Upgrading from a 370 to a Lexus IS-F

ImportConvert

The question here is...is it really cost-effective?

I worked on my own cars all through highschool and college, except for jobs I didn't have tools for (clutch-swap on my WS6, re-building the rear-end, etc.) because I had no real source of meaningful income.

Now the question is: Would I rather go in to work for a few hours and cover the labor, or would I rather spend a few hours doing the labor myself? When I work on it, it has no warranty. When they do, it's their baby, not mine. It breaks, not my problem.

For me, having the dealership work on the car is annoying, as I know they are ripping me off for some things, but on another point, it's "guaranteed". Basically, I am betting that it will break again, they are betting it won't, and I don't want to cut my hands up or smash a finger or worse out in the cold working on my own car beyond minor maintenance items like AC filters, oil, plugs/wires, etc.

When it came to doing the motor-mounts, changing the thermostat (A PITA on a G20, apparently), etc. I just made it their issue and not mine.

I cannot imagine an E92 M3 or IS-F being very fun to work on, or very practical without specialized tools.

wolf370z

It's really not. I owned a Mini Cooper S for a short while and they apparently use the same windows as the 3-series. Long story short I essentially had to replace the entire driver's side window mechanics (window motor, regulator). Even that job had a freaking special tool associated with it and what I got quoted for it was OUTRAGEOUS. It was a lot cheaper doing the work myself and went fairly smooth. Probably won't ever buy a BMW again without some sort of warranty.

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Good drivers just drive.

ImportConvert

Replacing window-motors is a PITA. At least, on my WS6 it was. Had to drill through the door-panel, or drill the rivets out of the glass. Guess which one I picked. Sucks. Friend at the MOPAR dealership did it for me for $100 including a water-pump change. Can't beat that.

Either way, I am done with un-warranteed cars. The DD is the last of its kind I will own. From here on out, certified pre-owned for a DD, new for a fun-car.

ProfessorDave

Had my driver's side window motor replaced twice on my Cooper. The parts are crap.

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Rain, snow, sleet, hail: 2009 Mazda 3 sGT HB
Everything else: 2009 370z, PW Touring 6MT