Ah, the old BMW vs Lexus argument......
ALL vehicles depreciate the minute you drive them off the lot. Traditionally, BMWs held their values better and had higher residual value in leases than most other vehicles. Formerly, a 4 year old BMW was worth somewhere between 50 and 60% of it's original MSRP. Current market conditions have caused used car values to drop (mainly because makers are selling new cars for reduced prices). I would estimate that an (say) 2 year old BMW is worth (on the used car market) about 10% less than it would have been before the recession. But this applies across the board to ALL makes; in fact, some makes are far worse than this (eg. some of the Detroit iron is being sold so cheaply new today, that 2 or 3 year old vehicles are worth a lot less than one would expect).
Regarding reliability, using CReports stats, the Lexus marque has had less problems than BMWs. Anecdotally, all of us have had experiences that match that or do not. My 19 month old BMW has had zero issues, and runs flawlessly. Another guy where I work had trouble with his Lexus 460, and got rid of it at a rather brutal loss. Anecdotal evidence proves very little.
Some of us would rather have the driving dynamics of a BMW over the comfort and numbness of a Lexus (another generalization, I know). Within each of the marques, there are cars geared to sportiness and there are cars geared to luxury. In a general way, all BMWs tend to be more sporting than do Lexus. I guess I would say a Lexus tries to add some sport to the luxury; a BMW adds some luxury to the sport.
An argument that really has no resolution. Drive what you like and can afford and be happy with it.
