What does this button do?

[BaronArron]

Hello all. Just put a small deposit down on a 2011 Alphard currently on its way from Japan.

 

I’ve been looking through the photos supplied by the Japanese exporter and noticed this curious button which I’ve not seen on the other Alphards and Vellfires I’ve been looking at.

 

Can anyone enlighten me as to what it does please?

 

Many thanks!

 

[MonsterS]

Either Parking Sensor or parking lights....

[BaronArron]

I don’t think so. Parking sensor button is located below this and lights would be on the stalk. Thanks though.

[Picasso]

Welcome Arron worth buying the English translated handbook will tell you what the buttons do 

[BigNev]

Hello there newbie!

I would second the recommendation for the "JPNZ" owners manual, I bought one before we got ours! 

Auto Jap Spares were where I got ours, via ebay.

In the meanwhile, from that very manual, the description of that button is - "Wide View Front And Side Control", whatever that means as there is no further explanation.

But my guess is it's related to the car having the 360 degree camera system, and the button perhaps alters the view shown on the screen.

Cheers, Nev

 

[BaronArron]

13 hours ago, BigNev said:

Hello there newbie!

I would second the recommendation for the "JPNZ" owners manual, I bought one before we got ours! 

Auto Jap Spares were where I got ours, via ebay.

In the meanwhile, from that very manual, the description of that button is - "Wide View Front And Side Control", whatever that means as there is no further explanation.

But my guess is it's related to the car having the 360 degree camera system, and the button perhaps alters the view shown on the screen.

Cheers, Nev

 

Thanks! I’ve seen this manual referenced a few times on this forum. I’ll certainly pick one up once I get the vehicle.

 

And thanks for referring what that button does. I also think it’s some sort of 360 camera option, but I wasn’t aware this was even an option back in 2011.

 

It may all be moot anyway as my importer will be replacing the head unit with a CarPlay system, which I imagine would be incompatible.

[skippy992]

The button you’re referring to switches the front and side cameras on the screen when the car is in reverse pushing it again turns the rear camera on again.

i have the 2008 series 20 so I use this if your in reverse but want to see the side and front cameras handy if your reversing but want to see the side camera display.

i also have the front camera turned on auto so it displays when car slows to 4kph or less you can set this on the screen using the far right icon on bottom of screen then shows Auto.

see pictures hope this clarifies the use of that switch.

[skippy992]

Just as a foot note to last post I wouldn’t bother replacing the head unit as I have the GL so premium sound system fitted I just added a CarPlay unit so keep all the features of the original system video cameras etc just stream the Apple CarPlay unit to Aspare Fm frequency works great only cost about $69 here in Australia made in china of course has sat nav as well so retained all the original Head unit features which are really excellent shame to go to all that expense and loose some of the steering wheel controls when replacing the original head unit only I fitted my apple car to the dash with strong 3m tape so no damage to dash then fed cable down to the cigarette lighter plug.

[BaronArron]

Awesome, thanks @skippy992 - exactly the info I was after.

 

My importer says that if they replace the Headunit with their typical CarPlay system, I'll loose this functionality, but I'll gain HD reverse camera, HD screen and HD roof monitor. Or they can install CarPlay software and keep the all the rest of the tech as-is. Need to decide if I'd actually use the side/front camera - I can see them being useful but parking isn't exactly as tight as it is in Japan here where I am in the UK!