Thoughts on the CAT d CSL

[gingernuts]

Hi gents,

Just wanted to know what people think about the CAT D CSL the Nick Johnson Has at the minute.

To me, if it passes a BMW inspection it could be a very cheap route to a low mileage CSL. And given the fact that the number of CSL's is going to fall as they are written off/broken for parts, it should still go up in value (granted proportionally not as much but it should still rise).

Is there more to the story that people may be aware of?

The other thing i noticed is if you look carefully at the photos, it sits lower on one side than the other at the back.....cracked springs? subframe? uneven ground?

http://www.nickjohnsonmotorco.co.uk/used-cars/bmw-m3-m3-2dr-abingdon-201227477365128

Apologies if this has been covered before or is in the wrong section!

[Steve B]

I was considering the same car back in September, but I decided to leave it due to the resale value when I come to sell.

Not alot of help really but just my insight into them.


Cheers
Steve

[Bounce]

Hi gents,

Just wanted to know what people think about the CAT D CSL the Nick Johnson Has at the minute.

To me, if it passes a BMW inspection it could be a very cheap route to a low mileage CSL. And given the fact that the number of CSL's is going to fall as they are written off/broken for parts, it should still go up in value (granted proportionally not as much but it should still rise).

Is there more to the story that people may be aware of?

The other thing i noticed is if you look carefully at the photos, it sits lower on one side than the other at the back.....cracked springs? subframe? uneven ground?

http://www.nickjohnsonmotorco.co.uk/used-cars/bmw-m3-m3-2dr-abingdon-201227477365128

Apologies if this has been covered before or is in the wrong section!

Id rather have a higher mileage one that wasn't a cat D,but that's only my opinion:wink:

[CraigMillwardCroft]

Id rather have a higher mileage one that wasn't a cat D,but that's only my opinion:wink:

If the car was a keeper then maybe, but the best ones to keep are the straight ones, Cat D will always be a knocking point when up for sale :-D

[cslsuperfan]

cat d

Without repeating the good people on here, a keeper, possibly but for resale you will be lumbered. NJ has had this car for some time now and previous cat d's on PH have taken an age to sell unless heavily discounted.
Spend an extra 5K and get a straight cesil with BMWSH. Spring 2013 will be the time as 12 month ownerships will be coming to an end.

[s.mac]

seems a bit steep for a cat d?? would be OK if you were going to cage it up, strip it etc and then sell caged up, but always a stumbling block for resale
IMO

[gingernuts]

Just confirming my doubts really gents. For me it would be a cheaper (would be making an offer not taking it at asking price) way into a CSL. But I wanted to gauge opinion on it as at the end of the day its guys like you that will buy it, and if you wouldn't then it'll be a hard sell and isn't for me!

[CraigMillwardCroft]

Just confirming my doubts really gents. For me it would be a cheaper (would be making an offer not taking it at asking price) way into a CSL. But I wanted to gauge opinion on it as at the end of the day its guys like you that will buy it, and if you wouldn't then it'll be a hard sell and isn't for me!

You certainly would not be able to sell it quick enough to fund a house purchase, and it would not be an investment :whistle:

[Neil M]

Just confirming my doubts really gents. For me it would be a cheaper (would be making an offer not taking it at asking price) way into a CSL. But I wanted to gauge opinion on it as at the end of the day its guys like you that will buy it, and if you wouldn't then it'll be a hard sell and isn't for me!

This car has been about for quite some time now 18 months:
My notes when looking for one:
"PH, CSL, Plate: M3 XCL (04), colour: Silver Grey, mileage: 35,500, number of owners: 5, price: £20,500, seller: Nick Johnson, location: Abingdon NOTE: Cat D (price reduced was £23,500)

For this car to sell it needs to be 18K realistically and needs a buyer that is either; going to keep it, until the wheels drop off, or someone who will use it purely as a track car.
You wouldn't buy it as a daily driver or as an investment, no matter how good it is or who checks it over, the Cat D is indelibly impressed on the V5 which also has the effect of making it almost impossible to insure.

Bottom line stay well away, no matter how tempted.
Just for info NJ is also a register member :whistle:

[gingernuts]

Cheers guys, glad I asked now, some helpful input.

SO on a side note, anyone know why its lower on one side at the back?

[Ramsden15]

Perhaps it makes more sense as a export where the cat d become largely irrelevant.

[Neil M]

Cheers guys, glad I asked now, some helpful input.

SO on a side note, anyone know why its lower on one side at the back?

Curiosity killed the cat :hahaha: Why don't you just nip down and see if you've a spare 12+hrs, make it a romantic weekend away, special treat just as a sweetener, Abingdon is a nice place particularly down by the river.:thumbs:

[Neil M]

Perhaps it makes more sense as a export where the cat d become largely irrelevant.

I was wondering if you would turn up :hahaha: that Cat D will travel with it wherever it goes within the EU beyond that who knows, probably end up as a 12K mls. motor somewhere in the East.:thumbs:

[Steve B]

probably end up as a 12K mls. motor somewhere in the East.:thumbs:

Now theres an idea..... where's my passport lol:whistle:

[phoenixcsl]

I would buy a CAT-D car if the price was right, as you could potentially pick up a bargain.

However at nearly £21k, I think that car is over priced, but then it is at a dealer, so you get more options to you than a private sale.

I've seen a couple of Cat D CSL's go for £18k ish, depending on condition and the work (if any) that was needed to get them straight again.

More and more people are aware of the different categories in todays day and age, so I don't think re-sale would be a problem, having said that, it depends how much you can get it for as a CAT-D car will always be worth a lot less than a straight car, that car is certainly not an investment car imho.

A friend of mine has a CAT D csl and I have to say it's one of the cleanest CSL's i've ever seen, has BMW warranty etc, looking at his car and knowing the history behind it, it certainly wouldn't put me off buying one, but again the price has to be right.

E46 M3 / CSL's etc can sit 10mm lower on one side, I believe it's to do with the fuel tank and how it's situated, though I stand corrected if that's incorrect.