Cheapest Carplay and AndroidAuto Retrofit under $300? 2016-2021 LX570 (1 Viewer)

[NKP Garage]

Has anyone tried this unit listed on Amazon? For under $300 it is worth a shot. Worst case if it does not work, returns are easy to Amazon. From the listing my assumption is that this will work on the 2016+ LX570.

The link to the one I purchased on amazon is in the video description.

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EDIT AND UPDATE:

This video is LONG. I ordered the cheapest Retrofit kit to upgrade my 2017 Lexus LX570 and install Apple Carplay and Android Auto. This kit was $289 on Amazon with free shipping. It arrived in 1 day to my door. I had my doubts since other similar kits on the market are anywhere from $600 to $1200. The instructions were terrible and almost non-existent. The wiring was not that easy to figure out due to lack of instructions. And it was my first time taking most of the dash, the screen, and the radio apart and removing them on this 2017 LX570, so it took me some extra time while I was being careful not to break any mounting tabs.
This works on the 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 LX570.

I show all my trial and error in this video, so it is quite long. Make sure to watch the entire video before doing your installation. Because I made a few mistakes along the way that I showed. I thought about cutting those parts out and just showing you the right way to do it. But I thought it would be better to show you all my mistakes as well incase you run into some of the same problems.

In the end the solution is great, and for only $289 it is 1/2 or 1/3 the price of any other solution that comes close. It works with both Apple Iphone and also Android phones. The next/previous buttons still work to skip songs, the answer and hangup buttons on the steering wheel still work to answer phone calls, and the audio quality seems to be good as well. I'm not an audio expert, but it sounds about the same as stock to me.

The link to the one I purchased on amazon is in the video description.


Here is the full video:
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[NKP Garage]

It arrived yesterday. Going to try and tinker with it this week.

 

[IslandCruiser23]

Not a LX or LC, but I installed one in my Son's Tacoma and I was impressed... install was easy, configuration was straightforward and price was a right via AliExpress.. everything works without cutting or slicing any wires... I am looking at one for my LC... Pictures of the tacoma are below...

 

[Tex68w]

Not a LX or LC, but I installed one in my Son's Tacoma and I was impressed... install was easy, configuration was straightforward and price was a right via AliExpress.. everything works without cutting or slicing any wires... I am looking at one for my LC... Pictures of the tacoma are below...

View attachment 3371867

View attachment 3371871

View attachment 3371872

What year is your LC? Let us know how it works out if you decide to try one in your LC.

 

[NKP Garage]

I'm almost done installing my $289 amazon find carplay retrofit kit on my 2017 LX570. Very little documentation, no real usable instructions, and no support. Fingers crossed it works out If it does or if it doesn't I will post a full install video and review later today.

 

[DallasTide]

Man I really hope this works out for you lol. Selfishly because I might follow your lead but also because that looks like a LOT of work to find out it doesn't work.

 

[NKP Garage]

Man I really hope this works out for you lol. Selfishly because I might follow your lead but also because that looks like a LOT of work to find out it doesn't work.

Seems like I love getting myself into trouble more often than necessary. But I love to tinker, just wish I had more time. My wife says "Why do you spend so much money and time on old stuff, just go buy a newer car". But she has gotten used to it over the last 22yrs

Fingers crossed, it is looking good so far. I'm filming every step I can so it helps out everyone else in the community, even all the steps I made mistakes on and had to go back and figure out.

 

[DallasTide]

Seems like I love getting myself into trouble more often than necessary. But I love to tinker, just wish I had more time. My wife says "Why do you spend so much money and time on old stuff, just go buy a newer car". But she has gotten used to it over the last 22yrs

Fingers crossed, it is looking good so far. I'm filming every step I can so it helps out everyone else in the community, even all the steps I made mistakes on and had to go back and figure out.

You're the man. I suspect many of us around here have the tinkering bug which lead us to this board in the fist place. Good luck! Can't wait to see how it turns out.

 

[IslandCruiser23]

I'm almost done installing my $289 amazon find carplay retrofit kit on my 2017 LX570. Very little documentation, no real usable instructions, and no support. Fingers crossed it works out If it does or if it doesn't I will post a full install video and review later today.

