3-Series (E46, E90)Chat relating to the BMW 3-Series from 1999 to Current. Models include: BMW 316i, BMW 318i, BMW 318Ci, BMW 320i, BMW 323i, BMW 325i, BMW 330i, BMW 328 Ci, BMW 328i, BMW 325i/xi, BMW 330Ci, BMW 320d, BMW 330d, BMW 335d.
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I know that i am in a BMW forum, but i need an honest opnion. I was in love with the new Lexus GS300, but now they say it might not be released until 2006 instead of 05. my lease is up on my current car next year. so i will need a car. Can someone give me a honest un biased opnion of what car is the best to get. If I get the GS300, i was gonna put 20 inch chrome and if i get the 330ci i was gonna put 19 inch chrome on it. So you guys are more familiar with bMW than me since i am a lexus fan that may convert to BMW. just tell me which you think is faster and looks nicer. Is BMW 330ci gonna change its look anytime soon. thanks guys. i look forward to hearing your replys.
we own both the lexus gs300 and my 323Ci and both have its plus and minus. I can tell you this, my 323Ci (manual) is MUCH faster than our gs300. So a 330Ci would be alot faster than the GS. Though, the GS300 is a very comfortable car. Its very smooth and quiet. I think it looks pretty good, but of course a BMW coupe is beautiful.
My simplified opinion would be this. A GS300 is like a smooth piece of chocolate;Refined, Elegant and all around great mid-size car. Thats where it stops for me though. The 3 Series Bimmer is more like a chilipepper in this respect. Its spicy, taut, and an absolute blast to drive. While smaller, and a tad less refined when it comes to ride smoothness, the 3 would still be my pick easy. Its just a much more overall good package. The GS3 is more of the ultimate medium family sedan, the 3 series is your little rocket, and if others wanna join they can, but their comfort wont be the best. I havent driven a 400 or 430 however and I hear those are quite a speed demon too. Anyway I digress... 3 Series wins by a small margin, but these cars target somewhat different categories of buyer. The IS300 (and up until it came out the ES300) are more direct competition.
Im glad no one is bad mouthing the GS here. The GS is damn fine car. Lexus made a very comfortable, smooth and reliable car. THe only thing I dont like about the GS is the bulkiness (as a driver). I love the 330ci because, although not as reliable, smooth, and roomy as the GS, its more of a drivers car.
So its a difficult decision to make. If you want more of a drivers car, go BMW. If you want more of a all around balanced car - go GS300.
my dad sold his GS400 for a 330Ci, and i know this sounds crazy, but there wasnt really a noticeable power difference between the two. of course the GS400 was slightly faster (300hp V8 vs 225hp I6), but the transmission really sucked. it was fine in upshifting, but it would never kick down when you needed it to, it would literally take about 4sec from the time you put your foot down till the time it went into the right gear. the handling is 10x better on the 330, the biggest difference being the steering feel and less body roll. I do think the GS series are decent cars, they are extremely smooth and quiet and have good punch, but overall theyre dissapointing. that is if you are looking to find just a hint of sportiness that you would expect in a car like that, and the interior wasnt that spectacular either.
about the 330 not being as reliable as the toyota, the M54B30 is one of the most reliable bmw enignes ever made, although you can occasionally get a 3series with minor electrical imperfections, the 330 is deffiantely more advanced and better built imo.
The parents had a 1st gen GS300 and that was a spectacular car. A little expensive to fix but I guess that's something you live with on any of these cars. I'm not sure what the scheduled maintanence is on the BMW but 1200-1600 was about average from dealerships for the GS300.
A friend of mine has a really sick GS400 that's a great car. It's much faster than the 328i and still about .5 seconds faster than a 330i. It's in great shape and running like a beast at 90K+.
While the 3-series has some great interior qualities and is very comfortable it is just a shade less plush as the GS series. A little more wood, a little more detailed dash, and the seats are not as supportive but just as comfy.
Now I know that looks are subjective, but the new GS series you are talking about is pretty plain. There is nothing really special about the exterior of the vehicle. It has front design cues from the 1st gen, rear cues from the 2nd gen. There's really nothing nice about the greenhouse and supporting pillars. The C-pillar has a Maxima/Altima feel, the trunk has a 7/5-er feel.
Originally posted by nosuchsol@Jan 15 2004, 12:26 AM Now I know that looks are subjective, but the new GS series you are talking about is pretty plain. There is nothing really special about the exterior of the vehicle. It has front design cues from the 1st gen, rear cues from the 2nd gen. There's really nothing nice about the greenhouse and supporting pillars. The C-pillar has a Maxima/Altima feel, the trunk has a 7/5-er feel.
What it comes down to is your own preference. =)
Oh I know!! I saw the Auto Show pics of the 05/6 model and was completely UNimpressed! I say if you really want the current GS go for it because the new one looks absolutely lost,I would prefer the current to the new any day. The current one will IMO live as probably the most distinctive Lexus thus far, save for maybe the IS.
Originally posted by RetroSpek@Jan 15 2004, 06:33 AM I hate the IS...booo
I didnt say the IS was any good. It just LOOKS different than the rest of the bread and butter Lexus products. The GS would still be my pick, and id still go ANY Lexus product over infiniti any day.
Thanks for the input guys. I still don't know what i am going to do. I really didn't know that the 330ci is almost as fast as the gs430. I guess i just look forward to hearing more interesting points on the subject. Thanks Mike
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