BMW M340xi
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 18,313
Likes: 1,786
From: Ohio
Get a ford ecoboost then, superior in every way and a known factor with fully fleshed out support and aftermarket. Or buy any V8 truck and slap a super kit on it, ford even offers a factory package with it pre-done for you.....
A 6 will never beat an 8
A 6 will never beat an 8
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 18,313
Likes: 1,786
From: Ohio
i read some of this thread... very interesting! seems they cost reduced the G60 over the G30 some, but in areas most people won't notice. there's always 'perfectionists' like the guy who compared them who are bothered by the changes, but car companies always have to compromise... maybe if they'd kept all those trim details the car would be $5K more and people would still be unhappy. all cars have compromises.
sounds like you've been de-programmed from a cult
welcome to a larger automotive world! in the past 20 years i've had lexus, ford, jeep, genesis, hyundai, lexus again... it's been a wonderful ride.
i don't see his sig right now, but that comment made me lol.
seriously all new cars are easily reliable to 60k miles today unless you get a lemon or do no maintenance or a major recall like the toyota engine problem.
ev's have entered the chat.
here we go, the usual comments from usual folks... man you're brutal.
i know several people with the lexus/toyota 3.4TT and have had zero issues and LOVE them. they may still have to undergo a replacement but my one friend said 'great, a new engine!' so didn't put him off at all. you see lots of broken cars so obviously your view is skewed. you don't see the millions of cars that don't break.
and of course audis never have engine problems: class action suit against audi
ah yes, right on cue - and yet, i bet most tundra owners love them, just like you love your old ford truck.
yup, yup, saw that comment coming too.
sounds like you've been de-programmed from a cult
welcome to a larger automotive world! in the past 20 years i've had lexus, ford, jeep, genesis, hyundai, lexus again... it's been a wonderful ride.
i don't see his sig right now, but that comment made me lol.
seriously all new cars are easily reliable to 60k miles today unless you get a lemon or do no maintenance or a major recall like the toyota engine problem.
ev's have entered the chat.
here we go, the usual comments from usual folks... man you're brutal.
i know several people with the lexus/toyota 3.4TT and have had zero issues and LOVE them. they may still have to undergo a replacement but my one friend said 'great, a new engine!' so didn't put him off at all. you see lots of broken cars so obviously your view is skewed. you don't see the millions of cars that don't break.and of course audis never have engine problems: class action suit against audi
ah yes, right on cue - and yet, i bet most tundra owners love them, just like you love your old ford truck.
yup, yup, saw that comment coming too.
The fact remains that Toyota has nothing to offer but reliability and now they don't even have that.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,009
Likes: 529
From: Maryland
i read some of this thread... very interesting! seems they cost reduced the G60 over the G30 some, but in areas most people won't notice. there's always 'perfectionists' like the guy who compared them who are bothered by the changes, but car companies always have to compromise... maybe if they'd kept all those trim details the car would be $5K more and people would still be unhappy. all cars have compromises.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 906
Likes: 1,348
From: Greater Toronto Area
BMW Sold More Cars Than Mercedes and Audi in the U.S. in 2023
On the X7 refresh in 2023 they cut costs but increased the price. My fully loaded 2021 X7 was around $117k and when I priced out a 2024 X7 with the same options it was around $130k. With the $130k you lose the comfort access for the rear handles, laser headlights (although you do get crystal headlights for looks), worse performing a/c although you do get a new M engine out of it. If it was only $5k more than I would have no problem but it's much more.
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 3,958
Likes: 409
i read some of this thread... very interesting! seems they cost reduced the G60 over the G30 some, but in areas most people won't notice. there's always 'perfectionists' like the guy who compared them who are bothered by the changes, but car companies always have to compromise... maybe if they'd kept all those trim details the car would be $5K more and people would still be unhappy. all cars have compromises.
sounds like you've been de-programmed from a cult
welcome to a larger automotive world! in the past 20 years i've had lexus, ford, jeep, genesis, hyundai, lexus again... it's been a wonderful ride.
i don't see his sig right now, but that comment made me lol.
seriously all new cars are easily reliable to 60k miles today unless you get a lemon or do no maintenance or a major recall like the toyota engine problem.
ev's have entered the chat.
here we go, the usual comments from usual folks... man you're brutal. i know several people with the lexus/toyota 3.4TT and have had zero issues and LOVE them. they may still have to undergo a replacement but my one friend said 'great, a new engine!' so didn't put him off at all. you see lots of broken cars so obviously your view is skewed. you don't see the millions of cars that don't break.
and of course audis never have engine problems: class action suit against audi
ah yes, right on cue - and yet, i bet most tundra owners love them, just like you love your old ford truck.
yup, yup, saw that comment coming too.
sounds like you've been de-programmed from a cult
welcome to a larger automotive world! in the past 20 years i've had lexus, ford, jeep, genesis, hyundai, lexus again... it's been a wonderful ride.
i don't see his sig right now, but that comment made me lol.
seriously all new cars are easily reliable to 60k miles today unless you get a lemon or do no maintenance or a major recall like the toyota engine problem.
ev's have entered the chat.
here we go, the usual comments from usual folks... man you're brutal.
i know several people with the lexus/toyota 3.4TT and have had zero issues and LOVE them. they may still have to undergo a replacement but my one friend said 'great, a new engine!' so didn't put him off at all. you see lots of broken cars so obviously your view is skewed. you don't see the millions of cars that don't break.and of course audis never have engine problems: class action suit against audi
ah yes, right on cue - and yet, i bet most tundra owners love them, just like you love your old ford truck.
yup, yup, saw that comment coming too.
