Hi there: Yes, I searched the forum (and looked at Lexus.com) but couldn't find an answer. Does the non-Mark Levinson (standard) audio system come with a cassette deck? And I'm assuming the ML system DOES come with a cassette deck? I have lots of tapes that I'm too lazy to transfer to CD so this might be a consideration as I'm trying to put together a deal on a new ES350.

Thanks

 

They both have it.....I am amazed you have tapes

 

Thanks, that's weird - Every ES350 on the Carmax.com site has a blank plate where the cassette opening is (No MLs)?!

Any yes, I have tapes - mostly language, books, etc. Serious music listening, of course, on CD only.

 

I had to go check but there is no cassette deck on or available for a ES350.

Dave Mac

 

The plot thickens: Although it's not mentioned in the ES350 brochure or anywhere on Lexus.com, EVERY official (Lexus) picture of the ES350 has the cassette deck opening below the CD player (?!)

 

No, I'm not sure what you are seeing in the pictures but there is no cassette deck below the CD player.

Dave Mac

 

Hi everybody, Im tC350; long time lurker first time joiner......


.......my mom just bought a 08' ES 350 a little over 2 weeks ago and she has the Nav without the ML and there is a tape deck

 

Really? You must not own an ES350? I've check the Lexus website to verify sktn77a's claim, and looks like he's right on.

There's a cassete deck in my ES w/ML and every other ES I've encountered with or without the ML.

 

well i don't have a cassette deck in mine.. so uh.. some do.. some dont

 

This is getting interesting. The question was does a non ML lexus have a cassette deck and mine does not nor can I see one in the pictures I've looked at. The Mark Levinson without Nav does I believe have a cassette deck. I don't know about with Nav but don't think it does.

Dave Mac

 

sktn77a, can you post a link to one one of the pictures showing the cassette deck? That might help.

 

The cassette deck is available either with or without the ML audio package. It's up to the regional distributors to specify its inclusion. Depending on in which part of the US you live, cars in your area may or may not have the deck. In the DC/MD/VA area, it's included.

 

YotaCarFan may have solved this mystery. And that is one irritation with the Lexus distribution system. HID headlights which I wanted for example were not available in my area without NAV which I did not want. I do note though that if he is correct then they must even supply different owner's manuals in the different regions because my manual makes no reference to a cassette deck with the standard radio.

Dave

 

In NC, our cars without Nav do not have cassette players. With nav, they do. The Ultra comes with nav AND ML, so it has cassette. I believe this is true for the Southeast region. It is region specific.

 

Right. My nav-equipped ES350 (non-ML) has the cassette player. The non-nav loaner I drove last week did not.