This guide is for all of you out there that want a ipod/mp3 etc. installed
in your car with high quality sound through your original ML stereo.

After alot of research ive come the the conclusion that this is the ultimate solution for getting the best soundquality using a external player as for example an Ipod, Mp3 player etc.

What ive used is:
- Vaistech SLU Kit
- Harman Kardon Drive + Play

And after not finding a single tutorial/description for installing these things, nor even "getting to the radio" I decided to make one myself.

Please do comment!

 

Props to you for that excellent write-up.

You are one of the very few newbies who actually contributes to this forum instead of asking some very old and boring questions that have been answered many times before.

 

Very nice writeup. It is very helpful to have step by step instructions with pics. Good for us folks not in Cali where info can be shared at meets. Thanks for the info.

 

Thanks man! I bought my car a few month ago and where I live (sweden) there has been snowing for each of those months:P Trying to prepare it for the comming spring/summer

Yeah man, I only found bits and pieces here and there on each different thing (how to open the center console, how to install the H/K drive+play and how to install the slu kit) but no step-to-step guide which for me is critical, being a noob not wanting to "screw up my car". And the toughest for me is that there are like max 30cars in our country, mostly driven by older men having a lot of dough (a new car here cost like 106K) so there are 0 ppl to ask/getting info from.

 

this might be a dumb question, but if the Vaistech SLU Kit lets you control your ipod through stereo controls and displays the songs, why use the H/K drive+play too?

 

That is an awesome write up. Hopefully I can work on this on the weekend thanks!!

 

THATS AWSOME!!!!! WOW THANKS FOR THE WRITE-UP how much is that Vaistech SLU kit?

 

The Vaistech SLU kit cost 270$. Its sure worth every dime

 

James, thanks a lot for an excelent writeup! I was going to go to a Lexus dealer to get the work done, but with your directions this task seems pretty straight forward to do it on my own.

Are there any other alternatives to Vaistech SLU Kit? $270 seems a lot for a regular audio splitter.

 

I'm not sure if this is the same kit he used, but according to their site this will let you control you ipod with your stereo controls and displays the song information on the stereo screen. If true, I wouldn't think you'd need the HK drive+play kit.

http://vaistech.com/sli.html

 

Andrew, yes the installation is pretty much straight forward. Just take your time and follow the instructions

Jason, I use the the SLU kit coz thats the only one working for my car model (2002). The newer car models can handle SLI etc. just take a look at their homepage for compitability

 

same for me....for 2002 only slu will work. I will be installing it shortly. I'm still lookin for star-like wheel covers (non-chrome). Noone is answering my post....I wonder if the only option we have is $500 from a dealer? James, are you planning to get rid of the dish-like covers?

 

Does anyone know if this allows Sat Radio integration too?

 

Holy old-*** thread Batman!

If you want Satellite Radio (and you have an 05+ SC430), the Vais SLs or SL2s would give you seamless OEM integration.

If you've got an 02-04, you have to go with the SLU (which only gives you "dry" audio inputs) and then add a Sirius external receiver (something like the Starmate 5 or the InV2 - both of which should fit in the ashtray area (with modification) or in the center console). I installed a Starmate 3 (I think it's the "3") in my ashtray when I first got the car. It worked out very nice; it's easy to reach, easy to read the display, and you can close the ashtray cover and leave no trace of the "upgrade". However, the SLU provides no steering wheel controls; there's no way to get those working on the Vais units for the 02-04's.

 

This is a nice writeup. I was wondering about Ipod integration.

This is the instance though that I am glad there is a tape deck, as it's easy enough to pop in a cassette adapter and play the Ipod through that and then hide it when the top is left up.

Always hesitant about showing too many integrated electronics on a convertible.