Interfacing An Aftermarket Pioneer Head Unit W/factory Cd Changer

Doug Gangi · August 3, 2006

The display on the factory Pioneer stereo on my 2000 GS300 recently disintegrated, which now gives me an excuse to get a new aftermarket stereo. I have my eye on the Pioneer Premier DEH-P980BT, which has Bluetooth phone integration (GOTTA HAVE IT), MP3 CD playback, and a way to interface with MP3 players.

But I would still like to keep the factory CD changer, which I assume is also a Pioneer unit.

How can I hook up the new Pioneer head unit with the stock CD changer? The local installer has no clue how to do this and is telling me that I have to junk the changer and buy a new unit. I've seen posts on this subject, so I am sure somebody has figured out how to do this.

Please help.

Thx...Doug

PIONEERSUBY · August 4, 2006

The display on the factory Pioneer stereo on my 2000 GS300 recently disintegrated, which now gives me an excuse to get a new aftermarket stereo. I have my eye on the Pioneer Premier DEH-P980BT, which has Bluetooth phone integration (GOTTA HAVE IT), MP3 CD playback, and a way to interface with MP3 players.

But I would still like to keep the factory CD changer, which I assume is also a Pioneer unit.

How can I hook up the new Pioneer head unit with the stock CD changer? The local installer has no clue how to do this and is telling me that I have to junk the changer and buy a new unit. I've seen posts on this subject, so I am sure somebody has figured out how to do this.

Please help.

Thx...Doug

yes i can change the expansion board in your lexus factory changer so it will work with the p seires pioneer aftermarket units which yours is p series cd changer port. that is what the p is befire the 980bt. in the model number deh-p980bt the p means it is pbus. so i change the board and then the pseries wiring harness will now plug into the lexus changer i charge 75.00 for this service and it includes the new wiring which alone would be 75.00 if bought from pioneer. so you will still have your same changer in the glovebox and use the same lexus magazines. but will now play though your new pioneer head unit. the changer will even put out cd text and other new features of the new pioneer headunit that it didnt do with the lexus headunit. and the gs changer was made in japan not some third world country like the current pioneer aftermarket and will be playing many years after a new aftermarket changer has quit working soon after its 1 year warranty is up................................................................................................................................. by the way a new gs display that will last at least another 8 years are only 125.00 and are easy to replace with my photo directions. another option is to install a used 2007 es350 navigation head unit which has a 4 disc changer and bluetooth capability . the advantage of that is that it is completely compatible with your present lexus digital audio system whereas the pioneer is going to have to bypass the current amplifier and when it sounds terrible running off the small amp in the deh pioneer headunit then the installer will hit you up for aftermarket amp and new speakers all around.by the time you spend that much you could have the latest factory head unit. plus it will say lexus when you turn on the screen and increase the value of your vehicle instead of decreasing the value like aftermarket units do. no matter how much money you have spent on an aftermarket stereo the first thing any used car seller does when flipping a lexus is remove the aftermarket stereo and put back the original.

Doug Gangi · August 7, 2006

Thanks for the information. I had no idea that an aftermarket Pioneer stereo would decrease the resale value of my car.

That being said, I would rather not fix the stock head unit in my car for the following reasons: 1) it's not compatible with MP3 players (unless you use those silly FM transmitters...ugh); 2) I really want bluetooth for the phone; and 3) FM reception of the stock radio is horrible.

Is there a reason the aftermarket Pioneer unit can't work with my amp?

If I were to explore the option of getting an es350 head unit, how would I mount that in my car? Are the faceplates interchangeable? Or would I need to fabricate something? Does this work with my stock CD changer? And where would I buy something like this?

Thx...Doug

trjnlaw · September 21, 2006

The display on the factory Pioneer stereo on my 2000 GS300 recently disintegrated, which now gives me an excuse to get a new aftermarket stereo. I have my eye on the Pioneer Premier DEH-P980BT, which has Bluetooth phone integration (GOTTA HAVE IT), MP3 CD playback, and a way to interface with MP3 players.

But I would still like to keep the factory CD changer, which I assume is also a Pioneer unit.

How can I hook up the new Pioneer head unit with the stock CD changer? The local installer has no clue how to do this and is telling me that I have to junk the changer and buy a new unit. I've seen posts on this subject, so I am sure somebody has figured out how to do this.

Please help.

Thx...Doug

yes i can change the expansion board in your lexus factory changer so it will work with the p seires pioneer aftermarket units which yours is p series cd changer port. that is what the p is befire the 980bt. in the model number deh-p980bt the p means it is pbus. so i change the board and then the pseries wiring harness will now plug into the lexus changer i charge 75.00 for this service and it includes the new wiring which alone would be 75.00 if bought from pioneer. so you will still have your same changer in the glovebox and use the same lexus magazines. but will now play though your new pioneer head unit. the changer will even put out cd text and other new features of the new pioneer headunit that it didnt do with the lexus headunit. and the gs changer was made in japan not some third world country like the current pioneer aftermarket and will be playing many years after a new aftermarket changer has quit working soon after its 1 year warranty is up................................................................................................................................. by the way a new gs display that will last at least another 8 years are only 125.00 and are easy to replace with my photo directions. another option is to install a used 2007 es350 navigation head unit which has a 4 disc changer and bluetooth capability . the advantage of that is that it is completely compatible with your present lexus digital audio system whereas the pioneer is going to have to bypass the current amplifier and when it sounds terrible running off the small amp in the deh pioneer headunit then the installer will hit you up for aftermarket amp and new speakers all around.by the time you spend that much you could have the latest factory head unit. plus it will say lexus when you turn on the screen and increase the value of your vehicle instead of decreasing the value like aftermarket units do. no matter how much money you have spent on an aftermarket stereo the first thing any used car seller does when flipping a lexus is remove the aftermarket stereo and put back the original.

Pioneer: You seem to really know what you're talking about. I'm planning on purchasing a 2002 - 2005 GS300. I want to add a Navigation system. I've heard getting an OEM nav system is a pain to install, but I've also heard that adding an aftermarket system reduces the value of the car (as you stated). I'm a bit lost ... okay, really lost.... about what I need to make as seamless of an integration, what system to buy and where to go to install it. I'm in the SoCal area. All suggestions are welcome. My email is TrjnLaw@hotmail.com. Thanks!