From e46 M3 to Lexus Is350 Discuss
The transmission in the IS350 is GREAT.... when left to do it's own thing.
The gearing is awesome and very nicely matched to the engine, nice aggressive low gears and a nice relaxed overdrive gear.
The shifts are bangin quick, shifts faster than my 335i's steptronic. It can chirp the tires going into 2nd, in normal mode it will hold the rev all the way and sometime slightly bump into the revlimiter before shifting.
Things go down hill when you try to take over, it basically never listens to what you want. You can frantically click those paddles and it will basically say "**** off" I'm doing my own thing. In manual mode, downshifts are also very jerky because it doesn't offer rev-matching.
Heard most of those issues have been addressed with the new 3IS 8spd auto.
Back to the original subject, the E46 M3 is a great car but for some reason, that exhaust note kills it for me every time. Considering it's a straight 6 that revs to 8000+ you'd think it would sound better, I have to do a double take sometimes when I see an E46 M3 with exhaust, they sounds almost exactly like a civic with a fart can.
The gearing is awesome and very nicely matched to the engine, nice aggressive low gears and a nice relaxed overdrive gear.
The shifts are bangin quick, shifts faster than my 335i's steptronic. It can chirp the tires going into 2nd, in normal mode it will hold the rev all the way and sometime slightly bump into the revlimiter before shifting.
Things go down hill when you try to take over, it basically never listens to what you want. You can frantically click those paddles and it will basically say "**** off" I'm doing my own thing. In manual mode, downshifts are also very jerky because it doesn't offer rev-matching.
Heard most of those issues have been addressed with the new 3IS 8spd auto.
Back to the original subject, the E46 M3 is a great car but for some reason, that exhaust note kills it for me every time. Considering it's a straight 6 that revs to 8000+ you'd think it would sound better, I have to do a double take sometimes when I see an E46 M3 with exhaust, they sounds almost exactly like a civic with a fart can.
I don't have experience owning something like the M3 or 335i. I have some questions for the cost of ownership as follows:
1. How much maintenance is needed and how much is each? Is it like ~100 or so for synthetic oil change every 10k miles or so like the Lexus together with may be spark plug, coolant flush, brake flush once in a while?
2. What are some common repairs? How much am I expected to pay for each? Be specific as possible. 500? 1000? 2000??
3. Are the repairs only needed much for the older cars like 5 year old or so. Can I expect the brand new bimmer perform fine without much repair in the first 5 years like the Lexus?
I am thinking about getting a brand new 335i or M3 in the future and keep it for like 5 years.
1. How much maintenance is needed and how much is each? Is it like ~100 or so for synthetic oil change every 10k miles or so like the Lexus together with may be spark plug, coolant flush, brake flush once in a while?
2. What are some common repairs? How much am I expected to pay for each? Be specific as possible. 500? 1000? 2000??
3. Are the repairs only needed much for the older cars like 5 year old or so. Can I expect the brand new bimmer perform fine without much repair in the first 5 years like the Lexus?
I am thinking about getting a brand new 335i or M3 in the future and keep it for like 5 years.
Tires ALWAYS make the biggest difference in handling.
Adding to Sportskid1s list, a non F sport 2IS has horrible steering feel compared to an M3, which will probably make pushing the car anywhere near the handling limit extremely frustrating. Replace the steering ECU with one from an IS F and it improves dramatically.
Adding to Sportskid1s list, a non F sport 2IS has horrible steering feel compared to an M3, which will probably make pushing the car anywhere near the handling limit extremely frustrating. Replace the steering ECU with one from an IS F and it improves dramatically.
As far as making an IS350 handle like an e46 M3, the parts listed on my sig will really wake up the Lexus and make it a competent handling and fun-to-drive vehicle.
I was able to confirm that you are able to safely drive your IS with an uncalibrated steering ECU from your home to the dealership without any issues which was one of my initial concerns prior to the mod.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 87
Likes: 4
From: AZ
The money savings wouldn't be until the super long term. When you think about it, buying a $20K car to avoid a $5 - 7K repair bill is not really cost effective. It's the idea that you don't know what might go wrong next. Be it a gasket here, sensor there, VANOS, clutch, tranny, fuel pump, starter, coils etc.. You just don't know.
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 87
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From: AZ
I don't have experience owning something like the M3 or 335i. I have some questions for the cost of ownership as follows:
1. How much maintenance is needed and how much is each? Is it like ~100 or so for synthetic oil change every 10k miles or so like the Lexus together with may be spark plug, coolant flush, brake flush once in a while?
2. What are some common repairs? How much am I expected to pay for each? Be specific as possible. 500? 1000? 2000??
3. Are the repairs only needed much for the older cars like 5 year old or so. Can I expect the brand new bimmer perform fine without much repair in the first 5 years like the Lexus?
