Japanese imports.

bloodhunter · 2 Apr 2017 at 13:14

We are looking to replace our Knackered 1995 Toyota Previa and have been to look at some 2004 imported Estimas. The touch screen radios are all in Japanese and wondered if anyone on here knows of any way to get the changed as there appears to be no user language settings on the unit itself.

Thanks.

Diddums · 2 Apr 2017 at 13:26

What? This makes zero sense. What's the appeal of the JDM car when you can get something good here for considerably less and with zero hassle compared to importing?

andicole0 · 2 Apr 2017 at 13:28

You may find a video on youtube, I'm sure it should be possible.
Andi.

Nasher · 2 Apr 2017 at 13:29

Only problem with imported Jap cars is they often lack proper under-side rust proofing. Our usually wet and salty roads can destroy them quickly without it. So that is something you need to budget for and get done.

There are some nice Jap cars you can't normally buy here though.

Clarkey · 2 Apr 2017 at 13:39

andicole0 said:
You may find a video on youtube, I'm sure it should be possible.
Andi.

Afraid 99% of the time there simply isn't anything you can do with the JDM head units. The best you can really hope for is if there was a UK market version of the car then swap the unit out for the UK spec one. On my MarkX I am able to swap out the navi module for one from a UK spec Lexus GS but the main computer remains all Japanese. Can't really change it because all the OBC functions, climate, stereo, parking system etc run through it.

Axeboy · 2 Apr 2017 at 13:40

If its a standard double din you could just switch it over.

I'm not up to speed on that model, not sure if the radio has any links to other functions though

bloodhunter · 2 Apr 2017 at 13:47

I think it has navigation in it too but thats not a concern. The climate control and things like that are controlled on their own panel.

Axeboy · 2 Apr 2017 at 13:49

Check what functions it has first, if its just radio/nav/reversing camera I think it should be a relatively simple case to switch over to any double din/Toyota unit from ebay.

edit: check sizes of course

bloodhunter · 2 Apr 2017 at 13:49

Nasher said:
Only problem with imported Jap cars is they often lack proper under-side rust proofing. Our usually wet and salty roads can destroy them quickly without it. So that is something you need to budget for and get done.

There are some nice Jap cars you can't normally buy here though.

Not a problem for me as a technician myself i will be underselling it in the workshop. We do a lot of Japanese imports for a seller up the road.

sovietspybob · 2 Apr 2017 at 16:01

You'll want to get it swapped out for a UK version or a standard single/double DIN. Another thing with JDM stereos is the frequency range is different so the only station you can pick up in the UK is Radio2 which is a fate worse than death, you can get band expanders but they're a bit rubbish really so better of just getting a UK stereo in there.

bloodhunter · 21 May 2017 at 08:30

I've finally had a nice Kenwood double din head unit installed which has DAB as well. I did look at units with navigation built in but they were silly money. So I'm very happy with my new purchase all I need to do now is find someone who can sort me out with a spare key that will need to be encrypted.

Tinders · 21 May 2017 at 11:51

I'd just buy a UK based previa, i dont think the imported ones, unless its 2007 onwards offer anything other than increased parts prices on the Previa's/estima/Aeras.

On these, the headunit is basically a headunit, ie not tied into the ecu, so its easy to swap it out for a standard double din, i wouldnt bother getting a toyota one, as by now, the lasers will be starting to fail in the CD drives, the old mans place gets a lot of the Avensis/Hilux/Previa headunits in for repair, with issues with the lasers.