BMW M3 vs. Lexus IS F
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the BMW M3 and Lexus IS F contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the BMW M3 and the Lexus IS F.
When we compare the BMW M3's and the Lexus IS F's specifications and ratings, the BMW M3 has the advantage in the area of interior volume. The Lexus IS F has the advantage in the areas of typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars, and fuel efficiency and base engine power. Based on this comparison of the BMW M3's and the Lexus IS F's specifications and ratings, the Lexus IS F is a better car than the BMW M3.
Pricing: A used 2011 BMW M3 ranges from $18,649 to $59,999 while a used 2011 Lexus IS F is priced between $13,500 to $43,675.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the BMW M3’s base engine makes 414 horsepower, and the Lexus IS F base engine makes 416 horsepower. The M3 is rated to deliver an average of 16 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 332 miles. The IS F is rated to deliver an average of 18 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 389 miles. This gives the Lexus IS F the fuel efficiency and maximum range advantage over the BMW M3. Both models use gasoline.
Passenger Space Comparison: The BMW M3 has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more front head room, front shoulder room, rear head room, rear shoulder room and rear leg room. The Lexus IS F has the advantage in the areas of front leg room cargo space.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
$55,900
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$38,783
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$29,610 - $55,900
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
$60,660
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
N/A
Category Starting MSRP Range:
N/A
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$39,547
Price Range:
$18,649 - $59,999
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$13,284
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$8,736 - $39,547
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
37
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
70,523
# Good or Great Deals:
7
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$24,221
Price Range:
$13,500 - $43,675
Category Avg Price:
N/A
Category Avg Price Range:
N/A
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
2
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
188,562
# Good or Great Deals:
0
BMW M3 Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
7.7 / 10
Reliability:
7.5 / 10
Retained Value:
7.9 / 10
Safety:
Not available
Lexus IS F Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
Not available
Safety:
Not available
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for BMW M3
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
N/A
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
N/A
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Lexus IS F
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
N/A
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
N/A
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
6.2
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
5.8
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
1.1 - 51
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
2.5
Typical Category Recalls:
N/A
Category Range for Recalls:
N/A
BMW M3 Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 3Ranking
1 out of / 2Ranking
3 out of / 36Ranking
3 out of / 36Ranking
5 out of / 36Ranking
8 out of / 36Ranking
12 out of / 36Ranking
12 out of / 12Ranking
13 out of / 36Ranking
16 out of / 36Ranking
29 out of / 31Lexus IS F Rankings
Available Body Styles
Convertible, Coupe, Sedan
Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
BMW M3 Trim Levels
Not yet available
Lexus IS F Trim Levels
Base
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
6 years / 70000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
414 hp @ 8300 rpm
Torque:
295 foot-lbs @ 3900 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.111 hp per pound
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
416 hp @ 6600 rpm
Torque:
371 foot-lbs @ 5200 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.110 hp per pound
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
4 liters
Engine Configuration:
V
Number of Cylinders:
8
Transmission:
Manual
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
RWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
14 / 20 / 16
Range (city/hwy):
232 / 332 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Gasoline
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
5 liters
Engine Configuration:
V
Number of Cylinders:
8
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
RWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
16 / 23 / 18
Range (city/hwy):
270 / 389 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Gasoline
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Available
Heated Seats
Available
Navigation System:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Available
Roadside assistance:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Voice Recognition:
Available
Adaptive Cruise Control:
N/A
Air Suspension:
N/A
Android Auto:
N/A
Apple CarPlay:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Wifi:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Bench Seats:
N/A
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Power outlet:
N/A
Satellite radio:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Navigation System:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Available
Roadside assistance:
N/A
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Available
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Android Auto:
N/A
Apple CarPlay:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Quad Seats:
Standard
Roof Rack:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Wifi:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Safety Features
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Backup camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Forward Collision Warning:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Safety Features
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Backup camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Forward Collision Warning:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
38.5 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.5 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
58 inches
Rear Head Room:
37.5 inches
Rear Leg Room:
34.6 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
57 inches
Cargo Space:
12 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
93.0 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
37.2 inches
Front Leg Room:
43.9 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
54.4 inches
Rear Head Room:
36.7 inches
Rear Leg Room:
30.6 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
52.7 inches
Cargo Space:
13.3 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
85.7 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3726 lbs
Width:
77.8 inches
Height:
57 inches
Length:
180.4 inches
Wheelbase:
108.7 inches
Ground Clearance:
Not yet available
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3780 lbs
Width:
71.5 inches
Height:
55.7 inches
Length:
183.5 inches
Wheelbase:
107.5 inches
Ground Clearance:
Not yet available
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
18.0 x 8.5 inches
Wheel Type:
chrome aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
245/40R18
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
19.0 x 8.0 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
225/40R19
Exterior Colors
Black
Jerez Black Metallic / Jet Black
Blue
Interlagos Blue Metallic / Le Mans Blue Metallic
Gray
Space Gray Metallic
Red
Melbourne Red Metallic
Silver
Silverstone Metallic
White
Alpine White
Exterior Colors
Black
Obsidian
Blue
Ultrasonic Blue Mica
Gray
Smoky Granite Mica
Red
Matador Red Mica
Silver
Mercury Metallic
White
Starfire Pearl
Interior Colors
Beige
Bamboo Beige Novillo Extended Leather / Bamboo Beige Novillo Leather
Black
Anthracite and Black Cloth/Leather / Black Novillo Extended Leather / Black Novillo Leather
Red
Fox Red Novillo Extended Leather / Fox Red Novillo Leather / Fox Red/Black Leather
Silver
Palladium Silver/Black Leather / Silver Novillo Extended Leather / Silver Novillo Leather
White
Not available
Interior Colors
Beige
Not available
Black
Black / Black/Orange
Red
Not available
Silver
Not available
White
Alpine/Black
