I've seen many BMW models with halogen bulbs for tail lights. Looks ugly for a car in its price range.

 

I've done many price comparisons between BMW Lexus and Audi. BMW is far and away the highest list price for what you get comparing GS, 535 and A6. Try getting ventilated seats on the BMW. You have to order two addition seating packages to get them. Even here in Houston they stock very few 535s with them because it adds too much to the price. LED headlights? I have not checked the newer ones, but two years ago they were $2,000.

Comparing apples to apples as closely as you can, the GS 350 with luxury was around $59,000, 535 $70,000 and A6 65,000. That was for 2015 models when I last checked them.

 

Sigh...this is basically a pissing contest.

I've taken the "European Tour", now I'm back to where the smart money is.

 

U've had a money pit before.

 

It's a European Tour I don't want to do again.

/shudders

 

That was precisely my experience as well.

 

just sounds like crying to me. lexus has superior fit and finish to the E-class. okay so some of the interior stuff in the lexus might be plastic, but its damn solid plastic and not cheap. like the paddle shifters on a benz, there so cheap you feel like im going to break them, oh and those plastic seat buttons, and the rear view mirror that feels like a 3 year old made. german cars may have a little more oomph, but they will flat out rape you after the warrantee period is up. the become mechanical nightmares, oh plus they don't hold there value at all like lexus does. go look at a 2006 GS430 Vs a 2006 E500, look which one goes for more money if you want to cry about your car go get a BMW.

 

Met a dude with an older E55 AMG at Pepboys, it's a nice car but he couldn't figure out how to open the oil cap and neither did I cause it looks like u need a special tool or a wrench to twist it open. Never had that problem with my Toyotas!

Seems like he wasn't the only one who couldn't get the oil cap off.. http://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w2...r-cap-off.html

 

Smart money is what you spend on what puts the biggest smile on your face. Compromising for what I really wanted has cost me more money in the long run because I wind up not keeping the vehicle as long. I see no pissing contest, just people sharing opinions and experiences.

 

I gotta disagree somewhat. Every E Class I have ever been in has excellent materials, excellent fit and finish, and is very solid. Their interior style isn't for me, and I find the interiors too flat and hard, but quality is quality.

As for rearview mirrors specifically. This is actually a point where I am a little frustrated with Lexus. Our LS400 and LS430 had Lexus designed rearview mirrors that were color keyed to the headliner, which were very nice. On my LS460 Lexus uses a parts bin Gentex mirror, black like all Gentex mirrors while the headliner is grey. Our Kia Sedona minivan actually has the exact same rearview mirror as my LS460. Lexus started using Gentex mirrors in the downmarket cars about 15 years ago, but now its the entire line.

Mercedes by contrast would never use a parts bin Gentex mirror, all their mirrors are high quality Mercedes designed mirrors and they're all color keyed to the headliners.

 

Lexus has started incorporating new mirrors. I believe the RC now uses a frameless mirror. I believe I read the '16 GS does as well. Progress!

 

Unfortunately the frameless mirror is simply a new Gentex model, other manufacturers will start using this mirror too:

 

Meh, I guess I don't really care who makes the mirror or if other manufacturers use it too, as long as it's nice and does the job. But point taken.

 

In a luxury car you shouldn't have parts bin items that are shared with downmarket cars and across other brands, etc. The only luxury car company that does that with these mirrors is Lexus. A nice color keyed rear view mirror is really a nice touch, and it's something Lexus used to do and stopped doing. Same with the GS, it used to have the color keyed mirror too. Is too.

 

LOL I guess I just don't share your enthusiasm for unique or colored mirrors.