Discovered that I enjoy listening to podcasts much more than XM. Got rid of the XM set up and spent time trying to figure out how and what to use to listen to pocasts in the 2002 SC430.

After alot of research, the best approach seems to be to install an AUX input which can then be hooked to mp3 player [or XM or whatever]. Unless you want to go cheaper than 270$; then you can splice wires, put I wanted to use the CD button to change inputs and didn't want to make my own switch.

http://www.logjamelectronics.com/soundlexaux.html

Just discovered today that the top of the center consloe, A/C unit and radio are extemely easy to remove. Have not tried taking out the nav unit yet.

Don't even need tools except for the four bolts that hold the radio on. It's like a snap together model car.

Also discovered that what I thought was wood is all palstic., and what I thought was leather is vinyl. I'm so naive. I quess the seat's are the only real leather in the car and there is no wood that I can see. Even the shift **** appears to be plastic when you unscrew it and look inside. I remember the salesman saying the maple colored plastic was real wood. I wonder if he even knew? I think the sales brouchre even said wood.

Also discovered that the Generation 2 or 3 Toyata navigation DVD's will work in the same generation Lexus and they are cheaper than from Lexus dealers. For long term it might be cheaper to run the video of an aftermarket nav system through the factroy screen, than paying for the disc's, even Toyota ones.

Now i need to decide if I need the spare tire kit or will go with a flat inflation kit, like my wife has in her accord hybrid, because I'm getting rid of the runflats. I have had two nails in the runflats in 20K miles. She has had none in 40k in the Honda..

Also had to have two sets of runflats in 20k miles due alignment problems. Aligned by dealer twice. Dealer denies all responsiblity. [Flow Lexus, NC] I think factory setting are not correct for my particular car. [It's driven very easily] I wonder if something is bent. Wears the tread bald on the extreme inner edge of both front tires, R>L.

Going to go to a custom alignment shop when the new set of tires comes from Tireshack, and then check it every 1 or 2k miles.

been a productive day.

 

Plastic? I also thought this was real wood . Even the brochure has some fancy exotic wording for it.

 

I'm not absolutely sure. it just looks like it. Possibly there is am extremely thin veneer of wood glued to the plastic, but I think it's just a laminateof a "picture of wood" glued to plastic, or maybe printed on the plastic itself.

Really hard to tell about the gear shift ****. Just unscrew it and look. Let me know.

Steering wheel? who knows. Reinforced plastic would be stronger and more stable.

going to use this video input:

http://www.gnetcanada.com/navvideo-m...rgb_toylex.asp

to connect to the nav and run a back up camera to it and then hook a laptop or maybe even their PC to the other input and then run OBD-II software and cable to the PC so I can get better instrumentation/information.

http://www.autotap.com/autotap_for_windows.html

or similar.

I always thought it was sad that Lexus didn't integrate the GPS and OBD-II info into the nav screen.

Do you believe that you have to set the clock manually? When the car has what I think is GPS information in it already??? Is the nav system GPS? It can't be dead reckoning. That just wouldn't work. Where is the GPS antenna?

 

It's a thin layer of real wood veneer on plastic.

 

LOL, that was good. I have to admit if I should find that the wood is plastic... I will loose faith in all mankind! GPS antenna is in the center of the dash just below the vinal cover close to the windshield.

 

More recent Lexus models do allow for setting the clock via the GPS. My '04 RX330 does this. This was the first Lexus, I think, with the DVD NAV system, so it is not as sophisticated as subsequent iterations.

Your Soundgate AUXLEXV2 Auxiliary Input Converter at about $300.00 is a pretty expensive way to play podcasts through the audio system. I just use a Nano holder on a flexible stalk that plugs into the lighter; this also charges the Nano and allows me to position it anywhere that is convenient. It has its own output plug, so I can use an FM modulator or a tape insert to get the signal into the system. Not elegant, but it works great, comes out in a minute, and the whole thing costs about $50.00.

