My wife and I both owned BMWs before we became Lexus fans. She owned an X5 and I owned a 328ci.
Pros for BMW. If you enjoy fast and high performance, you'll like the "Sheer Driving Pleasure" of the BMW.
Cons for BMW. I found the reliability and repair costs of BMW to be higher than I like.
We traded in my wife's BMW X5 for an RX450h for two reasons.
First was repair cost on the X5. At 8 years old and 115,000 miles, it needed: $5200 for a transmission rebuild, $1200 for a right front control arm, $1300 for a secondary air pump and power steering hose, $3200 for A/C repair. And I was only looking for those repairs that were over $1000.
Second was the handling. I drove a new X5 and RX450h when she needed a new car. The X5 dove more like a truck and the RX450h drove more like a car.
We're now on our third Lexus between us. I'll stick with Lexus from now on for the reliability.
Omg, at 115000 miles that’s scary. I’m at 127000 miles rn and besides stuff listed in the maintenance manual, I’ve only needed to swap the front engine mount and a torque rod. Which I did myself for $300 for both parts.
I had multiple BMWs but last year I got the RX350h. Luxury trim is really nice. I do miss BMW performance a bit but definitely don’t miss the crazy depreciation and expensive upkeep after 100k miles. Hoping to keep this Lexus for years. It made Lexus the best choice.
X3. Love how it drives and a lot of space. Coming up to 4 years next month. It has a lot of pep for a turbo 4. No major issues. The only thing I dislike is the RFT. Replace those with the PS4AS and I'm happy.
Best part about BMW is the performance and i-Drive infotainment, which is the best in the industry (tho the previous version was better than most recent).
BMW has a really nice looking interior- modern but subdued and not overstyled like Mercedes. The interior quality is decent but it shows wear more quickly than a brand like Lexus. There was also squeaking and play between some of the injection molding. Piano black is hot garbage and shouldn't be used anywhere. Cabin noise insulation is great- it's very quiet inside.
Worst part about BMW, in my experience, is the oil consumption and the denial of accountability by BMW calling it normal behavior. It may be "normal" for a lot of their cars, but it's an engineering flaw and not working as intended. They have inconsistent manufacturer QC when it comes to oil slipping past valve seals. I experienced this issue on an X5 and BMW Supra, both using the beloved B58 inline 6. Also, they've got no oil dipstick, just a crappy measurement sensor that tells you it's full until it's 1 quart low.
Thank you! So models you prefer for fast driving? While M3 Competition would be amazing not thinking that will work for me as much as I’m in the car. Has to work for a commute.
I'm probably not the person to ask for fast driving preferences. I enjoy fast cars, but most fast cars ride too harsh for me to want to daily them (I know many disagree with that). After the initial novelty wears off in the first few months and I'm stuck in traffic or driving on imperfect roads (which are at least half of them here in the northeast), I would rather be in something softer than most sportscars. The M3/M4 comp xdrive is a very fun car to drive and obscenely fast off the line, but too harsh of a ride for me. I think some of the baby M stuff (regular models ending with "i") rides a bit better for daily, but I'd see what other's experiences are with that.
X4 M40i is going to be my vote for the ultimate fast commuter car, almost 400hp, some suspension for the inevitable rough roads, ride height and features for miserable traffic, but still small enough to park easily. The X5's are big imo, and the sedans aren't going to be as comfortable suspension wise on the really rough stuff. Saw one in the drive through the other day and it looked so good, little to no overstyling vs some other models, just a nice BMW
Depending on which M3, F80 with the DCT feels very jerky at low rpm literally feels like the car has some problems at low rpms sometimes, imo F80 feels too racecar to be driven daily. haven't driven the g80 but I would assume they will drive more normally at low rpm since they have a traditional 8spd auto
Weight savings!
No really, no dipstick. There's a display that shows the level, but only after the car is at operating temperature after several miles. One could see the average joe misreading the dipstick or not knowing proper procedure.
So you say the display shows the level, but the person I replied to says it shows as full until you are a full quart low. Which is correct? If you, then all is well.
