Just sharing this in case someone is interested.

I installed an Android Auto / Apple CarPlay kit on my 2012 IS350.
It is not cheap, but I like my car and I wanted to have updated maps.
I did the installation myself; I deviated a little bit from the supplied instructions.
I used a DNA USB adaptor instead of the supplied one as I didn’t want to drill a new hole.
I also modified slightly the microphone to make it fit in a blank button cover.

This supports wired or wireless connectivity. 
I have been using it since February connecting my Pixel phone.
The system is 100% stable; it always connects on the first attempt and responds quickly.
A long press on the hangup steering wheel button toggles between OEM and the kit.

I had an audio issue which I found a solution for.
Their support generally responds quickly.

I would rate this 9.5 out of 10.
I have nothing to do with the company that sell this; I am just sharing it as someone might be looking for options.

These are the links:
https://www.naviplus.com.au/online-store/2009-2012-Lexus-IS-XE20-Apple-CarPlay-&-Android-Auto-Integration-p378839316
https://frankiesautoelectrics.com.au/product/dna-toyusb03-usb-adaptor-lead-to-suit-toyota-vehicles-small

New option coming soon (apparently)

This is not available in their website yet 

It is actually the physical buttons on the tablet that get hidden behind the frame what they refer to.

The only thing I don't like is the temperature buttons the other way around (driver and passenger).

I have tried GROM in my 2012 IS350 and ended up returning it as it was very unstable. 

GROM seems to focus their development and testing on older 2IS cars. 

Now there is a new head unit for our cars that looks quite promising: T'Eyes CC3.

https://teyes.com.au/products/lexus-is250-xe20-2005-2013

They have 3 alternatives:

+ Option A for most recent 2IS, Option B for older 2IS; these look OEM!

+ and another version for cars with no OEM navigation.

I am most interested in Option A which is the one I would need for my car. Has anyone installed this?

There is a forum in the UK with interesting information; ignore the XTRONS posts:

https://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic/133798-mini-review-of-xtrons-head-unit-for-the-is250/?&page=2#comments

According to that forum the temperature buttons come hardwired for LHD cars (which will annoy me!) but a guy has found a way to swap it (no details).

Has anyone had any experience with this or attempted swapping the buttons around?

There is a new head unit for our cars that looks quite promising. T'Eyes CC3.

https://teyes.com.au/products/lexus-is250-xe20-2005-2013

They have 3 alternatives:

+ Option A for most recent 2IS, Option B for older 2IS; these look OEM!

+ and another version for cars with no OEM navigation.

I am most interested in Option A which is the one I would need for my car. Has anyone installed this?

There is a forum in the UK with interesting information; ignore the XTRONS posts:

https://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic/133798-mini-review-of-xtrons-head-unit-for-the-is250/?&page=2#comments

According to that forum the temperature buttons come hardwired for LHD cars (which will annoy me!) but a guy has found a way to swap it (no details).

Has anyone had any experience with this or attempted swapping the buttons around?

On 1/3/2018 at 10:53 PM, bazzle said:

48075-24010 / 48076-24010

Today I fitted a pair of these on the inner front lower control arms.

Pretty straightforward to fit. Jack up a bit keeping wheels 'just'on the ground, place safety stands, Loosen 2 bolts, nut and secondary bracket.  Lever arm to reduce tension and slide off. A a wipe of grease on shaft on install to stop corrosion. Tighten up TIGHT 😉

Can be even easier to fit on a hoist at your next service. Should take about 15 mins.

They are meant for the RC-F and GS-F

https://www.lexuspartsnow.com/oem-lexus-rc-f-control-arm-bracket.html                                   https://www.lexuspartsnow.com/oem-lexus-gs-f-control-arm-bracket.html

https://www.thepartsspecialist.com/oem-parts/lexus-control-arm-bracket-4807624010           https://www.thepartsspecialist.com/oem-parts/lexus-control-arm-bracket-4807524010

 Part No 9

They have a harder Duro and a bit more rubber fill than 2nd Gen IS_X brackets so locate the arm better when under dynamic loads. 

