CarLinkLife 12" Android Screen - '10-'21 (4 Viewers)
- Thread starter Acrad
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Just wanted to add a few more videos to this thread. Ive been watching this product and will likely give it a shot sometime this year 
Based on this video it seems like this also supports the native infotainment settings like headlight sensitivity and timeout.
I just purchased a 2016 GX460 and I'm probably going to splurge for the CarLinkLife display upgrade.
Does anyone know if there's a way to add an app to the upgraded head unit that can monitor transmission temps? Is it an android unit with a nifty launcher, or is it a little more than that? Does the head unit talk to the OBD system, or is another connection required? I was thinking of utilizing something like the Car Scanner app, which I have on my phone and use with a cheap OBDII dongle for my FZJ80.
Does anyone know if there's a way to add an app to the upgraded head unit that can monitor transmission temps? Is it an android unit with a nifty launcher, or is it a little more than that? Does the head unit talk to the OBD system, or is another connection required? I was thinking of utilizing something like the Car Scanner app, which I have on my phone and use with a cheap OBDII dongle for my FZJ80.
I believe the head unit is just running android so theoretically you should be able to use the OBD Link app and have the head unit paired to the scanner.
Definitely keep us posted on your experience with the unit.
Thanks for the thoughts. I'll be sure to post up anything I learn.
My biggest question is DOES this ACTUALLY work on a 2021 lol. I know they say it does. But I have heard so many people say that 2021 is different, much the same as how I can't retrofit mutli terrain, etc on my 2021 as easily as say a 2020 or 2019. Somebody told me there was a wiring harness change in the facelift for 2021.
I did it! I installed the Carlinklife stereo in my 2016 GX460.
-I had to buy an antenna extension. I couldn't figure out how to route the antenna cable as provided, so I bought a $10 male to female cable from my local auto parts store
-There seems to be one unused brown port on my model on the original stereo. I went in circles trying to find the plug that came out of it.
-I was able to prop the new unit on top of the dash (precariously) and make the connections to that way.
-I fed the new USBs and antennas into the passenger footwall and stuck them under the trim.
-I mounted the microphone just behind the passenger seat heater controls. It may need to get moved if sound sucks.
-I mostly followed GXbob's videos. Very helpful!
Any questions are welcome, but I haven't had much time time to fiddle with it yet. Android Auto is pretty great so far!
-I had to buy an antenna extension. I couldn't figure out how to route the antenna cable as provided, so I bought a $10 male to female cable from my local auto parts store
-There seems to be one unused brown port on my model on the original stereo. I went in circles trying to find the plug that came out of it.
-I was able to prop the new unit on top of the dash (precariously) and make the connections to that way.
-I fed the new USBs and antennas into the passenger footwall and stuck them under the trim.
-I mounted the microphone just behind the passenger seat heater controls. It may need to get moved if sound sucks.
-I mostly followed GXbob's videos. Very helpful!
Any questions are welcome, but I haven't had much time time to fiddle with it yet. Android Auto is pretty great so far!
Nice! Hows the overall experience and quality feel so far?
I'm pleased. Android Auto is the real end game, but the rest is well integrated. I still need to fiddle with the maintenance tracking app, but it is there. I contacted customer support to get the backup camera working. There's ANOTHER sub menu in the factory settings to get it running correctly. The pointed me in the right direction quickly. They also told me they are working on a firmware update to get the temperature display in degrees F instead of C, and there's one place on the display that shows the odometer on km instead of miles they will update. Both of those are small niggles that didn't detract from the overall experience. It's really nice to have your phone hook up as soon as the system quickly boots.
The Color is a nice match. The bottom of the unit clicks on to the stock cd player well, but if you are really REALLY picky it's not perfectly lined up. It's like that one corner in a room that you didn't paint perfectly that no one but you will ever notice.
Nice! I was under the impression that they fixed the climate control temperature reading but I could be wrong on that. Honestly the biggest thing that prevents me from buying it is having two volume control knobs. Call me picky but I just feel like its not a great experience having to fiddle with both. Do all your steering wheel controls work (including voice commands)?
That was a big miss for me too. I don’t need redundant knobs on top of each other. The few physical buttons/knobs the GX does have don’t need to be duplicated.
The steering wheel controls all do what they should as far as I can tell. I'll have to go try voice commands. I didn't ever play with the stock voice commands before I swapped the stereo, so I don't have much to compare it to. I can always say "hey, Google" to get my phone to do things.
You shouldn't have to fiddle with both knobs. I just ignore the bottom ones and use the new ones. I understand why some people are turned off by the redundancy.
New GX*Bob video. Ok, now I want one.
the updates sealed it for me. I have a 2020 Premium and no 360cams. I have the Beatsonic Car Play unit installed but the OEM Lexus screen is just an awful user experience for touch sensitivity. The latest updates as noted by Bobby and CLL are now checking the boxes to update. The new price of the units is certainly a lot, but you get a lot in return. Time to pay the "lexus tax!"
I just saw this on the GXOR subreddit thread:
Can anyone with 2.0 CLL unit installed confirm the below? This is a pretty big loss on the remote start without adding an aftermarket RS unit...
Can anyone with 2.0 CLL unit installed confirm the below? This is a pretty big loss on the remote start without adding an aftermarket RS unit...
The carplay's navigation/text to voice being low volume is usually because the phone's or radio's / unit volume itself is low for that function. The solution almost always to turn the phone's volume or the radio volume up while the navigation / text to voice is actively playing. This solved that issue every time I'd encounter it in various vehicles and android carplay units I've owned and tested. I could see this being an issue if the CLL unit only has a single global volume control. Perhaps someone should directly reach out to them and or GX*Bob. GX*Bob uses carplay so he would be a good resource.
As for the remote start, that's got to be tied to the Lexus app / service (don't remember what it's called) which would be married to the factory head unit I suppose? I doubt my 2010 would be effected since no service existed for it and I've got remote start from the factory and the GROM unit which is also android based doesn't interfere with it.
r2m
Richard
I forgot about phone volume being a factor.
Yeah, sometimes I get my rig, place my phone in the charging cradle and start driving. Can't hear the song, so I hit the steering wheel UP volume. Still quiet, then it hits me, turn up the phones volume! Works every time.
Thanks for bringing that up Clint!
It appears that Hamilton Motor Company will be selling a similar unit. Same comapny provides the shell as CLL but the Hamilton is doing the programing and wiring in the US. I was about to pull the trigger on the CLL version especially with the 2.0 version but now I'm thinking twice and will wait for Hamilton to release a US version.
Not sure when it will be available but might be worth waiting as it will be specific for the NA market.
Not sure when it will be available but might be worth waiting as it will be specific for the NA market.
Now that is quite something. I hope it'll be for all GX460 years. Don't forget my 2010 Hamilton Motor Company!
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