PS: It's real wood. Real wood in a car is a thin veneer, and it's coated with something thick and shinny to protect it. Fake wood looks so crappy that it's not even used much any more; but if you see it, you will spot it as fake wood from across the parking lot.

 

So true!!
I've got a '58 Jag in addition to the '02 SC and it's one of the reasons I was attracted to the SC. The interior of the Lexus reminds me of the Jag as far as detail goes. The Jag has walnut dash and trim but when it's been taken off for work being done, you can see it's a thin veneer over some type of lesser wood.

Wood or plastic base it's still wood veneer which far more economical than solid furniture grade wood that no one sees past the top layer anyway!

 

I've tried about 4 different FM transmitters with the XM and several mp3 players. . Always some kind of noise introduced. I'm also goning for a OEM/factory install look with non Apple/iPod source. I hate being limited by Apple and humming noises.

I have a little Samsung player that I think will work with a direct connection [no wire]. I'll leave a gold plated male 1/8" plug sticking out some where [ possibly some where to the left of the wheel, below and behind the steering wheel adjust **** ] where the player will just plug in directly. maybe with a back up wire for convenince. The player is just a few grams in weight. [ YP-F1, great sound, very tiny, 1GB ] And I can grab it and go from there easily. I can even charge the Samsung from a usb port on the laptop when needed or use it to load the computer when wireless is down.

I'm looking at little laptops, 7-10" screens, for the seond audio input and the second video into the nav, so I'll also be able to play podcasts/mp3 or whatever that way. The first video input is back up camera.

http://www.oqo.com/hardware/basics/

Too expensive!

The laptop will possibly live in the pocket behind the driver or passenger seat. Just leave it open and slide it in.

I need one with built in video out, and wifi and 12 vdc, but I can always use a dc/dc converter. I'm really not interested in playing DVD's so just a stripped down one will work and I can always load movies/video over the network. Just has to be small. Probaly also need a wireless trackball. With Birdseye maple wood grain!!

Also need some sort of script written to shut the lappy down several minutes after the dc power in is removed and auto boot when power is restored after a few minutes. Though I wonder what happens if I just take out the batery and have windows auto reboot after powerfailure. I've already checked to make sure the wireless net work has good signal in the garage.

This will be a work in progress. I did order the audio and video inputs.

I will probaly spend 1200-1400$ by the end, 500$ just on A/V inputs, but I spent that on dealer tires that lasted 8k, before I new better. This will be more fun and very flexible and less like being raped.

I hope that what every one is saying about the wood is true. I had my magnifyer out and that must be one incredibly thin wood venner. Much thinner than furniture veneers. Don't get me wrong, I love the look and if it fooled me for so long, then who cares. It's like the people who can't tell an original oil masterpiece from a high grade reproduction, without state of the art lab work. At that point who ever the forger was, IS a master.

 

I finally have everything installed and working , Though I only have a big Dell laptop now. need something smaller.


The audio inputs work very well and are attached behind the radio. There is however no way to adjust the sound level on the modulator to match the level of the radio stations and the radio stations are a little louder so I have to adjust the volume higher on the mp3 player to match and then when I use headphones lower it on the mp3 palyer. Actually I don't listen to the over the air stations any more.

The video input also works well and is attached in the trunk by the navigation system. I used a good quality back up camers that also works well, bought it on ebay..

The toyota navigation DVD update disc also worked flawlessly.

I now have two audio inputs, one connected to mp3 player and the other connected to computer and two video inputs, one to a back up camera and the other to the computer. Movies don't look to bad on the lexus navigation screen but most text is almost illegible unless made very large. but I can listen to any format audio or video on the computer, which is great. Switch for video is directly under steering wheel, totaly invisible, 3-way switch to get both sources but then I also have to switch the audio seperately on the radio to match


matthew

 

how much did it cost you total to get the dvd nav and the reverse camera? i really want to get these 2 done but dont know where to start.