mafpolo

BMW softened their 7 series car, because they realized that the market for that car was a Lexus or an S class buyer. They did not improve the reliability of the car as they over complicated it. Many people have told me "never own a 7 series out of warranty." No worries....I'll never own a 7 series period (nor an s class).

Bob04

You know, they do still have used LS430s for sale.

You don't know how good it felt to get back in a 430 after dealing with a 2010 ls460L for a while. Never regretted going back for even a second. Now I have 2 430s.

Johnhav430

I'm on my way to an S class. For me as the song goes, "It don't come easy." $160k cars don't fall out of the sky and so I have to grind and let it age 7 years, and even get dirty fixing them. But it's the only way I know. The only thing that can stop me is the lack of availability--2013 S63 with P30. That was well over $160k new, and I specifically do not want the 4 liter nor a 2014 or newer. 2010 or earlier with the NA 6.2L is also out. Could be 2011 or 2012 but 2013 preferred, 5.5.liter twin turbo. That's the AMG sweet spot for me.

Probably the folks who said to not own a 7 out of warranty don't work on cars. I was told the same on my 335i. Those people were wrong, nothing has broken in 13 years except ABS and the 2 Takata recalls. Nothing. But you know what Jerry said. "There's no need, for you to be worrying, about all those people."

Striker223

Have you tried working on a 7 though? It's a 10/10 where most 3s are 4/10

Johnhav430

Wait is 10/10 difficult, and 4/10 easy? (I think that's what you mean)

No I have only test driven 7's. From 2004? (Bangle Butt) through about 2010, including the Alpina B7. Lost interest after that.

I've always been of the impression stay away from a BMW V8. That's why I am interested in Mercedes. (haha) I know on some models there's the $10,000 coolant leak where you need special tools to hold the timing gears, and that my cousin's ex had a 2014 X5 4.8 and she never got a chance to drive it, as it was always back to the dealer lol (stereotype but real). She got a Range Rover instead (say what?). She said oil all over Route 46 in North Jersey and car dead was the end of her X5 adventure (they had a stick first gen around 2005).

I just want to be the one who takes advantage of the depreciation being $165k to $35k in 7 years.

Everyone here is the same way with LS430s. Hats off to the folks here who are original owners, your car did not depreciate from 65 to 5 unless you sell it. You keep driving? You win.

edit: in a way it all comes back to this choice that I was faced with in 2016, as I was looking for a reliable used car. Do I want a 2014 (not 2014.5) Camry LE 35,xxx miles, a 2006 LS430 80,xxx miles? they were the same price. What kind of idiot who is looking for reliable transportation passes on a 3 y.o. Camry, and goes for a 11 y.o. Lexus V8? That's like the person who wants to be a salmon and swim upstream and go against the flow. Also a possibility was a 2006 Audi A8 that cost easily 15k more than the Lexus new, and was about $2500 less than the LS and had mileage in the low 60's. If we were ordinary folks with ordinary tastes we'd all drive Camrys and Accords and call it a day. Seems we want more. And no offense but we don't have the coyne to keep up with our wants (or we'd buy these cars 2 y.o. 5 at most). That's why I say bring on the adventure with a S63.

Striker223

Yes 10/10 meaning hell, the BMW V8s are trash and I have yet another one needing a cam phaser replaced since it spun on the camshaft. Again. The N62