Tesla Android Style Stereos Units for the 200- Combined (1 Viewer)

[Romer]

I plan on adding this to the FAQ. Still a work in progress

It appears there are 3 sources for Tesla/Android style replacement units all originating from the same factory in China. Not all units have the same capabilities

Note that the links below will change as newer versions become available. If your are ready to buy you should look through these web sites to ensure you have the latest unit

Phoenix Automotive appears to be the local Rep for these radios

[ PX6 Six-core ] 12.1" Vertical Screen Android 9 Fast boot Navi Radio for Toyota Land Cruiser LC100 2002 - 2007

This radio can be installed in Lexus GX 470 2003 - 2009. Stunning, feature-rich. Plug and Play. Retain most OEM features. WiFi, Bluetooth, MirrorLink.

www.phoenixautomotiveinc.com

The one I bought from EC Vision in Australia comes from the same factory and yet appears to be a newer model that has the car play feature built in along with other capabilities

16inch Head Unit Head unit to suit LandCruiser 200 Series SAHARA

16inch Head Unit for LC200 to suit SAHARA 2007-2015 16 INCH TOUCH SCREEN Screen Size 16 Inch Operating System Android 11 Ram 6 GB Samsung Rom 128 GB Built in Storage Screen HD IPS Screen, Samsung Panel Processor Intel Octo Core CPU Carplay Wireless Carplay Android Auto Plug in Android Auto...

www.ecvisionsound.com

You can also buy these on ali-express

There are multiple threads on Tesla Style Radios and hard to keep track of which thread you are posting in

tlcruisermans thread on his install
Schiller2300's thread on researching various options
JBHornes thread discussing options looking at fast boot times

Some of the less active ones:

Tesla style headunit

Has anyone tried the aftermarket "tesla style" head units? I've seen reports of people installing these in other Toyotas/Lexuses with good results, but curious if anyone has tried on a 200.

forum.ih8mud.com

16 inch Tesla Style Android Head unit

I have just installed a 16 inch Tesla Style android head unit. I am generally happy with this unit. Couple teathing problems that I am still sorting with supplier. Biggest issue is getting the unit to recognise that it is in a right hand drive vehicle. My question to other users is to do with...

forum.ih8mud.com

Installation of tesla screen on 60th Anniversary Land cruiser

I got a 16" tesla screen and I am trying to connect it to my 2011 60th nniversaryy edition landcruiser. I have the unit powered up, door sensors are working, indicators are working, ac is working. What is not working is steering controls, sound and the three cameras. I have identified the...

forum.ih8mud.com

Fitting a Tesla Style Android 8 16" screen to my 2008 LC200 Sahara

Just finished fitting this 16" Tesla style screen to my 2008 LC200 Sahara. I've put together a video on fitting the unit as they often don't come with install instructions. Very happy with outcome and happy that it integrates Air Con, Rev Cam and Sahara Amp. Bought from Smithnjones who were very...

forum.ih8mud.com

Users should add to this thread links or install posts and other options as they become available

 

[Romer]

tlcruisermans post on his install from this thread. Click on the thread link for more details

Hello,

I know there are other posts regarding this, this is just about my install of the latest Tesla style Android 16" vertical infotainment system from Phoenix (which replaced the 12.1" they offered - they still have not updated the web page yet, and I bought the 12.1" and they sent me the 16" replacement). I bought this because I wanted better music media options - USB, streaming etc. I am an engineer and like testing out and playing with new tech, so it was worth the risk for me.

12.1" Android Navigation Radio for Toyota Tundra 2014 - 2018

Let me set the correct expectations for everyone, if you are looking for this to act and work just like a it does in a Tesla or a factory setup, it does not and will not be that smooth and responsive - they are just not there yet. However it is improving very quickly, just over the last 6 months they have made great progress and improvements. The latest hardware is really good, they got rid of the moving around of old buttons to face plate of the new one, and the fit and finish is very good as well is the shipping (my experience, not issue whats so over, and that was being shipped by USPS, so that is saying something).

I will break this into a few categories for you:

1st is the replacement of factory controls and what works and does not work.

WORKS
all the climate controls work - front and back
the steering wheel controls work
the backup camera works - for early models it adds the lines so improvement, for the later models I see the options to support the 360 camera, so I am assuming that does work as well
the vehicle icon showing doors open works
the radar option on the older models works with the center dash display as it always has, the newer models it works on the screen as it does on the factory units
Factory preferences - I believe this still works as it did on later models, my 2008 did not have any so I can see them but not change them (still need to use my canbus tool for that).
Can Bus - this unit does hook into the can bus (via factory harness - no need to plug into the ODBII port) and has all the information the original unit got form the bus.

