Depends how BMW react to keyless thefts. Could be so expensive to insure soon that it may hit values despite the limited run.

Make yourself a coffee and have a read...

http://pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&amp...

Hmmm, this is worrying information and not something I was aware of, and there doesn't appear to be a clear way in which it is being done, though key cloning is I suspect the means.

Given the number of BMW's that appear to be being stolen in the Birmingham area, I might hold off looking at the 1M from the dealer in that area, just in case, as a few have reported having a service done there just a week before the car gets stolen...very concerning.

Well, in any case, putting that aside for the moment, what are the opinions on the value of these cars, still worth the same price as new with a few thousand miles, or likely to take a tumble before long?

Because of their limited production run, and the large fan base for BMW M cars I can see them being depreciation resistant, like the E46 M3 CSL before, given you want to buy something fast and (almost) everything depreciates to a degree I see it as a sensible choice. You could always get an aftermarket alarm fitted for extra security.

I didn't know that, I see you owned one in the past, at which point in the depreciation curve was that? Also when you say like a stone, compared to what?

compared to their only natural competitor the 911 gt3. it was quite a bone of contention for bmw uk & the bulk of early owners.

the problem was of course that not only was the csl based on a standard car (the m3 of course) the early press cars were all in basic spec, no aircon, no stereo, cup tyres etc. porsche had always specced their cars to the max for road testers so in comparison the csl just never came out that well against it. it should have been the worlds most practical track car (four seats auto box) but it came across as neither one thing nor the other added to the fact that the geo wasn't optimised for the cup tyres it was supplied with

then bmw released the m3cs which was pretty much a huge success from the off.

csl's being released in 2004 were by 2006 under £40k & owners were't happy. for comparison a 996 gt3 is still asking circa £40k even now. by 2008 you were still finding cars with under 30k miles on them for around £25k at independant dealers which it has to be said was definatly the time to buy!

of course hindsight's a wonderful thing & the csl is widely regarded by everyone as the fantastic cars they are, even the clunky gearbox (my pet hate on the car) is seen as part of the overall equation, the car can be run on more road suited rubber or the geometry altered to suit the lightly treaded cups even better than they were from the factory.




of course none of this is important to the 1M, a car that has been universally praised since it's release. fiscally, you'd have to say that as with pretty much any modern car the best time to buy is around the 3 year mark from a franchised dealer, when they've done their highest period of depreciation but whilst they're still eligible for a manufacturers 12 month warranty.

i am however very aware of the "long time dead" argument.

if you can afford it (& with any car you're likely to lose some money, be it through depreciation or maintenance) go for it. i went around spa in a remapped one on cups & it was bloody quick!

Hoping in 2-3 years time they'll be £25k and BMW have sorted this key issue out. Then I'll be snapping one up. Maybe sooner if prices fall quickly ***crosses fingers and toes***