Raisdana

Hello I just purchased a 2015 Lexus ES 350, it does not have navigation system, is it good idea to instal the 3rd party navigation system?

bc6152

Save your money. Buy a Garmin with lifetime updates for maps that sits on top of the dash. It's probably better than the Lexus unit anyway. They now offer touch screen, voice command, Bluetooth, radar detection and more. when you're finished with it put it in the trunk. I believe they're less than $300.00. This is what I use and I HAVE navigation... I don't want to pay for the expensive Lexus map updates.

GOOD LUCK!

Albo

how much do those updates run for around?

Poppa

I pretty much agree with Bc here.. I have a 2013 es with nav.. I have to say that I actually like my navigation system pretty well, but it does have some limitations... For example my nav will not show me what the "speed limit " is on the highway I'm on... also, as roads and highways are updated, my nav on my ES is oblivious to them ( unless I take it in to the dealer to update the system, which I have not done )... One of the things that ticks me off the most about the nav on the car is when your driving and you want to search for restaurants, or gas stations, anything like that, while you're driving it only lets you do a limited search so if you want to do a more thorough search you have to pull over and put the car in park... we work around that by taking our garmin with us when we travel... if the wife is looking for a particular restaurant she'll look for it on the garmin while I continue to follow the nav on the ES... also as Bc pointed out.. if you have a garmin you can get lifetime map updates... very handy.

Roland

pab12

>Save your money. Buy a Garmin

Better yet, save your $ and just install Waze on your celphone. We rarely use the factory GPS in either of our cars now. That app provides all the direction info we need.
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My karma just ran over your dogma
Current Hers: '13 Lexus ES350
Current Mine: '15 Jaguar XF (its aubergine)

bc6152

I would use Waze but I don't have unlimited data use on my mobile phone. Garmin don't use data...

Mike728

It really doesn't use much data. I've seen reports of people that use it daily and only go through about 200MB's of data a month. Google maps apparently uses more, but still not a significant amount.

NdYAG

CoPilot app on a cellphone allows navigation without using data. It is only $10 and comes with lifetime map updates. It is also a great backup tool for when you have to navigate in an area without cellphone coverage. It can also work overseas but you need to purchase those maps separately. It is definitely a more convinient arrangement than a dedicated GPS.

Additionslly you can also cash into cellphone memory a fairly large area in Google maps so it does not use data there (go to offline maps in the menu).

On the other hand there are some interesting Android based drop in replacements for 6th Gen ES entertainment unit. This may be a good solution as you get a ton of other features - which will in theory make it even better than the factory nav system.

TechNut

Poppa

Hello Doug... I guess that between the 2013 models and the 2015 models Lexus must have changed the firm ware they were using in thier nav systems. Glad yours shows speed limits. I've yet to update my nav but I'm getting pretty close to having it done. A year or so back I asked a service writer at lexus if I updated my maps would I then start seeing speed limits on the nav and he told me no because the update would only be a software update and not a firmware update.. but then again this is the same person that told me that he had heard if you used anything but a lexus oem battery, they wouldn't last more than six months or so...I knew that was hogwash... I put a big interstate mtp-24f in my ES last January and no problems... same battery in my 4 Runner.. been in there going on 4 years, no issues what so ever..... back to the nav.. I'm with you also as to liking the size of the on board nav system... also the voice software almost sounds like I'm on a commercial airliner... hey, if anyone out there knows if upgrading my nav system will or will not start showing speed limits I sure would like to know.. thanks guys ( and gals )

Roland

Mike728

It will not, as it's only a map update. It doesn't gain any features.

lesz

The 2013 and 2014 ES have a Generation 7 navigation system. The 2015 and 2016 ES have a Generation 8 navigation system, and the 2017 and 2018 ES have a Generation 9 navigation system.

The Generation 8 and Generation 9 systems show speed limits on the map, but the Generation 7 system does not. Also, I believe that the Generation 8 and 9 systems get their traffic information via an HD radio signal, but the Generation 7 system gets its traffic information via a satellite radio system.

The Generation 8 and, especially, Generation 9 systems have significant improvements over the Generation 7 system. Those improvements include better traffic information, and the ability to use voice commands is significantly better. With the Generation 9 system, voice commands work quite well, and they can be used with a high degree of success to search for and set destinations while the car is in motion.

It should be noted that, regardless of generation, the capabilities of the navigation system can be significantly enhanced by using it with the free Enform Destination Search smart phone app. Because, with the app, voice commands are done via the phone's voice command system, not that of the car, voice command capability extends to a wider range of available commands, and it works quite well. Also, when searching for destinations, the Destination Search app is using a data base that includes more destinations and that is more up to date than the data base that is on the hard drive (2013 or 2014) or SD card (2015-2018) that is in the car. Using the app is, I think, essential to get the most out of the capabilities of the navigation system, regardless of generation.

bc6152

Les: Where in the car do you find the destination entered thru the Enform Destination Search on your phone? TIA

lesz

Bob,
I'm not sure that I know exactly what you are asking, but this is the procedure for using the Destination Assist app.

First, you need to have downloaded the app to your phone and have the app open on your phone. Then, in the car, you go to the Menu and select Apps. Then, you select the Destination Assist App. Once that screen opens, you can use the microphone button on the car to use your voice to find a destination. After you say the destination, the app will search for it and provide you with a list of what it has found. Then, you can use either your voice or the mouse to choose the destination you want from the list. Once you have made your choice, you will be given the option to either set that as your navigation destination or to make a call to that destination with your phone. After you have set the destination, the navigation system will guide you to it just like if you had set the destination using the navigation system's data base.

Poppa

So just out of curiosity, what is the going charge to have Lexus update the nav on my 2013 ES... Also, would it be benificial to wait awhile in case there's a new update coming out soon?

Roland