The latest model replaces that small digital display at the very top that showed climate temp, outside temp and the airbag status. That was incorporated into the main screen and a few hard lights on the right side. However I don't see the external temp anymore, and I don't believe there was a connector for the external temp sensor (although in the settings there is one for temp display) so it could be newer models posted on the bus and older model was hard wire not sure but I no longer have ext. temp right now on my 2008.

NO LONGER WORKS
Back seat DVD player - I did not hook anything up for it, although have not physically checked it, will update later
Hard temp controls under front vents - they are still there and hooked up, however the climate temp controls now work from the main display only
No more factory Nav - not that it worked well to begin with (better options see 2nd category)
No more maintenance tracking - did anyone even use that?
No more external temp - see comment above

2nd is new stuff you get with this

Cool 16" screen. the vertical screen that Tesla introduced is great because it breaks the screen up into quadrants of information or applications. on this one you have a header section - select options hard coded in the software (however it is android so open platform for you to mess with if you know what you are doing) and it has a footer section, this is for your back and home button and also have the information and launching of climate controls. The middle is broken up into 2 equal areas for apps so you can have radio on one and something on the other one, nave so far takes both sections (I am sure I can adjust it, just have not played with it enough) the climate and door alerts are pop ups over whatever else you have in the sections. There are other launch skins and apps you can load Phoenix has a drop box with a bunch of tools and other apps you can get, and also this is android so you can load some of your favorite apps if you like (and the work on that version and build)

This is Android 7.1 btw

you get google maps. Now google works best when it has internet connectivity (get into that later in this post) but you also can download maps and use it in offline mode and early test show it does work but not as good. However finding places and getting routed to them works just fine in offline mode once you have downloaded the maps.

There are also a few other nav map options, I have not played with them yet.

you get a radio app that work just as your regular AM/FM radio does, it has presets and can scan and tune and does support RDL. It does not have XM radio or HD radio

you get a "music" app that will play music from a usb stick or other method of media, that works pretty good.

you get a blue tooth app that is used for your phone connectivity for getting and making calls as well as BT streaming music from your phone. This all works pretty well, head unit has its own mic built in and using the vehicle speakers for the sound of course. people I have called say it works and sound great (of course not quite as good as my telsa) but as good as land cruiser factory BT phone stuff. Has phone book and recent calls, however no voice dialing (yet) still working on the voice activited controls with another android app

It does not have Apple play or Android Auto, it does have a generic version of these but it really does not work as smooth or seamless as those apps work.

you get a few apps to play video, but I don't do much of that so I have not played with it yet. I can tell you that it does conform to the parking brake on to play video.

Let's talk about connectivity, one of the very cool things on a Tesla is that it has its own 4G connection (as part of the car, no additional cost to the owner) so the maps have traffic, and you have streaming music, and you have internet augmented voice commands, etc. Again this is a Tesla style, so it can do all of those things, however not nearly as well if you don't have internet connectivity. you have several choices for the connectivity:

1. if you have a great data plan on your phone you can turn on mobile hot spot and let the unit connect via wifi to you phone and get connectivity that way.

2. you can purchase a 4G dongle and plug it into one of the USB ports and get connectivity that way.

3. Stay unconnected and connect via wifi when at home or you have a know place to get coverage, download what you need for maps and to update the units OS and firmware as needed and use it as an unconnected device.

I have been playing with options 1 and 3 (spoiler 1 is a better option than 3) I am going to look into what the monthly is on the dongle verses changing my data plan on my phone - more to follow later on that.

Install

The install is pretty easy, as long as you are good at figuring things out without instructions, if you are one of those that need a thick manual and must study if for hours and then do the job, this is not for you. You will get zero instruction manuals with this unit. However they do have a good knowledge base and support site. It is for the must part plug and play, once you figure out wich hardness to use (they included 3 different ones for me, I imagine it was for the different years) and how to hook up the can bus decoder, video decoder and other "box" that is included. Absolutely no dash modification is required. the fit and finish is very good on this latest unit. only thing that is left up to you is where do you want to route the USB ports (you get 2 of them)

Interface

There are so many different screens it is hard to show pics of all of them, and you can customize and add all the apps you want so this is the area that you really need to look what is out there and what you ultimately want to use, lots of videos about this on youtube, most of them are around the tundra unit, but that basically the same as what you can do on the cruiser unit.

