Is this the CSL era?
Discussion
Over the years I’ve watched the M3 CSL drop, rise and settle in price.
I think the CSL has finally found the era where it becomes like the E30 M3 and must be treasured and restored.
Demand for these cars is insane with waiting lists all over the place from various dealers.
Question for the CSL owners, what plans do you have in store for your CSL and with the minimum price for any CSL nowadays regardless of mileage (if you can find one!) being around 70k what factors make you want to keep it?
Matt.
I think the CSL has finally found the era where it becomes like the E30 M3 and must be treasured and restored.
Demand for these cars is insane with waiting lists all over the place from various dealers.
Question for the CSL owners, what plans do you have in store for your CSL and with the minimum price for any CSL nowadays regardless of mileage (if you can find one!) being around 70k what factors make you want to keep it?
Matt.
ChrisW. said:
It was always a great car ! Yes you could fit better brakes (just like the 996.1 GT3) , yes the the rear subframe did require attention by BMW under warranty, but the sound and emotion at a speed that still makes sense on today's roads !! Amazing.
Totally agree.Even the SMG gearbox and it’s characteristic nature (after being learnt) is constant fun when pushing on!
I just don’t see there being anything coming out of BMW that compares to this lightweight thrill.
Kettmark said:
I bought mine about 11 months ago just before ones for sale became non existent. I use mine on a weekly basis but I feat the way values are going it won't be the case for long.
Insurance companies are starting to insist cars are garaged, in limited miles and have trackers fitted.
It’s just starting to find its natural value.Insurance companies are starting to insist cars are garaged, in limited miles and have trackers fitted.
With CSL parts NLA and the constant, positive buzz from various journalists its a car that stands out from anything new being made from BMW.
Many CSL replicas out there but Genuine CSLs are hard to find nowadays.
At least you get to see the odd few at a random meet.
Pip1968 said:
That as may be but still more engaging as a manual. They should also have made it more like a GT3 Clubsport with captive plates welded in for the option of a cage and six point harness but that is another story.
Anyway where have they all gone??? Is everyone sitting on them as an investment now ???? I can only see one previously for sale (and now sold) from Nick the serial CSL seller at GBP 78,000. He apparently has 11 buyers lined up - not sure if that is a catch all.
Pip
Owners seem to be keeping hold of them as the demand is through the roof at the moment and the price is only going one way.Anyway where have they all gone??? Is everyone sitting on them as an investment now ???? I can only see one previously for sale (and now sold) from Nick the serial CSL seller at GBP 78,000. He apparently has 11 buyers lined up - not sure if that is a catch all.
Pip
They used to fluctuate in the past but not anymore.
CSL geezer said:
I think as per the post title, this is the era of the CSL.
However I think the era is only just beginning as the car approaches it’s 20th anniversary next year which will be another turning point.
I heard about this.However I think the era is only just beginning as the car approaches it’s 20th anniversary next year which will be another turning point.
I think by that time (with even fewer numbers and cars being exported) the entry price to own one of these will be shocking - but well deserved.
Bemmer said:
Genuine question.. would it be feasible and at what sort of cost would it be to change my E46 M3 to CSL spec..?
It would cost a fortune and it will never be fully replicated as there’s so many parts NLA as already mentioned above.Replica CSLs have been done to death.
OEM E46 M3 are holding their money nowadays and much more desirable.
LaurasOtherHalf said:
I did nothing to the car except (I recall) some basic servicing.
I owned it in 2008-09 I think, taking it from 20-odd thousand miles to thirty something. It was a long time ago but was my only car so daily driven all year round.
I bought it to learn the Nurburgring, being the SMG (I'd started learning it in an Exige but had a few close calls) and I wanted a black one as it hid the carbon roof-as I drove it to work I figured folk would just think it a black BMW, if they knew cars just an M3.
No offs during my ownership, it needed a full front end re-spray and new windscreen by the time I'd finished with it but that wasn't unusual with them. The ad mentions corrosion on the front wings-I thought one rear wing had corrosion but I might be misremembering-possibly the offside? I figured it had had a bit of paint before I owned it or maybe taken a knock on one side.
