First Timer

[John]

Hi guys I'm picking up my new SG CSL on Friday and I've two questions:

1) When checking the car over, bar the usual stuff, is there anything specific to look out for?

2) Anything to look out for when driving it for the first time, bearing in mind the most powerful car I've owned and driven was a 07 Focus ST!

I feel this is going to be epic after reading everyone's comments through the forums!

Thanks in advance.

[mattCSLnut]

Originally Posted by John

Hi guys I'm picking up my new SG CSL on Friday and I've two questions:

1) When checking the car over, bar the usual stuff, is there anything specific to look out for?

2) Anything to look out for when driving it for the first time, bearing in mind the most powerful car I've owned and driven was a 07 Focus ST!

I feel this is going to be epic after reading everyone's comments through the forums!

Thanks in advance.

Welcome John

With a sensible head on and emotions put aside (as hard as that may be)

a) Rear chassis/boot floor cracks & 'B' post door catches rust under the black plastic cover, rust at the bottom of front & rear wings, rusty exhaust joints (mainly middle rear pipe to back box)

b) Rattling on start up & at idle (poss. VANOS issues), Clutch slur while changing up the gears under load, check the "SPORT" button works and the flap opens, diff clanking at slow/City traffic speeds.

... unless you consider these in the "usual stuff" category

Exciting day ahead

[s.mac]

if it has warranty, there's very little to worry about.
If it hasn't just check service history, listen for rattles, noises and usual body work checks

dont worry about power, they are tame with traction on.

Enjoy

[chrisburns]

Welcome John, very surprised that user name was still up for grabs

Matt has covered things very well there, when was the car 1st registered? I only ask because as Matt mentioned some of the potential rust issues will still be covered under warranty if it is late 04.
The exhaust bracket issue seems to apply to every E46 M3 i've seen and BMW really dropped the ball designing that one. Also check the mirror brackets as these corrode badly.
Coming from your ST I imagine the lack of low down torque might be missed at first but once you get used to the car and its ways this will soon be forgotten, nothing beats a high revving NA engine let alone one that roars like the CSL
Dont get frustrated by the gearbox as well, once you get used to it and how to change smoothly it is great.
Are there any extras on the car?

welcome to the gang, looking forward to seeing the pics !

Oh and be sure to order some mudflaps

[mattCSLnut]

Originally Posted by chrisburns

Welcome John, very surprised that user name was still up for grabs

Matt has covered things very well there, when was the car 1st registered? I only ask because as Matt mentioned some of the potential rust issues will still be covered under warranty if it is late 04.
The exhaust bracket issue seems to apply to every E46 M3 i've seen and BMW really dropped the ball designing that one. Also check the mirror brackets as these corrode badly.
Coming from your ST I imagine the lack of low down torque might be missed at first but once you get used to the car and its ways this will soon be forgotten, nothing beats a high revving NA engine let alone one that roars like the CSL
Dont get frustrated by the gearbox as well, once you get used to it and how to change smoothly it is great.
Are there any extras on the car?

welcome to the gang, looking forward to seeing the pics !

Oh and be sure to order some mudflaps

Drumming up some business for yourself there Chris ?
Re: bodywork anticorrosion BMW Warranty... any BMW registered from 2004 onwards gets a 12 year warranty. Before that it's only a 6 years anticorrosion Warranty... which unfortunately has already expired A proper BMW cock up as far as the CSLs are concerned as they were all build in 2003 (July - December)

[chrisburns]

Originally Posted by mattCSLnut

Drumming up some business for yourself there Chris ?
Re: bodywork anticorrosion BMW Warranty... any BMW registered from 2004 onwards gets a 12 year warranty. Before that it's only a 6 years anticorrosion Warranty... which unfortunately has already expired A proper BMW cock up as far as the CSLs are concerned as they were all build in 2003 (July - December)

No just need some company
Mine reg sept 04 so I'm alright

[John]

Hello everyone, this is all very useful and appreciated!

The car is an 04 reg it has the full compliment of options: radio, climate control, climate windscreen, I think electric mirrors but not 100% on that. It's a standard car with 43k on the clock. the deal has included a years warranty and I'm glad to hear its got the body covered under warranty for a few more years yet.

I have all day to look over it so I will make notes and give it a good going over. From what I can remember on the last service it had the vanos done, I'm not mechanically minded but am assuming thats a good thing as it is mentioned in all of the buying guides.

[cslsuperfan]

is it a nick johnson car? he normally provides a puckman's warranty as part of his sales.

[outnumbered]

Post the reg. on here and the collective will tell you if it has any known history...

[mattCSLnut]

Originally Posted by chrisburns

No just need some company

You could always start a new Fun Club ? M.F.E.R.

Originally Posted by chrisburns

Mine reg sept 04 so I'm alright

So yours is one of the unwanted CSLs and was about a year old before it got registered
Mine was build in July '03 and registered on 1st of September 2003