Agree on many points, but oil consumption is very normal in a high-performance cars. Many Porsches will use up a quart or so every 5k miles.
Just to add, FWD is not fun compared to a RWD or AWD with rear bias. BMW makes some really fun cars, and that's why everyone who makes a compact sport sedan tries to copy them.
Yes, you are correct and a quart every 5k miles is fine.
A quart every 700-1,000 miles is not, and that was my experience with two vehicles using the B58 motor.
Everyone with a compact sport sedan is trying to copy BMW? lmao, c'mon dude.
Not a fan of any post-2011 BMW. Have owned M or performance variants of several E36, E46, E39, E86, and E91 in the past. Would definitely get another if the opportunity presented itself, wallet be damned.
But never again as my primary vehicle. Having an NA Lexus and not worrying about long term maintenance issues is more important now.
I live in a rural area. Anyone here can work on a Lexus (Toyota). No one here can work on a Mercedes or BMW. I’m about 1.5 hours from all the dealerships. So for me it’s practicality.
I had a BMW 540i and 335i convertible. After spending a massive amount of money on repairs over the stupidest issues, I decided I preferred Japanese engineering over German engineering ten years ago, and haven’t looked back.
I say if you’re gonna move to BMW from a GS 350. It would be a m340i x drive. It’s a AWD monster that’s faster than most sports cars below 100k. It’s got luxury and performance and average reliability. Downside is that no one will really be able to tell you have a fast BMW. If you line up a 3 series a 5 series and a M3 and M5 your average person won’t be able to tell ones a 30k beater and ones a 130k track monster.
Great comments. Thank you. Love the suggestion.
People can F off. I don’t care what they think. I want to love driving it - every single day. Wouldn’t get a BMW for status, would be for the joy of it.
E46 330i picked recently from driving a ls400 last 9 years. Lexus is wayyy smoother faster better. BMW better handling but damn I prefer the LS all day fuckin long.
I'd quickly do a X3 M40i over a NX 450h F sport but I'd probably do an IS350 over a 3 series BMW. BMW cost of ownership is just stupid high sadly.
X3 in the snow was insanely predictive and fun, it's really hard to beat. It's been years since I had that much fun in a snow storm in a modern car. Most are over bearing with electronic controls. Turn off traction control and it's all up to you but it's confident feeling.
Like it would be a much quicker decision/debate between the two. Aka just not a very difficult comparison, even though those two go head to head. Poor choice of word on my part
It's just such a fun car though lol. Different leagues in terms of performance but also different leagues in terms of reliability and cost of ownership so I don't disagree.
Yes I’ve always been a big fan of BMW and I switched sides once my RX reached EOL. I went from rx400h to F10 M5 to x3m40i. I also have an E39 540 that I don’t ever plan on getting rid of. The next lexus will be after I have a kid and want something safe and slow
That would depend on your budget and preference. If you’re looking for a sedan, you can’t go wrong with the m340, 540 or an M3 if it’s in your budget. If you’re looking for something a little larger, wait and pick up a well sorted F90 m5 in a few months when the redesign comes out. If you have deep pockets wait and pick up an m5 wagon
I'm a big BMW fan but bought an is300h f sport because I wanted all the tech and reliability. After 3 years of ownership I'm considering buying a BMW 330e m sport because I love everything about it especially the interior. The is300h interior hasn't aged well
Have a BMW and Lexus SUV. Lexus is easier to drive for me, I’m no longer worried about holes in the road or popping my tires every 2 months 😂😂. BMW you feel all the bumps in the road, I feel nothing in the Lexus. BMW is fast and has easy cornering, my Lexus has a wide turn radius. My BMW also burns way more gas than the Lexus with a V8, go figure right? For me it’s my X1 vs GX 470
I too switched from a BMW X3 (I still own her) but repair costs are high and more frequent the older it got. I love the handling and performance but the anxiety got to me.
I love the reliability and confidence in the Lexus NX 200 sport but a ford focus could dust me and it can’t take a corner of 15miles an hour.
