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Lexus GS 450h Accessories & Modifications

23 messages,  Last post on Aug 24, 2007 at 11:39 AM

You are in the Lexus GS 450h Forum.

What is this discussion about? Lexus GS 450h, Performance Mods, Sedan

Messages Page 2 of 3

#4 of 23 Can we improve fuel economy by zeroohm

Aug 01, 2006 (5:37 pm)

The key to this car’s performance is the fact that the batteries must remain fully charged to give the “pilot” the ability to mash the peddle and rocket to 60 mph (or faster). So the car is designed to keep the battery charge as full as possible to be ready for the launch. It is evident in the worse city mpg compared to highway.
  Most hybrids have better city mpg because of the use of regenerative braking to charge the battery. But to really take advantage of regenerative breaking you need to let the battery drain down some until you can charge it back by slowing the car. Much of the (relatively) poor city mpg of the 450h is due to the bias toward keeping the batteries fully charged and ready for action. Another significant reason for the (relatively) poor city mpg is that the electric motors are very powerful and will drain more on the battery than say the motors used in the Pirus.
  So how could we improve the gas mileage of the 450h without making any mechanical changes? Can we find a software hack out there willing to play with the program that controls this engine? If we can, I think we could make some changes that could really improve fuel economy. Here are some ideas for a potential hack out there. (I am sure people will pay you for the changes – I will!)
  Idea 1: reduce the power used by the electric motors. Since you can’t disengage some of windings in the motors without a mechanical change, how do you reduce the power used by the motors? One relatively simple way is to disconnect one motor. In “economy” mode, the 450h would only use one of the electric motors to propel the car.
  Idea 2: change the timing of when the combustion engine engages. If the batteries are allowed to discharge more, the combustion engine would be needed less. In economy mode the car would rely more on the electric motors and less on the combustion engine.
  Idea 3: change the electronic timing in the combustion engine so that it runs on three cylinders. Actually I think this change would require some mechanical changes inside the engine but if it could be done you could improve not only city mpg but highway also.
  All of these changes should be able to be turned on and off with a switch because the real reason for buying the 450h is not for fuel savings. But the average guy would love to be able to see how far he can go on a tank. I know that I hate stopping for gas so I would use the “economy” switch on my normal daily commute.
  Is anyone out there capable of hacking for us?

#5 of 23 Bluetooth & Treo 650 by bmwconvert

Aug 02, 2006 (10:51 am)

I've posted earlier about the difficulty in using Bluetooth with a Treo 650 in the GS450h. I had to get a new 650, so had to go through the hassles again. I believe I now know the solution.
 
The Treo sees the car as a headset and prompts for input of the security code. After entering the code, the phone thinks it is connected, but the car just waits with a message saying to "enter the security code in your phone". It doesn't recognize that the phone has connected already.
 
The solution appears to simply be to make a phone call while the car is still in the waiting mode (i.e. before it times out with a connection error). When you make the phone call, it must send a bluetooth signal to the car, which results in the connection being recognized. From that point on, it works fine.

#6 of 23 Low beam adjustment? by bmwconvert

Aug 02, 2006 (10:56 am)

Speaking of modifications...
Is there any way to improve the quality of the low beam HID's? Nice and bright, but not much help given that they're practically pointed down to the road. Consumer Reports indicated this as a problem with other GS models (and numerous other vehicles as well). What's the point of bright xenon lights if they're not pointed up the road?
 
By the way, I've yet to notice the benefits of the lights adjusting into a curve.

#7 of 23 Re: Unlocking the DVD player for use while in motion [bmwconvert] by simoparv

Oct 19, 2006 (11:23 am)

Replying to: bmwconvert (Jul 18, 2006 9:13 am)
Did you ever get this question answered? I too would like to be able to view DVD's while moving.
 
Simon Parvin

#8 of 23 Re: Unlocking the DVD player for use while in motion [simoparv] by bmwconvert

Oct 19, 2006 (11:26 am)

Replying to: simoparv (Oct 19, 2006 11:23 am)
Unfortunately no. It's not unique to this car, but I haven't seen anything about doing so in any other forums or publications.

#9 of 23 Lexus Now Says Sirius Will Not Be Available by bmwconvert

Dec 07, 2006 (7:58 pm)

I ordered (and paid for) Sirius when I purchased my vehicle back in May. Dealer said Sirius would be available by summer. Then it became "next year". Word now is that they will not make Sirius available in the GS. I settled for the XM.
 
While the installation was well done by the technician, I was disappointed to see that a small black antenna was glued to the top of the right rear panel, just next to the trunk, and a wire comes out from the seam at the trunk. It looks like any after market installation (albeit a professionally executed one). Hard to believe this is how Lexus planned for satellite radio in this vehicle, given that most if not all other manufacturers have a more integrated solution. Dealer told me that shark fin antennas are now used, but it wasn't available on mine. I guess a 2007 model car wasn't new enough.

#10 of 23 Re: Lexus Now Says Sirius Will Not Be Available [bmwconvert] by terry92270

Dec 07, 2006 (10:43 pm)

Replying to: bmwconvert (Dec 07, 2006 7:58 pm)
Call the 800 Lexus number, and complain. It should have been a roof mount, or the small button antenna they now place on the front dash.

#11 of 23 Re: Lexus Now Says Sirius Will Not Be Available [terry92270] by bmwconvert

Dec 08, 2006 (11:32 am)

Replying to: terry92270 (Dec 07, 2006 10:43 pm)
Did you mean a roof mount of the antenna I have, or a shark fin version?
Lexus representative says that, because the car wasn't originally ordered with XM, the only option was for the dealer to install it aftermarket in the manner that they did.
Dealer salesperson claims that no GS's prior to Oct/Nov 2006 came in with roof mount shark fin antennas. All GS's with satellite prior to that, whether factory, port or dealer, are installed the way mine is.
I was hoping for (and swear I was promised) a color coordinated shark fin antenna, but I may be mistaken.
I don't think I would choose the dash mount over what I have now. I did that with Sirius in my prior car and the reception was poor. I think the roof was sometimes interfering with the signal.

#12 of 23 Re: Lexus Now Says Sirius Will Not Be Available [bmwconvert] by terry92270

Dec 08, 2006 (12:35 pm)

Replying to: bmwconvert (Dec 08, 2006 11:32 am)
The "Shark Fin" is a part, and can be bought from XM suppliers for not much money, dude. Bitch out the dealer for not disclosing the BS install to you before doing the job, and perhaps they will switch the antenna for you. Its a simple matter of unplugging one lead, and plugging in another.

#13 of 23 Re: Unlocking the DVD player for use while in motion [bmwconvert] by salsags450h

Jan 13, 2007 (9:36 pm)

Replying to: bmwconvert (Oct 19, 2006 11:26 am)
Has anyone heard of going into the menu screen, then pressing volume, and tapping on the left top and bottom to deactivate or unlock DVD?

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