Out of curiosity has anyone ever upgraded their 2IS + Navi with the ML option after they've taken delivery of the vehicle (ie non factory installed)?

Is it even possible? If so, what are your experiences with it and how much did it all cost you?

I've tried search, but to no avail.

EDIT:

I've tried to research what the difference would be, and it looks like the ML will have the following:

- 8 Inch inverted Sub
- ML3-10 Digital Signal processor/AMP
- 6 Disc DVD changer

Am I missing something?

 

theres a few differences. there is a center channel speaker, the wiring harness from headunit to the amp is different. two of the speakers that are in the rear doors are actually in the rear deck. yes, the amp is different, the dvd changer is different, and it is a different sub setup. to get all these parts is gonna cost over 4-6000 dollars plus the cost of installation. for the price of that you can go with aftermarket options that will work better. i don't think anyone here has "upgraded" to ML. It would have been better to just have waited for a car that came with ML if you wanted it that bad.

 

I know some people here have upgrade from a non-navi to navi but I haven't heard of anyone adding ML.

Yes, it is possible to add it in, but I'm guessing the cost would be astronomical, most likely upwards of $6k installed.

From what I know you need to replace:
ALL 13-14 speakers
Subwoofer
Processor/Amp
6 disc DVD changer
wiring harness
front dash center channel grill
rear dash

For that kind of money you can go with a better aftermarket setup, or trade in your car for a another one with ML.

 

Forget it. Someone from Canada did it here recently and as I remember the parts were $3,500 (salvaged parts), and no labor. This is not the sort of swap you do on a Saturday morning. Next time get the car with ML from the factory.

 

[QUOTE=pinoychris;2951505] two of the speakers that are in the rear doors are actually in the rear deck. QUOTE]

Which two speakers are you referring to?

 

that would be the rear (2.5"?) midrange speakers. They are relocated on the rear deck for the ML system for "surround" purposes.

 

I wouldn't even bother at that point. For that price you can get a car full of speakers and screens.

 

Pickup a sub and amp and you will have a better sounding system for less than 1k.

 

Is it even possible to add OEM nav system afterward? I doubt it. I've been looking for it.

 

anything is possible... it just matters how fat your wallet is

 

Well if someone can install it just like all functions from oem then I'd be really interested. I saw someone did it but couldn't get voice navigation and bluetooth to work. Not to mention missing backup camera.

 

Is this for the 07 model? I've seen the 06 and this is news to me.

 

http://www.marklevinsonlexus.com/overview.asp?model=is

this is how the mark levinson speakers are setup in all the 2IS. As you can see from the link, the 2.5" midrange speakers are in the rear. In the non-ML setup, the midrange speakers are located in the door panels also. Also, I don't think you'd need to buy the grille for the center channel speaker as I was looking on my non-ML '06 and it seems to the same dash as the ML in the front at least.

 

ML owners can you please chime? I've worked o a 06 IS w/ ML and the only speaker on the rear deck is the sub.

 

I assumed the cost would be ridiculous, and like I said I'm just curious. If I didn't ask, I wouldn't have known about the different midrange speakers. Thanks to those that chimed in.