BMW 5 series (e39) VS Lexus GS300 (2nd Gen)

inflames · August 11, 2016

I am currently looking at car's due to my Passat being written off and i am on a budget after the insurance pay covers my finance and leaves X amount. I would be looking at 3rd get GS300 if i had the extra cash, but i don't so here we are. This topic kind of started in a different thread of mine and Chasdad mentioned he has owned both giving pros and cons. So was wondering any others have? As i am current comparing a 2 owner 2000 528I auto sport with 130k, full service history and a 1 owner 2000 GS300 SE with 115k and full lexus services history. The E39 BMW is considered my many as the best Saloon car of it generation and some still consider it to be the best 5 series ever made.

I know most of the common issues regarding the BMW's of this era, as i had a 320I and had to deal with the coolant problem's and then 6 months later the CCV gave me issues so i have dealt with these before. When the car was running fine and had no issues it was great car to drive. The handling was spot on, the power delivery was great and smooth. The in car entertainment, well was a bit pants. Now comparing that to my old IS200, was great handling car, but not as good as the BMW, power delivery was good and smooth but always felt under powered for the engine and the fuel consumption (not that it bothered me). In car entertainment was great, loved it. The car great and never had any mechanical issues, but had massive electrical problems once the water found its way into the car, spent a year constantly fighting to sort it, but gave in once it started to cause problems with the ECU.

I know these are very different cars to what i am comparing, but i am using what i know and applying it. The BMW is the better handling, the better looking car of the two, but not as reliable. Most likely to the more desirable car of the two. The Lexus, on the other hand is more reliable, more powerful BHP wise, awesome in car entertainment, i would like to assume more comfy to drive for long periods of time. So i would say the GS is more left field. At the minute my heart says 5 series as i have always been a fan of the e39 shape and my head says GS300 as its the safer choice. I still need to go test drive these, so my opinion may change but for now i am just wondering what others think?

royoftherovers · August 11, 2016

I THINK THE SAME AS YOU AARON and as one gets older, the head wins every single time. Game, set and match!

Regards

John

inflames · August 11, 2016

10 minutes ago, royoftherovers said:

I THINK THE SAME AS YOU AARON and as one gets older, the head wins every single time. Game, set and match!

Regards

John

Yes the head does tend win arguments the older i get. At the moment the only thing i can find that may put me off the GS300 is that is green with a beige interior? Can i life with it?

royoftherovers · August 11, 2016

The head in me says that I could not live with that Aaron.

Seek and ye shall find !

Good luck.

Regards

John

IanA2 · August 11, 2016

Buy the Beemer and regret your inability to live with a nice green/beige colour scheme as your wallet empties.... :)

messi · August 11, 2016

Hi

If you dont mind me asking, What is yourequired budget?

Personally I've always liked the 7 series BMW, if never driven a BMW but the shape on the 2005 onwards model is very nice. But the gearbox issue always puts me off.

inflames · August 11, 2016

17 minutes ago, IanA2 said:

Buy the Beemer and regret your inability to live with a nice green/beige colour scheme as your wallet empties.... :)

certainly remember my wallet got lighter when i had the 320I.

inflames · August 11, 2016

1 hour ago, messi said:

Hi

If you dont mind me asking, What is yourequired budget?

Personally I've always liked the 7 series BMW, if never driven a BMW but the shape on the 2005 onwards model is very nice. But the gearbox issue always puts me off.

It currently is 2K, i might be able to get more if the wife lets use some of our savings?????

Z28DUNC · August 11, 2016

My best mate has a E39 530i touring sport which he loves. He's had it 6-7 years now. Says it has brilliant build quality. Its a great drive now doubt but reliable? I've known people with more reliable Citroens! It has a lot of different electrical problems as well as seals going dry and cranking, leaking oil. Great cars when they are working but in my experience the rarely don't have some fault!

