Moved from Germans to Japanese (err Hoosiers). Bought my first TX550h+. On route now. TX500Hs were very discounted but couldn't pass up the trust v6 and plugin.

Deal was nothing to write home about. MSRP no add-ons.

I have been searching to add some accessories. Does anyone here recommend a dashcam they actually have on their vehicle?

Where is the best place to buy Lexus accessories. I saw the was a 25% of deals people were running but now seems to be gone.

 

I just installed the Fitcamx dashcam in my TX 550h+ today. The camera seems to function fine, but I'll have to use it and check the video more to see how well it actually works.

These dashcams look OEM. And much better than the actual Lexus dashcams.

For the benefit of anyone considering this camera, here's a bit of what I learned about the installation.

There are not specific instructions for the TX. What you need to know is that you only need to remove the plastic housing around the rear-view mirror. You do not need to remove the overhead lamp console. The Fitcamx videos for Lexus cars show how to remove the necessary part. The connector you need to remove and connect to is to the right side of the area. I couldn't even see it at first.

I actually bought the rear camera as well, but have not installed that yet. Working the cable from the front to the back is some effort and I want to make sure it works well enough before I do that.

It is a bit tricky to fit all of the new wiring harness back under the cover. Be sure to remove the twist tie around the supplied harness. This give you more flexibility in stuffing the harness back in.

There is an accessories box and in that is a plastic pry bar. I didn't even know that was there until I had used something else to pop the cover loose.

Finally, to download video, you connector your phone to a Wi-Fi network created by the camera. You need the default password. This was not provided in the app setup. I found it in the printed manual. That password is simply "12345678". Apparently you can change that, though I haven't yet.

The camera records the video locally on the memory card it comes with. So, you only need to connect to it to download video. Which normally you wouldn't do unless you had an accident or similar reason to access video. Other than initial setup, your phone is ONLY needed to download video. The camera operates independent of your phone.

 

The Amazon reviews mentioned having to modify a part of the camera housing? I installed the FitcamX on my wife's RX so I am familiar with the install process. Just curious if you had to make any mods to get it to fit?

I have the TX version sitting here waiting for me to put in her new TX550h+

 

There is a "mod", but it's designed for it. Not some sort of hack. The plastic housing has two pieces. The much smaller piece fits around the rear-view mirror mount. As it comes, the U-shape opening is too small to fit around the rear-view mirror mount of the TX. But there is a narrow area around the U-shape opening that is held on by a few tabs. Cut the tabs and remove this piece to make this U-shape opening larger. I did forget to mention that in my previous post. Again, it's designed for this, it's just there's no mention of this in any instructions that I could see. Though I certainly could have overlooked something.

 

Yeah I had to do the same "mod" for the RX camera. Thanks for the info.

 

Congrats on your purchase. Looking for the 550h as well but can't find any at all local. One question for you. When you said 500Hs were very discounted, approximately what did you see and where? I may settle for the 500.

Thanks for sharing!

 

Congrats.....you will love the reliability and lower service costs, and not suffer the over-engineering that the German brands bring to their cars......

 

It took 6 months for my dealer to get my 550H in. They couldn't order it but could "request" one. I probably would have got a 500h if they didn't have those, to me, silly race style seats. I'm sure they fit many people just fine, but those seat bolsters really dug into my sides. While I had to wait, the EV tax credit, with a lease, makes the price similar to the 500h. Then I just turned around and bought out the lease. But that credit ends at the end of this month for all EV's.

 

Congrats!! You got a hard to find plug in at MSRP which is a feat in itself!
I get all my Lexus accessories at Bell Lexus AZ. They will have another big sale 9/12-9/22.
https://parts.belllexusnorthscottsdale.com

 

I wouldn’t settle for a 500h over a 550h+. If I were in the market for a 500h, I personally would just get a Grand Highlander hybrid max and save $20k.

I would wait for a 550h+ and be willing to travel to take delivery or have one shipped to me.