There are Poly ones available from Super Pro locally and FIGS etc in the USA but I wanted the quietness and no maintenance option.

 

1st driving opinions with just over 200k's today, both freeway and secondary bitumen roads.

Car drives straighter with less constant wheel corrections needed on the freeway.

Small movement of the steering wheel now transfers to movement at the road wheel. (less freeplay effect)

Coming up to intersections under hard braking the tram-lining from wear indentations was negligible 🙂

Overall the car tracks like it should of. I also have the inertia damper in the steering wheel that changed the feel but could not control the movement of poor resilient bushes.

There does not appear to be any more noise and I think only a small perception of more road roughness feel at the steering wheel.

Worth the $140 they cost landed.....sure thing 

 

Link showing soft 2nd Gen ISx bushes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpG32GK2mUY

Link showing install of Pol but ones listed above the same procedure. (thanks to Figs.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWa3EDMvQXE

SuperPro kit

https://superpro.com.au/tradeview/index.php?view=parts_vehicleapplication&cid=999500451

Hi Bazzle,

I am looking into the LCA bushings because my 2012 IS350 is wearing the inner side of the passenger front tyre more than it should.
The alignment guy told me it has more camber than it should and cannot be corrected by alignment only.

I have a few questions for you:

Why did you use RC-F bushes instead of IS ones? Are they somehow correcting the issue?

I see Lexus has IS specific alternative parts to replace them:

right side
48075-30030 0 offset
48075-30050 -20 offset
48075-30040 +20 offset

left side
48076-30030 0 offset
48076-30050 -20 offset
48076-30040 +20 offset

and SuperPro has variations too: they have Standard, Single offset and Double offset

Based on the links in your post, I believe you have used RC-F ones with 0 offset on both sides. Correct?
So, then I could either go with RC-F bushes, IS bushes with or without offset, or SuperPro standard, single or double offset.
With the IS options, I wouldn't know if I need 0, -20, or +20 on one side or both sides...
The SuperPro need to be pressed in the bracket which is a pain... I would need to get that done.

Are you still happy with your RC-F ones? Would you recommend me those?
Has the car become more noisy or has more vibrations?

I will appreciate your comments.

Thanks, 
 

I don't know anyone who has v24. If you find one, please let me know.

The sad reality is that GPS DVD is not updated any longer for our systems.

Last version is v24 released in 2019 with information collected in 2018.

https://city-lexus-shop.myshopify.com/collections/lexus-is-accessories-2013/products/new-arrival-sat-nav-update-dvd-australia-version-24-tomtom-maps

Anyone offering a newer version is selling you and old version (most likely v22 from 2017) with a modified version file inside.

Somebody uploaded v22 once somewhere....

On 3/2/2022 at 11:17 AM, bazzle said:

No real difference to steering other than maybe little bit less understeer when pushed.  Rear traction has certainly improved.

Cost at the time was about $1350 but shopping around can be worthwhile. I did a deal with Bob Jane at the time. F&B.

Depends on availability of AU stock etc.

PILOT SPORT 4 235/40ZR18 95Y | 235/40R18 Tyres for sale (bobjane.com.au)

PILOT SPORT 4 S 265/40ZR18 101Y | 265/40R18 Tyres for sale (bobjane.com.au)

Hi Bazzle,

Just checking that the 1% or so diameter increase didn't cause any issues.
I had been asking around about the same and all tyre shops suggested keeping original size to prevent issues with ABS, traction control, speedometer, etc.

Thanks,
 

POISR008.IDX and POISR009.IDX are the NZ files you want to delete to make the image fit into a standard DVD

28 minutes ago, Bewise said:

Hi Bazzle

Your help on this forum for Lexus owners is amazing.

I have the V25 ISO and want to remove the NZ content from the image file so that I can creat a DVD (not DL).  Can you help me identify the file/files to remove from either the root folder or the IDX folder?