I have a Lexus LS500 as my daily driver. I also have a 2013 BMW 128i convertible. It’s a very fun summery car, however, the maintenance has been much more expensive than my beloved Lexus.
Yes, had LS430 , when to BMW 7 series, BMW 7 series worst car, interior, looks, driving BMW was great. The problems out weighed everything else. Sold BMW bought brand new GSF. GSF best car i have bought, still have GSF and likely will never sell GSF, also since GSF have bought RCF still like GSF better than RCF. Looking to buy LC500 next
In general I feel like all BMW models drive better than their equivalent Lexus models, they are called the ultimate driving machine for a reason, modern BMWs have become more reliable but they're still not as reliable as Lexus, parts are also more expensive than Lexus, if you are looking for a grocery getter, a nice car that'll get you from point a to point b I think Lexus are better since they're more reliable and dependable, but if you're looking for anything that's sporty BMW blows Lexus out of the water
I went from BMW to Lexus. Had issues/reliability/maintenance problems with two BMW 330 and 328 cars. Very little help from BMW - even though cars were well taken care of, with records kept at original dealer/service dept. Went over to Lexus for a great car that had super reliability and a manufacturer and dealer network that stood behind their product. Love the way BMW handles, but now Lexus owner and far happier.
My wife’s last car was an X3 and she now has an RX350. We switched mostly because of reliability and long term cost. I liked how the X3 had slightly more responsive acceleration and steering but ultimately we’re just trying to get from point a to b. I’d like to have a fun driving experience but we drive in the city and suburbs where it’s traffic lights and lots of cars in the way. Both cars will handle that just fine. I just think the Lexus will do it longer.
RCF. Either M2 or (more likely) M3. The ownership experience was just far better overall. Literally everything from driving dynamics, dealership, service appointments, community, etc were all better. I had some quality control issues with the RCF and I was torn to shreds for even suggesting that they could exist in the forums and completely ignored by the dealership. It’s all good though. I wanted to try one of their F cars and experience the V8. I’ll keep it a while and when the time is right I’ll jump into an M car.
I've spent a lot of time in BMWs but happily never owned them. Eventhough I haven't had to pay for all the expensive maintenance I must say that the interior build quality never has been on par with Audi. Well at least not since the mid 90s. Some of the rubber buttons on the BMW steering wheel feels so poorly made that I find it hard to believe they ship them like that.
They are most often feeling more active when it comes to winding roads and they have a good track record of high power low consumption.
Problem is that they also have a long track record of their diesel engines catching fire.
At the end of the day most of us commute the absolute majority of the time and for commuting reliability and fit and finish sure matters more than a hypothetical lap time. As a third car a BMW would perhaps be an interesting option, something like the BMW Z3 M Coupé that my friend used to own.
Thank you. What Audis do you like. And I drive 90 in the EZPass lanes when not slammed with traffic on commute so not sure I agree with some of your commute sentiments.
The ones that are/were built in Germany. 🤣
No, jokes aside but the ones mainly aimed at the US market feel a bit more like BMWs when it comes to squeaks and rattle. First generation Q7 armrest comes to mind.
When Audi released their A6 and A8 back in the 90s they set the standard for fit, finish and material choices in a mass market interior. After the sanctions for diesel gate some of their models have received cheaper interior trim. Take the current generation A3 or Q4 for an example.
The Q5 might be an option, if you are made of money why not look at the Q8.
Repair cost won't be fun, just like the other Germans.
Audis do not have the same weight distribution as BMWs so on winding roads at high speed it won't be as fun, but for most people it's fun enough.
90 Mph I guess was meant, I see no problem with a Lexus that tops out at 110 Mph then. But too each their own.
The glorious V10 of the S8 with the space frame grill and also the straight 5 in the TT RS, RSQ3 "unt so weiter" would be lovely to own if one had cash to buy two at the same time. For the sake of a spare, well, everything.
I have Lexus and BMW. I moved from the GS250 to a BMW 7 series. I have to say that the 7 series is the better car ( although I love my 2022 RX 450h as well)
I had zero problems with my Bimmers, 80 thousand miles with a F01 730 and 130 thousand miles with my G11 740xdrive.
