williz

Great idea i want one, are you offering group install!!!!! :winky:

how much cars should be modified? should i fly in on monday next week?

no seriously, if somebody is really interested i will come up with a self install instruction (i did it already in german language, so i only have to make an english version).

and with that you can either do it yourself or go to your mechanic and let him do it. the cost of the material needed will be around 80,- EUR

so let me know if i should do the english version.

If you can do an English version it would be great.

Thanks

will come soon! please give me a few days!

plese have a look here, scroll down and download

installation document

This is a collection of documents for the RX400h as a result of many discussions in the LOC over the last 12 month. Many RX owners contributed ideas; information's and work to find solutions for enhancements and additional functionality.

We can not guarantee that the informations in these documents are correct and error free, you may use it at your own risk!

Please note that all changes to your car not done from Lexus personnel may void the warranty of your car!

Important! These documents are done for the RX400h Model 2006. There are some differences to Model 2007 for example Audio system, LCD-Display, Navigation und Bluetooth hands free!

To download follow link, scroll down, select free, selct download site, key in secure code and download file

Instructions to enable Bluetooth-Hands free- and Navigation-System for RX400h Model-Year 2006

Describes the disassembling of Head unit and the speed sensing signal cut off to enable the usage of hands free main telephone book and changes to the navigation system as well as the ability for manual TMC usage while car is moving for Model 2006 (Attention! Connectors and wiring in Model 2007 is different in some areas).

Pdf file, 697KB

Download link

RX400h Installation Instructions for SoundLinQ SLI unit

(To connect an iPod to the RX400h audio system)

Pdf file, 1.151KB

Download link

Interior Carbon-Trim installation instruction for Lexus RX

Pdf file, 3.334KB

Download link

Enhancing the reversing lights by removing the bulb covers

Pdf file, 917KB

Download link

Overview of pairing procedures for Bluetooth Handsets (27-4-2006)

fort he following Handy models:

Motorola A780, E398, V3, V3i, V80, V500/V525/V600/V600i/V620, L7, MPX220

Nokia N70 (can be used for all Nokia N-Serie Handys including the newest N95), N-Gage, 3230/3600/3650/3660, 6021, 6230/6230i, 6310i, 6600, 6630, 6650, 6670, 6680, 6810/6820, 6822a, 7600, 7610, 7280, 7710, 8800, 8910(i), 9300, 9500,

QTEK 9090, I-mate PDA2K, Xda lll, MDA lll, S100, iMate JAM / MDA - Compact / HTC Blue Angel / Xdall mini

Panasonic X70, X700

Samsung SGH-D500, SGH-E720/SGH-E730

Sharp GX30, GX15

Siemens S55, S65/SK65, SX1

SonyEricsson P910, T68(i), T610/T630, Z600 (Z800), K700, K750i, S700, V600i, W810i, Z1010 Panasonic X700

IPAQ 6340

Pdf file, 192KB

Download link

Customising Parameters for the European RX400h version

Changes have to be done from Lexus service personnel!

Pdf file, 63KB

Download link

Reversing camera cleaning system

Pdf file, 638KB

Download link Video

Just to keep everyone interested up to date: Lexus eventually contacted me. Even though the battery had been checked already, they want to re-test it ober a prolonged period. So - on my next holiday coming up soon, I will leave the car with them for testing. At least I won't have to call the RAC to start me up on return, but will have to take a cab home.

i will be with my RX400 next week at my lexus dealer to measure the current which is drawn from the 12V Battery in parking mode and we will compare this to other RX400 in order to find out if my car does have a problem.

will keep you informed on the findings

willi

Great idea i want one, are you offering group install!!!!! :winky:

how much cars should be modified? should i fly in on monday next week?

no seriously, if somebody is really interested i will come up with a self install instruction (i did it already in german language, so i only have to make an english version).

and with that you can either do it yourself or go to your mechanic and let him do it. the cost of the material needed will be around 80,- EUR

so let me know if i should do the english version.

If you can do an English version it would be great.

Thanks

will come soon! please give me a few days!

