# 200X BMW 3XX OR  200X IS300

**URL:** <https://forums.speedlife.net/t/200x-bmw-3xx-or-200x-is300/46915>\
**Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\
**Created:** [April 16, 2008, 9:46am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/200x-bmw-3xx-or-200x-is300/46915 "2008-04-16T09:46:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Anonymity](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/anonymity/32/7215_2.png) [@Anonymity](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Anonymity)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 9:46am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/200x-bmw-3xx-or-200x-is300/46915/1 "2008-04-16T09:46:26Z")

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I am looking to buy a 2001-03 BMW 3XX or 2001-03 IS300 for my next family car. Ethier car would have to be under a 100k in miles and under $12.5k cost. Any thoughts?

I test drove '01 325i and enjoyed it, smooth ride, no road noise, great ride over all, but the paint sucked!

I am not mikeineedapollforeverything, but what are some thought on both cars? something i might not thought about… like disadvantages of either?

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**Author:** ![Jim1234664](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jim1234664/32/7438_2.png) [@Jim1234664](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jim1234664)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 10:04am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/200x-bmw-3xx-or-200x-is300/46915/2 "2008-04-16T10:04:21Z")

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ive been looking at the last gen IS over the past few weeks and I dont see many at all going for less than 12.5 and the ones that are are either salvage or high milage

edit: nm you’re right thats not out of reach

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**Author:** ![Fry](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fry/32/7284_2.png) [@Fry](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Fry)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 10:08am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/200x-bmw-3xx-or-200x-is300/46915/3 "2008-04-16T10:08:39Z")

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I vote Lexus. More reliability less douchbaggery.

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**Author:** ![Viper966](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/viper966/32/7268_2.png) [@Viper966](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Viper966)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 11:47am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/200x-bmw-3xx-or-200x-is300/46915/4 "2008-04-16T11:47:18Z")

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MY gf’s IS300 was ROCK solid… only issue we had was a coil pack went bad… cost me 14 bux and 20 minutes of time

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**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 12:07pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/200x-bmw-3xx-or-200x-is300/46915/5 "2008-04-16T12:07:23Z")

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Definitely the lexus.

Just don’t Dos it up.

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**Author:** ![ILCisDEAD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a87d85/32.png) [@ILCisDEAD](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ILCisDEAD)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 12:11pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/200x-bmw-3xx-or-200x-is300/46915/6 "2008-04-16T12:11:10Z")

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As a BMW guy… I would take the IS300 over a 3 series from that yea… With BMW M-series or nothing…

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**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 12:32pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/200x-bmw-3xx-or-200x-is300/46915/7 "2008-04-16T12:32:47Z")

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325 I’d go with the IS.  
330 I’d go with the BMW.

184HP for the 325 just isn’t enough IMO. Going up to 225 in the 330 makes a huge difference.

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**Author:** ![bing](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bing/32/7211_2.png) [@bing](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/bing)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 12:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/200x-bmw-3xx-or-200x-is300/46915/8 "2008-04-16T12:33:00Z")

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IS300… i cant beleive how well Lexus’s hold thier value.

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**Author:** ![Anonymity](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/anonymity/32/7215_2.png) [@Anonymity](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Anonymity)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 1:20pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/200x-bmw-3xx-or-200x-is300/46915/9 "2008-04-16T13:20:41Z")

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wow, everyone is going IS300.

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**Author:** ![66impalass](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/66impalass/32/7429_2.png) [@66impalass](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/66impalass)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 1:34pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/200x-bmw-3xx-or-200x-is300/46915/10 "2008-04-16T13:34:31Z")

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> [@JayS](#):
>
> 325 I’d go with the IS.  
> 330 I’d go with the BMW.
> 
> 184HP for the 325 just isn’t enough IMO. Going up to 225 in the 330 makes a huge difference.

d.o.t.

IS really don’t hold there value, you can get a nicely kept IS for like $15k, \<1/3 of MSRP

:shithitfan:  
this smiley rocks…

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**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 1:37pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/200x-bmw-3xx-or-200x-is300/46915/11 "2008-04-16T13:37:55Z")

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the back seat of the BMW 50x \> the back seat of the IS300. the front feels a lot more crowded in the IS also… I don’t feel like I’m rubbing elbows as much in the 3 series.