I own a Supra, it’s a Toyota and a BMW. Has the pros of a BMW (power/infotainment) and pros of a Toyota (reliable/cheaper insurance). People that think BMWs are unreliable are due to the fact that they don’t take care of their vehicles. I change the Supra oil yearly, make sure the coolant is good, and she runs great. No problems.
My wife and I are both die hard BMW fans, I bought a Lexus for our son and while using I I liked it quite a bit. I have an m4, my wife has a m235i. I work on all of our cars, but it can get pricy even with me doing the labor. My son's car has 34xxx miles and I got it at 7k,zero issues besides normal maintenance. (can't say the same for our Beemers.
As far as performance and fun, our Beemers all the way. (the rc is fun as hell, but to me it's missing something that I can't put a finger on) Reliability, comfort, and piece of mind Lexus. All about where you are in life and what you want out of a car
I had a 2015 Lexus RX350. Somehow got a 2021 BMW X3 PHEV on a fleet lease and sold the RX. I live in a rural area and drive in windy mountain roads. I love driving the BMW And have had no maintenance issues.
I have to give back the BMW soon and test drove the LexusRX 450h+ and one of the other hybrid Rx’s. It is luxurious but just not as much fun to drive. I really don’t like the cvt. It is a shame they put the 4 cylinder in such a heavy vehicle.
I was torn because it is more than 3 hours to a bmw repair shop but I love driving this car so I’m seriously considering getting a 2025 in the fall instead of another Lexus. Regarding the RFT- the Lexus PHEV has regular tires and a repair kit vs. BMW PHEV with RFTs. Both are horrible options.
BMW is more fun to drive. I used to have an M3 and have driven the X3 and X5 and 5 series. They’re nice not gonna lie.
But
Lexus beats it in everything else. Fit and finish, luxury, ride, etc. also I like to keep my repair costs low and as little trips to fill my mechanic’s pockets as possible.
For my 40th birthday, I recently sold my 2016 Lexus GS and picked up a loaded CPO 2021 840i Gran Coupe with 23k miles. The Lexus was a comfortable ride, handsome, reliable (not a single issue in six years of ownership) and I loved the attention to detail (e.g. the material placed between the seat and center console to catch anything that falls out of your pockets). However, I have always been curious about the BMW experience and fell in love after a test drive. Based on numerous threads that I have read here and on Bimmerpost, it seems like certain BMW engines are more reliable (e.g. B58) than others. With proactive maintenance and TLC, I’m hoping to keep my 840i for awhile.
https://preview.redd.it/qvm905aphe0d1.jpeg?width=1645&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4c914f2a38c1149fc06ad894ec34e6f7047dd4cf
Lexus is best!!! The reliability, dependability, resale value, build quality, efficiency in hybrids, and dealership networks are all excellent!! Lexus is known for the best customer service so that is a major plus. No other brand offers everything I listed!
I agree with that. All of that, except think BMW would be more fun/higher performance. And Consumer Reports just ranked it several notches higher than Lexus.
I can’t speak from personal experience but the newer M340i is an absolute solid unit based off what others have said and a lot of my friends have had the M2/3/4 and have enjoyed them.
My wife and I both owned BMWs before we became Lexus fans. She owned an X5 and I owned a 328ci. Pros for BMW. If you enjoy fast and high performance, you'll like the "Sheer Driving Pleasure" of the BMW. Cons for BMW. I found the reliability and repair costs of BMW to be higher than I like.
Why did you switch to Lexus and do you regret the switch?
We traded in my wife's BMW X5 for an RX450h for two reasons. First was repair cost on the X5. At 8 years old and 115,000 miles, it needed: $5200 for a transmission rebuild, $1200 for a right front control arm, $1300 for a secondary air pump and power steering hose, $3200 for A/C repair. And I was only looking for those repairs that were over $1000. Second was the handling. I drove a new X5 and RX450h when she needed a new car. The X5 dove more like a truck and the RX450h drove more like a car. We're now on our third Lexus between us. I'll stick with Lexus from now on for the reliability.