Great idea i want one, are you offering group install!!!!! :winky:

how much cars should be modified? should i fly in on monday next week?

no seriously, if somebody is really interested i will come up with a self install instruction (i did it already in german language, so i only have to make an english version).

and with that you can either do it yourself or go to your mechanic and let him do it. the cost of the material needed will be around 80,- EUR

so let me know if i should do the english version.

Can anyone help?

Used to have the IS250, so I came up with this brilliant idea of having an ipod with all my tunes on it in the car as it had the Aux input, now I have the RX400h, I no longer have the Aux input, any mods you know of where this can easily be resolved?

hi!

you have 3 options.

nbr. 1 is the IPod Integration Kit from lexus europe, part nbr. PZ420-00263-ME, price around 300,-EUR

nbr. 2 is soundlink from vaistech (www.vaistech.com), sells for about 300,-USD, must be self imported from US

nbr.3 is Dice iPod integration kit Dice kit, sells for about 150,-USD, self import.

lexus integration kit and soundlink adapters are working fine, dice users have reported some troubles but latest versions should work fine.

regards

willi

Hi Willi,

1. I spoke to lexus about their integration kit, and they said that the one with that part# is actually a cable worth £6. Would you be able to provide any more info on this?

2. Do you have any idea on how good the the soundlinq system is? Does it need professional installation? How much time is needed to install this?

Willi I would really appriciate it if you could let me know this info.

Thanks

Rishi

at 1.

sorry if the part number is wrong. it is called lexus iPod integration kit and is manufactured from panasonic in europe. lexus austria is selling it for 330,-EUR including installation. so lexus UK must be able to order it from lexus europe.

at 2. sound quality of soundlinq is excellent (as is the iPod integration kit from lexus i have been told). it supports up to 99 playlists and you have to have at least one playlist. it supports text display and handles like your CD player. in the european models the old systems have not supported to adjust the preset sound level means you could not adjust the factory set sound level becouse the european lexus radios missed the SCAN button used to get into the adjust mode (and the unit comes preset to level 15, max level is 30, min level is 0). this mans that you had to turn up the volume of your stereo (compared to other sources like FM and CD) to get an adequate sound volume.

may be this has changed meanwhile and the new units can be addjusted by the user.

it is hard to say if it needs prof. installation. i would say no but have a look at the documentation i made you will find here Soundlinq installation

if you install the soundlinq in a RX400 model 2007 please note that you have to set the unit to the MP3 mode as described in the user manual!

Can anyone help?

Used to have the IS250, so I came up with this brilliant idea of having an ipod with all my tunes on it in the car as it had the Aux input, now I have the RX400h, I no longer have the Aux input, any mods you know of where this can easily be resolved?

hi!

you have 3 options.

nbr. 1 is the IPod Integration Kit from lexus europe, part nbr. PZ420-00263-ME, price around 300,-EUR

nbr. 2 is soundlink from vaistech (www.vaistech.com), sells for about 300,-USD, must be self imported from US

nbr.3 is Dice iPod integration kit Dice kit, sells for about 150,-USD, self import.

lexus integration kit and soundlink adapters are working fine, dice users have reported some troubles but latest versions should work fine.

regards

willi

Thanks Willi, is option 1 easily fitted by me or a dealer?

you can order it at the lexus dealer and he will install it. i have no experience with self installation of the lexus product but assume that it will be as easy as the vaistech soundlinq. if you go for the lexus product i would suggest that you let lexus install it to have the full warranty.

i have installed the soundlinq my self and have done a installation documentation for it i can send if needed.

i installed the soundlinq because at this time the lexus product was not available.

When reading this tread, I wonder whether we have got the same car. Our RX400h is parked in our garage in the Algarve (without any attention), it has started up every time we come down, even when as this last time it had been left for just under four months.

We must have been lucky and got a good model, as far as battery discharge is concerned. I take it you leave the car in "parked" mode, and have no additional electrical extras connected up? Wish you luck in getting the problem solved.

looks like we really have different cars!

during an upgrade to Xenon high beams i disconnected the 12V Battery of my car. when i reconnected the Battery i used an amper meter to measure the the current the car is drawing when everything is off (no internal light on, ignition key is off).

the car draws 0,177 ampere. this means that the 45Ah Battery will be empty after 10 days and this is what the user manual tells you i think.

http://www.lexus.com/pdf/models/rxh_drivin...mance_guide.pdf

its on page 2

Thanks very much, fluff!

