brian.h

I just updated my IS200d (manual transmission) with a new android unit similar to the one shown in the Youtube link above from Shenzhen Top Navi via Alibaba. The specs on the unit I ordered were: Android 8.1 with TS9 Octa core, 4G+64G, with built-in 4G and carplay. I also ordered the DVR (dash cam), an OBD2 scanner, and a USB DAB+ radio accessory at the same time. Total cost with shipping (to Belgium) was about 425 USD. https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/10-1-Car-DVD-For-Lexus_62355789908.html?spm=a2700.9114905.0.0.MfLDPl I also installed the backup camera shown in the link below. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reversing-License-Parking-Specific-Integrated/dp/B07T598BB2/ref=sr_1_27?dchild=1&keywords=backup+camera+Lexus+is250&qid=1585486901&sr=8-27 Everything is working very good after a decent amount of work. I wouldn't say it works flawlessly, as there are a few glitches, but it's certainly better than the outdated original option. Below are my impressions and lessons learned (that are not in the above youtube video 'How to completely transform your driving experience....'). The good: The android interface works well. Navigation programs all work well. I mounted the GPS receiver on the windshield as close to centre as the cable would allow, and reception is fine. Music from Spotify and the music play (mp3) app work well. Climate control all seems to work fine - although it's currently too cold to test the AC properly. The bluetooth phone interface works fine, albeit a bit basic - it allows you to answer/make calls and stream music from your phone. The Apple CarPlay interface seems to work. I think I need to order a dedicated SIM card for the android unit to test it adequately. Without a SIM card, the android car unit seems to be trying to pull all the data from my phone and this is very sluggish. When I put my phone SIM in the car and ran my phone off (home) wifi, things seemed to work better - but that's limited to the radius of my home wifi or course. The annoying: Most of the steering wheel controls work fine, except the previous/next buttons are backwards. It is possible to switch them via a software option, but the settings don't seem to stick. It's a good thing the steering wheel controls work, because I can't get the software interface that allows you to program buttons to work. Based on other forums I've read, I guess I should be happy most of the steering wheel controls work fine. The bad: The interface with the original car radio is awful on my car. I had to do a lot of playing to prevent it from turning on randomly. The interface is extremely basic and difficult to control. Thankfully the unit offers so many other audio options (Spotify, mp3, and internet radio via 4G) that this isn't so painful. Lessons Learned during my installation: 1) The reversing camera The reversing camera I chose was difficult to install. The IS has a plastic cover on the boot/trunk lid from the tail lights down. This has to be removed to install the new license plate ligfht/camera unit, and a portion of the plastic needs to be ground away for the camera to fit. Reinstallation is very tight, and will not work if the camera is connected to the light unit. It needs to be unscrewed and removed - if the unit arrives at your house with the camera glued to the light unit, return it - installation is nearly impossible. Second. For the backup camera to work on my car, the red 'trigger wire' that comes from the yellow RCA adapter that plugs into the android unit (labelled as 'Reverse-in' on the picture/ link below) https://disk.yandex(blocked word)/i/2OcAUyKD3LqYTf?spm=a2700.12243863.0.0.2ce83e5ffiyBwu needed to be connected to the brown wire in the pictures/link below that runs between the CANBUS and the android unit (see pictures below). On the Android unit, this wire was labelled 'reverse detection'. From my understanding the car/canbus didn't send a signal when in reverse, so I had to cut the brown wire and connect the camera's red trigger wire with the brown wire going into the android unit so it would recognise the reverse camera was on. Once the reverse camera is on, all sound is muted. After these adaptations were made, the android unit had no problems recognising the reverse camera and I could select the camera type (NTSC). Of course this is all contingent on the camera being wired correctly to the backup lamp in the boot/trunk (picture above). https://docviewer.yandex(blocked word)/view/0/?*=PkdMqU7hiqYoiUE8sJs9EuuujPd7InVybCI6InlhLWRpc2stcHVibGljOi8veXN5YzQ1eExSd0tZZ1lRZ01YV1BaTVFDQkZ2ZFBoWVZVV3hLMWIrVVZ0Yz0iLCJ0aXRsZSI6IlNvdW5kIHByb2JsZW0uZG9jeCIsIm5vaWZyYW1lIjpmYWxzZSwidWlkIjoiMCIsInRzIjoxNTg1NDY4MTA1ODEzLCJ5dSI6IjY4Mjg5NzU4MzE1NTAxNzYxNDkifQ%3D%3D 2: Audio/Radio functionality: After all wiring harnesses are in place, there is an RCA cable that originates from near the original radio - the white/red RCA ends are labelled Aux L IN and Aux R IN. These need to be connected to the AUX L and R that are coming out the Android head unit. My unit came with a harness like the one below. There are FL and FR OUT as well as RL and RR OUT lines - DON'T USE these I needed to use the two AUX lines, that on my harness were ambiguously labeled as AUX L IN and AUDIO R IN. Once the wiring was correct, the sound quality was good (no Mark Levinson stereo on my car). However I had to turn off a number of software options to prevent the radio from turning on automatically and randomly and the interface with the steering wheel controls is awkward. Important to note, there are several video in options on the harness above, but the reverse camera on my unit DID NOT connect to these, but rather to a separate RCA input harness 3) The optional DAB+ USB radio I ordered with the unit: I never did get this to work properly, but for 36 USD, I'm not going to pursue it further. I have the impression a proper ground is critical (and sticking the antenna's ground to the metallic painted metal frame wasn't adequate), but I haven't pursued this, as the USB adapter also doesn't seem to play well when required to share the USB cable with the dash cam. 4) The Universal Car DVR Camera / dashcam Works great. The camera will slide off the mountiing base to the right, while the extra required microSD card is inserted on the left side. Consider carefully where you mount the camera. Mounting to the right of the rearview mirror will allow you to slide the camera from the mount AND have access to the SD slot. 5) the OBD2 connector the comes with the wiring harness connects to the OBD2 connector below the steering/above the clutch. From what I can see, the only purpose for this is to indicate which doors might be open Hope this helps anyone who tries this installation.