Can anyone explain with the Navigation system without the ML can't play dvds? I'm looking into getting an is350 but i'm trying to figure out why I have to upgrade to lux/sport to get ML in order to play dvds...

thanks

 

I tested mine (Sports/Nav), and it couldn't read dvds.

 

why though...? does the ML come with a dvd player or something? I mean isn't the nav system the dvd player?

 

Thats what I've heard - the ML comes with the dvd player for the audio system. The navigation system does use a dvd, but it's not part of the audio system. It's hidden somewhere in the car.

 

If you do not have ML, you WILL NOT be able to play DVD's. That's why the ML is so expensive...it enables you to play DVD's.

 

I was reading the manuals, and it said that it could play cd video like VCD...and other PC format... Is that for the ML too?

 

I'm not sure exactly which format the ML can support but all I know for sure is that without ML, you won't be able to watch any movies period.

 

not true, there are parts you can purchase to have navigations play DVDs.
there are many threads on this.

 

If there is, I haven't heard of any one doing it on the 2IS yet.

 

the answer is no. don't let anyone fool you into believing it has been done cause it hasn't. a cd player will never read a dvd and playback the video using the stock non-ml system, parts or no parts. maybe you can replace the cd-player with a dvd-player or something but you're better off just going with ml.

 

that's what i thought and besides, if there was a way to make a non-ML system work, why would anyone want to buy the ML? It wouldn't have made economic sense for Lexus to do that.

 

From the Edmunds site we have the following price information:

VN Navigation System/Mark Levinson Package info $3,990

NV Navigation System Package info $2,550

ML Mark Levinson Premium Audio Package $940 ( you have to order the car to get this)

If you bought NAV and ML as standalones the total would be ~$3,500 (I'm not sure that you could do this, but for the sake of making a point.) and if you buy the NAV/ML package the total is $3,990. That extra ~$500 buys you a six disc DVD changer in the place of the CD changer that comes with the base and ML audio systems and enables both the NAVS ability to show DVDs and the MLs abillity to play surround sound.

Although you would think that DTS audio (very few sold) CDs would give surround sound because the CD changer still has an optical output to the processor...but that is neither here nor there.

 

parts.. meaning i was referring to an external DVD player. Most people usually install ps2s or xbox so that they would be able to play games/DVDs on the same screen.

 

because..

a) the ML sound system is better than stock
b) they dont want to hassle with aftermarket products.

 

Yes absolutely. If you install an aftermarket DVD player and screen it your car yourself, it will play DVDs and movies. But no one has yet figured out how to modify the stock CD player to play DVDs on the Nav screen. There is a rumor about a certain part that might work but we are all waiting on it to be tested and proven out.