Advice please

[Diamondgeezer]

Hi all
I posted a few weeks back that I'm looking for a csl

I have just been to see a car and would like to hear your views
The car seems very straight and only has a few stone chips to the front and the front wheel arches have some suface rust

The interior is ok but the steering wheel could do with a retrim but other wise it's ok

The main issue is the service history
There are 7 previous owners but their is no corresponding paper work for the
First 5 owners or before 2009
The service book has been stamped and all the services seem to have been done at main dealers and lately at specialists

It's also now on its 4th different reg number
The mileage is at 73k and I can find nothing to show any major works have been done
The guy who is selling seems honest and I'm sure isn't trying to hide anything
Is it possible to get the service details from BMW ?
I'm planning on getting the car inspected at Bartlett including compression test prior to me handing over any money
Your thoughts please
Cheers

[Scott]

The car seems very straight and only has a few stone chips to the front and the front wheel arches have some suface rust

If you can see the rust then I would budget for 2 new wings unless it's an 2004 car which comes with a 12 year paint warranty. Either way, it's a common problem on all E46 M3's.

The interior is ok but the steering wheel could do with a retrim but other wise it's ok

It's done 73k miles so I wouldn't be surprised at this, try giving it a good clean before going for a retrim.

The main issue is the service history
There are 7 previous owners but their is no corresponding paper work for the
First 5 owners or before 2009
The service book has been stamped and all the services seem to have been done at main dealers and lately at specialists

I wouldn't worry about 7 owners, these cars tend to go through a lot of owners as people like to tick them off their 'bucket list' before moving on. If the car was sold by BMW in 2009 then you won't have any paperwork as they don't pass this on to the new owner due to confidentiality reasons.

It's also now on its 4th different reg number

So what?

The mileage is at 73k and I can find nothing to show any major works have been done

Not all cars will have the same problems so this could be a 'good one' or that it was all done prior to 2009.

The guy who is selling seems honest and I'm sure isn't trying to hide anything
Is it possible to get the service details from BMW ?

I managed to get all the work that was carried out on my partners X1 printed off but the car was only 2 years old when she bought it so it's likely that no work was carried out before she got it. If you don't ask you don't get....

I'm planning on getting the car inspected at Bartlett including compression test prior to me handing over any money

Definietely. They will identify any parts that need replacing so could save you in the long run.

[shimmy]

if you PM me all the private and non private reg numbers ill check to see if any history is on the register

[Diamondgeezer]

Originally Posted by shimmy

if you PM me all the private and non private reg numbers ill check to see if any history is on the register

PM sent

[Rick H]

Must be this one?

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifie...--2003/4131738

Edit: ah, maybe not - not enough owners.

[Diamondgeezer]

Originally Posted by Rick H

Must be this one?

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifie...--2003/4131738

Edit: ah, maybe not - not enough owners.

It's not that one
The cars not advertised for sale anywhere at the moment

[Andyk]

Originally Posted by Diamondgeezer

Hi all
I posted a few weeks back that I'm looking for a csl

I have just been to see a car and would like to hear your views
The car seems very straight and only has a few stone chips to the front and the front wheel arches have some surface rust

The interior is ok but the steering wheel could do with a retrim but other wise it's ok

The main issue is the service history
There are 7 previous owners but their is no corresponding paper work for the
First 5 owners or before 2009
The service book has been stamped and all the services seem to have been done at main dealers and lately at specialists

It's also now on its 4th different reg number
The mileage is at 73k and I can find nothing to show any major works have been done
The guy who is selling seems honest and I'm sure isn't trying to hide anything
Is it possible to get the service details from BMW ?
I'm planning on getting the car inspected at Bartlett including compression test prior to me handing over any money
Your thoughts please
Cheers

Hi Spencer if this is my old car then this is what I know.....

I bought it private in 2009 from a chap Birmingham way. He had it on plate H13 CSL



If my memory serves me right it had 60k on the clock when I bought it. I then changed the plate to K33 WEL.

I had the car for just over a year I think and had it serviced once at Cotswald Gloucester. Think it was an inspection 2 but I could be wrong it may have been 1. I never had any other work done on the car and it was faultless for the time I had it....The only other work I did was to have the wheels refurbed and the the front splitter relacquered as it was faded. I was the 6th owner of the car and it had a full service history stamped in the book I believe. I sold it to a friends garage in Chepstow and a local chap bought it I believe. I saw it at my mates garage having work done to it a few times and I was gutted as the chap just didn't seem to look after it..., if was just dirty, stone chips, front splinter cracked....He was the type of person that just drove the car and didn't care about it being clean and shiny. If its the same chap he may have receipts for work at Parva cars, St Avrans as when I sold it a month or so later it needed a new clutch so pretty sure this was changed in 2010ish.

I was gutted seeing it unloved especially as when I had her it was like this....



I did around 4 track days in her and she was faultless.....From what you say she hasn't been looked after cosmetically and from what I say after this could well be my car. I sold it with 67k on the clock so they haven't done many miles in 5 years or so. I bought the car fro 26k back then and sold it for 27k so prices were on the up back then......Hope this helps.......

[Diamondgeezer]

Many thanks Andy
It's such a shame that it's lost it's way a little
But it's certainly nothing that can't be fixed with a little TLC (and a pile of cash)
I think under the skin it's a good honest car
I can't find any evidence of a new clutch but that's not to say it wasn't done and I guess it would be obvious if it hadn't been changed
Let's hope I can get it looking it's former glory

[Yanto]

Originally Posted by Andyk

Hi Spencer if this is my old car then this is what I know.....

I bought it private in 2009 from a chap Birmingham way. He had it on plate H13 CSL



If my memory serves me right it had 60k on the clock when I bought it. I then changed the plate to K33 WEL.

I had the car for just over a year I think and had it serviced once at Cotswald Gloucester. Think it was an inspection 2 but I could be wrong it may have been 1. I never had any other work done on the car and it was faultless for the time I had it....The only other work I did was to have the wheels refurbed and the the front splitter relacquered as it was faded. I was the 6th owner of the car and it had a full service history stamped in the book I believe. I sold it to a friends garage in Chepstow and a local chap bought it I believe. I saw it at my mates garage having work done to it a few times and I was gutted as the chap just didn't seem to look after it..., if was just dirty, stone chips, front splinter cracked....He was the type of person that just drove the car and didn't care about it being clean and shiny. If its the same chap he may have receipts for work at Parva cars, St Avrans as when I sold it a month or so later it needed a new clutch so pretty sure this was changed in 2010ish.

I was gutted seeing it unloved especially as when I had her it was like this....



I did around 4 track days in her and she was faultless.....From what you say she hasn't been looked after cosmetically and from what I say after this could well be my car. I sold it with 67k on the clock so they haven't done many miles in 5 years or so. I bought the car fro 26k back then and sold it for 27k so prices were on the up back then......Hope this helps.......

One of my favourite Csl pics

[shimmy]

Originally Posted by Yanto

One of my favourite Csl pics

No spacers!