> I’m trying to decide if I should go for the professional install or stick to a simple 12V plug.

Respectfully, I'd consider another option. I compared hardwiring vs the simple 12V plug on my current setup and tbh, the plug is way safer for ur warranty. Hardwiring *might* cause ECU spikes if u tap the wrong fuse. I chose the plug-in way and it’s basically zero risk. It sucks losing parking mode, but keeping that electrical system pristine is higher priority on a brand new RX imo!

Hey, congrats on the new RX! So basically, I had a similar scare with my last Lexus... I hardwired a setup and then had a battery drain issue. The dealer tried to blame the camera immediately!! Ngl, it was a headache. Technically, they can't VOID the whole warranty, but they can definitely deny specific electrical claims if they prove your tap caused it. I'd highkey suggest getting a pro install or using a dedicated battery pack to be safe. Just my two cents tho... peace!

Yo, just saw this thread! Honestly, over the years I've tried many setups on my cars, and I totally get the anxiety about a brand new RX. In my experience, dealers highkey use the "dash cam" excuse for everything electrical just to save time on diagnostics.

Check out the ClubLexus forums—there's a great resource there with specific DIY fuse diagrams for the new RX that literally saved me a ton of money. You might find this useful because it shows exactly which fuses are "safe" to tap without touching the sensitive ECU stuff. I mean, I'm still kinda new to these modern Lexus sensors myself, but as long as you arent cutting factory wires, you're mostly fine.

My current setup in my own car was done on a budget because I didnt want to pay $300 for a pro install. I was worried about the battery too, but I found some reallyyy helpful wiring guides on the Lexus Drivers portal that gave me the confidence to do it myself. Pro tip: if you ever HAVE to take the car in for electrical work, just unplug your taps first... it saves so much drama. Basically, if they don't see the taps, they can't blame them! It's been working great for me and I havent had a single issue with the dealership during my regular service visits. Anyway, dont overthink it too much, just be smart about which fuses you pick. gl!

Honestly, I’ve done the DIY install on my last three Lexus builds and it’s way better than paying a shop that might use cheap scotchlok connectors. When I did my RX, I used a digital multimeter to find a non-critical circuit—stayed far away from anything like the SRS or ECU fuses. I ended up using the Vantrue VP01 Hardwire Kit because the low-voltage cutoff is adjustable, which is huge for avoiding those annoying 'low battery' warnings on the dash. If you're going the DIY route, here are a few things that kept my setup clean: 1. Use a proper 'Add-a-Circuit' fuse tap. Always put the car's original fuse in the bottom slot and the dash cam's fuse in the top one to maintain the circuit's integrity.

• Ground it to a solid, unpainted chassis bolt. A lot of people mess this up by using a screw into plastic, which causes wierd electrical interference.
• Verify your BATT+ and ACC lines with a meter. Dont trust the manual's diagram blindly because Lexus sometimes swaps fuse layouts mid-year. If you wrap the wiring in Tesa tape and tuck it properly, most techs wont even notice it’s there during a routine service. It realy just comes down to how clean the install looks under the dash.

Honestly, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is your best friend here. They literally can't void your whole electrical warranty just because you hardwired a camera. They'd have to prove that your specific install actually caused the failure. If you're worried about battery drain, I'd skip the simple fuse tap and get the BlackVue Power Magic Pro or a dedicated Cellink NEO Battery Pack. It keeps the camera running without stressing the Lexus 12V system. I've done this on three different cars and never had a dealer issue! 👍