Looking to buy a CSL, anyone know this car?

**$w!ft** · 11-10-2009, 06:59 PM

Hi guys,

I will hopefully be a CSL owner by next weekend if I find the right car. (I am based in Bristrol+London area)

So far today I have looked at a CSL from a BMW dealership which was very expensive (£33k, 27k miles) but they had another CSL with with registration HY04LEG, 2004 model with 28,000 miles and 7 owners (!! ?) which looked more interesting. It also had STAGE 2 Thorney with milltek exhaust, not sure whether this is a good or bad thing.

Was wondering, do any of you know this car or have owned this car in the past?

Was also thinking of taking a look at Nick Johnson Motor Co. has anyone heard of them?

Your help will be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

$w!ft.

SIEN · 11-10-2009, 07:05 PM

Wait.. the BMW dealership is selling you a car with Thorney remap and a miltek? ... And keeping the approved used warranty?

Re: Nick Johnson... only heard bad things about a few scrappy cars they have... not sure about the others they have in stock though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by $w!ft

Hi guys,

I will hopefully be a CSL owner by next weekend if I find the right car. (I am based in Bristrol+London area)

So far today I have looked at a CSL from a BMW dealership which was very expensive (£33k, 27k miles) but they had another CSL with with registration HY04LEG, 2004 model with 28,000 miles and 7 owners (!! ?) which looked more interesting. It also had STAGE 2 Thorney with milltek exhaust, not sure whether this is a good or bad thing.

Was wondering, do any of you know this car or have owned this car in the past?

Was also thinking of taking a look at Nick Johnson Motor Co. has anyone heard of them?

Your help will be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

$w!ft.

**$w!ft** · 11-10-2009, 07:17 PM

Well I guess so, I mean BMW approved is not gonna sell a car without warranty... Havent had a chance to look at the Remapped one in person yet though.

Thats bad about Nick Johnson, they do have 4 cars for sale atm which dont look bad!

SIEN · 11-10-2009, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by $w!ft

Well I guess so, I mean BMW approved is not gonna sell a car without warranty... Havent had a chance to look at the Remapped one in person yet though.

Thats bad about Nick Johnson, they do have 4 cars for sale atm which dont look bad!

I'm no expert by any means, just been in the same situation recently while looking and that seems to be the general concensus of those I asked the same question to.

Regarding BMW warranty, from my recent dealings with BMW it's quite clear that any modifications whatsoever to the factory car will invalidate the warranty... I would make tripley if not quadruply sure that their car will come with warranty (otherwise, why the hell would you pay the premium!).

**shimmy** · 11-10-2009, 07:52 PM

hold on a sec

ive not seen many bad things about Nick Johnson tbh. A couple of people over the last few years have a had a go but then more have had ago about BMW dealers tbh

i would say (i dont know Nick) that he is a dealer who specialises in CSLs and as with BMW i guess his prices are a little stronger than private sales as he buys cheap and sells with a premium i guess to make his money. Lets not forget that Nick and BMW dealers help keep prices firm for us private sellers in this strange CSL market.

I would say take a look at them and check the history and if one suits then take it, It will have a BMW warranty or Nick i guess gives a warranty as well.

ALSO my experience on BMW with the CSL warranty has been superb. Most if not all dealers understand that the CSL is a track weapon in lots of cases and generally BMw and dealers honour warranty claims unless there is a clear link between the cause and a modification. Indeed i dont think a fuss iis made at most dealers about mods for the CSL even if you have a linked claim

SIEN · 11-10-2009, 08:25 PM

As I said, you guys know more than me about it, I'm just going on (mostly private PM's) I've received about those specifics.

At least 2 people responded privately on this forum and pistonheads regarding Nicks cars. As he usually has quite a lot for sale I guess there's always going to be a few dodgy one's.

As regards to the warranty situation, again just going on what people have said via PM. Personally I would ask my local dealer first how they feel about doing warranty work if I tuned the car. Many handle their customer services differently and I'm sure if you got one like Shimmy mentions there wouldn't be a problem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shimmy

hold on a sec

ive not seen many bad things about Nick Johnson tbh. A couple of people over the last few years have a had a go but then more have had ago about BMW dealers tbh

i would say (i dont know Nick) that he is a dealer who specialises in CSLs and as with BMW i guess his prices are a little stronger than private sales as he buys cheap and sells with a premium i guess to make his money. Lets not forget that Nick and BMW dealers help keep prices firm for us private sellers in this strange CSL market.

I would say take a look at them and check the history and if one suits then take it, It will have a BMW warranty or Nick i guess gives a warranty as well.

ALSO my experience on BMW with the CSL warranty has been superb. Most if not all dealers understand that the CSL is a track weapon in lots of cases and generally BMw and dealers honour warranty claims unless there is a clear link between the cause and a modification. Indeed i dont think a fuss iis made at most dealers about mods for the CSL even if you have a linked claim

**shimmy** · 11-10-2009, 08:35 PM

where are you in the UK?

**glendog74** · 11-10-2009, 09:18 PM

Agree with Shimmy:

I have seen a fair few CSLs with track mods sold through the BMW AUC network. Usually they are a BBK or suspension mods.

