Parts NLA

[a_Y]

I am just wondering what are everyone's thoughts on so many parts becoming NLA from BMW.

I am afraid to drive this car now because if something breaks, it just seems like we won't even be able to source parts from BMW anymore. Don't BMW have a classic department that can provide parts for these cars?

[ZKMI]

I thought it was only the carbon roof that went NLA.

BMW shouldn't make it so easy to order these rare parts but this has been going on for years.

[NZ_M3]

Even parts that are still supposedly available but not in stock can take up to 12 months to source from time of order - for eg door panels.

So yes it’s a concern, a serious concern. I get the feeling that BMW simply want this car to die eventually as the back up support for it is appauling.

My advice, buy replica parts and put it in the car to use it. I have been doing this on and off for years and yes I agree it’s at a point where it’s almost scary to use the car on the road. I’ve ended up building a replica just so I can enjoy some CSLness on a stock M3.

It is going to be part of the Mobile Tradition soon but not yet. But even when that happens not every part will be remade, only those toolings they decide to keep and be prepared to wait for reproduction! I was told once a guy waited 6 years for a part to turn up for his Mk1 M5!!!

[Yanto]

I think they'll be plenty of fabricators pop up in the near future to meet this mkt demand (and for those who want to trick up regular E46). Ok, it won't be OEM, but on the flip, it'll encompass 15 years of manufacturing progress (and consequently reduced cost). If not, I'd advise some smart fellow to fill this niche. More so when the US mkt opens up in 10 yrs.

There must be a ton of classics with NLA parts.

[NZ_M3]

The fact that in the last two or so years there have been less and less second hand CSL parts popping up for sale indicates to me also that owners are cottoning onto the fact that bespoke CSL parts are now very hard to come by and people are holding onto them rather than selling to recoup.

Few parts that I see that’ll be hard to source eventually

- seats
- Cats
- cams
- airbox
- Valves
- rear seat console
- door panels
- front uprights
- muffler
- steering rack
- headers


Things that you already can’t source or need to wait a bloody long time for reproduction
- roof NLA (my understanding is the tooling for this is gone so it’ll never be made again. I am hoping this is false information of course!)
- cabin air filter tray light weight - I own the very last set sold in the world and these are no longer made
- door panels. Fronts are all gone I am told
- seat rails - these are like unicorn blood
- original Map sensor - NLA

[GregorFuk]

Originally Posted by NZ_M3

The fact that in the last two or so years there have been less and less second hand CSL parts popping up for sale indicates to me also that owners are cottoning onto the fact that bespoke CSL parts are now very hard to come by and people are holding onto them rather than selling to recoup.

Few parts that I see that’ll be hard to source eventually

- seats
- Cats
- cams
- airbox
- Valves
- rear seat console
- door panels
- front uprights
- muffler
- steering rack
- headers


Things that you already can’t source or need to wait a bloody long time for reproduction
- roof NLA (my understanding is the tooling for this is gone so it’ll never be made again. I am hoping this is false information of course!)
- cabin air filter tray light weight - I own the very last set sold in the world and these are no longer made
- door panels. Fronts are all gone I am told
- seat rails - these are like unicorn blood
- original Map sensor - NLA

Think you need to add rear control arms to the list of NLA parts.

[NZ_M3]

Originally Posted by GregorFuk

Think you need to add rear control arms to the list of NLA parts.

I’ve not had issues sourcing those. They’ve simply tripled in pricing that’s all.

They are not NLA. Well they were but then were put back in production.

[3wheels3]

Could feel this coming even 3 years ago!

[Gazza]

I think I'll sell my CSL now before the Apocalypse.


I restore Classic Mustangs and a few years back new panels were non existent, now I can build a Classic Mustang from a catalogue of new parts off the shelf, even new bodyshells.

Hopefully with such a car as the CSL, BMW would licence parts production if they ceased to produce the parts themselves.

[a_Y]

I am thinking if it is time to let go of her because of this issue. Yet I really love this car still!