Ruth

What I don't understand if all his is true, why is it not a problem while the cars are some weeks on the high seas from Japan and then in storage for a few more days...

I can't imagine them going round starting up all the cars on the ship :)

i asked lexus the same question and was told that for transport and storage the 12V Battery gets disconnected.

Can anyone help?

Used to have the IS250, so I came up with this brilliant idea of having an ipod with all my tunes on it in the car as it had the Aux input, now I have the RX400h, I no longer have the Aux input, any mods you know of where this can easily be resolved?

hi!

you have 3 options.

nbr. 1 is the IPod Integration Kit from lexus europe, part nbr. PZ420-00263-ME, price around 300,-EUR

nbr. 2 is soundlink from vaistech (www.vaistech.com), sells for about 300,-USD, must be self imported from US

nbr.3 is Dice iPod integration kit Dice kit, sells for about 150,-USD, self import.

lexus integration kit and soundlink adapters are working fine, dice users have reported some troubles but latest versions should work fine.

regards

willi

hi

I just put some water repellant on mine every so often, seems to work

cheers

the repellent is ok as long as it is pure water. if the water gets mixed with antifreeze/deice and street dirt or snow (this is of coarse not to often the case in the UK) then you get the milky screen i am talking about! may be it is more of a problem in the nordic country's and here in the mountains.

regards

willi

when driving my RX400h in heavy weather like rain or snow, after stopping and switching to reverse i normally see a grayish LCD screen instead of a clear picture from the video camera.

then i have to get out of the car (of coarse into the rain or snow) to clean the lens before i can drive my car backwards into my garage. this is normally the moment when i like to get my hands on somebody from lexus, responsible for the construction of this reversing camera.

after long discussions in the german speaking LOC we came up with an idea to get rid of this problem.

i have now implemented this idea and testing the installation (so far successfully) for about 6 weeks. of coarse the real test will be during wintertime.

if you like to see how it works have a look at this short video.

Camera cleaning system for the RX400h

Hi Friends!

Looks like we all face the same kind of problems!

I had to jump start my car 4 times in the last half year. My car is 2 years old; Lexus tells me “there is no technical problem”.

Fact is that the 12V Battery is too small. Interestingly the first RX400 prototypes had an 80Ah 12V Battery.

We did some investigations and sorry but there is not enough space to install a larger (say 70 to 80Ah) Battery instead of the original 45Ah Battery.

Next is the solar trickle charger. At least in my car it would be useless because the cigarette lighter and the 12V plugs are not connected to the 12V system if you take out the ignition key.

The only possibility we found so far is to carry a second small (25- 25 Ah) 12V Battery in the trunk of your car to be able to jump start the car by yourself if it is needed.

This is a shame for a car of this price range and a company like Lexus.

Would be great if somebody (hopefully Lexus), will find a better and more elegant solution.

Thanks for the tips...I have a Nokia E61 and good to know that Nokia's are better with the Bluetooth option.

Will defo take a print of Glasses and see what they say.

nokia E60 is reportet to work fine. make shure that your E61 is also supporting transfer of all contacts at once via Bluetooth (the E60 does so i think the E61 will be the same)

the "Bluetooth complementary kit" your dealer is probably talking about is a lexus accesorie/addon with cradle, external antenna, and charge function. the cradle is not available for many handsets.

but this is definetly not needed. the standard system normaly works fine.

Bluetooth hands free is also enhanced in the 2007 model. it offers now voice dialing.

This website:

http://www.lexus-mapupdates.eu

appears to be a genuine Lexus site based in Belgium offering map updates cheaper than UK Lexus dealers.

I input details of my old RX300 disc (08664-50860) and it came back with part number PZ485-L00EU-06 as the latest update at a cost of €159.00 inc p&p, roughly £106. My local Lexus dealer quoted part number PZ445-LO3EU-06 (Version 1 2006-2007 for TNS310 and TNS300 systems) as being the latest at a cost £147.49. (Incidentally, last year the dealer quoted £261.45 for the update.)

