Does anyone know if the text message feature on the 2013 RX 350 works with the iphone 4S? We have the 4S hooked up via bluetooth, but the message button is grayed out (showing that it is not available).

My guess is the text message feature does not work with the iphone 4S? Any thoughts???

 

Not all functions are available with iPhone -- I hate to say it, but it's an iPhone/iOS limitation it appears. For details, go to Lexus.com/Bluetooth put in your specifics and look on the "message alerts" tab. It will provide you with extreme detail on what is and is not supported -- it's also a useful tool to determine if a new phone of various types will provide the functionality that is important to you.

 

I did that first. The website says you should be able to see the messages sent to you, but since the message button is always grayed out, I cannot even get into the system to bring anything up.

 

...then, and assuming you have the latest version of iOS on your 4S, I suggest you contact your sales department, and make an appointment with their technology specialist. Every dealer has one, and they are there to help us use the technologies in our Lexus. They have access to information we as consumers don't, and may be able to assist you further if no one else can offer an idea here to help you. Good luck.

 

If your '13 RX is like mine, it didn't come pre set up to accept messages, you'll have to go into the settings to enable it. It should work with your iPhone 4S - I believe I've seen other folks on another thread with the 4S. Just be aware that even though you'll be able to receive text messages, you can't respond... that's an iPhone limitation.

Look in your Navigation manual, section 2 Set up, around page190.. you'll find the instructions there.

Hope that helps.

 

I looked in the manual and thought I found the page you talked about, but maybe I missed it. I will look again and if all else fails stop by the dealership for another lesson.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions....

 

Also, on the phone you have to go into the bluetooth area, into the actual bluetooth link and enable message notifications for the phone to push text messages to the car. Note though that reply is not available on the iPhone, not supported in iOS at this time.

 

This may be the trick because right now when I go through the car the messages button is grayed out so I cannot select it, and in the set up screen there is no button for the message settings like the owners manual shows.

It looks like I must set the phone first and then the message settings on the car will become available for use.

 

Just want to confirm that this is indeed what you have to do with an iPhone4S & 5 to get texts to come up. From my experience, the iPhone will not push older texts to the car but will only show the texts you get while in the car.

 

This was the missing link... You have to have the car running and linked to the phone, go into the connection settings on the phone for the actual car device, and then tell the phone to send the messages to the car. Once that was done, the messages pop up on the navigation screen and, if you select it, the system will read the message to you. As others have said, you cannot reply to the message using the car if you are using an iphone, but at least you can have the message read to you so you do not have to look at the screen when driving.

Thanks again for all the help.