Viewing a CSL with 13000 Miles - advice.

[Calcifer]

Thanks in advance for any input.

I am going to view a LHD CSL for sale, it is a German specification car that found its way out of Germany. Currently has 22300 KM and stored since 2011.

Checking the data thread on pistonheads, it seems there were a handful of German specification cars which went out of Germany. Spoke to BMW Mayfair and last recorded mileage was 16000 KM in 2007 with outstanding warranty work for both airbags to be replaced. Just a little weary if the mileage is genuine.

What should I be looking out for apart from bolster and steering wear on a low mileage car?

Also if anyone that has a low mileage CSL or knows. What should the service schedule look like over a 10 years period.

Any input is welcome and thanks again.

[khooni]

I think you need to remove the rear boot lining, the front under tray and take a good look at the underneath (or your mechanic).

a well kept low mileage car should have nice looking CV joints and boots, minimal rust anywhere underneath and clean looking suspension. discs and pads should look meaty. Interior should also look super clean with minimal wear and tear.

It should naturally drive well .

Mine was re-built in 2012 with the chassis being dipped so there is no rust but as a track car, the underneath has seen better days. I would be getting simpsons to strip the bottom and replace/clean/ powder coat all the bottom metal bits and replace all linings.

although all this work can be done at a cost, there is nothing to tell if the car is a genuine 13000km car unless you do all the checks mentioned by NZ m3 in a separate thread. buy on condition. if all the above checks out, mileage is likely genuine

[Calcifer]

Thanks for that and I'll check the other thread. Not sure how keen the seller would be to having the under tray and lining removed.

In terms of service history. How should it look for a car that has covered some 6000 miles in 10 years. Number of inspection 1 and 2 and anything else?

Thanks

[select]

Check if the internal BMW Dealership Service Records match up to those in the Service booklet.

It should have had a service done every 2 years. Even if its not been driven much, thats what BMW recommends. Its Inspection I then II then Oil Service and Repeat.

[Calcifer]

Thanks so am I correct in saying if it was first supplied in 11/2003

Running in service - ???
Inspection 1 - 11/2005
Inspection 2 - 11/2007
Oil Change - 11/2009
Inspection 1 - 11/2011

After this it has been stored so would be due in for an Inspection 2?

Thanks

[select]

If you were anal about it, it should have had these services done, which i have marked in bold.

Running in service - 1,000miles
Inspection 1 - 11/2005
Inspection 2 - 11/2007
Oil Change - 11/2009
Inspection 1 - 11/2011
Inspection 2 - 11/2013
Oil Change - 11/2015

Next up would have been an inspection 1.
But if you were to buy it now, i would just make an Inspection 2.

[Calcifer]

Thanks a lot. Much appreciated.

[JBird]

Just be careful, a slightly higher miler, that has been well looked after interms of mechanical maintance might be just as good a buy. Mine had a lot of warranty work done between 10 and 30,000 miles, thanks to a fastidious previous owner who actually drove the car and realised when something was not quite 100%. Clutch and Diff come to mind.

Definatly get the rear floorpan checked for cracks by someone who knows what to look for.

I guess the car you are lookng at is the one NJ is selling for GBP 100k (about € 115k). Granted it is a LHD and they do seem to be more in demand and therefor fetch a higher price, one has to ask, do they really sell for €115k in for example, Germany? (of course they are advertised at that price). Difficult one.

Best of luck!

[Calcifer]

Thanks for the reply.

Actually the car is being sold privately and not the dealer car.

I got some further photos from the owner and:

Alcantara has small bubbling on the steering wheel, any possible fix or is this an age related matter?

A small scuff on the back of the rear seat, but have seen it's very easy for the back of the seats to be scratched?

Rear boot floor seems 100% intact.

Funnily, I was initially looking for one in Germany and was surprised there's probably only around 5 for sale, compared to 25 in the U.K.

Anyone seen a commemorative plaque as this? Sorry for the poor photo.

[Chad]

Thanks for the reply.

Actually the car is being sold privately and not the dealer car.

I got some further photos from the owner and:

Alcantara has small bubbling on the steering wheel, any possible fix or is this an age related matter?

A small scuff on the back of the rear seat, but have seen it's very easy for the back of the seats to be scratched?

Rear boot floor seems 100% intact.

Funnily, I was initially looking for one in Germany and was surprised there's probably only around 5 for sale, compared to 25 in the U.K.

Anyone seen a commemorative plaque as this? Sorry for the poor photo.

My lads had bobbing on steering wheel alcantara, at about 10years in but he had done about 90k by then. Mines still ok at 68k 14 years in, and only cleaned it one's, so that's a funny one,

[Calcifer]

Yeah I was slightly unhappy about that but i am slightly OCD and the bobbling is limited to a couple of places.

Still good to hear insight of others.

[JBird]

First owner of mine got a complete new steering wheel at 7,000 miles because of the bobling. So, don't worry about that. Steering wheel just seems to be an item that the OCD owners have to get retrimmed every few years.

Plaque I have not seen before - maybe some german dealers did that, or the first owner did it himself (For the UK cars the plaque is not factory part, BMW UK marketing made them extra for the UK dealers).

With the boot floor cracking, with such low milage you are probably safe. Just would add that my feeling is that the German cars don't seem to suffer from it (or it is not talked about), maybe because they have better roads. Perhaps a small reason to also keep the German market in mind if you want LHD. Mine was fine at 25,000miles, but then by 30,000 just started to crack after a season of punishment on dodgy UK goat trail roads. To reiterate my earlier advice, about the boot floor, make sure someone who really really knows where to looks checks it. The average dealer will check, say it is OK, but then take it somewhere like Bartlets (Garath, aka Giraffe on here) and he'll find an issue. All cars have it sooner or later, no reason not to buy, but you want to know what you are getting.

I'm curious, why are you after a LHD - are you planning on driving it in UK or a LHD country?

[select]

The Plaque actually is from the E36 LTW/GT.
AS Jbird said, UK cars had a different plaque but this was a dealer effort, meaning; Uk dealers installed them after delivery, it wasn't a factory option. Still jealous though :bigcry:


About the Bootfloor, its a inherent design flaw on the E46, every model will develop cracks sooner or later.

Spotting the cracks from just looking underneath the car isn't really possible. If theres cracks visible without removing the rear axle its already in a terrible state.

[Chad]

??? Would BMW still warranty a cracked boot floor ,even on a low mileage car 14 years down the line , you had to have a good relationship with BMW body shop to get it done a few years back:whistle:

[MisterCorn]

I thought it was a 10 year limit on the floor repairs from BMW, not from first hand experience, just something I have heard mentioned quite a few times.

MC