Lexus install

[Electrodynamic]

Oh, it sounds a LOT better now.

I'll post pics tonight of the new HU install. I ditched my double-din Kenwood for an Eclipse 7200.

Hopefully I can get a few of the cover panels done this weekend.

[Neutered Sputniks]

Glad to hear you went with the Eclipse. Sound as good as you'd hoped?

[Electrodynamic]

Oh yeah man, the 7200 sounds like pure sex compared to the Kenwood.

[Electrodynamic]

Here's how the HU install went. For those of you who don't know, Metra recently came out with a kit for the SC300/400's. It's a pretty big deal because there was NO kit before they came out with this. You always had to make your own cover panels and such. Anyway, here is the process:

Here is how it looked prior to the install (the hole under the HU is what I was talking about - I was going to build a plate but decided on a single din swap and decided to live with the hole until the new HU became a reality):


After taking the top part of the center console off you are left with this:


You then take the 4 screws on each side of the double din out and remove the head unit:


What's left is the climate control unit attached to the metal brackets. You remove the four screws (two on each side) that hold the climate control unit in place:


This kit comes with the brackets to mount it all back in place. You actually remove the metal factory bracket and install this plastic bracket.


Here's a pic of the Eclipse 7200 mkII before install. Notice the copper goodness.


You have to test fit your HU to the bracket and the face plate. The face plate is odd because it is just held in place by friction - no screws. So with everything hanging free it's a little difficult to keep it together. The only bad thing about my HU is that the face plate is thick on it and it sticks out from the face. I could have inset the HU but there would be a hole all the way around it when the face wasn't on. And now that I think about it I'm not sure if there is enough depth to inset it without clearance issues from the back of the deck to the back of the center console.

[Electrodynamic]

Next step is to secure the HU and climate control to the plastic bracket:


Then you put the face plate of the kit on and attach the whole thing like you normally would. What you end up with is this:

[Electrodynamic]

PS: I'm going to see if I can slide the HU back into the bay this weekend.

[Neutered Sputniks]

Just make sure you watch that opening mechanism. If you slide it back too far, the front might not be able to open properly. I know on my S I have to make sure I vertically center the HU when I put it in or the faceplate won't open all the way.


Can't wait till I upgrade from the 7100 to the 7200.

[Electrodynamic]

^ Yeah, I thought about that last night. I don't think I can shove it back any farther due to how it opens and, again, the depth of the unit. I'm not saying it's a really deep unit - it's standard size - but I only have so much room in my center console.

[Neutered Sputniks]

BTW, when you switch the HU to active (highs, mids, sub), you have to hold the button down for 10 seconds or so. Took me a call to tech support to figure that one out (the manual doesn't say hold it down, just to push to select).

[Tirefryr]

That's my only bitch about the Eclipse units.