Lexus IS 250 or BMW 3 Series for £5k? Ten years of DVSA MOT results show which one fails less, and the twist on the diesel Lexus.
Five grand buys either a 2012 BMW 320d or a 2006 to 2008 Lexus IS 250, and the MOT pass rates are almost identical, even though the Lexus is five years older. This duel compares same-age MOT data, the BMW N47 timing chain problem and EGR recall, the Lexus fuel pipe recall, road tax bands, official mpg, insurance groups and real used prices in the UK.

You’ll get the exact checks to run before you pay: the cold-start test for the N47, the DVSA recall check, the MOT advisories worth reading, and why the cheap IS 220d diesel is the one to walk past. The verdict depends on one thing, and it isn’t the badge.

Sources: DVSA anonymised MOT data (via passyourmot.co.uk), GOV.UK vehicle tax rates, Honest John, Parkers, Which?, Lexus UK, BMW UK Press, AutoUncle.

Bought one of these? Tell me your mileage and what your last MOT failed on.


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