I am thinking about getting a brand new 335i or M3 in the future and keep it for like 5 years.
1. How much maintenance is needed and how much is each? Is it like ~100 or so for synthetic oil change every 10k miles or so like the Lexus together with may be spark plug, coolant flush, brake flush once in a while?
2. What are some common repairs? How much am I expected to pay for each? Be specific as possible. 500? 1000? 2000??
3. Are the repairs only needed much for the older cars like 5 year old or so. Can I expect the brand new bimmer perform fine without much repair in the first 5 years like the Lexus?
I am thinking about getting a brand new 335i or M3 in the future and keep it for like 5 years.
My experience with my e46 M3 is you can expect a failure to occur about once a year. Whether it be something small or large, it will usually cost in the ball park of $1,000 - $1,500. Then there's the Valve adjustment you are supposed to get done every 50,000 miles which costs around $1,200 - $1,500. Since the M3 has some camber on the rear wheels expect to be replacing tires about every 8 - 10 months.
I have had my M3 for 6 years now and didn't have any maintenance issues until around 90K miles. From around 100K - 140K miles it's been about $1,500 per year in repairs with one failed part about every year. Now if something particularly big goes out such as your LSD, clutch, tranny or VANOS you can expect a bigger bill more around $3,000 - $4000.
There are a ton of little things that can add up like O2 sensors, breaks, rotors, water pump, thermostat, starter, Ignition coils, fuel pump etc.. 1 item per year should be expected on top of regular maintenance costs.
I would get the new M3 over the 335i, I have heard that the new M3 is actually their most reliable M3 yet and the 335i is quite unreliable. So, for the extra money you get better performance and even more reliability. Much better overall package IMO.
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Yup the twin turbo N54 from the 335 has been a bit problematic. High Pressure Fuel Pump (HPFP), injectors, carbon build-up, wastegate rattle (which usually results in turbo replacement), etc... On the other hand there are hoardes of 400hp+ N54s on the street. All it takes is a tune and some E85. I undersand most of these problems have been worked out though, buy a 2010 or newer and it should be better, but I still wouldn't expect the reliability of a Lexus. I still want a 135/335, or a new 235.
Thanks for the input. I'm contemplating between the 335i and M3. I lean toward the 335i due to its overall cost vs. M3 and brand new M3 is kind of out of my budget range since I already have 2 Lexus to take care. Plus 335i with proper tune at a reasonable price can get close to M3 stock in term of horse power. The bimmer will not be a daily driver for me. I will be using it on weekend plus autocross/track. However, after hearing comments like this, I probably consider used M3. As WylieKylie brings up, I also read a lot of good reviews on the 135i which has so much potentials.
Beside the Bimmer, the Lexus RC series either the RC 350 or the RCF are also very very appealing. It has pretty good horsepower and great handling proven on track (Fuji and Nurburgring) topping off with great interior and exterior design. It is very much wanted.
Again, all that is for the future. I still love the reliable IS which is such a fun to drive daily car and even if I get those, the IS will still be daily driver
Beside the Bimmer, the Lexus RC series either the RC 350 or the RCF are also very very appealing. It has pretty good horsepower and great handling proven on track (Fuji and Nurburgring) topping off with great interior and exterior design. It is very much wanted.
Again, all that is for the future. I still love the reliable IS which is such a fun to drive daily car and even if I get those, the IS will still be daily driver
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 87
Likes: 4
From: AZ
Thanks for the input. I'm contemplating between the 335i and M3. I lean toward the 335i due to its overall cost vs. M3 and brand new M3 is kind of out of my budget range since I already have 2 Lexus to take care. Plus 335i with proper tune at a reasonable price can get close to M3 stock in term of horse power. The bimmer will not be a daily driver for me. I will be using it on weekend plus autocross/track. However, after hearing comments like this, I probably consider used M3. As WylieKylie brings up, I also read a lot of good reviews on the 135i which has so much potentials.
Beside the Bimmer, the Lexus RC series either the RC 350 or the RCF are also very very appealing. It has pretty good horsepower and great handling proven on track (Fuji and Nurburgring) topping off with great interior and exterior design. It is very much wanted.
Again, all that is for the future. I still love the reliable IS which is such a fun to drive daily car and even if I get those, the IS will still be daily driver
Beside the Bimmer, the Lexus RC series either the RC 350 or the RCF are also very very appealing. It has pretty good horsepower and great handling proven on track (Fuji and Nurburgring) topping off with great interior and exterior design. It is very much wanted.
Again, all that is for the future. I still love the reliable IS which is such a fun to drive daily car and even if I get those, the IS will still be daily driver
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