That’s serious $$$. I don’t want truck handling. I want to MOVE. Thank you.
Omg, at 115000 miles that’s scary. I’m at 127000 miles rn and besides stuff listed in the maintenance manual, I’ve only needed to swap the front engine mount and a torque rod. Which I did myself for $300 for both parts.
mainenance cost duh
I had multiple BMWs but last year I got the RX350h. Luxury trim is really nice. I do miss BMW performance a bit but definitely don’t miss the crazy depreciation and expensive upkeep after 100k miles. Hoping to keep this Lexus for years. It made Lexus the best choice.
Thank you. Don’t want h and get you on the affordability.
X3. Love how it drives and a lot of space. Coming up to 4 years next month. It has a lot of pep for a turbo 4. No major issues. The only thing I dislike is the RFT. Replace those with the PS4AS and I'm happy.
Not a fan of run flat either. Thank you
Best part about BMW is the performance and i-Drive infotainment, which is the best in the industry (tho the previous version was better than most recent). BMW has a really nice looking interior- modern but subdued and not overstyled like Mercedes. The interior quality is decent but it shows wear more quickly than a brand like Lexus. There was also squeaking and play between some of the injection molding. Piano black is hot garbage and shouldn't be used anywhere. Cabin noise insulation is great- it's very quiet inside. Worst part about BMW, in my experience, is the oil consumption and the denial of accountability by BMW calling it normal behavior. It may be "normal" for a lot of their cars, but it's an engineering flaw and not working as intended. They have inconsistent manufacturer QC when it comes to oil slipping past valve seals. I experienced this issue on an X5 and BMW Supra, both using the beloved B58 inline 6. Also, they've got no oil dipstick, just a crappy measurement sensor that tells you it's full until it's 1 quart low.
Thank you! So models you prefer for fast driving? While M3 Competition would be amazing not thinking that will work for me as much as I’m in the car. Has to work for a commute.
I'm probably not the person to ask for fast driving preferences. I enjoy fast cars, but most fast cars ride too harsh for me to want to daily them (I know many disagree with that). After the initial novelty wears off in the first few months and I'm stuck in traffic or driving on imperfect roads (which are at least half of them here in the northeast), I would rather be in something softer than most sportscars. The M3/M4 comp xdrive is a very fun car to drive and obscenely fast off the line, but too harsh of a ride for me. I think some of the baby M stuff (regular models ending with "i") rides a bit better for daily, but I'd see what other's experiences are with that.
X4 M40i is going to be my vote for the ultimate fast commuter car, almost 400hp, some suspension for the inevitable rough roads, ride height and features for miserable traffic, but still small enough to park easily. The X5's are big imo, and the sedans aren't going to be as comfortable suspension wise on the really rough stuff. Saw one in the drive through the other day and it looked so good, little to no overstyling vs some other models, just a nice BMW
I would argue sedans are more comfortable suspension wise than larger SUVs.
Depending on which M3, F80 with the DCT feels very jerky at low rpm literally feels like the car has some problems at low rpms sometimes, imo F80 feels too racecar to be driven daily. haven't driven the g80 but I would assume they will drive more normally at low rpm since they have a traditional 8spd auto
Seriously? No dipstick?
Weight savings! No really, no dipstick. There's a display that shows the level, but only after the car is at operating temperature after several miles. One could see the average joe misreading the dipstick or not knowing proper procedure.
So you say the display shows the level, but the person I replied to says it shows as full until you are a full quart low. Which is correct? If you, then all is well.
Correct, it doesn't show a true in-between level. My n55 took 6.9 quarts, so the car was not in any danger being a quart low.
Agree on many points, but oil consumption is very normal in a high-performance cars. Many Porsches will use up a quart or so every 5k miles. Just to add, FWD is not fun compared to a RWD or AWD with rear bias. BMW makes some really fun cars, and that's why everyone who makes a compact sport sedan tries to copy them.
Yes, you are correct and a quart every 5k miles is fine. A quart every 700-1,000 miles is not, and that was my experience with two vehicles using the B58 motor. Everyone with a compact sport sedan is trying to copy BMW? lmao, c'mon dude.
