selling my evo and upgradeing to a csl
 

hi guys im new on here and its my first post so go easy on me :).

ive owned a m3 and a few evo,s now and im thinking of selling my evo 8 mr fq320 and buying a csl next year hopefully.

ever since i visited the nurburgring and seen and heard these csl,s go round ive wanted one ever since.

what im wanting to know is what to watch out for when buying the csl im in the garage trade myself so can check them over and do most the work myself but im not really sure what to look out for and whats a common fault on them ?

only thing i keep hearing is that the smg gearbox can give problems ? is this true ?

any info or advice would be much appreciated thanks

matt :smt023

Hi Matt,

The SMG isn't a major problem really. I wouln't worry about it, touch wood.

The biggest thing to check out is for cracks around the sub frame.

Do a search and yuo'll find lots of info on this.

Other than that, make sure you buy a good one, preferably with BMW warranty.

Buy one, You'll love it!:smokin:

I blame the Nurburgring as well..... Went there in September and sold my then Mk2 420bhp Focus RS and bought a CSL 4 weeks later..

You'll love it:beer:

Regarding the subframe issue as long as the car has FSH and is under 10 years old its a free fix at BMW (mines cracked and is going in saturday 10th Nov for replacement).


Steve

Check out the buyers guide by Mark CSL - invaluable:
http://www.cslregister.com/forum/showthread.php?t=146

The most important points in my opinion are:
Full service history (particularly the Running in service at or about 1,200mls. also look out for missed services, as some people closet them away and only do nominal mileage, they seen to think the servicing requirements don't matter, again I'm thinking the Bi-Annual proviso which does not relate to mileage.)

Extended Warranty in place (it can be difficult to obtain a warranty if it has been allowed to lapse without paying a premium).

I spent nearly 18 months looking for one that met this criteria, saw plenty of low mileage examples but when I inquired about Warranty there was almost always a problem, concerning the Bi-Annual proviso, which can add another £1K to the price and that's before they would issue one. So best getting one which has the warranty in place, then is just a matter of transfer and continuation.

Hope this helps and good luck - you wont regret it.

thanks

yes been reading qwite abit about the subframe cracking looks a big job it looks like something i wouldent want to do

do they all crack in time or is it just the odd few ? and i assume if its been lowerd etc then bmw will not repair it for free as its been tamperd with ?

thanks for that i will take a look :thumbs:

Ref the subframe issue it's hard to tell how "bad" it is, looking on M3Cutters theres a lot of cars with the issue (not sure how many CSLs have had a problem tho).


Steve

Quite a few CSLs have also had these issues Steve,mines booked into Elms at the end of the month for a check over and oil service.Im hoping they do find an issue with the subframe,so I can get it fixed foc before the 10years is up.

Exactly why when I was off monday this week I got mine looked at... Strange really hoping you have a big issue like that lol. Originally I was going to take mine to Elms but getting a thursday off is a serious pain for me.

Heres hoping you have an issue as well lol:beer:


Steve

:hahaha:It is a strange one.Its also odd that some cars used on track haven't had it and others who have never taken them on track have had it.

Yeh very weird mine has been checked and it's fine, and I know mine has had track action ?????

so when do bmw stop doing the repairs for free on the rear subframe ?

and how much are they to do if you have to pay for it ?

Once your car is 10 years old..... Not a clue on the cost after that time scale but I'd guess at £5000+

There is an alternative tho....

http://www.redish-motorsport.com/E46...forcement.html

there a quite a few companies who can do the repair and for a lot less than 5k ;)

I was OK, all sorted under warranty and I would think with warranty in place, it would be covered anyway, regardless of the 10 year good will

NOT TRUE

Rumour only says BMW will stop fixing under good will at 10 years old. However if you car is registered Jan2004 + it already has a 12 year bodywork warranty (not 6) therefore you are likely to be covered for at lkeast 12 years from registration, even without any further goodwill.

Mine therefore should be covered until January 2016 (in case it cracks again)

Are owners of 2001 E46 m3s still having this work approved by BMW?.

cant see cutters so dont know!

but 10 year rule is not written on paper (put it that way)

There are cutters saying BMW still doing work on 2001 under warrenty

When I had mine looked at Monday the garage said they had a car in at 10years 3months and it was declined repair, I don't know how old the car was. I was under the impression it was a blanket 10 years on all cars regardless if it was Pre or post 2003.... Not that it's an issue as mines 2004 so I'm safe ;)

Shimmy,

I'm guessing yours has already been done then..??

in 2010 :)

all i am saying in UK BMW have placed an arbitrary 10 year limit on crack repairs for pre 2004 cars

in US the group action means they have to fix them all

if mine was declined i would certainly threaten them with legal action in small claims as the car is not fit for purpose due to amount that fail

csl subframe
 

How much do elms charge to inspect chassis if post inspection they find that all's well?

It's a free inspection as far as is see it.if its chargeable ill let you know in a fortnight.im gonna have a chat with Gareth at Elms , they need to have a really good look,these cracks are easily missed.

I had no idea about this 10year limit! Mine hasn't been done but showing no signs, only a matter of time :bigcry:

the way you drive,yes sye :whistle:

only comes out the garage 4/5 times a year! :finga:

Not when our Gareth is on the case :thumbs: He found mine during a routine Inspection 1 Service :bigcry: few months ago :smokin:

Once you know where t look and you have a ramp and light, it is very easy to see it from it's very beginning.

Who is this decent guy Gareth? And where in the country does he work. I'm in West Sussex. I want mine checked.

ELM's BMW Cambridge, he looks after most of our cars on this site 01954 784500 :thumbs:

Nice one, many thanks... looks like a nice family trip to Cambridge will be coming up, LOL.

Arbitrary 10 Years for pre 2004 cars, as they all came off the production line in 2003, why this distinction. I doubt very much that that would stand up in law.

As the Yanks didn't get the CSL, their action was brought against the M3 which suffers the same fatigue failure. However the shear weight of numbers added momentum to their claim, hence the ruling went in their favour and BMW were forced to capitulate.

It may not have gone down in the annals of case law in this Country, but it has legally been established elsewhere that there is an inherent design fault with the structure of the E46 series M3 vehicles, and as such it should be up to the manufacturer to correct, irrespective of age. (Ref: Sale of Goods Act 1979 Section 14(3)) as a last resort.:thumbs:

Just to be clear, are we saying this fault would be rectified by BMW regardless of whether a BMW warranty is in place?

yes, it is being fixed inder bmw goodwill, not warranty. just beware of mods that might affect their goodwill like a/m suspension, bushes, etc

what we are so referring to is the bodywork warranty on the cars which run 6 years (pre12/2003) and 12 years (post 1/2004) which might help if bmw play the "10 years is up" card

as long as it has a full service history and no suspension mods and is under 10 years old,BMW will fix this under Goodwill,subject to the pics of the cracks being approved at BMWGB.

ive not seen anythng to say it needs a full service history tbh

Ive read a few posts where the dealer has asked to look at the service book,but on saying that I don't think they have to be BMW stamps.Also someone on cutters has just been turned down just over the 10 year mark,so there not going to give any leeway.

Not sure you're right about the suspension Bret ;)

So nothing in my post was correct then.:bigcry::hahaha:

You're right about goodwill...the rest is bollox mate :hahaha: