What! No CarPlay!?!

ColinBarber · September 23, 2020

2 hours ago, pobrown said:

Interesting read of the new 'README' file in the download - I particularly like this part:

"This Retrofit Software is intended and made available only to technicians who have the necessary professional and technical skills, knowledge and qualifications, as well as the necessary equipment and tools."

So I'm guessing my degree in Computer Science and working with computers on a daily basis is less 'skilled' than a mechanic who has been on a half-day course on how to plug in three USB sticks.

Whilst I appreciate that it is more likely the technicians/dealers will have access to more specialised equipment to potentially 'fix' a failed update, the issue remains that it shouldn't fail in the first place. In my opinion a software upgrade should always be user accessible - it's not like we have to get a Microsoft engineer out to install Windows update is it? Apple don't insist on a Genius Bar appointment to install an iOS update. Hiding behind a warranty and threatening to make it invalid really isn't cool - all the cars that the update is valid for are less than 3 years old. Apple CarPlay should have been standard on these cars years ago (The Toyota Aygo got it in early 2018) - Lexus just chose to delay implementing it. If they don't want 'users' installing updates then why are they available to anyone who is happy to pay the €4 fee to access the site for an hour.

The whole README is pretty strong wording from Toyota/Lexus overall for something that apparently isn't official.

My family say that if you chopped my arm off it would say 'Lexus' through the core (just like Blackpool rock) as I've been such a big fan of the brand since getting my first IS in 2004 - I'm now on my 6th vehicle from the brand. This whole update fiasco (even though it worked for me) along with other things that just don't work right are really putting me off the brand for my next car. A real shame as the cars are fab - they just can't get the technical integration right.

If this update were intended for vehicle owners to apply then it would be available on My Lexus, not on a motor industry service and repair website that has disclaimers and warning all over it, including the front page.

Things get put up on the site, before Lexus GB and dealerships are informed - in that sense it is not official and your lack of access to Lexus GB and Lexus Europe technicians is one reason why you are not deemed the intended user of the software.

We can all agree that Lexus infotainment systems haven't been what people have been wanting for some time but if you purchased a vehicle without the promise of something better then you aren't entitled to new features. User upgradability and OTA updates would be nice, but the systems weren't designed for that - they don't have robust recovery features, store dual copies of firmware etc. etc. and therefore Lexus' model of dealer upgrades makes sense - you may well know more about computers than the average Lexus mechanic, but if it goes wrong for him, he has the backing of Toyota behind him to rectify the issue.

royoftherovers · September 23, 2020

Well said Colin. Firm and polite.

jumbojake · September 23, 2020

Good response and I agree about treading carefully... but this website is linked from Lexus UK site, as the location for non franchised service and repair (to meet EU rules). Lexus do have a reputation for dodgy initial s/w releases as we did see in the US a couple of years ago, it’s just a shame they have taken this approach in the EU as it appears an underhanded way to collect field issues prior to dealers using it. They can waive their responsibilities due to warnings and collect revenue to replace units in faulty states. As I said before, this site is genuine, but wait until after dealers have been using it for a while, get the bug fixes version, not the beta.

AtomAnt · September 23, 2020

Indeed good response and I am not denying that the caution is not there. It is there at the landing page, right when you sign in to the portal!

If I keep Colin's statement at a glance then I think there is a contradiction on Lexus' Part. A Caution/disclaimer followed by free stuff such as Map updates (for eligible cars)? What if a map update leads to bricking the system. Let's take this dodgy TSB out of the equation - who is responsible then?

Or perhaps the question is who is the target audience of lexus-tech.eu ? Customer or Technicians?

BTW, I have already said that those who have 'not' updated their cars yet must not proceed attempt - sometimes you learn the hard way!

Lexus prides themselves for craftsmanship and service. I am sure they will not let their customer astray! I hope.

pobrown · September 23, 2020

45 minutes ago, ColinBarber said:

If this update were intended for vehicle owners to apply then it would be available on My Lexus

Good one! Never had a reliable experience with My Lexus. Last time they put a map update on there the links didn’t work. The manuals for the car and the official map update site refer to the Lexus Portal which no longer exist/work.
This is what I meant with their lack of tech integration - it’s so annoying to find broken links and dead functionality.

The infotainment is embarrassing at times - so many bugs. The one in our Aygo is more reliable.

ColinBarber · September 23, 2020

37 minutes ago, pobrown said:

The infotainment is embarrassing at times - so many bugs.

I don't disagree. All the more reason not to assume an update will work correctly. 😞

Gediredi · September 25, 2020

So glad I didnt apply this update - I downloaded it from the website but thought I would hang on. I will try to forget about it, only another 15 months before it gets replaced anyway!

AtomAnt · October 7, 2020

Anyone been to a dealer for upgrade who have not tried DIY yet. My local dealer is stating mid October.

Habu · October 7, 2020

I’ve just spoken to my local centre (Lexus Teesside) and they are stating it’s gone back to end of November or early December and price is £96.

AtomAnt · October 7, 2020

1 minute ago, Habu said:

I’ve just spoken to my local centre (Lexus Teesside) and they are stating it’s gone back to end of November or early December and price is £96.

Interesting

Habu · October 7, 2020

If people haven’t done the maths yet £96 quoted by Lexus Teesside is £80 (quoted many times) + VAT.

Andy B · October 7, 2020

I think that figure (£80 + VAT) is the going rate for 1 hour's labour at Lexus dealers (although the upgrade takes slightly longer than that).

Shahpor · October 7, 2020

7 hours ago, Andy B said:

I think that figure (£80 + VAT) is the going rate for 1 hour's labour at Lexus dealers (although the upgrade takes slightly longer than that).

Where is this mythical dealer?

Lexus Reading charge £186 per hour of their time.

ColinBarber · October 7, 2020

I would like to think a dealer is charging for the labour time used, not how long the install procedure takes - they don't have to sit there and watch it non-stop for 1.5 hours, they should be doing other things and periodically checking.

MR1989 · October 11, 2020

I tried the update and had exactly the same issue as AtomAnt, I found the work around in the Toyota forum someone had linked here earlier where you delete the phasedat file and rename another one. Managed to get to the installation complete screen but then when asked to insert USB 2 with rc2002 it would not start the software update, I suspect I need to rename one of the files on the stick as I did earlier with USB 3. But even after USB 3 completing successfully the DCU did not change from DB01 to DB30 but the audio and nav number have changed to exactly what it shows in the instructions.

JON C · October 15, 2020

Lexus Derby are also still giving me Nov-Dec (bit vague), but nothing concrete and it 'may slip further' yet as Lexus are not telling him when it will be, but he' s also responsible for this at the Toyota branch and they are stating that aproxímate date. As vague, unclear and doubtful as it gets I guess

STE041 · October 16, 2020

At long last, Lexus Reading have started the upgrade to the 2019 onwards ES300h for apple Car Play from Wednesday 14th October 2020. The upgrade is compatible with 2019 models with ML sounds, costs £80.00 and takes about half a day. All booked in for 11th November for me.

AtomAnt · October 27, 2020

On 9/20/2020 at 2:32 PM, AtomAnt said:

Hello Everyone, I begin my statement by saying "Do not try this at home." I feel there is a bug in the process/code (i.e. software), and not everyone is experiencing the same outcome. In my case, it is a "fail". Well done to all who managed to upgrade their NX, ES.
Indeed, TSB BE-00436L-TME is designed for MM17 units that eventually become/behave as MM19 systems, but for my 2018 NX300h, it did not work. I followed the instructions to the dot as per the TSB notes. Used my spare Windows 10 laptop with correctly formatted FAT32 labelled disks and at USB disk3, circa 85 minutes into the overall process, the system failed with Error code:001 - which means update failed car parameter.
Removing the USB disk and starting the car brought everything back to the original state but I am not attempting it again till for some time or revert to my local dealer!
There is no way to check that the process will work (even though you verify Audio and Navigation Versions); you dive into it and hope you (the head unit) can swim ( the best analogy I can come up with).
Of course, I did a lot of research afterwards to see if there is a fix and both Lexus / Toyota units suffer from this issue; success/failure is very intermittent. Some Spanish forums are suggesting deleting and manipulating some files names, but I feel, that is playing with fire!
My suggestion is to wait if you can. I know it is very tempting, but it is pure luck, and it shouldn't be like this.
Oh, I had to update my maps to 2020 v1 else the 1st USB disk wouldn't even recognise the system. Disk 1 and Disk 2 was success Disk 3 (fail).
At the end of disk 2 reboot, my software versions were updated.
Some photos and an animated GIF showing Error code:001

