2005 LS430 or 2008 LS460
01-29-16, 08:37 AM
#31
you can find great deals on 430's everyday. a little bit harder to find great deals on 460's. really if all you have to spend is $20,000 then buy the 430. you will have money for tires and spark plugs and a couple of drain and fills for the lifetime transmission. the 430's are super reliable until 150,000 miles. I would still go with the 460.
01-29-16, 04:41 PM
#32
Pole Position
Ask this question on the LS460 side of the house and I can guarantee you'll get a much different answer. I like both cars quite frankly, but here's my honest opinion on my 07 LS460, it's a great car and an outstanding value at this point in the used car market.
I'm an ASE certified Master Tech, and I'm an automotive instructor...that in no way means I know everything about cars, but I do know what is a good car. A good car isn't in the shop every other month because of check engine lights...the LS460 won't do that to you...you're BMW most certainly will. The LS460 has two "major" problems...the control arms and the brake actuator. As for the control arms - the top 4 in the front are prone to failure - however buying aftermarket, you can do this job yourself for around $300. If you want to replace all 8, it will run you around $650. The rears are not a problem. The brake actuator is a much much less frequent issue with these cars, but if it does fail, you can purchase them on eBay for $600. Other than that, there is not a lot to worry about, and there's no timing belt so you'll save $1000 bucks right there.
I have 118,000 on mine, the only repairs I've done outside of general maintenance is the control arms and a wheel bearing...total cost was $750. That's it, nothing else. Nothing. It gets 26mpg and it drives outstanding.
I should note that I own the LS460 base model - it doesn't have the air ride or the Mark Levinson amp - if it did (just like any car) the air suspension would probably fail. But for me - with the "base" model - all I do is put gas in it, change the synthetic oil every 6,000 miles, rotate the tires and drive it 600 miles a week. I did change the coolant (the Toyota Super Long Life coolant is great stuff by the way...looked brand new coming out at 80k miles). And I did do the tranny service...dropped the pan, changed the filter and gasket, did the temp check...great transmission in these cars (8 speed, flawless, the reason why you can get 31 mpg on the highway out of a 390 horse power car).
I don't really think you can go wrong with either car, keep in mind they're both not exactly new...bushings are going to need to be replaced on both cars...8-11 years of driving does that to all cars...so expect to replace things like...sway bar bushings, sway bar links, tie rod ends, wheel bearings, etc. Good luck!
I'm an ASE certified Master Tech, and I'm an automotive instructor...that in no way means I know everything about cars, but I do know what is a good car. A good car isn't in the shop every other month because of check engine lights...the LS460 won't do that to you...you're BMW most certainly will. The LS460 has two "major" problems...the control arms and the brake actuator. As for the control arms - the top 4 in the front are prone to failure - however buying aftermarket, you can do this job yourself for around $300. If you want to replace all 8, it will run you around $650. The rears are not a problem. The brake actuator is a much much less frequent issue with these cars, but if it does fail, you can purchase them on eBay for $600. Other than that, there is not a lot to worry about, and there's no timing belt so you'll save $1000 bucks right there.
I have 118,000 on mine, the only repairs I've done outside of general maintenance is the control arms and a wheel bearing...total cost was $750. That's it, nothing else. Nothing. It gets 26mpg and it drives outstanding.
I should note that I own the LS460 base model - it doesn't have the air ride or the Mark Levinson amp - if it did (just like any car) the air suspension would probably fail. But for me - with the "base" model - all I do is put gas in it, change the synthetic oil every 6,000 miles, rotate the tires and drive it 600 miles a week. I did change the coolant (the Toyota Super Long Life coolant is great stuff by the way...looked brand new coming out at 80k miles). And I did do the tranny service...dropped the pan, changed the filter and gasket, did the temp check...great transmission in these cars (8 speed, flawless, the reason why you can get 31 mpg on the highway out of a 390 horse power car).
I don't really think you can go wrong with either car, keep in mind they're both not exactly new...bushings are going to need to be replaced on both cars...8-11 years of driving does that to all cars...so expect to replace things like...sway bar bushings, sway bar links, tie rod ends, wheel bearings, etc. Good luck!
01-29-16, 08:20 PM
#33
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Ask this question on the LS460 side of the house and I can guarantee you'll get a much different answer. I like both cars quite frankly, but here's my honest opinion on my 07 LS460, it's a great car and an outstanding value at this point in the used car market.
I'm an ASE certified Master Tech, and I'm an automotive instructor...that in no way means I know everything about cars, but I do know what is a good car. A good car isn't in the shop every other month because of check engine lights...the LS460 won't do that to you...you're BMW most certainly will. The LS460 has two "major" problems...the control arms and the brake actuator. As for the control arms - the top 4 in the front are prone to failure - however buying aftermarket, you can do this job yourself for around $300. If you want to replace all 8, it will run you around $650. The rears are not a problem. The brake actuator is a much much less frequent issue with these cars, but if it does fail, you can purchase them on eBay for $600. Other than that, there is not a lot to worry about, and there's no timing belt so you'll save $1000 bucks right there.
I have 118,000 on mine, the only repairs I've done outside of general maintenance is the control arms and a wheel bearing...total cost was $750. That's it, nothing else. Nothing. It gets 26mpg and it drives outstanding.
