to check. Mapquest shows the time from LA to Key West as 44 hours and 28 minutes. Which is ?

65 MPH

I just found it. It's in the MENU screen and under SETTINGS. I believe the second line in the SETTINGS screen says "SPEED SETTINGS" where it allows you to adjust RESIDENTIAL, CITY AND HIGHWAY speeds. On mine, the HWY speed was set at 55mph which may very well explain the time difference on an all day long distance drive. I reset mine to 75 which should shorten the estimated driving time and besides I usually cruise around 80 anyway. I'll find out in a few months when I do my next cross country drive to see how it goes. In fact, I'll mention that to my 2 neighbors since they were complaining the same issue.

Thanks for the travel time settings tip. I have the new Gen5 10.1 DVD in my 2007 RX350 and the settings are as follows: Menu Button ---> Setup ---> Estimated Travel Time ---> Set Speed ---> Residential, Main Street and Freeway. The Residential cannot be changed from 25 mph.

Recalculating...

Turn right, NOW!!! :D

Love those Allstate Mayhem commercials. Especially the one where "Mayhem" is laying up front acting as the GPS.

Update
 

I just got my new update. So after I put it in. I will update the settings.

Thanks

I update every 5 years...just did one recently and bought the disc from sewell lexus...it was kind a change in the crt but I don't really think the road system changes that much in 2 or three years...Just my 2c though.

My SA told me to wait til October because that's when the new NAV update comes out.

I was told by my dealer the updates are completed by Nov then issued as late as Feb which is why they are already out of date by the time they put them in the new cars and the warranty is still valid. But who knows your info sounds better than mine....LOL