View attachment 3373095

I agree, but I found a lot of you tube videos on how to configure the unit and taking the dash apart for the Tacoma.. very minimal documentation was provided..

 

[PatrickBateman]

Following

 

[NKP Garage]

This video is LONG. I ordered the cheapest Retrofit kit to upgrade my 2017 Lexus LX570 and install Apple Carplay and Android Auto. This kit was $289 on Amazon with free shipping. It arrived in 1 day to my door. I had my doubts since other similar kits on the market are anywhere from $600 to $1200. The instructions were terrible and almost non-existent. The wiring was not that easy to figure out due to lack of instructions. And it was my first time taking most of the dash, the screen, and the radio apart and removing them on this 2017 LX570, so it took me some extra time while I was being careful not to break any mounting tabs.
This works on the 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 LX570.

I show all my trial and error in this video, so it is quite long. Make sure to watch the entire video before doing your installation. Because I made a few mistakes along the way that I showed. I thought about cutting those parts out and just showing you the right way to do it. But I thought it would be better to show you all my mistakes as well incase you run into some of the same problems.

In the end the solution is great, and for only $289 it is 1/2 or 1/3 the price of any other solution that comes close. It works with both Apple Iphone and also Android phones. The next/previous buttons still work to skip songs, the answer and hangup buttons on the steering wheel still work to answer phone calls, and the audio quality seems to be good as well. I'm not an audio expert, but it sounds about the same as stock to me.

The exact kit I purchased was this one:

https://amzn.to/3rpHQ0Z

Here is the full video:
-

 

[IslandCruiser23]

This video is LONG. I ordered the cheapest Retrofit kit to upgrade my 2017 Lexus LX570 and install Apple Carplay and Android Auto. This kit was $289 on Amazon with free shipping. It arrived in 1 day to my door. I had my doubts since other similar kits on the market are anywhere from $600 to $1200. The instructions were terrible and almost non-existent. The wiring was not that easy to figure out due to lack of instructions. And it was my first time taking most of the dash, the screen, and the radio apart and removing them on this 2017 LX570, so it took me some extra time while I was being careful not to break any mounting tabs.
This works on the 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 LX570.

I show all my trial and error in this video, so it is quite long. Make sure to watch the entire video before doing your installation. Because I made a few mistakes along the way that I showed. I thought about cutting those parts out and just showing you the right way to do it. But I thought it would be better to show you all my mistakes as well incase you run into some of the same problems.

In the end the solution is great, and for only $289 it is 1/2 or 1/3 the price of any other solution that comes close. It works with both Apple Iphone and also Android phones. The next/previous buttons still work to skip songs, the answer and hangup buttons on the steering wheel still work to answer phone calls, and the audio quality seems to be good as well. I'm not an audio expert, but it sounds about the same as stock to me.

The exact kit I purchased was this one:

https://amzn.to/3rpHQ0Z

Here is the full video:
-

Nice job, this was much more complicated that the tacoma version...and you have better documentation... well done..!

 

[NKP Garage]

Nice job, this was much more complicated that the tacoma version...and you have better documentation... well done..!

Thanks! If I had good instructions from someone who had done it before I could have finished it in 1 hour. But it took a while because I was in uncharted waters.

Hopefully the video helps others do the same much easier and save a ton of money.

I just took the first long drive this evening with the family (30min) and it worked great. Having map and music on the screen from CarPlay was perfect. And the fact that the steering wheel buttons and radio buttons worked to control things make it all so easy.

 

[TeCKis300]

This video is LONG. I ordered the cheapest Retrofit kit to upgrade my 2017 Lexus LX570 and install Apple Carplay and Android Auto. This kit was $289 on Amazon with free shipping. It arrived in 1 day to my door. I had my doubts since other similar kits on the market are anywhere from $600 to $1200. The instructions were terrible and almost non-existent. The wiring was not that easy to figure out due to lack of instructions. And it was my first time taking most of the dash, the screen, and the radio apart and removing them on this 2017 LX570, so it took me some extra time while I was being careful not to break any mounting tabs.
This works on the 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 LX570.