There’s quite a few X7 owners with less than 60k miles that experienced front differential failure. I think it’s a $7k-8k repair. All I’ve read have been under warranty. One was 3-4wks outside of warranty and BMW covered 75% of the repair cost.
If/when we get an extended warranty this will be the 2nd vehicle we’ve had an extended warranty on. The first one was a Mercedes about 15-16yrs ago. It’s been Acura/Lexus/Toyota since then and never an extended warranty.
A trailer is hitched to my truck every gas tank.I was reading a 3rd gen Tundra travel trailer tow thread and 99% of them if not 100% owners said they love the way the 3rd gen towed their campers. I towed with the non hybrid Tundra and it tows effortlessly. In my stock V8 Tundra it requires a little more throttle and RPMs. Very stable. I can keep with my 3/4 ton diesel buddies.
On the X7 refresh in 2023 they cut costs but increased the price. My fully loaded 2021 X7 was around $117k and when I priced out a 2024 X7 with the same options it was around $130k. With the $130k you lose the comfort access for the rear handles, laser headlights (although you do get crystal headlights for looks), worse performing a/c although you do get a new M engine out of it. If it was only $5k more than I would have no problem but it's much more.
Hot humid summers in the south will be the real test. @NickL do your research on what packages/features are deal breakers for you. Sorry we hijacked your truck🫣. Looks like you’re getting a 540 just a matter of what year.
Last edited by BayeauxLex; Feb 15, 2025 at 05:55 PM.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,474
Likes: 382
From: ON/NY
And yet, 2023 sales figures in the US among luxury brands: 1) BMW 2) Lexus 3) Merc 4) Audi.
BMW Sold More Cars Than Mercedes and Audi in the U.S. in 2023
BMW Sold More Cars Than Mercedes and Audi in the U.S. in 2023
Mercedes sales are inflated because of the 70,000 vans they sell LOL
but kudos to BMW. They have done well
Last edited by Toys4RJill; Feb 15, 2025 at 06:19 PM.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 18,313
Likes: 1,786
From: Ohio
And yet, 2023 sales figures in the US among luxury brands: 1) BMW 2) Lexus 3) Merc 4) Audi.
BMW Sold More Cars Than Mercedes and Audi in the U.S. in 2023
BMW Sold More Cars Than Mercedes and Audi in the U.S. in 2023
If you are making a dig at Audis go ahead and include all of VAGs luxury brands since it's the same company
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 906
Likes: 1,348
From: Greater Toronto Area
Toyota/Lexus brings to the market, as there is a large base for what the Germans, including Audi, bring as well. From the pure, high performance, enthusiast's perspective, I would tend to agree that there really isn't anything currently in the Toyota/Lexus lineup that measures up to the what the German's offer, but it is sales to the masses that pays shareholder dividends, not sales to the enthusiast few. I've owned vehicles from all makes - Japanese, German, American and they've all brought something good to the table in their own way.
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,179
Likes: 940
From: MA
Your car is beautiful Kevin. 
If the IS 500 didn't come out I would be in either an M2 or M3. That dark blue M3 with the light silver wheels knocked my socks off yesterday. It just looked so good.
@NickL , any interest in test driving an M3 Comp x drive? Judging by your sig you could easily afford one.
If the IS 500 didn't come out I would be in either an M2 or M3. That dark blue M3 with the light silver wheels knocked my socks off yesterday. It just looked so good.
@NickL , any interest in test driving an M3 Comp x drive? Judging by your sig you could easily afford one.
I just need a good daily that痴 a great driver car. I really like the driving dynamic of the M340 but that damn 15gal fuel tank. Even with the 26MPG or so that is less than 400mi per tank.
The 540i has an 18gal tank but it does about 22MPG which equates to the same driving range.
I might give the G60 540i a try since it gets 26MPG on a 18gal tank which will push it more than what I want. I also read that the G60 rides better than the G30 540i
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,179
Likes: 940
From: MA
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,179
Likes: 940
From: MA
I知 in no rush to jump into this. LC500 will be coming out of hibernation soon. I probably will wait til September/October when my LC500 starting to go back into hibernation again. This will gives me some time to sell the LS460 and learn more about BMW.
Right now, I知 all over the place lol. Someday I want a G20 M340 but someday, I want the G30 540i. And now I知 thinking maybe the G60 540i.
I don稚 know. At this point, I saw a couple of G30 on the road and thought, mehhhh! They look pretty pedestrian. And when I saw the tail lights of an LS500 at night, it clicked with me right away. There痴 something with the design language of a Lexus that speaks to me. I知 just not very happy with their sedan line up and engine choices.
BTW, how hard is it to find a G30 540i with ventilated seats? And 360 degrees camera? I知 really surprised with the lack of ventilated seats in BMW.
Right now, I知 all over the place lol. Someday I want a G20 M340 but someday, I want the G30 540i. And now I知 thinking maybe the G60 540i.
I don稚 know. At this point, I saw a couple of G30 on the road and thought, mehhhh! They look pretty pedestrian. And when I saw the tail lights of an LS500 at night, it clicked with me right away. There痴 something with the design language of a Lexus that speaks to me. I知 just not very happy with their sedan line up and engine choices.
BTW, how hard is it to find a G30 540i with ventilated seats? And 360 degrees camera? I知 really surprised with the lack of ventilated seats in BMW.
Last edited by NickL; Feb 17, 2025 at 08:00 PM.