If you have the time and money and want to play around with something different and hopefully better than what you currently have. And you are ok with new and "bleeding" edge tech then this could be a good option for you. If you are the type you just want to have it installed and use it out of the box and it works perfectly just like if it were factory installed, then this is probably not the unit for you - right now, as I said it is improving all the time. This is why on my 2008 for sale I give the buyer the option of what they want in the cruiser.

As I learn more and do more I will add to this post, I am sure I am forgetting about something, so if I did not mention something and you have a question, ask and I will answer.

Thanks,

Michael

 

[Romer]

Madmarions thread on his install. Click on the thread link for more details

Just finished fitting this 16" Tesla style screen to my 2008 LC200 Sahara. I've put together a video on fitting the unit as they often don't come with install instructions. Very happy with outcome and happy that it integrates Air Con, Rev Cam and Sahara Amp. Bought from Smithnjones who were very helpful. Here is the install and review video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfvtvfsULg8&t=91s

 

[m4hk33]

Very cool,

Unfortunately for me, there is something about cheap, no name Chinese electronics and linking them into a vehicles switch gear that doesn't really give me a warm and fuzzy.

Be it a road trip with the kids or sitting in traffic, the HVAC system has to work, I can't go out side in the morning in the middle of winter and bargain basement chips decide that the heating/defroster will not be cooperating today.

For as nice as these units look, I think I would lean towards a dedicated IPAD or Galaxy tab and mount

 

[Romer]

I received my unit today

It looked like most everything worked

AC controls worked. side temp buttons worked

Steering wheel controls worked

Looked like there was even a button for the window defrost that other units didnt have

I couldnt figure out how to connect the cameras and ended up doing something stupid. Both video connectors looked like they would fit in an empty connector and when I did that the unit went dead

I put the stock unit back in and it was also dead. Thinking I fried something external to the unit and will have to wait until I get it back from Slee before I try again. Maybe they can figure out what I did or I likely will have to drop it off at another shop

My troubleshooting steps are in this thread

Killed my Multi- display Radio AC could use some help

I was installing my Tesla android unit and I had everything working except the cameras. I watched a video on line where the authour identified the video cables but had to rewire it to a processing unit. Mine was supposed to be plug and play and it looked like the two video connectors would fit...

forum.ih8mud.com

I also sent an e-mail to the dealer I bought it from asking them how to hook up the cameras

Posting as alesson learned to not hook up the cameras in something that doesnt quite match

 

[grinchy]

I received my unit today

It looked like most everything worked

AC controls worked. side temp buttons worked

Steering wheel controls worked

Looked like there was even a button for the window defrost that other units didnt have

I couldnt figure out how to connect the cameras and ended up doing something stupid. Both video connectors looked like they would fit in an empty connector and when I did that the unit went dead

I put the stock unit back in and it was also dead. Thinking I fried something external to the unit and will have to wait until I get it back from Slee before I try again. Maybe they can figure out what I did or I likely will have to drop it off at another shop

My troubleshooting steps are in this thread

Killed my Multi- display Radio AC could use some help

I was installing my Tesla android unit and I had everything working except the cameras. I watched a video on line where the authour identified the video cables but had to rewire it to a processing unit. Mine was supposed to be plug and play and it looked like the two video connectors would fit...

forum.ih8mud.com

I also sent an e-mail to the dealer I bought it from asking them how to hook up the cameras

Posting as alesson learned to not hook up the cameras in something that doesnt quite match

That sucks.

 

[stolikat]

I am confused. In your post you claimed that you had the newer android 8.1 version that has car play and android auto. When I went the site that you linked I confirmed that that is the model he sells but further down when you explain the features you say that it has android 7 with no AA or car play.

So which is it?

 

[Romer]

I am confused. In your post you claimed that you had the newer android 8.1 version that has car play and android auto. When I went the site that you linked I confirmed that that is the model he sells but further down when you explain the features you say that it has android 7 with no AA or car play.

So which is it?

who is your post to? Mine does have them built in

As an update. There were not mating connectors for the video. I contacted the Australian company who didnt realize US spec cruisers all have 4 cameras. He said there is an adapter box which is on its way to me now. Ill put the unit in over the weekend and finish up later when I get the adapter box and post results

 

[Squirrel]

Romer-

I've seen different reports (including in your summary above)- to the hard temperature control buttons work? I saw a note in an old post that they don't work, but I saw a recent video that they do appear to work. Do they work for you? I'm hoping that the newer model fixed that problem.

