LC 200 FRONT SEATS UPGRADE (6 Viewers)

[swhme]

Looks like ~$8,500 for a new LX570 front seat. I’d be tempted if someone else did it first

These guys seem to think it’s better than LC, but not great: Lexus LX 570 and the driver seat - ClubLexus - Lexus Forum Discussion - https://www.clublexus.com/forums/lx-3rd-gen-2008-2021/689387-lexus-lx-570-and-the-driver-seat.html

 

[bloc]

Probably will, they should be mostly plug 'n play, since LEXUS is a TOYOTA subsidiary, "invisible" parts should be the same.

Crucially, they are very expensive parts, so that incentivizes Toyota to keep them the same whenever possible.

As often as I point out changing the seats could possibly ruin your airbag protection, the LX seat option is a really good one.

 

[pmrosendo]

After some time "off", due to Christmas, New Year's Eve and a lot of work at the shop, in 2024, I've managed to find some time to change the leather on the seats from the original color to the most look-a-like in the car, since the seats on this TOYOTA are vynil (nappa?) instead of real leather.

The armrest is made of rubber, although it looked like the seats... It's now also leather!

This is the only photo so far, I think I'll have everything ready tomorrow and will start installing them in the car.

 

[pmrosendo]

Passenger side is in, still some plastic trim to be installed, after colormatch painting.

Left the driver seat for comparison , what do you think?

 

[gasman4u]

which seat was upgraded? jk.

Looks good! Like a private jet seat!

 

[2021 LC200]

Your the man Rosendo! Can I have two in black leather please delivered to the US...

 

[pmrosendo]

Both seats now in place!

The driving experience is completely different, a lot of grip on the back and you are really seated for driving, instead of just sitting there trying to hold on the steering wheel and door cards on some wild tracks while a bit over the normal speed...

Everything is working as intended, except for some plastic trimming that is going in place in the next week.

I've decided to color code every bit of the plastic parts on the BMW seats, so this will take a while to complete.

I'll post some pictures of both seats tomorrow.

 

[SEAWOLF]

pretty sure the owner of Equipt in SLC (Paul?) has Scheel-Mann in his 200

Is he on here? I’d love to see a photo

 

[pmrosendo]

Your the man Rosendo! Can I have two in black leather please delivered to the US...

Thank you!
It was an odissey to have everything as intended and a lot of work to have them in place.

TOYOTA doesn't sell the brackets that hold the OEM seats to the car, these are the trick to have everything working properly, I took them from the original seats and welded them to the new seats, creating some adapters to compensate for the difference in width (fortunately just less than 1 inch).

If it was simple, I would offer a pair to you, no problem.

 

[pmrosendo]

It's done! Finished, complete!

The smell, touch, feeling and overall comfort is totally different from the OEM seats in this version (GX-R) that were like kitchen chairs...

I've tried to keep the fittings as OEM as possible using the OEM brackets, bolts, covers, etc. and this is a mistake!
The amount of work needed to keep those is more than the benefit and the main issue is it doesn't let the seats be bolted in a lower position than the OEM ones.

Maybe I'll get back to this in a near future, I would prefer a lower driving position, although these are at the same height as the OEM ones.

Thank you for keeping up with this upgrade, I'll make a list of everything needed (electric, mechanic, parts, etc.) if by any reason one of you wants to do the same in your rig.

 

[pmrosendo]

I also got rid of the "wood" inserts/trimming that looked outdated, totally off from the more modern look I want for the interior.
Without a full interior swap (from a LX570, maybe), this is a simple solution (hydrographics) that looks quite nice, in my opinion.

 

[2021 LC200]

Worked out great Rosendo. Kind of jealous. Good for you dude!

I have similar seats in my BMW 535d (comfort with side bolstering, heat, air and butt massage...) so I know what you achieved. Would love having the same comfort and adjustability in the Land Cruiser. Please share what you did. May endeavor the same at some point. Thanks in advance.

