While the above was being finalized, the guys at
Hamilton Motor Company got back to me about testing and reviewing their “
Premium Conversion Kit for Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™” on my GX. This adds a 2022+ GX-style screen and hard buttons for HVAC, the latter of which was honestly most important to me. This system emulates what Lexus themselves did for the 2022-2024 GX460s, giving them an improved infotainment and ergonomic hub versus the 2010-2021 models. Considering 2022+ GX460s with the big screen and hard HVAC buttons carry a ~$10k premium over pre-interior refresh models, the $1,349 for the Hamilton kit seems more than palatable.
Some background on my 2018 GX460’s stock infotainment: It’s stuck in a bygone era. While other automakers were working on implementing Apple CarPlay and the likes, Lexus was sticking to its “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality and leaving buyers with Bluetooth and a touchscreen that felt straight out of 2010… because it basically was. I installed the Grom VLine2 unit to bridge the gap between past and modern tech, and my experience with it was mixed. Wired CarPlay worked well, bringing the functions I wanted to the screen while retaining the OEM look, but I could never get Wireless CarPlay to work. There was also always a weird handover/changeover issue in which sometimes the truck would run Bluetooth via the original radio and other times it would allow Bluetooth via the CarPlay unit with the phone not plugged in, but again, Wireless CarPlay itself wouldn’t work. Eventually the unit stopped working altogether and, frustrated, I contacted Grom. They recommended doing a software update on the VLine2-- done by connecting it to WiFi-- which, lo and behold, fixed the unit completely. Wireless CarPlay worked and the whole thing functioned as it should. But still, the way that changing temperature and fan speed had to be done with the OEM screen bothered me, and the OEM screen itself still felt ancient. So… mixed review for the Grom VLine2.
OEM setup with Grom VLine2 installed:
Now, the Hamilton unit. Instead of an adapter that plugs into the back of the OEM infotainment system (they offer that too), the Premium Conversion Kit is a full replacement screen and center stack. It keeps all of the factory functions while actually improving functionality, and everything done via the OEM system-- settings and the likes-- can still be accessed. The quality and packaging was solid when I opened it all.
Here we go again...
I tore the dash apart, then proceeded to undo all of the work I had done to cleanly install the Grom VLine2 unit in the center console. This meant undoing a bunch of wiring and figuring out what was OEM and what wasn’t. I had mounted the Grom module in the center console and run the wires through the shifter/transmission locale, which made for some sub-optimal cleanup and undoing of what I thought was brilliant at the time. This process-- with removing the head unit and radio-- took probably 5x as long as it would have if the Grom unit wasn’t already in there, and if I wasn’t also trying to figure out a clean way to install my GMRS speaker at the same time.
Wiring up the Hamilton kit with the supplied parts
There is some work that needs to be done with the Hamilton unit prior to actually installing it, in the form of connecting wires and plugs to the back of the new product. This involved plug-and-play work using everything they supplied-- all of which was labeled extremely well, much to my surprise-- and I do admit to using YouTube videos to help me along the way. Next was connecting the Hamilton conversion kit to the factory radio and tidying up the wiring. It entails plugging the hard-wired truck parts like hazard lights, radio plugs, etc. into the Hamilton unit and using the supplied adapters/harnesses where necessary. The air vent extensions also need to be installed here.
Old head unit coming out
Hamilton unit going in
Once everything is matched up properly, the Hamilton unit slides right into the dashboard where the OEM unit once lived. The fit and color matching aren’t perfect, but they’re more than close enough. After it’s slotted into the dash, the OEM radio gets reinstalled, and then you put all of the interior panels and such back together. Done.
The Hamilton conversion kit immediately modernized the interior. The OEM screen and head unit never bothered me that much (clearly not enough to have done something about it prior or to have not purchased the GX in the first place), but WOW does the Hamilton kit make the interior feel fresh. As I mentioned, I drive a lot of current and upcoming model year vehicles, and the Hamilton kit is just what you’d expect in a new vehicle… except it’s installed in my 2018 GX. And while the buttons and knobs don’t feel 100% up to Lexus quality, it’s still amazing how well everything operates; for example, you press the circle inset in the temperature knob to bring up the HVAC screen, then press it again for the HVAC display to go away. Everything is extremely well thought out and works flawlessly, Wireless CarPlay (and wired too, obviously) included.
Original Lexus settings still accessible:
Once everything was done, I did have a few minor issues (neither of which were major and one of which was my own doing), all of which Hamilton was amazing in helping sort out over the phone. Simple as that… a phone call and a few minutes with someone on the other end of the line and the issues were no more. Incredible.
Needless to say, I’m extremely impressed with the Hamilton conversion kit and so far I highly recommend it. I’m not just saying that because they sent it to me at no charge for the purpose of media/marketing; this is a truly great update that makes a pre-interior refresh GX460 feel very much like the later vehicles at a fraction of the price. I love it, and love how it has improved the look and functionality of my GX’s interior. Only “those who know, know” will notice it’s not OEM. Well done, Hamilton.