I show all my trial and error in this video, so it is quite long. Make sure to watch the entire video before doing your installation. Because I made a few mistakes along the way that I showed. I thought about cutting those parts out and just showing you the right way to do it. But I thought it would be better to show you all my mistakes as well incase you run into some of the same problems.

In the end the solution is great, and for only $289 it is 1/2 or 1/3 the price of any other solution that comes close. It works with both Apple Iphone and also Android phones. The next/previous buttons still work to skip songs, the answer and hangup buttons on the steering wheel still work to answer phone calls, and the audio quality seems to be good as well. I'm not an audio expert, but it sounds about the same as stock to me.

The exact kit I purchased was this one:

https://amzn.to/3rpHQ0Z

Here is the full video:
-

Nicely done!

Now that you've got this licked, this may be one of the more major distinguishers to getting a later model year LX570. Tight Carplay/Android auto integration with a factory quality screen.

It's a love/hate with the Tesla style screen I have now in my '09. Better functionality than the practically useless factory stack. Where the screen is too small to do anything meaningful with IMO. But the aftermarket display quality is lacking.

I'm too spoiled with real Tesla's in the garage. My experience renting a Rivian to explore as an adventure vehicle only solidified how great having a massive screen for maps and entertainment was.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[OldCarSmell]

So who’s going to be the Guinea pig and find out if this works in a Land Cruiser???

 

[Omega3651]

So who’s going to be the Guinea pig and find out if this works in a Land Cruiser???

So tempting.
The only major concern is this-when you take apart that much, once it's put back together is there any squeaks or rattles from the trim?
I love how quiet the LC/LX570 interiors are.
I would hate to have rattles or squeaks afterwards.

OP-any rattles afterwards?

 

[NKP Garage]

Nicely done!

Now that you've got this licked, this may be one of the more major distinguishers to getting a later model year LX570. Tight Carplay/Android auto integration with a factory quality screen.

It's a love/hate with the Tesla style screen I have now in my '09. Better functionality than the practically useless factory stack. Where the screen is too small to do anything meaningful with IMO. But the aftermarket display quality is lacking.

I'm too spoiled with real Tesla's in the garage. My experience renting a Rivian to explore as an adventure vehicle only solidified how great having a massive screen for maps and entertainment was.

Thanks for sharing!

I really liked the giant tesla style screen when I installed it on my 2009 LX, but I never used it for Carplay or Android auto, that function was really clunky. I would just turn on hotspot on my cellphone and use Android apps on the tesla style screen. But I do agree, it still had it quirks and was not perfect. I have seen people install retrofit kits to have the OEM 2008-2015 touchscreen to display carplay/androidauto. But in my opinion the 08-15 touchscreen is just so washed out looking. But still better to have carplay/androidauto than not.

So who’s going to be the Guinea pig and find out if this works in a Land Cruiser???

If I had one I'd try it out for y'all

So tempting.
The only major concern is this-when you take apart that much, once it's put back together is there any squeaks or rattles from the trim?
I love how quiet the LC/LX570 interiors are.
I would hate to have rattles or squeaks afterwards.

OP-any rattles afterwards?

No creaks or rattles. As long as you're careful not to break any clips it should all go back together just like new. I tried to show as much detail as possible in the video so you know exactly where all the clips and mounting points are and what directions they are facing.

 

[NKP Garage]

So far so good. Working well, I have gotten used to working the silly little Lexus joystick. I have both my iPhone (Carplay) and my wife's Android (Android Auto) setup to connect. Both connect quickly and easily. If we're both in the car it connects to the Android, not sure if her Pixel7 is just quicker to respond or if that is designed behavior. I might just remove her phone so that it only connects to mine since it's my daily driver.

Otherwise it's been fantastic so far. I'll report back again as I get more seat time.

 

[anavant]

so would this work in a 2017 LC ?

 

[NKP Garage]

so would this work in a 2017 LC ?

The one I bought seems to be specific to the Lexus vehicles with the joystick control. For the 2016-2021 Land Cruiser this one seems to have the correct specs. https://amzn.to/3rNWyz3