When did the LS600h L add stereo bluetooth? It seems most manufacturers did this around 2010. What other media connectivity differences are there between the years. I'm looking at 2008 to 2012s. Can't really stand the face lift of 2013+.

Also, the executive rear seating looks like it nukes the middle passenger making it a 4 passenger car, right?

 

I guess I answered my own question. The 2010 owners manual has instructions for bluetooth multimedia, usb media, ipod integration, etc. The 2009 manual is completely absent of any of it. So it looks like my search will be limited to 2010 to 2012 models.

 

Yes, Lexus added integrated Bluetooth audio streaming in model Year 2010 for the LS460 and LS600h. If you bought a model year before 2010, there are third-party products that can add that functionality.

 

Yes, there are. However, if you use your phone to play music, every phone call and message boots you out of music - very annoying!

 

Is that different than what other factory bt streaming integrations do?

 

Yes, factory BT streaming can manage the phone streaming and calls/messages properly.

 

I guess I wasn't clear or your description of what you mean by kicking you out of music wasn't clear. All the cars I've owned that have A2DP audio bluetooth support. Terminate the music while on a call. When the call ends, the music may or may not continue from where it was depending on how well the app your using supports it.

What exactly happens that you don't like when a call comes in?

 

As GBP pointed out, 3rd party companies provide this option. I pd 300 bucks or so for a Vais unit and it works just like factory. You can change songs, etc all through your steering wheel controls. It also sounds amazing.

 

That's correct, the executive rear seating package has a fixed rear console (instead of a central console that can fold up), thereby allowing two rear passengers instead of three.

 

Yes, depends on the adapter. The less expensive ones (under $100) kick you out and leave you out. The more expensive ones like the vais use a different protocol and may function superficially like the newer in-car systems for both telephone and music.

 

How does the VAIS compare as far as built in UI goes? Does the factory system transmit album cover art over BT like newer systems do or is that a pipe dream given how long ago 2010 was? Does both factory and VAIS display track name and number? You already said both allow you to change tracks from the steering wheel.

Does the VAIS provide ipod integration so that you can browse music from the nav screen? Does the factory do this with their ipod integration?

 

The Vais indeed does dispay track information. You can also use apps from your phone to play radio apps, youtube etc (no video - just the audio).