scottp461

Just wanted to post my experience since it was not at all like it was described in the printed and video descriptions of the process I found online.

First of all, the 2017 ES models are GEN08 or GEN09 as determined by their manufacture date. Strongly suggest contacting your dealer’s parts department to determine which one yours is by giving them your VIN (they probably have it already) before ordering. Most information I found online says the 2017 ES is GEN09, but as it turns out mine is GEN08.

I ordered the correct map update for my car and decided how best to start the update. Why a decision? All the “how to” instructions I found online said to swap the SD cards with the ignition off, but on my display there’s a button for “Update Map”, suggesting that a hot swap is OK. When I pressed the button just to see what happens, it simply said to swap the cards at any time. I didn’t do so at that time (didn’t want to risk a hot swap!)

I swapped the cards with the system off and powered up. (It’s a little tricky to unlock/lock the microSD cards in the slot. I used the edge of a dime for this, worked like a charm!)

The online instructions all say that there will be various information/warning/progress screens during the process, including a notification to power the system down and then on again (a system reboot) to complete the process. I received no such screens after powering up. After it came up normally, there was a bit of a delay in the normal ”be aware of your surroundings” screen, followed by some flickering. After that the system froze for maybe 10 seconds before performing a quick system reboot. After that the system froze up for a few seconds. That’s it!

Once I could move the pointer I navigated to the “Map Data” screen. To my surprise the Map version was updated. It seemed to be done! The whole process took maybe 30 seconds.

I set a destination that I couldn’t a week ago (the system didn’t know the address, or the street for that matter!) No problem this time. The map also appears a bit different, only major streets have traffic data now (at my normal magnification) and minor streets/neighborhoods are drawn with much finer lines.

I wasn’t sure everything was OK until today; the first time I started the system after the update was completed. Everything came up normally and the NAV system is working as it should.

Just wanted to communicate this in case anyone else has a similar experience.

ESully

I stopped at the dealerships parts department yesterday inquiring about updating the navigation on my 2016 ES350. Parts guy said it was simple, just change the mini card for the new one.
I'm curious, my dealership wants $210 for the 2023 update card. Is that in the ballpark?

scottp461

Yes. That's the "normal" price (no discount.) Make sure you get the right "GEN", but you should be "GEN08".

Based on my experience, the parts guy is right. If you want to just swap it, do it with the system off as I did. Although, I'm curious about any differences in the process if you do the "hot swap" using the ""Update Map" button. I expect nothing is different, but I couldn't test it after my map update was successfully registered to my system.

So far there have been no problems, everything is behaving as it should.

john2101

Hey, thanks for putting this out. I'd like to update mine but at this price, I don't think I will.
Hoping one day it'll become more easily available.

scottp461

One can hope. Unfortunately, at least with Lexus, the era of NAV systems with microSD updates are in the rear view and have been for 6 years now. Cloud based "live" map updates are the future, are subscription based, and will be much more profitable for them.

My recent update covered 7 years, so I paid $30/year. Not too bad when looked at that way.

It’s inevitable, the SD map updates will be discontinued (likely in just a few more years.) My plan, I will update one more time when it becomes apparent that “this is the last one.”

I really thought that this happened when the pandemic hit and there were no updates (apparently) for 5 years. I was actually surprised when I found out that 2023 was available. A little weird that previous years were also out there once you knew where (and what) to look for. I believed my service advisor when I asked (and the online information from Lexus said so as well) that the most recent map data available is 2018. This is still the case, until you really start digging!

Many other “new” technologies in my 2017 (besides GPS) have been allowed to "die on the vine" with no plans to update them. When I asked my service advisor about my car’s lost functionality, he cheerfully suggested that I should buy a new one.

I don’t see a price reduction in our future. If anything, it will probably go up.

PGuad

Today I checked with our parts dept. at Lexus in CA. Update is $300 or maybe a bit higher. Part is not in stock and will take about a month to get.

scottp461

You might want to purchase online (many Lexus parts departments do have a presence.) I did a search for “PT219-GEN08-23” and several came up. Many still list it at $210. Since it’s a simple self install, there really is no downside. If you need a different “GEN”, just change the number in the search (i.e. “GEN09”), everything else is the same.

ESully

That price usually includes the dealership doing the update. In reality, all that needs to be done is to remove the old micro card and insert the new one. From what I've read it may take a couple of starts before it is fully functional.

tomscot2

To determine which Generation to use I found the attached. It says that the 2017 ES is GEN09.The part number is PT219GEN0923 for the most current version. The price is $210.

Be sure to verify with your VIN at the dealership parts store.

I just updated my 2016 ES 300h (GEN08). I followed one of the YouTube videos and it did not reboot as quickly as it did on the video. I freaked out and thought I had bricked the system. However, I found out that I needed to let it go for a long time before it booted. correctly. I found that the new map is much easier to view and of course has the location of my nephew's subdivision that was built in 2020.

PGuad

UPDATE: I was able to order the SD micro chip from my dealer after speaking to the intake specialist. The listed price was $210 as others have reported. I was given a discount and the price was then $189. It should arrive at the dealer in 2-5 business days. As for my map problem, the specialist changed the magnification setting and everything went back to normal. Looking forward to being able to find addresses built after 2016.
Thanks for everyone's help!
2017 ES 350