What would you pay? Highest mileage CSL
Discussion
I've always fancied one of these limited edition specials. After driving one many years ago they seem so different to standard e46 m3s. However, the premium for vehicles with low mileage are way beyond my reach. However, there are a couple of cars up for sale I've yet to decide to,go and see with 115-120k in the 35-40k price range. Both have had all the major week spots associated with the e46 m3 addressed. Are they really worth 35-40k? Got to be SIlver Grey!
The simple answer is no. Are you really getting 20k worth more car than a standard m3.
35-40k is 911 turbo money.
The complicated answer is who knows the market is silly at the min I could be a good investment or the arse could fall out of it.
All I know for sure is a fried who sold one for 22k 5 years ago wishes he still had it.
35-40k is 911 turbo money.
The complicated answer is who knows the market is silly at the min I could be a good investment or the arse could fall out of it.
All I know for sure is a fried who sold one for 22k 5 years ago wishes he still had it.
CSLs are a different drive to the standard M3. In much the same way as a 911 GT3 drives differently to a normal carrera. What value you put on that is up to you. At mid 30's these will be the cheapest CSLs on the market which talleys with them being the highest mileage.. You could buy a high miler, actually drive it and have fun whilst not worrying about destroying it's value in the same way you would a £70k garage queen. You could also argue that a regularly used and well mantained car will give you less drama than one that's sat doing nothing in storage. Cars like to be used. Aside from the steering wheel, which can be re-trimmed for around £200 CSL interiors wear well.
You could pay less and get a normal M3, or even pay the same money and get a 996 Turbo. But then neither of these is a CSL.
You could pay less and get a normal M3, or even pay the same money and get a 996 Turbo. But then neither of these is a CSL.
I'm one of those people too, I PX'd mine for £23k @43k miles 8 years ago for an M5. I saw it for sale 4 years later at an indy for £23k @89k....
If I put together a 100k garage a couple of years ago it'd be the first thing on the shopping list, present day I'd just plump for a well maintained e46 cab or coupe, I really do think the shape has aged so well compared to most other modern BMW products, I followed a carbon black / imola red coupe into work this morning and the stance / exhaust rasp still has it that certain something 15 years after launch.
If I put together a 100k garage a couple of years ago it'd be the first thing on the shopping list, present day I'd just plump for a well maintained e46 cab or coupe, I really do think the shape has aged so well compared to most other modern BMW products, I followed a carbon black / imola red coupe into work this morning and the stance / exhaust rasp still has it that certain something 15 years after launch.
hoppo4.2 said:
The simple answer is no. Are you really getting 20k worth more car than a standard m3.
35-40k is 911 turbo money.
The complicated answer is who knows the market is silly at the min I could be a good investment or the arse could fall out of it.
All I know for sure is a fried who sold one for 22k 5 years ago wishes he still had it.
35-40k is 911 turbo money.
The complicated answer is who knows the market is silly at the min I could be a good investment or the arse could fall out of it.
All I know for sure is a fried who sold one for 22k 5 years ago wishes he still had it.
Just bought one with 85k miles in SG for sub £40k and I love it. I've had lots of cars and most don't live up to the hype - this one does ! That noise - Jesus, it's amazing. Whether they've peaked in price or not, you're never going to lose much on one of these and would thoroughly recommend you take the plunge....
Having had and then sold a CSL (Sold April 2014 for £24k) and now having an E36 Evo Coupe I actually enjoy the E36 far more as it's not worth anywhere near as much. I worried myself sick with the CSL when that was worth mid £20k's regarding breakdowns (horror stories of things replaced under warranty), being stolen or damaging her. The car cost me the equivalent of a years wages back in 2012 when I bought her and as much as I enjoyed her the worry made me sell in the end.
Would I have another looking back? YES 100% I would, if I could now afford 1 (which I now can't lol).
Steve
Would I have another looking back? YES 100% I would, if I could now afford 1 (which I now can't lol).
Steve
jbaddeley said:
Interesting Steve. I run an e36 m3 as my fun car! Underrated in my view. A few tweaks and they can hold their own!
The bhp/tonne between the E36 M3 Evo and the E46 M3 are near identical which is demonstrated in very similar 0-100mph times. The old quote "you've got half a McLaren F1 engine under the hood" sounds good too. Not sure how true in reality that is or isn't though.
Also isn't it interesting that all these years later and BMW still have to to build an engine with more power than the V12 McLaren F1.
hoppo4.2 said:
The simple answer is no. Are you really getting 20k worth more car than a standard m3.
35-40k is 911 turbo money.
The complicated answer is who knows the market is silly at the min I could be a good investment or the arse could fall out of it.
All I know for sure is a fried who sold one for 22k 5 years ago wishes he still had it.
I think that you are missing the point asking if you are getting a £20,000 more worth over an M3. You have to look at the whole picture. The CSL is a rarer beast 422 RHD and I am sure a fair few have gone as write offs or abroad (NZ et cetera). By contrast some 20,000 RHD M3s were produced. These days you could break them for parta and cover any loss together with insurance for total loss. Prices are not going to drop on these as they get older.35-40k is 911 turbo money.
The complicated answer is who knows the market is silly at the min I could be a good investment or the arse could fall out of it.