Thanks in advance

Bryan

There is no such thing as a v25 DVD. Last release was v24. 

https://navshop.com.au/products/lexus-is-cg-1995-to-aug-2012-v24

There is a guy selling copies of v22 with the version file updated so it looks like it is v25.

There is no beat sonic option for late 2IS.

I have a 2012, I tried GROM and returned it as it had too many issues.

We are stuck with what we have... no map updates either.

I asked TomTom directly. This is their response:

Thank you for contacting TomTom Customer Support.

We regret to inform you that we currently don’t have updates on when the updates will be available.
Considering the ongoing COVID-19 situation its likely that it might be delayed further or may not be available at all.

Normally they release updates once a year.

Regards,
TomTom Customer Support

Does anyone have a real v24? I am interested...

On 3/2/2021 at 3:50 PM, nicolas50 said:

YEs, worked fine. i have the Toyota, Lexus Navigation Disc Australia V24 2018, looking to update shortly, I was told they work in the Kluger as well, which i have. And it loaded fine & no issues. 

TomTom has not released any update after v24. Lexus has nothing after v24 available. NavigationAU sells v27! How can it possibly be? v27 is a disk with old content and edited version file.

Google TP-LINK HA100 Bluetooth Music Receiver

We compared a bunch of files in "v26" DVD that Bballplayer86 brought from the gumtree guy to the files in v22 DVD.

There were the same size.

Also,  Bballplayer86 realised some 3 year old roads in a suburb somewhere were not recognised by his DVD.

The gumtree guy updates the content in the version file and sells copies of v22 each year as if it was a new version.

If the last DVD Lexus advertises online is v24 then I would think that is the last official DVD.  

I was looking into it recently; it seems the last official edition is v24 released in 2019, most likely with updates collected in 2018.

https://city-lexus-shop.myshopify.com/collections/lexus-is-accessories-2013/products/new-arrival-sat-nav-update-dvd-australia-version-24-tomtom-maps

That DVD cost $365.90

That site also lists a v25 but only available as SD card.

I called Lexus in Sydney for a quote:

$685.30 installed or $500.30 to pick up the DVD.

When I asked them what version this was they said "the latest". 

I insisted what version number it is? "we are not sure, we have to order it"

What a joke....

Too good to be true....

I downloaded the copy without NZ. 

Files are identical to v22. Even date in all IDX files is 2015-03-13

The older ISx50 has issues with the dashboard and door panels; they melt and get sticky.

Do you lose the fog lights with those ones?

On 10/23/2019 at 1:10 PM, 2bling said:

I would not go back to that tyre shop, different tyre ratios will not affect the ABS one bit.

I read an explanation elsewhere and made my own decision, the tyre shop where I ended up buying the tyres had nothing to do with it.

What I understood (maybe incorrectly) is that if I increase the ratio on the front tyres only then the front sensors will be reporting less revolutions than the rears....

Anyway, I am happy with my new tyres.

I ended up buying 4 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 factory size, I am happy with them.

The convincing argument to keep factory size was that even though I wouldn't get any warnings on the dash, the margins for the ABS would be modified if I changes sizes.

I believe the 235 in the front will make it closer to the rear look. I don't mind it.

Also, my car just touches the bottom of the front bumper on my driveway... I was hopping the extra milimetres will help avoid this.

I had decided to change them but the guys from the shop insisted on keeping the 225 to avoid problems.

They told me I would likely get ABS problems due to front sensor reporting different speed compared to the rear.

It is good you didn't get any issues with the change. Did you have to make any setting change or reset any sensors or anything like it?

On 10/7/2019 at 1:27 AM, BLK ISF said:

So whats next, Vaistech, Beatsonic???

I don't have any plans now; I want to keep the OEM look.

My main interest was to have updated maps and been able to control Tune-In from the screen.

I have had a TP-Link for Audio device that allows me to listen to mobile content via Bluetooth. This works flawlessly but you need to control it from the phone.

Maybe when Australia v25 are released I will consider buying it. Lexus asked for AUD 430 for the v24 which is more than 6 month old now.