I don't understand the numbering system on the discs so I'm not sure if the UK dealer's one is a later version or whether one of the part numbers is wrong or what. Can anyone explain the numbering system? Has anyone purchased a disc through the European site? I'm suspicious as to why Lexus Europe would bypass the national dealer networks and sell discs cheaper. Also, the website says that if you have a problem with the disc you receive you should contact your local dealer. I can just imagine their joy at having to solve a problem on a disc that they did not supply!

lexus-mapupdates.eu is an official site from lexus/toyota europe so it is ok to order there.

there is only one thing you should know. lexus latest europe map update is called "2006-2007". infact this update is based on Navteq 2005 data.

the big difference between Navteq 2005 and the latest 2007 version is map coverage of east europe (poland, tschech and slovak republic) so it may not be very importand for you.

map updates, based on the 2007 navteq data, for example from BMW are sold from 300,- to 400,-EUR, so are much more expensiv then the Lexus update.

I feel rally embarrassed asking this

I have always done my own servicing for the last 40+ years and was brought up in a garage!

BUT I just cannot see where the oil filter is located.

So if some one knows how to reach it and remove it, do please tell me :)

I know I have to take it for official servicing at the appropriate time, but I like to change oil and filter more often than that. (Round 6000 miles ) esp as the nearest dealer is Bradford at 70 miles away!!

Today I changed the oil and had to abandon the filter for the moment. The oil change was dead easy when I finally located a funnel :)

But it has only done 1200 miles so it should be ok for now.I would have changed it at 500 miles but lifei sjust manic at the moment and today was the first chance I had!!

Thanks

Billy

have a look at your e-mail. i have send you some pictures out of the german LOC showing the oilfilte location.

A review of the Vaistech soundlinq unit

http://playlistmag.com/reviews/2006/06/sondlinqsli/index.php

the Dice unit he is talking about in this review will become available in about 10 to 15 days with new microcode. right now Dice is not shiping to international/europe. members of german LOC are trying to get a unit for testing with the european model.

Picked up my 400H SE about a week ago and have almost done 500 miles averaging around 30.5 mpg on a mixture of motorway and city centre driving.

Having got my head around the Sat Nav I still can't figure out how the TMC service operates - I've gone through the manual and the various options for setting it but on my work route I have been using Sat Nav and have been involved in some lengthy jams but no warnings. Am I missing something - is there an idiots guide in the forum somewhere - any tips and advice most welcome.

Seasons greetings

i am far away from your location (Austria) so i can give only some general hints. hope somebody here in the forum can tell you more useful information for your area.

first you must have a radio station broadcasting TMC information’s. in the TMC setup screen you can set it to a specific radio station or to automatic. in any case the car radio must be on and able to receive a radio station broadcasting TMC information’s.

out of my experience sometimes it takes up to 15 minutes until you get the first TMC info and very often you get the info about the traffic jam ahead of you to late and you are already in the middle of it.

i use the TMC service very often manually, means without the navigation system. but to do so you must have the navigation override active otherwise you have no access to this screen when your car is in motion.

if you have access to it (navigation override is active) you can set the TMC to the street you driving and watch the incoming messages and there details.

hope you enjoy your car! i will reach 30.000km in the next weeks.

thanks to Steve!!! the file upload is working now.

a special thanks to billygarrett who helped to prepare this documentation.

so who ever likes please download enclosed .pdf file.

please note that this documentation was done on a RX400h model 2006 with steering weel on the left side.

regards

williz

Instructions__for_Bluetooth_Hands_free_and_Navigation_system_enabling.pdf

I notice there has been 162 downloads so far.

Hopefully you all found it useful.

Has anyone experinced any detrimental effects with this modification?

Any warranty issues from your dealers or Lexus?

I will take this deafening silence as a big "NO" to both questions as the number of downloads is increasing.:)

That is good to know!!

Regards

Billy

Hi All,

I finally got time to do this mod on my 2007 RX 400h and here are my results.

I started with the SatNav override mod. That was easy and works well.

I now know that the connector is located on the r/h (driver's side) as shown in Williz' document. (We didn't know for sure). However it is not marked F2 but F7. However the connections are the same as described.

I cut the wire and soldere a new thin wire from an ethernet cable to each end and soldered the other ends to a dpdt switch. which was fitted to my secret position.