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**Author:** ![91MR2](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/91mr2/32/7217_2.png) [@91MR2](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/91MR2)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 1:42pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/200x-bmw-3xx-or-200x-is300/46915/12 "2008-04-16T13:42:38Z")

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> [@Fry](#):
>
> I vote Lexus. More reliability less douchbaggery.

Agreed.

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**Author:** ![Bovice](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bovice/32/5084_2.png) [@Bovice](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bovice)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 2:00pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/200x-bmw-3xx-or-200x-is300/46915/13 "2008-04-16T14:00:40Z")

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[quote=66impalass;910087]d.o.t.

IS really don’t hold there value, you can get a nicely kept IS for like $15k, \<1/3 of MSRP  
quote]

correct me if im wrong but didnt the IS300’s only go for like 32K fully loaded?? i dont think ive ever seen one over 35K…so 15K is half which is still pretty good

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**Author:** ![LXIFLYBY](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lxiflyby/32/7399_2.png) [@LXIFLYBY](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LXIFLYBY)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 2:01pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/200x-bmw-3xx-or-200x-is300/46915/14 "2008-04-16T14:01:46Z")

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i miss my friends white IS300, it looked sweet in my driveway when hed come over. Every body has 01 3XX series bmws and about 85% of the bmw peeps ive seen think they are the most awesome thing since sliced bread, like yoo man dont mess, i drive a bimmer

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**Author:** ![Bovice](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bovice/32/5084_2.png) [@Bovice](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bovice)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 2:03pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/200x-bmw-3xx-or-200x-is300/46915/15 "2008-04-16T14:03:01Z")

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> [@66impalass](#):
>
> d.o.t.
> 
> IS really don’t hold there value, you can get a nicely kept IS for like $15k, \<1/3 of MSRP

correct me if im wrong but didnt the IS300’s only go for about 30K brand new? idk if i ever saw one fully loaded for more than 32K…so half of what the car was originally worth is pretty good for being 5+ years old…

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**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 2:17pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/200x-bmw-3xx-or-200x-is300/46915/16 "2008-04-16T14:17:49Z")

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> [@66impalass](#):
>
> d.o.t.
> 
> IS really don’t hold there value, you can get a nicely kept IS for like $15k, \<1/3 of MSRP
> 
> :shithitfan:  
> this smiley rocks…

IS300 was not a $45k+ car…

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**Author:** ![speedracer18t](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@speedracer18t](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/speedracer18t)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 2:24pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/200x-bmw-3xx-or-200x-is300/46915/17 "2008-04-16T14:24:40Z")

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I vote bmw… im still debating if getting a new one after graduation next month.  
so i might have mine f/s 😉 pm me if you have questions

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**Author:** ![Anonymity](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/anonymity/32/7215_2.png) [@Anonymity](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Anonymity)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 3:09pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/200x-bmw-3xx-or-200x-is300/46915/18 "2008-04-16T15:09:59Z")

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i guess i will have to drive an IS300, i have always like that car. i really like how the soild the BMW felt.

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**Author:** ![Boomin99GT](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/boomin99gt/32/7306_2.png) [@Boomin99GT](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Boomin99GT)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 3:34pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/200x-bmw-3xx-or-200x-is300/46915/19 "2008-04-16T15:34:33Z")

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I have a 2001 IS300 and love it. I’m biased ofcourse so I’ll have to vote IS300. Few things to check for depending on how you’re going to drive it… LSD not a standard option (you can look on the sticker inside the door frame to tell if the car is equipped with it). Also in 2001 it was only available in Automatic. Different years had different interior options (armrest, etc). Also not sure if you’re interested in Navigation or anything of that nature but that was also an option a few years later. Goodluck w/ your search and feel free to PM me if there’s anything you’re questioning. I’ve had mine for 2 years and am no where near ready to get rid of it yet.

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**Author:** ![RedrRocket](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/redrrocket/32/7193_2.png) [@RedrRocket](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/RedrRocket)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2008, 5:00pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/200x-bmw-3xx-or-200x-is300/46915/20 "2008-04-16T17:00:28Z")

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STI, evo, Bimmer, now IS. make up your mind dan.

the 300 is a pretty sweet car.IMO.

I \<3 the new ones. too. ![http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/resources/2006/10/lexus_chrome_is250.jpg](http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/resources/2006/10/lexus_chrome_is250.jpg)

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