So..... I gave in!

I for the longest time did NOT want to change the original headunit in the ride, not
because of the sound quality, but because of the "image" quality. No off the shelf
installation kits are available for our rides, and my handy work with ABS plastic
is less than remarkable, especially since the bottom part of the unit is ever so
"angled" to keep the faint of heart at bay with the stock unit. Anyways here a gander
at what I was able to muster up, changed the headunit to the Pioneer AVH-P7480DVD, and
used the old stock unit (may it rest in pieces) for filler material. Took some work
and tinkering, but the end results were worth it, at least I think so....

Oh yeah, so obviously the stock headunit is destroyed, but not the stock 12 CD player
in the back. I'm adding a 12 Disc Pioneer changer to the system, so if anyone out there
is interested in the Lexus 12 disc CD player, PM me. Thanks!:

 

Did you cut the top off the headunit? I noticed a part of it is cut off from the top..How is it possible to cut those things...its pretty thick...

How much for the DVD headunit?

 

yep, cut the top of the head unit off. actually the front of the stock unit
comes off pretty easily (two small screws on either side). Then you would
disconnect the electrical ribbon connection and voila, you've got the front
plastic part of the head unit in your hands. I used a dremel to cut the top
off. Now, to put it back in is where it get a litte more involved. In order
to use the original metal chasis of the radio, you need to gut it out. Once
you're left with the bare metal, you need to cut off the stop half of the
metal (otherwise it would interfere with the new head unit), I used metal
shears. Make sure that you still have the two holes on the lower part of the
chasis so that you can screw that back into the main metal bracket (bracket
holding up the AC unit and radio). Screw the cut off plastic unit onto your cutoff metal
chasis, and then take that and screw it on back to the overall housing.
That's it. It's a lot, but not too bad....

Headunit ran me $1,171.65

Oh yeah, would've never been able to pull the headunit off, or figure out
the wiring pin out from the stock rear amp without everyone's posts from
before. Thanks!

 

I like the headunit...very nice..I would get one later if funds come in smoothly...Congrats..!

 

Thanks!

I haven't hooked up the power antenna signal yet. The AV unit is in the trunk along with the remote
out connection for the antenna.

Does anyout know if it isbetter to wire the remote wire it directly to the power antenna in the trunk
or send it to one of the harnesses behind the headunit. I know the orginal function of the
antenna moved up and down depending on the signal it was receiving, so I wasn't sure if that
was a factor. Can anyone out there help?

 

I wired my antenna to a power antenna lead off the back of the headunit. The amp lead will send power to the antenna whenever the head unit is on and has a signal, weather it be FM, CD, or DVD. The power antenna lead will only send power to the antenna when the tuner is selected. My Kenwood Excelon reciever has a power antenna lead separate from the amp power wire, and I'll bet your head unit, since it is certainly not entry level, has the same lead for the antenna.

BTW, I had tried the same thing with the old receiver faceplate that you did, but it did not turn out as good as yours. After a few months I abandoned it and made my own filler with a sheet of ABS plastic and a Dremel.

 

there are two wires that you need to connect to your remote antenna the Pink with Green tracer Pink with Blue tracer ... the antenna should go up when you have the radio on and down when your playing your dvd's or CD's

 

Thanks Guys! Hopefully I'll have time to hook it up tonight.

Thanks again!

 

I sold mine on ebay for 255$ +shipping a little over a year ago ... you might try there

 

I love the year of your car, the body panels, like the wheels.

The stereo head unit, I dunno, it looks pretty rough in it's installation.
The chopping of the stock unit doesn't look clean. there' s non real need for the unit, so if you covered it w/some plexi, or carbon fiber, it would really clean things up.

Just my 2 cents.

 

damm was taht a workin stock radio that you choopped?

 

I usually don't give bad feedback, but that is just whack! You messed up a perfectly fine working unit....and those two radio pieces don't even match.

 

OH YEAH that is crazy ... what the heck were you thinking! lol you could have sold that for at least 50$ but you cut it up rather than having a 20$ pieace of plastic fabed. crazy!

 

What.....in the hell..........that LOOKS STRAIGHT HORRIBLE....i don't know what u were thinkin. What a poor timely job that looks like. I hope that was an late April Fool's joke! or you are just a FOOL! lol

 

lol....

I'm definetly happy with the final install........but thanks for the feedback....