 

[stolikat]

who is your post to? Mine does have them built in

I guess I got lost at post #2

 

[Fisher23]

who is your post to? Mine does have them built in

As an update. There were not mating connectors for the video. I contacted the Australian company who didnt realize US spec cruisers all have 4 cameras. He said there is an adapter box which is on its way to me now. Ill put the unit in over the weekend and finish up later when I get the adapter box and post results

Is there a way to easily dim the screen? On my oem one if I turn off my headlights that screen lights up supper bright and it's not very intuitive to go through the various menu settings to dim the screen.

and can you add TOPO maps to the NAV or sat images?

 

[Romer]

Its an android tablet, running my topo maps is the main reason I got it so I wouldnt have to run my tablet

On brightness, not sure this is a factor for me. I will install short the cameras tomorrow and see how it goes

 

[Romer]

Here is a teaser. I ran out of steam and will finish tomorrow

There is an icon at the top of the screen to adjust brightness

 

[catastrofe]

Here is a teaser. I ran out of steam and will finish tomorrow

There is an icon at the top of the screen to adjust brightness
View attachment 2238140View attachment 2238141View attachment 2238142View attachment 2238143

That looks so good!

 

[codyaustin5]

Here is a teaser. I ran out of steam and will finish tomorrow

There is an icon at the top of the screen to adjust brightness
View attachment 2238140View attachment 2238141View attachment 2238142View attachment 2238143

Nice Ken! Can you change the Audi to a LC????

 

[Romer]

Nice Ken! Can you change the Audi to a LC????

Patience my friend. Lots to do here in downloading apps and getting it all setup. No instruction manual makes it exciting

It does have an LC on the bottom showing how the HVAC is working

 

[catastrofe]

I received my unit today

It looked like most everything worked

AC controls worked. side temp buttons worked

Steering wheel controls worked

Looked like there was even a button for the window defrost that other units didnt have

I couldnt figure out how to connect the cameras and ended up doing something stupid. Both video connectors looked like they would fit in an empty connector and when I did that the unit went dead

I put the stock unit back in and it was also dead. Thinking I fried something external to the unit and will have to wait until I get it back from Slee before I try again. Maybe they can figure out what I did or I likely will have to drop it off at another shop

My troubleshooting steps are in this thread

Killed my Multi- display Radio AC could use some help

I was installing my Tesla android unit and I had everything working except the cameras. I watched a video on line where the authour identified the video cables but had to rewire it to a processing unit. Mine was supposed to be plug and play and it looked like the two video connectors would fit...

forum.ih8mud.com

I also sent an e-mail to the dealer I bought it from asking them how to hook up the cameras

Posting as alesson learned to not hook up the cameras in something that doesnt quite match

I may have missed it, but which unit/model did you purchase and from whom?

 

[Romer]

Post 1 had it. Looks like the price went up . . . a lot

16inch Head Unit Head unit to suit LandCruiser 200 Series SAHARA

16inch Head Unit for LC200 to suit SAHARA 2007-2015 16 INCH TOUCH SCREEN Screen Size 16 Inch Operating System Android 11 Ram 6 GB Samsung Rom 128 GB Built in Storage Screen HD IPS Screen, Samsung Panel Processor Intel Octo Core CPU Carplay Wireless Carplay Android Auto Plug in Android Auto...

www.ecvisionsound.com

Still figuring things out. The easy connect app mirrors my iphone well so you can see what is on the screen. The Z-link app that came with it couldnt lock right. Anyone have a better recommendation for car play?

The steering controls work

Blue tooth works to my phone

Wifi works great. Likely will get a MIFI from Verizon to always have internet

Blue tooth works fine. Music will play fine from the phone

Havent received any calls, but validated I could call out

Cameras not setup yet, waiting for the adapter that is making its way across the planet

Rear DVD screen not hooked up, but I have never used it. Several RCA and video inputs on the back so likely with some customized wiring could get it to work or with a unit that would???? Thats a guess and dont know for sure

Havent figured out how to replace the Audi

AC controls all work including from the side temp up/dn buttons

Still working through setup options, but so far pretty happy with it

 

[Romer]

Looks like how to change the Audi. I will tackle this later. Have some other projects to address

 

[Romer]

Ok, I couldnt help myself

second one is Gaia displaying one of my near Moab tracks

Noticed I have yesterdays date, will need to fix that