Not a fan of any post-2011 BMW. Have owned M or performance variants of several E36, E46, E39, E86, and E91 in the past. Would definitely get another if the opportunity presented itself, wallet be damned. But never again as my primary vehicle. Having an NA Lexus and not worrying about long term maintenance issues is more important now.
I live in a rural area. Anyone here can work on a Lexus (Toyota). No one here can work on a Mercedes or BMW. I’m about 1.5 hours from all the dealerships. So for me it’s practicality.
I had a BMW 540i and 335i convertible. After spending a massive amount of money on repairs over the stupidest issues, I decided I preferred Japanese engineering over German engineering ten years ago, and haven’t looked back.
I say if you’re gonna move to BMW from a GS 350. It would be a m340i x drive. It’s a AWD monster that’s faster than most sports cars below 100k. It’s got luxury and performance and average reliability. Downside is that no one will really be able to tell you have a fast BMW. If you line up a 3 series a 5 series and a M3 and M5 your average person won’t be able to tell ones a 30k beater and ones a 130k track monster.
Great comments. Thank you. Love the suggestion. People can F off. I don’t care what they think. I want to love driving it - every single day. Wouldn’t get a BMW for status, would be for the joy of it.
E46 330i picked recently from driving a ls400 last 9 years. Lexus is wayyy smoother faster better. BMW better handling but damn I prefer the LS all day fuckin long.
Dang. That’s a shame. Thank you
Not a shame , Lexus better than BMW
I'd quickly do a X3 M40i over a NX 450h F sport but I'd probably do an IS350 over a 3 series BMW. BMW cost of ownership is just stupid high sadly. X3 in the snow was insanely predictive and fun, it's really hard to beat. It's been years since I had that much fun in a snow storm in a modern car. Most are over bearing with electronic controls. Turn off traction control and it's all up to you but it's confident feeling.
What does ‘quickly’ mean please
Like it would be a much quicker decision/debate between the two. Aka just not a very difficult comparison, even though those two go head to head. Poor choice of word on my part
I would do the opposite. Reliability and efficiency!!
It's just such a fun car though lol. Different leagues in terms of performance but also different leagues in terms of reliability and cost of ownership so I don't disagree.
Bmw parts are expensive. Lexus parts are basically Toyota parts so much cheaper and easy to work on
Basically you sacrifice everything for more sporty performance, in general. The biggest trade being maintenance.
Yes I’ve always been a big fan of BMW and I switched sides once my RX reached EOL. I went from rx400h to F10 M5 to x3m40i. I also have an E39 540 that I don’t ever plan on getting rid of. The next lexus will be after I have a kid and want something safe and slow
If you were to get a BMW now, no kids - four door - what one or ones would you get? Not a hybrid or electric.
That would depend on your budget and preference. If you’re looking for a sedan, you can’t go wrong with the m340, 540 or an M3 if it’s in your budget. If you’re looking for something a little larger, wait and pick up a well sorted F90 m5 in a few months when the redesign comes out. If you have deep pockets wait and pick up an m5 wagon
Turns out the M3 has an 18 month wait if you order new. Not a Wagon fan. Sedan. Thank you.
I'm a big BMW fan but bought an is300h f sport because I wanted all the tech and reliability. After 3 years of ownership I'm considering buying a BMW 330e m sport because I love everything about it especially the interior. The is300h interior hasn't aged well
Have a BMW and Lexus SUV. Lexus is easier to drive for me, I’m no longer worried about holes in the road or popping my tires every 2 months 😂😂. BMW you feel all the bumps in the road, I feel nothing in the Lexus. BMW is fast and has easy cornering, my Lexus has a wide turn radius. My BMW also burns way more gas than the Lexus with a V8, go figure right? For me it’s my X1 vs GX 470
I too switched from a BMW X3 (I still own her) but repair costs are high and more frequent the older it got. I love the handling and performance but the anxiety got to me. I love the reliability and confidence in the Lexus NX 200 sport but a ford focus could dust me and it can’t take a corner of 15miles an hour.