I should note that I own the LS460 base model - it doesn't have the air ride or the Mark Levinson amp - if it did (just like any car) the air suspension would probably fail. But for me - with the "base" model - all I do is put gas in it, change the synthetic oil every 6,000 miles, rotate the tires and drive it 600 miles a week. I did change the coolant (the Toyota Super Long Life coolant is great stuff by the way...looked brand new coming out at 80k miles). And I did do the tranny service...dropped the pan, changed the filter and gasket, did the temp check...great transmission in these cars (8 speed, flawless, the reason why you can get 31 mpg on the highway out of a 390 horse power car).
I don't really think you can go wrong with either car, keep in mind they're both not exactly new...bushings are going to need to be replaced on both cars...8-11 years of driving does that to all cars...so expect to replace things like...sway bar bushings, sway bar links, tie rod ends, wheel bearings, etc. Good luck!
I'm an ASE certified Master Tech, and I'm an automotive instructor...that in no way means I know everything about cars, but I do know what is a good car. A good car isn't in the shop every other month because of check engine lights...the LS460 won't do that to you...you're BMW most certainly will. The LS460 has two "major" problems...the control arms and the brake actuator. As for the control arms - the top 4 in the front are prone to failure - however buying aftermarket, you can do this job yourself for around $300. If you want to replace all 8, it will run you around $650. The rears are not a problem. The brake actuator is a much much less frequent issue with these cars, but if it does fail, you can purchase them on eBay for $600. Other than that, there is not a lot to worry about, and there's no timing belt so you'll save $1000 bucks right there.
I have 118,000 on mine, the only repairs I've done outside of general maintenance is the control arms and a wheel bearing...total cost was $750. That's it, nothing else. Nothing. It gets 26mpg and it drives outstanding.
I should note that I own the LS460 base model - it doesn't have the air ride or the Mark Levinson amp - if it did (just like any car) the air suspension would probably fail. But for me - with the "base" model - all I do is put gas in it, change the synthetic oil every 6,000 miles, rotate the tires and drive it 600 miles a week. I did change the coolant (the Toyota Super Long Life coolant is great stuff by the way...looked brand new coming out at 80k miles). And I did do the tranny service...dropped the pan, changed the filter and gasket, did the temp check...great transmission in these cars (8 speed, flawless, the reason why you can get 31 mpg on the highway out of a 390 horse power car).
I don't really think you can go wrong with either car, keep in mind they're both not exactly new...bushings are going to need to be replaced on both cars...8-11 years of driving does that to all cars...so expect to replace things like...sway bar bushings, sway bar links, tie rod ends, wheel bearings, etc. Good luck!
01-29-16, 08:30 PM
#34
Pole Position
That transmission should feel so smooth that you can barely feel it shifting. Was it cold out when you took it for the test drive? Maybe that was it, but even then these transmissions are pretty smooth.
01-29-16, 08:36 PM
#35
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Rough gear shifts? Like delays, then it kind of slams into the next gear, or does it slip? Either way I'd stay away from the car.
That transmission should feel so smooth that you can barely feel it shifting. Was it cold out when you took it for the test drive? Maybe that was it, but even then these transmissions are pretty smooth.
That transmission should feel so smooth that you can barely feel it shifting. Was it cold out when you took it for the test drive? Maybe that was it, but even then these transmissions are pretty smooth.
01-30-16, 03:45 AM
#36
You'll enjoy both I believe, no matter which you choose. Just make sure the transmission is not an issue on the 460 you're looking at.
01-30-16, 04:50 AM
#37
Pole Position
I'm not a fan on BMW's reliability, but when you mention how smooth and linear your acceleration is in your 540i, I believe you 100%. I've driven quite a few 540i's and I'm totally blown away with how smooth they are, in fact just about all the BMW's I've driven are just so smooth. So I think you're going to be a little disappointed with a lot of th cars you test drive because not many of them are going to feel like those cars...I'll hand it to BMW...they certainly know how to build a car that feels amazing. It's just that they are so disappointing in other departments. Still that 460 shouldn't drive the way you describe. And I was thinking about the price of both - you should be able to get a couple thousand off both those cars right now - this is the worst time of the year to sell cars, you have all the leverage.
01-30-16, 08:35 AM
#38
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
I'm not a fan on BMW's reliability, but when you mention how smooth and linear your acceleration is in your 540i, I believe you 100%. I've driven quite a few 540i's and I'm totally blown away with how smooth they are, in fact just about all the BMW's I've driven are just so smooth. So I think you're going to be a little disappointed with a lot of th cars you test drive because not many of them are going to feel like those cars...I'll hand it to BMW...they certainly know how to build a car that feels amazing. It's just that they are so disappointing in other departments. Still that 460 shouldn't drive the way you describe. And I was thinking about the price of both - you should be able to get a couple thousand off both those cars right now - this is the worst time of the year to sell cars, you have all the leverage.
, in fact, the 430 (at $13,800) owner is really firm on the price, has turned down two persons at $12,500. The car is hot commodity. Will try it this morning. You are 100% right on BMW. I will not sell it if it did not bring too many small troubles. Its metal is good, and can last very long as other quality cars. However, they got something very wrong at the same time: pathetic. I probably will only go to Lexus or Porsche after BMW.
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