Highish mileage silver Grey

[jbaddeley]

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!

[nwates]

Such fun I have bought and sold 3 CSL's always miss them after selling . well worth it

[darreni]

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!

Go have a drive & get reacquainted, then post pics once you've bought it!

[Pip1968]

Provided you can get over the paddle shift (SMG II) then yes, definitely special above and beyond a normal e46 M3. Personally they should have made a manual version. I say that but most are not interested in 'real' cars and are quite happy with a system that does it all. Look at the new 991 GT3 RS !!! I wonder among the petrolhead community what the balace is for a 'non commuter' car. Not that commuting is any excuse but we are ever becoming a lazy people so there we have it.

If it has been looked after I do not see the problem. I think a compression test is the only thing worth doing now these are getting older.

Pip

[tenfour]

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!

Honestly?

Unless it's had a complete, ground up rebuild, I'd say there are better places to stick 40k. 120k miles is a lot in any car, especially one which has probably been driven very hard for all of them.

Obviously I haven't driven the car in question, but subject to the above, I'd wager it will be tired and baggy. Ergo, you won't really get the full CSL experience.

All in my humble opinion.

[jbaddeley]

Thanks chaps. When you see 250,000 km sport evo e30s going for 60k one could easily be inclined to not worry about the mileage. Due diligence around refresh, vanos, subframe, HG p, suspension etc are of course essential. Perhaps I'll stick with this old girl! Very slowly appreciating!

[GregorFuk]

A few pictures of my tired and baggy 92K mile CSL.





Oh and one of the underside post let year's trip to Redish.



The reality is that at these sorts of miles most CSLs are like Trigger's Broom. Any well cared for car will be running on fresh dampers, will have had bushing changed, upgraded brakes, the list goes on and on. There's no reason why a high miler can;t be a good drive. Well sorted high milage cars isn't the preserve of 993 owners.

[swindler]

jbaddeley said:

Thanks chaps. When you see 250,000 km sport evo e30s going for 60k one could easily be inclined to not worry about the mileage. [/IMG][/URL]

If you're referring to the absolute shed that was up at Historics Brooklands this weekend then I can assure you it's nowhere near a £60k car. They opened it with some curious commission bids to no interest in the room, and it did not sell.

The car had a comically bad paint blow over, disturbing rot patches and some home painted red ignition lead ends to mimic the correct ones that were MIA

Shame as it was black/cloth/non-sunroof i.e. perfect spec.

I'd put it at £20-25k to either run track and break it or allow for a bare shell rebuilt

[tenfour]

GregorFuk said:

The reality is that at these sorts of miles most CSLs are like Trigger's Broom.

Well yours certainly was

Note my caveat. However, I think we'd both agree that any 120k mile car will require intensive maintenance to keep fresh. For a CSL, that means quite significant running costs on top of the already significant entry fee.

As I say, in my humble opinion, I think there are better places to sink 40 grand.

[Pip1968]

tenfour said:

Honestly?

Unless it's had a complete, ground up rebuild, I'd say there are better places to stick 40k. 120k miles is a lot in any car, especially one which has probably been driven very hard for all of them.

Obviously I haven't driven the car in question, but subject to the above, I'd wager it will be tired and baggy. Ergo, you won't really get the full CSL experience.

All in my humble opinion.

I disagree. As most now realize that these are iconic cars and prices have been on the up for the last few years owners tend to look after them. At the end of the day you will soon see if the owner has skimped on little items - for me a good indicator of someone who has skimped elsewhere. Then of course walk away or offer accordingly and get those things sorted.

You can also get the car checked by an expert who will identify most of the things amiss if he is any sort of expert on the CSL.

Where would you put £40,000 with a better result and such a exhilarating drive? Of course the CSL is not the holy grail but there is not a lot else out there that will tick all your boxes and not have the same issues you highlight.

Obviuosly you can take my opinion with a pinch of salt as I am a long term owner.

Pip

[jbaddeley]

Good to see Gregors being used properly. The car I was most interested has had a deposit put on it so they are shifting with higher mileage on.

[GregorFuk]

tenfour said:

GregorFuk said:

The reality is that at these sorts of miles most CSLs are like Trigger's Broom.

Well yours certainly was

Note my caveat. However, I think we'd both agree that any 120k mile car will require intensive maintenance to keep fresh. For a CSL, that means quite significant running costs on top of the already significant entry fee.

As I say, in my humble opinion, I think there are better places to sink 40 grand.

Well it's never been in a tire wall or stuffed into a field and that's the most important thing. For £40K I'd be expecting a well maintained CSL that should not cost the earth to run. Snotters should be down in the mid to high 20's I'd guess. The last real rough CSL I saw hung about a dealer for ages until it was snapped up last year for around £27k. A bit of DIYing had it back in fine fettle even though many said it was fit only to break for spares.

Anyway, speaking of Trigger's Broom. New headlight lenses arrived today.



Howmanyleft says 270 CSL in the UK BTW. They are getting pretty rare.

[padc1]

[quote=GregorFuk]

Well it's never been in a tire wall or stuffed into a field and that's the most important thing. For £40K I'd be expecting a well maintained CSL that should not cost the earth to run. Snotters should be down in the mid to high 20's I'd guess. The last real rough CSL I saw hung about a dealer for ages until it was snapped up last year for around £27k. A bit of DIYing had it back in fine fettle even though many said it was fit only to break for spares.

If I'm correct I believe this car sold fairly recently for very strong money

I'm not sure I know of another place I'd rather have 40k of my money at the moment

[nwates]

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
Under 40k looks reasonable

[moktabe]

I don't personally see why there is such a big hang up on mileage.

Surely the most important thing is the maintainence history. Not only servicing but if parts have been replaced when needed etc.

I bought mine on 73K and it's history suggests it's been well cared for, various things have been done to get it to where I'm happy with it but I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist.

Low mileage garage queen at a stupid price or a moderately used one that has been well looked after that you can use without being terrified about devaluing it? I know which I'd go for.

[andymc]

nwates said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
Under 40k looks reasonable

is that well priced?

[nwates]

There was a 81,000 miler for sale for 37k recently private sale

[MPWR360BHP]

was that the black one? as I saw that, but it have had 7K of rework after a small racing barrier incident if its the same one.

Edited by MPWR360BHP on Tuesday 6th December 11:33

[MPWR360BHP]

tenfour said:

I'd say there are better places to stick 40k.

This is a fair point, and one I myself regularly question my self as you say.

What would you think is worth a 40K punt?, as looking at the mad prices second hand cars the options for interesting classics that are holding price or gaining are thin on the ground.

at last look people are asking (i state asking) £20,000 for a Ford RS2000 that looks ok, £40K Plus for a 996 911 Turbo, £45K+ for Lancia Delta Evo 2, £40K Plus for an R8 and GTRs seem to be getting to £50K for one you could own, so @ 35K The CSL represents not a bad car, BMW engineering, good chassis, car be driven daily, and unique and practical too.

If and when mine goes, it will be some debts paid off, and then a low mileage Scooby STI to play with until they start creeping up, as I see P1's now have doubled in price in the last 2 years.

Be interested to find out where fellow phers would drop the 40K

[nw942]

1M and Cayman R are both around £40k and holding their price.

A Cayman S and an E92 M3 are even cheaper, but will depreciate.