I'm not really looking to move from a LS430 to an LS460 just yet but I am always looking just in case...because you never know. I came across a '10 LS460 that looks like it would check most of the boxes I would want. However, one of the things I really like about my LS430 is the ML Stereo and I think it is one of the major check boxes. On the LS460 if is says "Lexus Premium Radio" in the speaker grill I'm assuming that means it's not the ML. In addition I don't think I see anything that says Mark Levinson around the radio. So, seems as though this one is no ML stereo? I'm also assuming most of you that have the ML stereo would agree it's a major plus to have it?

I also remember seeing in some posts that most arm rests are the kind of plastic arm rests instead of leather. However there are some leather door panels and you can tell them by the stitching (or lack there of) on the actual arm rest. Not seeing the stitching on the arm rest probably means the standard door panel?

 

Hello. I think if you like music the ML is a must-have. I spent several thousand on the system in my old car, which I installed myself, and the '15 ML is good enough that I don't really miss it. (No, it's not as good; but it's good enough.) And it weighs much less, and uses probably 5% of the electrical current my custom system did.

 

Lexus Premium Radio is the base system. If it has the ML system it will say so on the speaker grilles and on the radio.

If you don't see stitching on the armrests, then it's not leather.

 

Easiest way to tell if a 2010+ LS460 has ML from pics is to simply look for the gold lettering in the middle of the radio, if it has the gold lettering it has ML, if it does not have the lettering it does not, you can easily tell from even blurry far away pics if it has ML just by looking for lettering in the plastic in the middle where the radio controls are. ML is pretty rare on non long wheelbase/non sport LS's, it is so rare I stopped making it a big priority when looking because there are so few out there that had it, normally about 1 in 15-20 non long wheelbase RWD LS's had ML that I have been seeing.

 

I have a 2010 LS460, I was specifically looking for one with the ML system, everyone I looked at had it, so I started thinking it was basically standard and the one I ended up getting did not have it, I did not realize it until the deal was done. I previously had a '04 LS430 with the ML. In my opinion the Premium version in my LS460 is as every bit as good as the ML system in the LS430. Sure it has less speakers and does not sound as good as a LS460 ML system, but it sounds pretty good, I would not fault it. However, like I'm sure you have seen people bad talk the premium system to no end. I would just bring your ipod or favorite disc to the party to try it out before you buy.

 

i got a 2012 AWD with the ML, had to look for a long time but finally found one a few weeks back.