All I know for sure is a fried who sold one for 22k 5 years ago wishes he still had it.
As a 30 year anniversary car they are definitely special and completely different from a straight M3. I think you need to drive them back to back. The standard M3 feels like a big fat sloth by comparison and it clearly is not.
By comparison a 996 GT3 RS (same era) is almost twice as expensive as a GT3 but are they twice the car...... no but they are rarer and different.
Pip
jbaddeley said:
I've always fancied one of these limited edition specials. After driving one many years ago they seem so different to standard e46 m3s. However, the premium for vehicles with low mileage are way beyond my reach. However, there are a couple of cars up for sale I've yet to decide to,go and see with 115-120k in the 35-40k price range. Both have had all the major week spots associated with the e46 m3 addressed. Are they really worth 35-40k? Got to be SIlver Grey!
Only way to answer the question is to drive one and see if you think it's worth it. If you look at a high mileage one, it's worth checking if it's ever had the head gasket replaced, or had a recent leakdown test. Worn camshafts have also been an issue on heavily tracked cars (and a 120k miles car is bound to have been owned by a trackday enthusiast at some point!).I'm just glad I decided to swap into mine from a regular E46 M3, 6 years ago. I still love it, it makes me smile every time I drive it, and I don't really feel any interest at all in "upgrading" to something much heavier and turbocharged.
These are totally over-priced, and they are all SMG.
Yes, the E46 still looks lovely, but if it were my money I'd go for a 2004 onwards, manual car in grey with low miles, can be had for about £15k and then add a Geoff Steel carbon airbox for about another £2k all in. Maybe add some CSL look alloys. Then you have nearly the same noise with low miles for half the price and manual.
My personal view is that asset prices are too high and we are just waiting for the correction, however many will disagree.
Yes, the E46 still looks lovely, but if it were my money I'd go for a 2004 onwards, manual car in grey with low miles, can be had for about £15k and then add a Geoff Steel carbon airbox for about another £2k all in. Maybe add some CSL look alloys. Then you have nearly the same noise with low miles for half the price and manual.
My personal view is that asset prices are too high and we are just waiting for the correction, however many will disagree.
DjSki said:
These are totally over-priced, and they are all SMG.
Yes, the E46 still looks lovely, but if it were my money I'd go for a 2004 onwards, manual car in grey with low miles, can be had for about £15k and then add a Geoff Steel carbon airbox for about another £2k all in. Maybe add some CSL look alloys. Then you have nearly the same noise with low miles for half the price and manual.
My personal view is that asset prices are too high and we are just waiting for the correction, however many will disagree.
But then you have Frankenstein Yes, the E46 still looks lovely, but if it were my money I'd go for a 2004 onwards, manual car in grey with low miles, can be had for about £15k and then add a Geoff Steel carbon airbox for about another £2k all in. Maybe add some CSL look alloys. Then you have nearly the same noise with low miles for half the price and manual.
My personal view is that asset prices are too high and we are just waiting for the correction, however many will disagree.
Killed the value of that £15k E46.
Or to a buyer it looks like champagne taste lemonade budget.
DjSki said:
These are totally over-priced, and they are all SMG.
Yes, the E46 still looks lovely, but if it were my money I'd go for a 2004 onwards, manual car in grey with low miles, can be had for about £15k and then add a Geoff Steel carbon airbox for about another £2k all in. Maybe add some CSL look alloys. Then you have nearly the same noise with low miles for half the price and manual.
My personal view is that asset prices are too high and we are just waiting for the correction, however many will disagree.
All been said before. Much more to a CSL than an airbox and a set of wheels. In the same way a body kit and a rear wing does not turn a C2S into a GT3.Yes, the E46 still looks lovely, but if it were my money I'd go for a 2004 onwards, manual car in grey with low miles, can be had for about £15k and then add a Geoff Steel carbon airbox for about another £2k all in. Maybe add some CSL look alloys. Then you have nearly the same noise with low miles for half the price and manual.
My personal view is that asset prices are too high and we are just waiting for the correction, however many will disagree.
Edited by GregorFuk on Tuesday 23 August 14:06
DjSki said:
These are totally over-priced, and they are all SMG.
Yes, the E46 still looks lovely, but if it were my money I'd go for a 2004 onwards, manual car in grey with low miles, can be had for about £15k and then add a Geoff Steel carbon airbox for about another £2k all in. Maybe add some CSL look alloys. Then you have nearly the same noise with low miles for half the price and manual.
You should take the CSL out of your Fantasy Garage then !Yes, the E46 still looks lovely, but if it were my money I'd go for a 2004 onwards, manual car in grey with low miles, can be had for about £15k and then add a Geoff Steel carbon airbox for about another £2k all in. Maybe add some CSL look alloys. Then you have nearly the same noise with low miles for half the price and manual.
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Welshbeef said:
But then you have Frankenstein
Killed the value of that £15k E46.
Or to a buyer it looks like champagne taste lemonade budget.
Hardly champagne taste lemonade budget IMO. There's a reason so many E46 M3s have CSL alloys (mine included) - they look fantastic. A carbon airbox is a revertible mod and the noise is exceptional.Killed the value of that £15k E46.
Or to a buyer it looks like champagne taste lemonade budget.
With a carbon airbox it's 90% of the CSL without the premium.
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