The Holy Grail?

[LHutchin]

Hi
I have looked at three CSLs now all at the top end of the price range.
All three have had issues of some sort.

It is still a possibility to find a straight genuine car?

Or is this the holy grail and an impossible task?

I know we are taking about 12 year old cars but I am still surprised at how difficult this is

[mattCSLnut]

Originally Posted by LHutchin

Hi
I have looked at three CSLs now all at the top end of the price range.
All three have had issues of some sort.

It is still a possibility to find a straight genuine car?

Or is this the holy grail and an impossible task?

I know we are taking about 12 year old cars but I am still surprised at how difficult this is

Unfortunately this is only further proof that the "so called" low mileage, polished within an inch of death CSLs, mainly SOLD by dealers are not what you'd hope they will be. I think you'll find the best CSLs belong to majority of CSLR members and have a more realistic mileage (60 - 100K miles) for a 12 year old car without any issues as they are fanatically serviced & looked after. It how & why I bought mine from a CSLR Member after seeing 3 Main dealer overpriced, polished turds.

[Yanto]

Originally Posted by LHutchin

Hi
I have looked at three CSLs now all at the top end of the price range.
All three have had issues of some sort.

It is still a possibility to find a straight genuine car?

Or is this the holy grail and an impossible task?

I know we are taking about 12 year old cars but I am still surprised at how difficult this is

You need a bit of luck as well. I bought the first car I looked at privately(actually without even driving it until the deal was done), though I did talk with the owner before the seller as well from another forum I'm on. I've had 30k happy miles and I think he did about 35k. All serviced on time (and if I'm honest, probably a little over serviced / preventative work). As Matt said, just don't get hung up on the mileage too much and overlook a good, higher mile car.

Patience and luck will eventually yield a result.

[monkeycsl]

What sort of issues were they?

I have owned my car for 9 yrs it's had four owners so I have no idea about its first 3 years but it's had 8 oil changes in 35k and to my knowledge is a straight as they come.
Any issues are sorted ASAP like water pump, alternator, diff seal, front tie arms, rear springs exhaust hangers,
The list goes on

[Chris-CSL]

that is weird!! Exactly the same as Yanto in buying my Car had a very long conversation with the Seller at Starbucks on the A23 bought the Car before driving it myself. Done 35k odd miles in it I have been happy with it ever since so I have the Holy Grail and sorry not selling it.

As someone on here has said before no doubt 95% of the CSL have been on the track and thrashed and also had AP breaks etc. returned to standard and sold on no matter the millage!!

[Bounce]

Didn't drive mine before I purchased it either,it was on 59k miles,but did have a long conversation with the last owner

[LHutchin]

Originally Posted by monkeycsl

What sort of issues were they?

I have owned my car for 9 yrs it's had four owners so I have no idea about its first 3 years but it's had 8 oil changes in 35k and to my knowledge is a straight as they come.
Any issues are sorted ASAP like water pump, alternator, diff seal, front tie arms, rear springs exhaust hangers,
The list goes on

Varied from poor condition to late services to other work needing to be done to accident repaired
Not what you expect with a £45-50k car

[mattCSLnut]

Originally Posted by LHutchin

Varied from poor condition to late services to other work needing to be done to accident repaired
Not what you expect with a £45-50k car

Not all but quite a few of the so called "Low mileage" CSL do have poor Service History with scheduled service intervals well beyond the 2 year /15K miles recommended gaps as owners/dealers seem to think that engine oil, especially high performance TWS stuff lasts forever (which it obviously doesn't) and doesn't need changing until they reach the 15K mark even if it takes 3/4 years

I recall one of the CSLs I went to view during my search at BMW Main dealer which was describe by the said dealer as having impeccable service history. The car was 6 years old at the time, with 42K ish miles on the clock and upon closer inspection had only 4 stamps in the book... one of which was the "PDI", the other was a "Running in" service, the next some 20K later & almost 3 year apart was just an Oil service from some random garage (not even a BMW specialist) and then their own stamp @ 42K some 2 and a half years later with the wrong service It should have been an "Inspection 1" yet all they did was another "Oil service" They knew too well that it was a wrong'en as Mondial BMW warranty wouldn't agree to a full warranty coverage due to the patchy service history. Instead they were pushing their own 12 months dealer warranty, saying it was as good as the BMW Mondial one, which was just plain B.S. and not very impressive @ the £30K asking price (back in 2009)
As if that wasn't enough, they also kept egging me on for a test drive before checking the paper work (or the lack of it) which I firmly declined as it was a total waste of my time and had a strong whiff of desperation about it.

It's been said many times before and I'll say it again... comprehensive, on time Service history (as per BMW schedule) and overall good condition is all that potential buyer should be focusing on not the odometer reading.

[billyboysm3]

I bought mine without driving it, 34k miles on the clock I think. All members on here. First one I saw, fully detailed and worth the asking price.

You do need luck though as a good one will be snapped up in a day.

I would also not ever buy another without Gareth or Adem doing a full inspection, especially compression test.

Im not sure low miles is the way to go, rather a really well look after example from one of us.

That's why is strange when others pop up elsewhere. Why not sell it on here direct unless there is something someone is trying to hide.

[billyboysm3]

They do exist but I believe we have then stashed away as they are the special ones and not dog rough and missing services.