 

[finboy]

Impressive project, looking forward to see how it holds up

 

[pmrosendo]

Worked out great Rosendo. Kind of jealous. Good for you dude!

I have similar seats in my BMW 535d (comfort with side bolstering, heat, air and butt massage...) so I know what you achieved. Would love having the same comfort and adjustability in the Land Cruiser. Please share what you did. May endeavor the same at some point. Thanks in advance.

Thanks, don't be jealous, it's not that difficult to pull a stunt like this.

You need to find some seats that fit the spacing between the TOYOTA seat rails, I found that BMW E, F and G series are more or less the same length and width, so I started there.

The second thing to do is having them working on a bench, 12V power supply (no more than 2 Amp in my seats) and test them, specially if the donour car has front memory seats, you'll probably have to get the non-memory front seats button console and modify the harness in the seat to have it all working flawlessly.

Upholstery, if needed and it's just some drilling in the OEM TOYOTA brackets you pull off the OEM seats.

 

[pmrosendo]

Impressive project, looking forward to see how it holds up

Thank you!

The seats are still holding up, without 4x4 adventures, still, but soon to be put to the test.
The comfort is totally different, that was the goal, let's see how they perform when on an offroad track.

 

[Joshuak172]

It's done! Finished, complete!

The smell, touch, feeling and overall comfort is totally different from the OEM seats in this version (GX-R) that were like kitchen chairs...

I've tried to keep the fittings as OEM as possible using the OEM brackets, bolts, covers, etc. and this is a mistake!
The amount of work needed to keep those is more than the benefit and the main issue is it doesn't let the seats be bolted in a lower position than the OEM ones.

Maybe I'll get back to this in a near future, I would prefer a lower driving position, although these are at the same height as the OEM ones.

Thank you for keeping up with this upgrade, I'll make a list of everything needed (electric, mechanic, parts, etc.) if by any reason one of you wants to do the same in your rig.

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What’s that dash setup? An iPad mounted over the stock screen? Looks good.

 

[PralineLC]

@pmrosendo

I love your radio, what is the setup? Could you please share this with us?

 

[pmrosendo]

The dash setup is possible on a non-navigation LC200, since the A/C console is independent from the headunit.

The headunii is a KENWOOD DMX-9720XDS (AV Multimedia systems • DMX9720XDS Features • KENWOOD Europe - https://www.kenwood.eu/car/navigation_multimedia/multimedia/DMX9720XDS/), maybe different in other non-EU markets but probably the same chassis so it will fit.

The main modification to the dash, apart from some trimming inside, is the hazard switch that went to the roof, next to the interior light switches.
I choose this headunit because it's capable of 4 High-Res cameras, also from KENWOOD, completely different from the ones that come OEM and a lot better than some aftermarket ones.

 

[mikesean76]

Thank you!

The seats are still holding up, without 4x4 adventures, still, but soon to be put to the test.
The comfort is totally different, that was the goal, let's see how they perform when on an offroad track.

Very interested. My only gripe after just upgrading to a 200/LX is the seats. It just feels like I can’t get comfortable. Compared to my 80/LX it just seems like I am sitting flat in a large seat. I drove my wife’s Mazda CX9 the other day and immediately recognized the difference with the bucket/captain seat feel. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t change vehicles.

I recently installed the set jackets hoping to get that recessed feel when driving but don’t think it’s going to work for me.

Having said that, what would you recommend to someone who doesn’t have the time or space to take on this type project at the moment but is looking for the same solution?

 

[pmrosendo]

I'm a professional Car-Audio installer, in Portugal, this is my personal overlanding vehicle so time and labor is done by me with costs to my family, health and mental sanity...

I would recomend finding a professional in car fabrication, modification or similar with some experience in electric and electronic connections and functioning, depending, of course, on the seats you are installing, mine were last generation BMW so Can-Bus protocols are different and one needs to find the correct solution for it to work.