This one actually depends on how long you keep your vehicle. If you lease the M3 or buy vehicles every three to four years, new Beemers include BMW Ultimate Care for 3 years or 36,000 miles, which covers the following:
Engine Oil
Engine Filter
Brake Fluid
Cabin Micro Filter(s)
Engine Air Filter(s)
Spark Plugs
Remote Control/Key Battery
Vehicle Check
Included maintenance could save you a few hundred dollars per year versus Lexus and any other issues would presumably be covered by the 4-year / 50,000-mile limited warranty.
That being said, if you plan to keep your IS 500 for a longer, say six to 10 years, Lexus offers 6-year / 70,000-mile powertrain warranty as well as a 4-year/ 50,000-mile basic warranty. And Lexus boasts some of, if not the, best reliability ratings for its vehicles. So don’t expect to pay for much outside of general maintenance and wear n’ tear items even when the warranty expires. Plus, if we’re correct about IS 500 pricing, you’ll be saving at least $10,000 over various M3 configurations.
In fact, I’d wager that, when the 2021 BMW M3 becomes fodder for 2040s-era YouTubers making videos about fixing all the weird German quirks and digital systems gremlins, the 2022 Lexus IS 500 is, most likely, just going to keep on keepin’ on for a few decades and several hundred thousand miles.
Final Thoughts
There’s no doubt the BMW M3 is a more capable track toy. Bigger brakes, more coolers, and a standard manual transmission for the enthusiast drivers who want old-school engagement.
But for everyone who isn’t a track rat, I’d passionately argue that, in late 2021, the IS 500 F-Sport performance is going to be a more beautiful, more engaging driving experience almost everywhere else. With a stunning visual design, dynamic suspension, super-comfy interior, and screaming engine, the IS 500 may actually be the last naturally V8-powered sports sedan. In this context, despite the BMW’s strengths — and because the M3 once offered a similar and highly-revered experience — the IS 500 is the one to buy this year.
Or to throw a wrench in everything, perhaps you should look at the Mercedes C 63 or C 63 S. They aren’t naturally aspirated, but they are V8-powered, 3,900-ish pound, four-door sedans. (And, sadly, it looks like the next-gen C 63 will debut next year with a hybrid 4-cylinder.)
The future will still be fast, folks. Don’t fret a return of ’70s malaise. But the sun is setting on the V8.
Michael S. Palmer began his career assisting and developing content for Academy Award-winning and studio-based film and television producers. He has been a professional writer since 2008, when he joined the Writers Guild of America West (WGAw). As a journalist and Content Editor/Manager, he has covered numerous emerging imaging, theatrical exhibition, home entertainment, and automotive technologies. He currently spends his days creating original content at the Internet Brands Automotive Group for some of the world's largest online automotive communities, including Ford Truck Enthusiasts, CorvetteForum, ClubLexus, AudiWorld, and LS1Tech. He still owns his first car, a 1987 Mercury Cougar; adores driving his Boss 302 Mustang; and recently teamed with Chevrolet Performance, Holley, Magnaflow, Eaton, Wilwood, Michelin, Chemical Guys, Summit Racing to build his first project car. Installing an LS3 E-ROD Connect & Cruise system into a 1992 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon made his eight-passenger wagon faster than a C5 Corvette to 60mph and 50 state emissions legal. His wife and daughter are very patient.
Where do you go for answers when you have a Lexus with a gorgeous leather interior but are not sure about how to maintain that luxurious look? The "Club Lexus" forums, of course.