I then started on the Bluetooth and DVD mod with which I failed :(

I did succeed in getting the radio out after spending ages locating the 2 "hidden" bolts (10 mm socket).

They are located on each side of the radio approx 100 mm fromm the front face and very high up so you need to get your head as low as possible so you can just barely see them. I loosend them with a socket and was in serious danger of dropping them. So I used my long "pickup" gadget with 4 claws to grip the bolts and screw them out. I was very relieved to see them come out without dropping them!! Without this gadget or a similar magnet tool I would definitely have dropped them inside.

So when I got to the plugs in the back of the LCD screen unit, I found to my disappointment that the connections were different from that shown in our instructions pdf.

I took picture of it, but I can't figure out how to attach it to this message.

I will forward it to you Willi fyi and maybe you can figure it out please?

Thanks.

Billy

here comes the picture. williz

It was all starting with the idea “getting rid off the silver painted plastic” in my RX400h. And now it is nearly done! The last item still waiting to be “carbonized” is the head unit plastic silver cover. This will hopefully be done until the end of the year because peter who is fullfilling my carbon wishes needs his own RX400h (hopefully he gets it delivered end of next week) in order to have the head unit available for a few days.

Meanwhile I got my rear bumper protector in carbon! First picture is from my car.

Next picture shows how the carbon bumper protector looks like in silver. Peter is doing all the RX carbon parts now in black and silver.

If you like to get more information about this project send an e-mail to peter@carbon.sk or PM me.

regards

williz

To all,

Thanks a lot for your inputs.

Knowing this problem is real, and no body from Lexus has never mentioned this fact (at least to me), don't you think we could ask to Lexus to solve it at in own charge, at least during warranty period ?

first i think it is common knowledge that cold engines are using more gas than a warm one, second what should lexus do about this fact? you can install a heater (webasto is working very good) or park your car in a heated garage during winter time. but in any case you will use more energy in the cold part of the year whether it is a hybrid or a simple gas engine driven car.

Think you have missed the point Fidback!

well, then i think i have missed the point to!

can you please explain it to me jaroph?

Ullevi's message explains it well enough

Jaroph,

I wonder who is badly missing the point. I guess it shouldn't be too hard for you to understand we don't really drive the same car.

OK, we both drive a hybrid car, and that's very pleasant. As long as we focus on the hybrid part of the car, andthere is nothing to argue about, we certainly share the same great experience.

But, according to your geographic location, your have to know your model is sold with more features than ours, for a lower price. European RX400 have no extra equipment you wouldn't be able to order in your country. But oddly, some basic options are missing on european models, like the auto-locking of doors, etc.. that Lexus Europe do not care to handle. (I won't forget it when I buy my next car, but I guess Lexus behaviour won't change as long as a majority of its european customers don't care either. After all, perhaps you're right, we've got what we deserve: less than american guys, but a few guys like Williz and I do not share this point of view)

To conclude, I'm sure you got it, now! However, should it still not be the case, I would be very glad if you don't mind swapping your model with mine, and pay me back the premium on european model...

We'll agree to differ. My RX400h is actually a European model, bought from Lexus Guildford. I still do not have any complaints - I knew what I was buying when I ordered the car.

Besides missing points here, Lexus Europe got our points!

We hade very interesting discussions and Lexus were taking our points very serious.

A lot of functions we are missing you will see being addressed during the next 12 month. We agreed not to disclose details here on the internet (our supporters have received detailed information’s on that) but one of the items you will see is the “Home link” you can order now for retrofit and as billygarrett stated will be standard in the European RX from January 2007 on. The iPod interface will follow soon and I am sure over the next year we will see more US like functions in the European version.

Bottom line is that Lexus IS listening to us, there customers.

Europeanizing of a US designed car is not as easy as it may look. Europe is still many countries with different laws and regulations. So for example “double locking” is mandatory in one country and not allowed in others, rules for “daytime running lights” are different as well and in most countries it is forbidden to use the high beams like the US RX models do.

I don’t know how you, Spwolfx and Ullevi do it but I tell a company very loud and clear what I dislike on there products and organisation and very often things are changing.

Many companies understand that meeting customer demand is there success in the future and it seems to me that Lexus is one of these companies willing to listen to there customers.