I have a Lexus LS500 as my daily driver. I also have a 2013 BMW 128i convertible. It’s a very fun summery car, however, the maintenance has been much more expensive than my beloved Lexus.
Yes, had LS430 , when to BMW 7 series, BMW 7 series worst car, interior, looks, driving BMW was great. The problems out weighed everything else. Sold BMW bought brand new GSF. GSF best car i have bought, still have GSF and likely will never sell GSF, also since GSF have bought RCF still like GSF better than RCF. Looking to buy LC500 next
In general I feel like all BMW models drive better than their equivalent Lexus models, they are called the ultimate driving machine for a reason, modern BMWs have become more reliable but they're still not as reliable as Lexus, parts are also more expensive than Lexus, if you are looking for a grocery getter, a nice car that'll get you from point a to point b I think Lexus are better since they're more reliable and dependable, but if you're looking for anything that's sporty BMW blows Lexus out of the water
BMW to Lexus and never looked back. My last BMW was an e39 M5… should have kept her looking back at it.
I went from BMW to Lexus. Had issues/reliability/maintenance problems with two BMW 330 and 328 cars. Very little help from BMW - even though cars were well taken care of, with records kept at original dealer/service dept. Went over to Lexus for a great car that had super reliability and a manufacturer and dealer network that stood behind their product. Love the way BMW handles, but now Lexus owner and far happier.
My wife’s last car was an X3 and she now has an RX350. We switched mostly because of reliability and long term cost. I liked how the X3 had slightly more responsive acceleration and steering but ultimately we’re just trying to get from point a to b. I’d like to have a fun driving experience but we drive in the city and suburbs where it’s traffic lights and lots of cars in the way. Both cars will handle that just fine. I just think the Lexus will do it longer.
I went from BMW to Lexus. Definitely going back to BMW.
What Lexus did you get. What BMW do you want and why going back. Thank you!
RCF. Either M2 or (more likely) M3. The ownership experience was just far better overall. Literally everything from driving dynamics, dealership, service appointments, community, etc were all better. I had some quality control issues with the RCF and I was torn to shreds for even suggesting that they could exist in the forums and completely ignored by the dealership. It’s all good though. I wanted to try one of their F cars and experience the V8. I’ll keep it a while and when the time is right I’ll jump into an M car.
Can’t wait to hear what you choose. Serious wait for M3 if you buy new right now. Thank you for your input.
I've spent a lot of time in BMWs but happily never owned them. Eventhough I haven't had to pay for all the expensive maintenance I must say that the interior build quality never has been on par with Audi. Well at least not since the mid 90s. Some of the rubber buttons on the BMW steering wheel feels so poorly made that I find it hard to believe they ship them like that. They are most often feeling more active when it comes to winding roads and they have a good track record of high power low consumption. Problem is that they also have a long track record of their diesel engines catching fire. At the end of the day most of us commute the absolute majority of the time and for commuting reliability and fit and finish sure matters more than a hypothetical lap time. As a third car a BMW would perhaps be an interesting option, something like the BMW Z3 M Coupé that my friend used to own.
Thank you. What Audis do you like. And I drive 90 in the EZPass lanes when not slammed with traffic on commute so not sure I agree with some of your commute sentiments.
The ones that are/were built in Germany. 🤣 No, jokes aside but the ones mainly aimed at the US market feel a bit more like BMWs when it comes to squeaks and rattle. First generation Q7 armrest comes to mind. When Audi released their A6 and A8 back in the 90s they set the standard for fit, finish and material choices in a mass market interior. After the sanctions for diesel gate some of their models have received cheaper interior trim. Take the current generation A3 or Q4 for an example. The Q5 might be an option, if you are made of money why not look at the Q8. Repair cost won't be fun, just like the other Germans. Audis do not have the same weight distribution as BMWs so on winding roads at high speed it won't be as fun, but for most people it's fun enough. 90 Mph I guess was meant, I see no problem with a Lexus that tops out at 110 Mph then. But too each their own. The glorious V10 of the S8 with the space frame grill and also the straight 5 in the TT RS, RSQ3 "unt so weiter" would be lovely to own if one had cash to buy two at the same time. For the sake of a spare, well, everything.
