Factory Navigation - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

2008xle · 12-28-2007, 08:28 AM

I want to install a factory navigation on my 2008 camry xle. I have been told can not be done. I have been told it could be done but would be very expensive I was quoted $5000 to $8000 in three dealerships. Then I found two dealerships that would do it for 2500. Can it be done maintaining all the functions? Has anybody done it?

I appreciate your input.

Drks1de · 12-28-2007, 12:00 PM

You got an XLE without a Nav? An XLE isn't my cup to tea but if I were to get one it better be fully loaded (for what you're paying for).

Anyways I know of a few people who have bought the OEM Nav system and then had it installed at any compenent stereo shop for much less than your dealer quoted prices. You can pick one up from oemvalue.com for less than $1700 (asuming they have any in stock) or even Ebay has a few every now and then. After that its all a matter of plug and play. Other than the speed sensor wires and the mounting of the GPS antenna it should be pretty straitforward.

njerald · 12-28-2007, 12:30 PM

This has been discussed numerous times in the last 1 1/2 years.

Use the Search function..............

pillpusher84 · 12-28-2007, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drks1de

You got an XLE without a Nav? An XLE isn't my cup to tea but if I were to get one it better be fully loaded (for what you're paying for).

Anyways I know of a few people who have bought the OEM Nav system and then had it installed at any compenent stereo shop for much less than your dealer quoted prices. You can pick one up from oemvalue.com for less than $1700 (asuming they have any in stock) or even Ebay has a few every now and then. After that its all a matter of plug and play. Other than the speed sensor wires and the mounting of the GPS antenna it should be pretty straitforward.

Speed Sensor wires are prewired as well - it's basically plug and play from oemvalue.com ... mounting GPS Antenna in the center stack air vent area has seemed to be sufficient for some people that have done the OEM Nav install from what I've heard (mine is factory installed)

2008xle · 12-28-2007, 11:52 PM

You are right, I should have gotten the Navigation system. I requested it but the dealer said Toyota is no longer shipping them installed, that they have to be installed after car was purchased. I had no reason to doubt him so i believed him. T"he my surprise they installed an eclipse unit. I told them I was expecting the same unit i had seen in the showroom in a hybrid. They eventually removed the eclipse and now i am looking to install a factory one but I hear so many different things.

By the way this happened in Millenium Toyota in New YORK, SO DONT BUY FROM THEM.

njerald · 12-29-2007, 07:51 AM

You believed a car salesman????????????????

2008xle · 12-29-2007, 07:55 AM

Yes. I am not familiar on how cars should come or not.

akira751 · 12-29-2007, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by njerald

You believed a car salesman????????????????

Easy now. We all don't lie

Dang1 · 12-30-2007, 01:10 PM

To answer your question.....

Yes, you can install the factory navigation, and it works exactly the same as it does when installed at the factory. (I'm assuming your XLE already has JBL...)

There is a kit you can get from a Canadian dealer that makes it all plug and play. Some U.S. dealers may be able to get the kit as well, not sure.

New from the dealer they seem to be about $3,500. You can find them on eBay for about $1,500. (caution, there is an aftermarket one on eBay that "looks" oem, but isn't. If it has a slot in the top, it's not the OEM unit.) I actually have one sitting here I'll be putting on eBay at some point. oemvalue sells them for about $1,500 as well.

If you want to PM me your address, you might find actual Toyota retrofit instructions in your inbox...you never know.

One caution to anyone reading this and has a hybrid. Adding a Nav unit to a hybrid and getting the energy screens working is more challenging. It's possible, but you have to be super careful as to which model of nav you get.

Later!

Dang

2008xle · 12-31-2007, 01:51 PM

Thanks, you are most helpful

MrSo0h0o · 12-31-2007, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2008xle

You are right, I should have gotten the Navigation system. I requested it but the dealer said Toyota is no longer shipping them installed, that they have to be installed after car was purchased. I had no reason to doubt him so i believed him. T"he my surprise they installed an eclipse unit. I told them I was expecting the same unit i had seen in the showroom in a hybrid. They eventually removed the eclipse and now i am looking to install a factory one but I hear so many different things.

By the way this happened in Millenium Toyota in New YORK, SO DONT BUY FROM THEM.

u didnt take the eclipse unit?!? IMO the aftermarket eclipse units are of WAY better quality than any OEM nav units..

***wireless*** · 12-31-2007, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSo0h0o

u didnt take the eclipse unit?!? IMO the aftermarket eclipse units are of WAY better quality than any OEM nav units..

Two comments:

1) Big difference between quality and functionality. Not saying that Eclipse aren't high quality, but I think you are confusing the two in this case.

2) Some people prefer OEM for many reasons.

Drks1de · 12-31-2007, 03:29 PM

As far as the Toyota Navigation systems, most aftermarket ones beat it in function. Pioneer and Eclipse are two of the best nav systems on the market, and you can't get XM, iPod and video outputs without having to pay extra for it with the OEM (versus a $30 cable for ipod and less than $100 for XM on a Pioneer system). The days of splicing wires to get an afermarket nav system to work on a Camry is over (especially for us who have the useless JBL). It's literally a plug and play operation, so instead of stressing over how the dash just doesn't look the same without a stock radio, I'd rather use my wholesale account access at Volutone and get a Pioneer nav system for a fraction of retail, especially since Toyota does not sell options ala carte. If one REALLY needs an OEM system, buy one at oemvalue.com for $1500 shipped. Still pretty pricy, but better than having it packaged as an option.

I would have kept the Eclipse...and what's the BS about Toyota not shipping cars with Navigation systems already installed?? Someone actually believed that crock of $#!t??

***wireless*** · 12-31-2007, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drks1de

As far as the Toyota Navigation systems, most aftermarket ones beat it in function.

True, but I wanted OEM and getting the Acura system into my Camry seemed like more work than I wanted to deal with

thapranksta · 12-31-2007, 05:11 PM

I never had a factory nav but after hearing all the complaints about the lock-out when you are driving the car, I'd rather not own a factory navigation system. First, I had a Kenwood (Garmin) navigation system and now I'm working on an Eclipse navigation. Sometimes I rethink my decision about selling the Kenwood after experiencing such good quality with the Garmin navigation.

But the Eclipse will look more OEM in my Lex with the green backlighting and give me more/cleaner audio controls.

Hopefully the navigation is as good as Garmin or very comparable.

If I were you, I would have just kept the Eclipse system. It is overall better than factory navigation since it is the same company but it has more features than factory. BTW, do you know what model the Eclipse unit was?