Chasdad · August 11, 2016

You not decided yet. For 2k i think youd get a better lexus than a e39. If your after more of a drivers car what about a is300. I had a sportcross and was pretty good

inflames · August 11, 2016

1 hour ago, Chasdad said:

You not decided yet. For 2k i think youd get a better lexus than a e39. If your after more of a drivers car what about a is300. I had a sportcross and was pretty good

Think i know which one, just going to test drive both this weekend. But if neither are the one, at least i would have eliminated the choice down to one and then i can concentrate my search then.

Chasdad · August 11, 2016

Let us know what you think. My mates got my old 528 sport for sale. But needs a few things doing

toffee_pie · August 11, 2016

buying a BMW 5 series of that age ? better get on very good terms with a mechanic. You could easily throw a few grand on that on repairs without even thinking.

inflames · August 13, 2016

Well been to look at few cars today, neither of the above and not having much luck. The 5 series sold during the week and GS300 sold last night after i had arranged to view 1st thing in the morning. Thank god the dealer let me know, so i didn’t waste my time who ever got that certainly got a good car from what i could gather after talking to the dealer.

IanA2 · August 13, 2016

Commiserations. Good 300's will fly away quick, probably best to get your skates when next one pops up.

royoftherovers · August 13, 2016

Sorry to hear that Aaron..Keep searching and using that reliable brainbox, you will find what you are looking for..

Regards

John

messi · August 13, 2016

Sorry to hear that. The previous owner of my Gs300 called me during the week saying he misses it and wants to buy it back after he had seen pictures and said "youve taken it to a different level" basically I got the wheels refurbished and because I do detailing part time for myself, I got the car gleaming, but i wasnt so sure I wanted to sell as he offered me a very reduced price for it, but I don't know what else I'd buy if I did sell it, although I do like the sc430, and one of my friends has anot 06 325i m sport BMW, but I don't think I'd buy that.

KayCee · August 13, 2016

i think he as got a cheek when you have spent time and money putting it to next level

messi · August 13, 2016

That's exactly what I thought.

inflames · August 13, 2016

51 minutes ago, IanA2 said:

Commiserations. Good 300's will fly away quick, probably best to get your skates when next one pops up.

Yeah certainly will have to have my skates on, normally i would have taken a day off work, but i was the only person in my department this week due to holidays so that wasn’t an option.

Here is the link to the GS i was going to look at shame i missed it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WOW-A-VERY-RARE-UNIQUE-1-LADY-OWNER-DEMO-2001-LUXURY-LEXUS-GS300-SE-AUTO-/152196256949?hash=item236f9a94b5:g:dsgAAOSwqfNXj9rz

IanA2 · August 13, 2016

42 minutes ago, inflames said:

Yeah certainly will have to have my skates on, normally i would have taken a day off work, but i was the only person in my department this week due to holidays so that wasn’t an option.

Here is the link to the GS i was going to look at shame i missed it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WOW-A-VERY-RARE-UNIQUE-1-LADY-OWNER-DEMO-2001-LUXURY-LEXUS-GS300-SE-AUTO-/152196256949?hash=item236f9a94b5:g:dsgAAOSwqfNXj9rz

Very nice indeed.

Chasdad · August 13, 2016

They dont sell that quick . I was after a gs300 with 45k a few weeks back. Was an r reg but looked very good. .didnt sell that quick. There was a y reg very similar too. Bide your time

inflames · August 26, 2016

Hi all, well after traveling around and looking around for a replacement car. I didn’t buy a GS300 as the couple i looked at weren’t quite right, i ended up buying a IS200 sport with 88k miles for £1500.00 locally in the end. Two previous owners, full service history, lexus till 60k and the last two both at a local toyota specialist.

IanA2 · August 26, 2016

33 minutes ago, inflames said:

Hi all, well after traveling around and looking around for a replacement car. I didn’t buy a GS300 as the couple i looked at weren’t quite right, i ended up buying a IS200 sport with 88k miles for £1500.00 locally in the end. Two previous owners, full service history, lexus till 60k and the last two both at a local toyota specialist.

Sounds good, when does the belt need changing on these, or has it been done?