I purchased the Pebble Beach edition in March. So....disappointed to find that it had the old navigation system and the OUTDATED stereo system. My husband negotiated the deal and I wasn't aware of these issues. No ipod connection, nothing! I previously had an ES350 which had the Bluetooth connections on the steering wheel, updated navigation, etc., iPod connection.
I love the SC, but want so much to be able to have Satellite radio and a really good iPod connection. Lexus tells me that you cannot have both and that while there is a way to have the iPod connector, the quality is not all that good.
If you have any suggestions regarding satellite radio and/or the ipod connection, it would be very, very much appreciated.

 

get the tapedeck adapter for the quickest / easiest fix at Best Buy for like 15 bones or <5 on eBay...
+
ditch the husband...he should have known better...

 

the lexus dealer is incorrect. a company called vais makes an auxiliary input. you can use it to connect both your ipod and xm radio. it's a bit of a hassle. but for a few hundred dollars it can be done. the only drawback is it doesn't fully integrate with your stock system. so you have to use separate controls. but it's not bad if you have a good installation. http://www.vaistech.com/products/home.php

 

morning 132-I noticed you were in Texas. I am not sure where, but in Dallas, Park Place Lexus actually sells and installs the VAIS system regularly. Believe it or not, it gets worse than what you've got! My 2002 had even less tech adaptability.

Jason 702 is right though, let the pros install at Park Place Lexus or equivalent dealer/installer and you can have both ipod and xm. Problem solved!

Totally agree with you about the lack of tech...one of reasons why I sold my SC. Now I'm realizing that you can add tech easier than you can add class to a car!

 

True as to the iPod, but the Sirius/XM integrates fully, including spoken commands (i.e. satellite radio one).

 

+1 scdroptop, love your line about tech being easier to obtain than class!! Maybe that's why so many older SC's are still the pride of their owners inspite of the tech not being there

 

Would it be possible to switch out the head unit for one from a 2010? I would think that would give you XM an ipod inputs

 

the head unit is integrated into the nav. so you'd have to replace both. which i'm guessing would run $2500+. even then, i'm not sure if they're compatible. i'd go with the vais. everything installed (ipod + xm radio) should cost no more than $500.

 

is this hard to install?
and the quality of the sound will be just like cd or mp3?

 

Davenports in Dallas (Plano?) also installs them. They also do good work.

 

i wouldn't try doing it myself. i'd ask in your regional forum for recommendations for a local shop.

the quality will be as good as you can get for mp3s. cds have better sound quality than mp3s due to the compression, but the average listener can't tell the difference.