upgrade 2008 lc200 with current LC200 stereo

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trucker44

10 Year
Joined
Nov 15, 2014
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22
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Does anyone have any advice on swapping out my current stereo/nav in my 2008 LC200...for the more current headunit? I really want a better connection between my car stereo and my iPhone. i currently can only do it thru a headphone jack wire. sound is awful. volume control is doubled. it sucks. I think the new models allow me 2 options. play music via bluetooth OR hardwire connection via firewire to USB (plus charging)
Anyone know how hard or easy this is? or if there's an alternative?
Thanks in advance.
 
trucker44 said:
Does anyone have any advice on swapping out my current stereo/nav in my 2008 LC200...for the more current headunit? I really want a better connection between my car stereo and my iPhone. i currently can only do it thru a headphone jack wire. sound is awful. volume control is doubled. it sucks. I think the new models allow me 2 options. play music via bluetooth OR hardwire connection via firewire to USB (plus charging)
Anyone know how hard or easy this is? or if there's an alternative?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

By "more current" do you mean 2013-2015 or the new 2016?

My 2013 does a good job of playing via bluetooth and USB to my iPhone. That said the touchscreen is still latent and the UI is very busy. I haven't sat in a 2016 but overall if I was going to try I would recommend finding a really good aftermarket head unit instead. For the amount of money you spend to try and retrofit a 2013 (or 2016) unit you could buy 3 or 4 Alpine/Pioneer/etc aftermarket units. The 2008 doesn't have a front camera, so the only feature you might lose is Climate control (I can't recall if the 2008-2011 had that in the touchscreen).

Not to hijack the thread but I'm personally interested in anyone who can recommend speaker and/or amp upgrades. Compared to my 2008 Acura MDX (which was pretty decent but not phenomenal like the Definitive Technology setup I have at home), the sound quality in the 2013 LC is pretty crummy.
 
the problem with aftermarket is like the 100 series with the climate control built in

You would have to find out if the connectors are the same from a 2008 to 15 or 16 to know if you could swap
 
I Have the Nav bypass and Bluetooth adapter for streaming audio in my 2008. Everything works great and no complaints. the Bluetooth works for all audio and even shows the display from Pandora minus the artwork and steering wheel controls can change the track.

Video,Audio Information Solutions for Toyota and Lexus (iPod/iPhone/iPad, Android, USB, XM/Sirius SAT Radio, Video integration)

The nav bypass is awesome if you have kids that always watch movies and you don't want to have to pull over to change it out. Working all the map functions is also a plus without stopping or slowing down

Prestigious Society » Navigation and Video Enhancement Module » Prestigious Society

Both modules are hidden and come with good instructions.
 
linuxgod said:
....

Not to hijack the thread but I'm personally interested in anyone who can recommend speaker and/or amp upgrades. Compared to my 2008 Acura MDX (which was pretty decent but not phenomenal like the Definitive Technology setup I have at home), the sound quality in the 2013 LC is pretty crummy.
Click to expand...

Really? My 2008 is pretty good, especially compared to all the 100 series cruisers I've owned. It's really not bad for an OEM.
 
FWIW, my '10 has Bluetooth streaming through the head unit. Perhaps you could get your hands on one of those used?
 
do you think there may be an anti-theft deal on these head units? might be a road block
 
Willy beamin said:
do you think there may be an anti-theft deal on these head units? might be a road block
Click to expand...
I don't think so. When I bought my used 2013 I asked the dealer for the anti-theft code (like my Acura had) so I would be able to re-enable the unit after the battery was disconnected. Their service tech said that Toyota doesn't use codes like Honda/Acura and that it wouldn't present an issue.
 
nice
 
trucker44 said:
Does anyone have any advice on swapping out my current stereo/nav in my 2008 LC200...for the more current headunit? I really want a better connection between my car stereo and my iPhone. i currently can only do it thru a headphone jack wire. sound is awful. volume control is doubled. it sucks. I think the new models allow me 2 options. play music via bluetooth OR hardwire connection via firewire to USB (plus charging)
Anyone know how hard or easy this is? or if there's an alternative?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...


I have an '08 LX and am really interested in this also. Did you figure out if any of the 2010+ units are swappable? If so, I may start looking around for one
 
the key to figuring that out is looking at the wiring diagram for both units and seeing if the connectors are the same, that would imply its doable. If not, you would have to experiment with re-wiring a connector to match or build an adapter. Unless someone has already done it, someone will have to test and see
 
I agree with @bamachem my 08's stereo is bumpin. Better than my 2014 tundra 1794's by a long shot.

Also using the audio jack to hard wire your phone to the stereo will alway provide better quality than bluetooth.
 
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