You'd still have to source the climate control from an aussie unit. You'd lose 4 way climate control at a minimum (aussie unit is 2 way), assuming thr harnesses are the same. The rear dvd would also stop working. I don't think a good solution will ever exist unfortunately.
upgrade 2008 lc200 with current LC200 stereo
- Thread starter trucker44
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
You'd still have to source the climate control from an aussie unit. You'd lose 4 way climate control at a minimum (aussie unit is 2 way), assuming thr harnesses are the same. The rear dvd would also stop working. I don't think a good solution will ever exist unfortunately.
I'm pretty happy with the head unit. Well, aside from the fact that even the 2013 touchscreen feels a little laggy compared to a modern tablet or cell phone. Really I'd just like to upgrade the speakers which IMO are OK but nothing special. I may have to check out the Focals that @ScreenX mentioned. Wish I could hear them in person first.
Crutchfield has a good selection of speakers for the 200 LC.
Find what fits your car - Crutchfield
Enter your vehicle info in the above link and there are lots of speaker options.
This footnote concerns me
"Replacing the 1- or 2-ohm factory speaker with a higher-impedance aftermarket speaker will result in lower volume levels."
"Replacing the 1- or 2-ohm factory speaker with a higher-impedance aftermarket speaker will result in lower volume levels."
Markuson
SILVER Star
That can really be true. I was amazed at the poor performance when I swapped out my OEM speakers in a Subaru WRX. I went back to stock speakers and replaced the head unit...and the sound was perfect--and far better than my 200, actually. When I talked to the speaker vendor, he said it's a very common issue, and was actually very complimentary of OEM speakers--especially in efficiency. My LC's sound is just OK. It tends to lose a lot of detail in the highs, and muddies up the lows...
Here in Aus, we have a different setup. We don't get the JBL option that you guys get. Although, when I took my speakers out of the 2016 LC200, i noticed that the drivers are very close if not identical to the standard systems found in lexus models, except for the mids and tweeters found in the dash. The Focal direct swap gear i mentioned of earlier made the highs a lot crisper. I used (2way coax) 3.5 inch polk audio drivers to replace the 3 x mids in the dash
There are many adapters to solve the OPs integration issue of adding BT and USB to the factory system. Some have already been posted.
I've found the GROM unit to work really well and be fairly priced - 02-12 Toyota Scion Lexus USB Android iPhone car kit, Bluetooth capable
EDIT: Actually, most of these devices are one and the same and just re-branded. What's important is the after sales support, which GROM has in spades (as noted by their support of the new Vline kits)
I've found the GROM unit to work really well and be fairly priced - 02-12 Toyota Scion Lexus USB Android iPhone car kit, Bluetooth capable
EDIT: Actually, most of these devices are one and the same and just re-branded. What's important is the after sales support, which GROM has in spades (as noted by their support of the new Vline kits)
@linuxgod The Focals (Toyota Integration series) I recommended are a bit more expensive than the solution @bamm'recommended. But on the plus side, the ones I recommended looks stock and comes with clips and adapters to plug into the factory terminated plugs, so you don't need to do any mods to get them in the vehicle.
To be completely honest, if i had to do it all over again, I would only replace the tweeters in the A pillars and the tweeter/mid in the center and the mids in the two corners of the dash. The stock woofers in the doors do a great job with bass with the stock headunit/amp. The Focal woofers are fantastic, but without a proper amp, i doubt you will hear the $$$ as an upgrade. One of my mates have amped his system (Identical setup to mine, but have amped the woofers in the doors) and they now sound well worth the $$$ value in upgrade. Before amping the woofers, they were only identical if not marginally better than the stock woofers.
As for aftermarket speakers sounding a bit lower in volume, that is not my experience. overall, for pink noise played at level 20 was 1db louder in my rig and I haven't used an external amp. The Focal gear I got were of slightly higher impedance than the stock woofers but I cant really tell the difference. The Polk audio 3.5" two way coaxials I used to replace all three units in the dash are also of slightly higher impedance, but they are a lot more efficient than the factory units, so it sounds louder and much crisper.
To be completely honest, if i had to do it all over again, I would only replace the tweeters in the A pillars and the tweeter/mid in the center and the mids in the two corners of the dash. The stock woofers in the doors do a great job with bass with the stock headunit/amp. The Focal woofers are fantastic, but without a proper amp, i doubt you will hear the $$$ as an upgrade. One of my mates have amped his system (Identical setup to mine, but have amped the woofers in the doors) and they now sound well worth the $$$ value in upgrade. Before amping the woofers, they were only identical if not marginally better than the stock woofers.
As for aftermarket speakers sounding a bit lower in volume, that is not my experience. overall, for pink noise played at level 20 was 1db louder in my rig and I haven't used an external amp. The Focal gear I got were of slightly higher impedance than the stock woofers but I cant really tell the difference. The Polk audio 3.5" two way coaxials I used to replace all three units in the dash are also of slightly higher impedance, but they are a lot more efficient than the factory units, so it sounds louder and much crisper.
Crutchfield supplies free mounting adapters and factory plug adapters as well. They also supply a free detailed install sheet.