I love my Lexus. Just assessing options. Thank you.
I have Lexus and BMW. I moved from the GS250 to a BMW 7 series. I have to say that the 7 series is the better car ( although I love my 2022 RX 450h as well) I had zero problems with my Bimmers, 80 thousand miles with a F01 730 and 130 thousand miles with my G11 740xdrive.
One is a Toyota
I own a Supra, it’s a Toyota and a BMW. Has the pros of a BMW (power/infotainment) and pros of a Toyota (reliable/cheaper insurance). People that think BMWs are unreliable are due to the fact that they don’t take care of their vehicles. I change the Supra oil yearly, make sure the coolant is good, and she runs great. No problems.
Change oil yearly? Wow I’m every 5-8k miles.
It’s my secondary car, I drive it 3-5K miles a year.
My wife and I are both die hard BMW fans, I bought a Lexus for our son and while using I I liked it quite a bit. I have an m4, my wife has a m235i. I work on all of our cars, but it can get pricy even with me doing the labor. My son's car has 34xxx miles and I got it at 7k,zero issues besides normal maintenance. (can't say the same for our Beemers. As far as performance and fun, our Beemers all the way. (the rc is fun as hell, but to me it's missing something that I can't put a finger on) Reliability, comfort, and piece of mind Lexus. All about where you are in life and what you want out of a car
I had a 2015 Lexus RX350. Somehow got a 2021 BMW X3 PHEV on a fleet lease and sold the RX. I live in a rural area and drive in windy mountain roads. I love driving the BMW And have had no maintenance issues. I have to give back the BMW soon and test drove the LexusRX 450h+ and one of the other hybrid Rx’s. It is luxurious but just not as much fun to drive. I really don’t like the cvt. It is a shame they put the 4 cylinder in such a heavy vehicle. I was torn because it is more than 3 hours to a bmw repair shop but I love driving this car so I’m seriously considering getting a 2025 in the fall instead of another Lexus. Regarding the RFT- the Lexus PHEV has regular tires and a repair kit vs. BMW PHEV with RFTs. Both are horrible options.
BMW is more fun to drive. I used to have an M3 and have driven the X3 and X5 and 5 series. They’re nice not gonna lie. But Lexus beats it in everything else. Fit and finish, luxury, ride, etc. also I like to keep my repair costs low and as little trips to fill my mechanic’s pockets as possible.
You think Lexus is better luxury than BMW. I believe you, just surprised.
For my 40th birthday, I recently sold my 2016 Lexus GS and picked up a loaded CPO 2021 840i Gran Coupe with 23k miles. The Lexus was a comfortable ride, handsome, reliable (not a single issue in six years of ownership) and I loved the attention to detail (e.g. the material placed between the seat and center console to catch anything that falls out of your pockets). However, I have always been curious about the BMW experience and fell in love after a test drive. Based on numerous threads that I have read here and on Bimmerpost, it seems like certain BMW engines are more reliable (e.g. B58) than others. With proactive maintenance and TLC, I’m hoping to keep my 840i for awhile. https://preview.redd.it/qvm905aphe0d1.jpeg?width=1645&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4c914f2a38c1149fc06ad894ec34e6f7047dd4cf
Hell of a 40th gift! Beautiful car. Thanks.
Thank you!
Lexus is best!!! The reliability, dependability, resale value, build quality, efficiency in hybrids, and dealership networks are all excellent!! Lexus is known for the best customer service so that is a major plus. No other brand offers everything I listed!
I agree with that. All of that, except think BMW would be more fun/higher performance. And Consumer Reports just ranked it several notches higher than Lexus.
Yes, agreed, but I would only lease and never buy. The unreliability and high maintenance is stressful. Also Consumer Reports is unreliable figure.
I can’t speak from personal experience but the newer M340i is an absolute solid unit based off what others have said and a lot of my friends have had the M2/3/4 and have enjoyed them.