[Pvt. Joker]

I currently own a 2000 BMW 323Ci which i love, but the service is so bad that I'm seriously considering trading it in for an IS300. I could tell horror stories about my BMW dealer. The only other car I would consider is the IS300. I have a test drive scheduled next week and will compare it to mine then. Is the Lexus service really that good? Are you happy with the IS? Are there any former BMW drivers here? Will dealer charge sticker when the manual comes out?

 

[croddy]

Here is my input for what it is worth. I love my car. The service has been pretty good, I really can't complain. Sometimes I think that the service department is a little full of themselves though. I think that they will try to get sticker for the sticks when they first come out, but that they will fall back to today's pricing pretty quick. Sorry to hear about your problems with the BMW.

 

[JW]

I don't own an IS300, but my family does have a '92 ES300. Most of the time, Lexus service is great thought it depends on the dealer. At Longo Lexus in Southern California, there's a putting green and free coffee and drinks and pastries in the waiting room, and when your car needs extended service, they'll offer you a loaner car (another Lexus, of course). No mileage limits, and all you pay for is the gas. (Let's just say my parents took an RX300 loaner out to Las Vegas for that weekend...hehe.)

There are a couple people here who have had some experiences with BMW's, but I don't know if there are any former E46 owners here.

Most people here love their IS300's...very few people have given theirs up.

Most likely the dealer may charge MSRP when the manual comes out since there are a lot of people waiting for it. However, you could try to ask your dealer when you have that test drive.

Pvt. Joker...go visit our Parking Lot! You're a funny guy on bimmer.org, and we need some fresh trolls to stir things up!

 

[MajorRugburn]

Hey! Same boat here. Need some convincing, but very little...

)

 

[JW]

Hey...it's two screwballs from bimmer.org!!!

MajorRugburn..."et tu, Brute?"

 

[MajorRugburn]

Hey Willy!!! How's that pound of flesh you owe me???

 

[JW]

LOL... um, that pound of flesh is at the VPC.

 

[sacremon]

Now, I've had a particular run of bad luck with my dealer's service department, but it was never one of the service rep. or service manager being difficult. If anything, they've been good. The mechanics on the other hand... But I'm not willing to paint all Lexus mechanics with the same brush. A co-worker of mine has an '89 BMW, and has lived in serveral parts of the coutnry with it (Dallas, Columbus OH, now Atlanta) and says that service is universally bad at all BMW delearships. They've even denied that there was anything wrong with his car when he brought it in for work (for which they would have made money), when he knew exactly what was wrong (and ended up fixing himself). BMW does indeed sound like it has an attitude about service - once they've got your money from the sale, they don't want to see you again, and let you know it if you show up for service.

 

[MajorRugburn]

hmmm... i can't get used to the format of this board! you can't see all the posts at once and you gotta go through hoops and whistles to post. makes bimmer.org look like "Linux" compared to this "Windows" environment

just my opinion... * sticking my head back into the sand *

 

[MajorRugburn]

Hey sacremon! that's a hell of a saying

) i'll remember that one! "Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice Doggie' until you can find a rock" - Will Rogers

 

[GMoney]

Originally posted by Pvt. Joker:
I currently own a 2000 BMW 323Ci which i love, but the service is so bad that I'm seriously considering trading it in for an IS300. I could tell horror stories about my BMW dealer. The only other car I would consider is the IS300. I have a test drive scheduled next week and will compare it to mine then. Is the Lexus service really that good? Are you happy with the IS? Are there any former BMW drivers here? Will dealer charge sticker when the manual comes out?

whatever you do, don't bring your IS300 (if you get one) to Norwood, they SUCK! Watertown is much better

 

[ckolsen]

Joker, you tried taking your BMW to BMW Peabody in Peabody, MA? (is there an echo in here?)
I took my '95 to them once, and they were fine, just so expensive that I never went back. I take my car to Schneller BMW Tuning up north on Rt. 1, or there's a couple good places in New Hampshire - but if your car's under warranty that's not an option. Try Peabody, they're nice.

 

[SeattleSheila]

I haven't had anything to gripe about. Door pin kept coming loose. The dealership popped it back in twice and then, without being asked, ordered and installed a new hinge. They seem to look out for me too...for instance, I made an appointment for an oil change and the service manager called me a day later and said: "I was just about to call you to tell you the ECU/Trac upgrade is ready and I notice you have an oil change scheduled. Would you like to do that at the same time. If you weren't planning on being here that long, I can offer you a loaner car for a couple of hours if you need to run some errands." That was nice.

I also hear that any Lexus dealer will do needed warranty work for you even if you didn't purchase the car at that dealership.

Anyone testing driving the IS300 should be warned: The interior is NOT as cushy as the BMW...but it's every bit as fun to drive. (OK an M3 might yield more joy...)

 

[webguyIS]

Joker, Rugburn, intruders!! =P

(j/k)

Joker, this is the "IS300 web board" I was referring to over at bimmer.org. You'll get some good opinions here, a boisterous group these folks are. =)

(btw, this is Chris Blessing)

 

[aust182]

Have a 325i right now. Had a tire blow out for no reason and got nothing but flack from Irvine BMW. They were terrible. Mind you, this car was all of 6 months old and what I expected was top-notch service. What I got was a bunch of people who value the sale more than the customer.
In contrast, one of my good friends had a problem with his IS pulling. The dealership aligned and balanced and it still pulled. Without him asking they replaced the front tire and wheel. Problem solved. That is the kind of service I want!!
I will be buying an IS300 as soon as the 2002s roll of the boat!

 

[aust182]

Originally posted by SeattleSheila:


Anyone testing driving the IS300 should be warned: The interior is NOT as cushy as the BMW...but it's every bit as fun to drive. (OK an M3 might yield more joy...)

Might want to note on the 2002 they will have full leather available (the Ecsaine perforated is actually synthetic) and will rework the dash, armrest and add curtain airbags. Granted, it won't be a BMW but it is going to be alot better!!

 

[LexusIS886]

After driving both, I feel as if the IS300 is a bit more sportier then the BMW 330. What I would like to test drive next is the BMW 330Xi and the M3. Only negative I can think about the IS300 is the auto which won't be for long and the a little less then luxuory interior. But sporty takes the place of that.

 

[MajorRugburn]

Guys, thank you for your valuable comments. It looks like my next new car will be the 2002 IS300 Manual. Thanks, I needed that.

 

[Alec]

Originally posted by aust182:
Have a 325i right now. Had a tire blow out for no reason and got nothing but flack from Irvine BMW. They were terrible. Mind you, this car was all of 6 months old and what I expected was top-notch service. What I got was a bunch of people who value the sale more than the customer.
In contrast, one of my good friends had a problem with his IS pulling. The dealership aligned and balanced and it still pulled. Without him asking they replaced the front tire and wheel. Problem solved. That is the kind of service I want!!
I will be buying an IS300 as soon as the 2002s roll of the boat!

If you go to Irvine BMW, talk to Gary Bessa. Absolutely the coolest service advisor I have ever met.

 

[fairuza11]

I gave up my 330CI for a IS300.. but that is just me