3X Disks prepped as per TSB and labelled

Software versions post USB2 install (success).

Failure - USB3 ( Animated GIF)

Edit: seems like the animated GIF did not work. adding the Error code screen

Well, the time has come, I am booked in tomorrow with my local Lexus centre - let's see what happens next!
On a positive note, I remain on the leaderboard for the ones who were the first to declare a failed upgrade for the "most-anticipated" AA/AC retro Lexus software - despite, following all instructions to the dot! AND perhaps I am the first one to visit the dealer with a failed scenario - anyone?
Since the first release of BE-00436L-TME, there have been a few revisions for the TSB, mainly documentation updates (i.e. cautions, warnings, etc.) but the binaries remain the same.
There is another recent release for October 26 - Version 6 ? (not checked whats inside).
I doubt that the dealer will have some special software (binaries), but I can only hope for the best!
I'll be back with more!

jbi507 · October 27, 2020

30 minutes ago, AtomAnt said:

but I can only hope for the best!
I'll be back with more

Good luck, will be interesting to see what they do differently.

lb_creative · October 28, 2020

Lexus B'ham now saying end of Nov but could be delayed further...i can still quote word for word from the salesman at Lexus Lincoln during my handover of my ES 13 months months ago... 'you will get Carplay in 3 months time and you will have the perfect car'

Probably true about the perfect car bit, as for Carplay I have 23months of my lease left!

Luke

jbi507 · October 31, 2020

@AtomAnt were lexus able to install your AC/AA fine?

AtomAnt · October 31, 2020

26 minutes ago, jbi507 said:

@AtomAnt were lexus able to install your AC/AA fine?

Three days in car is still with garage - I'll update once I have the full story, it may take some time. Please bear with me.

AtomAnt · November 2, 2020

The calm before the storm - I had not much to lose since my unit was in a state of limbo! These gadgets, software/hardware, are pacifiers in my view, and the failed update followed unexplainable anxiety!

I got the car back today. I am thankful to Lexus; they delivered it once again. In the end, it was a replacement DCU.

For reference, The system is classed kaput once you get the "DCU (REPRO)Vup Complete" / error001 on 1st attempt, even if it is partially working. Plus, I feel, the "try different USB Disk (brand)" mantra is a myth. A USB Disk 2.0 or 3.0 may have a different transfer speeds, but it cannot be responsible for failure.

The software used by dealers is the same as on Lexus-tech ( I know we had a go at that). The three USB disks, i.e. yellow, blue and white, are Samsung OEMs that dealers use (Part Number: PW675-00RL1).

Irrespective how competent you are (tech-savvy), use the dealer services; I've learnt the hard way.

Sigh! My car has apple CarPlay- what an experience! All the best.

jumbojake · November 3, 2020

glad to hear it is now sorted .... was there any explanation why it failed before? If the s/w is still the same, it feels like this could be a flaky install whoever does it (I guess, if dealer does it it, it's their mess to fix)

What was the final cost ? (or was this covered by warranty... on the basis you followed the same official procedure?)

AtomAnt · November 3, 2020

15 hours ago, jumbojake said:

covered by warranty.

Yes 🙂

PS: No explanation on failed. Could be my unit had an underlying fault. If you go back few pages, I mentioned the green screen issue which was rectified by a software update, that is my theory. Who knows!

like @ColinBarber said - but if it goes wrong for him (Technician) , he has the backing of Toyota behind him to rectify the issue.