Im looking at picking up an 07 460L.. Only problem is all the ones I find w reclining rear seats have the ML system..(or rear seat ent) which i dont want so i can do major audio upgrades. Is it possible to retain nav but lose the dvd player? Or can I simply switch out the whole head unit cluster? Rewiring the audio wont be an issue as im putting a new system in...but the head unit needs to function 100% w steering controls to make it worth while...

or is it jus easier to buy an L w/o reclining seats & no ML and add the reclining seats after.. any help would be great. i just dont want to buy the wrong model..an be stuck w a car i cant enjoy "fully".

 

nothing wrong with the head unit, you will want to keep it and all the functionality that comes with it. Its easy enough to pull the audio drivers that are in there now and just replace them with Focal or other good quality drivers, add your own amps and a rockford 3sixty or other good processor and you will be amazed at the sound. i did just that as have several people up here on the the board. you can search for audio upgrade etc and find the links

I would guess that reclining seats will have an ML in it, if you can get it with just the premium then get that and replace the drivers. I dont believe you can add the seat later.

 

the major issue is i want to add a video source to the factory monitor an all leads say i cant do it if i have the ML system.. if theres a way let me know bcuz it'll save me a giant headche....

 

quick Google search brought this up, Im guessing there are folks out there that do this..

http://www.navvideo.com/navvideo-mod...=Lexus%20LS460

The ML comes with a DVD source the Premium does not, so if your looking to add you would need ML from what I understand. I would just contact these folks unless someone else knows the answer, they seem to have a solution similar to what your looking for

 

yeah i checked that out unfortunately it only works on non ML units. which brings me back to square one... a friend says i may be able to tie into the b/u cam w some form of video switcher an relay set-up to get video up on the factory screen. but doesnt a warning pop up on the screen when the cam is on??

 

no warning, it just takes the camera input when the car is in reverse.

Maybe just get a non-ML system and just swap out the CD player with a DVD or use a separate DVD source?

 

yeah that was my 1st option but u cant get the reclining rear seats (exec pkg) without ML... theres plenty of ways to input to a non dvd radio.. vaistech,nav tv,coastal etech,icon tv, etc.... but none offer a viable option to do video w the ML.. which is why i was askin if anyone knew what would happen if i tried to downgrade ML to normal nav radio. its an expensive downgrade to be sure..but i feel it'll be worth it in the long run..i'm lookin at adding the kenwood KOS-V1000 which will let me add anything(ipod video,hdd,sirius,sat tv,even internet) that comes out now or in the near future to the system...

im sorry for soooo many questions. i jus wanna make sure i buy the right model LS..