The car was definitely straight though-I wouldn't have bought a dog.
As I said, car was driven daily but my commute was less than a mile, it was mainly used on track-I still have some photos somewhere and it was brilliant at that. We gave it absolute death but they weren't garage queens back then. If I remember correctly it used a litre of oil every weekend at the ring or maybe every track day at somewhere like Le Mans.
The gearbox threw up a warning light once riding the curbs but never did it again.
As I recall when I sold it, it needed new tyres, brakes, a big service, windscreen was cracked etc. I looked at it and it needed a big chunk of money throwing at it and part-exchanged it for a brand new Megane R26.R-my mates thought I'd lost the plot!
I have some great memories of the car, burning across the continent at full throttle is something you just can't get away with these days-it would show 180mph on the sat nav all day long but boy did it empty a tank quick at those speeds! One of my mates still maintains being a passenger in it was the scariest experience of his life and he's a free climber!
The M mode on the traction control was perfect, it would hold third gear drifts right up to the red line and into fourth gear if the roads were cold, such a friendly car at the limit. And the noise!
I think whoever owned it after me has done the absolute business with it, brought it right up to standard. I still have a dealer poster for the car that BMW gave me framed in the garage "100% muscle 0% fat" it says and it really felt like that.
Great read.I owned it in 2008-09 I think, taking it from 20-odd thousand miles to thirty something. It was a long time ago but was my only car so daily driven all year round.
I bought it to learn the Nurburgring, being the SMG (I'd started learning it in an Exige but had a few close calls) and I wanted a black one as it hid the carbon roof-as I drove it to work I figured folk would just think it a black BMW, if they knew cars just an M3.
No offs during my ownership, it needed a full front end re-spray and new windscreen by the time I'd finished with it but that wasn't unusual with them. The ad mentions corrosion on the front wings-I thought one rear wing had corrosion but I might be misremembering-possibly the offside? I figured it had had a bit of paint before I owned it or maybe taken a knock on one side.
The car was definitely straight though-I wouldn't have bought a dog.
As I said, car was driven daily but my commute was less than a mile, it was mainly used on track-I still have some photos somewhere and it was brilliant at that. We gave it absolute death but they weren't garage queens back then. If I remember correctly it used a litre of oil every weekend at the ring or maybe every track day at somewhere like Le Mans.
The gearbox threw up a warning light once riding the curbs but never did it again.
As I recall when I sold it, it needed new tyres, brakes, a big service, windscreen was cracked etc. I looked at it and it needed a big chunk of money throwing at it and part-exchanged it for a brand new Megane R26.R-my mates thought I'd lost the plot!
I have some great memories of the car, burning across the continent at full throttle is something you just can't get away with these days-it would show 180mph on the sat nav all day long but boy did it empty a tank quick at those speeds! One of my mates still maintains being a passenger in it was the scariest experience of his life and he's a free climber!
The M mode on the traction control was perfect, it would hold third gear drifts right up to the red line and into fourth gear if the roads were cold, such a friendly car at the limit. And the noise!
I think whoever owned it after me has done the absolute business with it, brought it right up to standard. I still have a dealer poster for the car that BMW gave me framed in the garage "100% muscle 0% fat" it says and it really felt like that.
Be interesting to see what it sells for.
Must be around the £70k mark.
What do you drive now?
darreni said:
Hard to beat that noise.Kettmark said:
Cariconics have apparently sold their 28k mile example, advertised for £92495. I doubt anyone will find another example for less than £50k ever again.
That was quick!They certainly don’t seem to be hanging around.
It could even mean that £60k is the new minimum.
Spring/Summer will introduce another rise in prices.
This is definitely the CSL era and you would be crazy to sell one now!
It’s had a yo-yo history like most classic cars but it’s now finally starting to find its place.
Kettmark said:
It will get to the stage I become too aware of its value & use mine less & less which is crazy.
Once the value gets to £100k I plan to sell.
It’s already at that stage.Once the value gets to £100k I plan to sell.
The low numbers don’t do us any favours.
As tempting as it is to sell nowadays, means nothing compared to the regret you will feel in years to come.
Many occasions in the past the boat was missed and now it’s sailing.
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