I have a positive experience of Nick Johnson as a seller. He knew a lot about the cars (rather more than BMW salesmen...) and also provided a superb test drive where i could test the car 'properly' without a raised eyebrow when i pressed the go faster pedal!

Nick's cars can be hit or miss - much like the used car market in general. He has good cars and not quite so good cars. They are priced accordingly, although in general he prices slightly on the high side imho. He's there to make a little money on a sale of course, can't blame him for that.

I bought my car privately in the end - from a fellow enthusiast. Best way to buy for a genuine, well priced car with loads of background knowledge. Buy with a warranty though

**AlexGTT** · 11-10-2009, 09:28 PM

I agree with Shimmy and Rob. Nick is not such a bad guy but be prepared not to see a normal dealer appearance as he's selling from his home. It's a good way to see several CSL's at one place.

derek · 11-10-2009, 09:37 PM

I cannot comment on how good or bad Nick is but one of this cars he is selling is accident damged car as i done an rac inspection on it and it was confimed by the previous owner. It was on sale at the time at a bmw garage. Moral of post do your homework wherever you buy a car, check out the history with the previous owners

11-10-2009, 06:59 PM	#1
$w!ft S5 - Full Throttle Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: London (W1) Posts: 309 Casino cash: $3311	Looking to buy a CSL, anyone know this car? Hi guys, I will hopefully be a CSL owner by next weekend if I find the right car. (I am based in Bristrol+London area) So far today I have looked at a CSL from a BMW dealership which was very expensive (£33k, 27k miles) but they had another CSL with with registration HY04LEG, 2004 model with 28,000 miles and 7 owners (!! ?) which looked more interesting. It also had STAGE 2 Thorney with milltek exhaust, not sure whether this is a good or bad thing. Was wondering, do any of you know this car or have owned this car in the past? Was also thinking of taking a look at Nick Johnson Motor Co. has anyone heard of them? Your help will be greatly appreciated. Regards, $w!ft.

11-10-2009, 07:52 PM	#5
shimmy CSL Register Uber-poster! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Uk Posts: 14,646 Casino cash: $43909	misleading thread alert!!! hold on a sec ive not seen many bad things about Nick Johnson tbh. A couple of people over the last few years have a had a go but then more have had ago about BMW dealers tbh i would say (i dont know Nick) that he is a dealer who specialises in CSLs and as with BMW i guess his prices are a little stronger than private sales as he buys cheap and sells with a premium i guess to make his money. Lets not forget that Nick and BMW dealers help keep prices firm for us private sellers in this strange CSL market. I would say take a look at them and check the history and if one suits then take it, It will have a BMW warranty or Nick i guess gives a warranty as well. ALSO my experience on BMW with the CSL warranty has been superb. Most if not all dealers understand that the CSL is a track weapon in lots of cases and generally BMw and dealers honour warranty claims unless there is a clear link between the cause and a modification. Indeed i dont think a fuss iis made at most dealers about mods for the CSL even if you have a linked claim

11-10-2009, 09:18 PM	#8
glendog74 CSL Register Uber-poster! Tetris Champion! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cornwall Posts: 8,861 Casino cash: $32299	Agree with Shimmy: I have seen a fair few CSLs with track mods sold through the BMW AUC network. Usually they are a BBK or suspension mods. I have a positive experience of Nick Johnson as a seller. He knew a lot about the cars (rather more than BMW salesmen...) and also provided a superb test drive where i could test the car 'properly' without a raised eyebrow when i pressed the go faster pedal! Nick's cars can be hit or miss - much like the used car market in general. He has good cars and not quite so good cars. They are priced accordingly, although in general he prices slightly on the high side imho. He's there to make a little money on a sale of course, can't blame him for that. I bought my car privately in the end - from a fellow enthusiast. Best way to buy for a genuine, well priced car with loads of background knowledge. Buy with a warranty though __________________ Cha'mone Mother F**ker!

11-10-2009, 09:28 PM	#9
AlexGTT CSL Register Uber-poster! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Herefordshire Posts: 4,374 Casino cash: $8572	I agree with Shimmy and Rob. Nick is not such a bad guy but be prepared not to see a normal dealer appearance as he's selling from his home. It's a good way to see several CSL's at one place. __________________ CSL Register Alcoholics Anonymous Group Leader & Businessman of the Year '93! www.earleyengineering.com

11-10-2009, 09:37 PM	#10
derek S5, Sport On, DSC M-track Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Scotland Posts: 1,159 Casino cash: $20658	I cannot comment on how good or bad Nick is but one of this cars he is selling is accident damged car as i done an rac inspection on it and it was confimed by the previous owner. It was on sale at the time at a bmw garage. Moral of post do your homework wherever you buy a car, check out the history with the previous owners Last edited by derek; 11-10-2009 at 09:39 PM.

11-10-2009, 07:17 PM	#3
$w!ft S5 - Full Throttle Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: London (W1) Posts: 309 Casino cash: $3311	Well I guess so, I mean BMW approved is not gonna sell a car without warranty... Havent had a chance to look at the Remapped one in person yet though. Thats bad about Nick Johnson, they do have 4 cars for sale atm which dont look bad!

11-10-2009, 08:35 PM	#7
shimmy CSL Register Uber-poster! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Uk Posts: 14,646 Casino cash: $43909	where are you in the UK?