But maybe you are right and we missed the point…….

Yes you are. Buying a product and recommending improvements I agree with with. Buying a product having looked at its full specification and then claiming that it is no good because it does not have a feature you later wish it had does not make sense to me. The product is not defective, the decision criteria is. And by the way, those features you listed were always in the plan for the RX's mid life point. Lexus is only doing what they had always planned to do. ;)

How can you know what we are talking about when we don’t tell you?

Would you not agree that a car should have at least the functions he is advertised with on the official Lexus internet site like in Belgium, France and Luxembourg? And what would you do when you find out it is not? Maybe you should have a look at the European consumer laws and regulations; they will give you some ideas.

How much time do you spend to analyze cars functionality before you sign the purchase contract for it?

Do you trust the dealer’s personal, the official descriptions and internet information sites?

How did you manage to find out what functions are build into the European models compared to other parts of the world when most Lexus Technicians started long discussions about what functions should be build in to our cars based on what European country we are in?

But yes I forgot, you are able to check out hundreds of software functions in a few ours test drive (and some of those can only be accessed by Lexus technicians).

I have to confess that I am not able to do so. And believe it or not I hade no problems like this with my last cars in the same price range (with similar or more functionality). So what is the difference here?

Problem is that I have to buy such high sophisticated cars every two to three years. How will I manage my next decision in order to avoid such mistakes (from my side)?

Could you give me a simple instruction to avoid such troubles in the future and share your secrets with us?

Think you have missed the point Fidback!

well, then i think i have missed the point to!

can you please explain it to me jaroph?

Ullevi's message explains it well enough

Jaroph,

I wonder who is badly missing the point. I guess it shouldn't be too hard for you to understand we don't really drive the same car.

OK, we both drive a hybrid car, and that's very pleasant. As long as we focus on the hybrid part of the car, there is nothing to argue about, we certainly share the same great experience.

But, according to your geographic location, your have to know your model is sold with more features than ours, for a lower price. European RX400 have no extra equipment you wouldn't be able to order in your country. But oddly, some basic options are missing on european models, like the auto-locking of doors, etc.. that Lexus Europe do not care to handle. (I won't forget it when I buy my next car, but I guess Lexus behaviour won't change as long as a majority of its european customers don't care either. After all, perhaps you're right, we've got what we deserve: less than american guys, but a few guys like Williz and I do not share this point of view)

To conclude, I'm sure you got it, now! However, should it still not be the case, I would be very glad if you don't mind swapping your model with mine, and pay me back the premium on european model...

We'll agree to differ. My RX400h is actually a European model, bought from Lexus Guildford. I still do not have any complaints - I knew what I was buying when I ordered the car.

Besides missing points here, Lexus Europe got our points!

We hade very interesting discussions and Lexus were taking our points very serious.

A lot of functions we are missing you will see being addressed during the next 12 month. We agreed not to disclose details here on the internet (our supporters have received detailed information’s on that) but one of the items you will see is the “Home link” you can order now for retrofit and as billygarrett stated will be standard in the European RX from January 2007 on. The iPod interface will follow soon and I am sure over the next year we will see more US like functions in the European version.

Bottom line is that Lexus IS listening to us, there customers.

Europeanizing of a US designed car is not as easy as it may look. Europe is still many countries with different laws and regulations. So for example “double locking” is mandatory in one country and not allowed in others, rules for “daytime running lights” are different as well and in most countries it is forbidden to use the high beams like the US RX models do.

I don’t know how you, Spwolfx and Ullevi do it but I tell a company very loud and clear what I dislike on there products and organisation and very often things are changing.

Many companies understand that meeting customer demand is there success in the future and it seems to me that Lexus is one of these companies willing to listen to there customers.

But maybe you are right and we missed the point…….

Think you have missed the point Fidback!

well, then i think i have missed the point to!

can you please explain it to me jaroph?

B)-->

it is produced from an RX400 owner in slovakia www.carbon.sk (he is producing cabon parts for motorcycles) and will be sold via lexus dealers and over the internet.

there is more to come. i will get the two flap doors from the console between the front seats end of this week and the cover for the audio and LCD headunit will be finished by end of this month.