SG 53 for sale

[GregorJP]

SORRY, HALF-HEARTED ATTEMPT TO SELL IT AT A TOP OF THE MARKET PRICE. I'M NOT FOOLING ANYONE, AND I DON'T WANT TO SELL IT. IT'S NOW GOING INTO STORAGE FOR WINTER. GTR WILL BE ON SALE SHORTLY. IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN A 59-PLATE, STAGE 2 GTR, SEND ME A PM AND I'LL SEND DETAILS.

It is with great reluctance and not a little bit of doubt that I'm putting my CSL up for sale. Details are:

Date of manufacture: July 2003

Date of registration: September 2003

Supplying dealer: Bowker BMW Preston

Colour: Silver Grey

Mileage: 68,000

Service history: Full BMW history, including running in service

Documentation: All documentation and history, including manual, CSL supplementary manual, 2 keys

MOT: Currently expires in February 2014 but can be renewed to 12 months if required

Factory specification and options:

• Automatic air conditioning
  
  
• BMW Business RDS and single disc CD player
  
  
• Auto-dim interior mirror
  
  
• BMW limited edition plaque
  
  
• Removal of top speed limiter
  
  
• Gradual tint windscreen
  
  
• Xenon headlamps

History before my ownership: 6 former keepers. Previous owner was a CSL Register member, tbellamy85. He spent a lot of money on getting the carbon roof repaired and generally making sure the car’s body was in good condition.

Items during my ownership:

Purchased by me in September 2011. Considerable time and money has been spent on maintaining the car. Elms BMW in Cambridge have serviced and looked after it since I bought it. I also used Barry Jones BMW as a local specialist to undertake one or two smaller jobs.

• February 2012: New hifi system purchased and fitted. This was because I couldn’t bear the standard system, which was hopeless. Worked with Advance Audio to fit a system that would maintain the standard fittings in the car but still permit a high quality sound. System consists of: Hertz HDP4 920w amplifier, Audison signal interface processor, Hertz Mille 2-way component speaker system with mid-range and tweeter system and crossover, 12" boxed and detachable Dynaudio subwoofer. The system hooks up to an inobtrusive 3.5m jack, but an iPod cradle can also be fitted.
  
  
• March 2012: Front and rear AP Racing big brake kits (parts A/PCP5575-1004 and A/PCP5575-1003 respectively). Front kit is the big brake kit that does not need spacers, rear kit constitutes 4-piston caliper and standard discs. Front discs run Performance Friction 01 pads.
  
  
• March 2012: Replace clutch assembly and flywheel for SMG, replace xenon headlamp ignitor and bulb, replace alternator under warranty.
  
  
• May 2012: Replacement rear brake pads from AP Racing supplied items to uprated DS 3000 competition pads as rears were overheating.
  
  
• July 2012: Top end engine rebuild, including replacement VANOS unit, replacement oil cooler, valves. Bore shells checked and confirmed undamaged. Issue caused by oil starvation, a common fault. Work completed under warranty. Also had service, replacement oil filter and air filter, replacement drive belt tensioner, replacement trailing arm bushes and mounts, wheel alignment, new ignition coils.
  
  
• October 2012: Full subframe and floor replacement under warranty (letter from BMW included).
  
  
• February 2013: MOT undertaken by Elms, all wheels fully refurbished and metalmate protected, minor repairs, full set of new Michelin Pilot Sport Cups fitted.
  
  
• August 2013: Service and warranty repairs undertaken by Elms. Still awaiting full breakdown of work undertaken, but includes a brand new gearbox. The original gearbox had an intermittent graunching and inability to select between 3rd and 4th. A common fault. Bottom end rebuild also completed. This is also a common fault, I believe.

Warranty:Car is currently under a BMW named component warranty, which I understand can be continued by the new owner.

Condition: Car is standard save for the brakes and the hifi system. In my view, both of those things drastically needed improving. I have taken the car to the Ring 3 times, Spa once and a couple of UK track days. I try and be mechanically sympathetic and not do too many consecutive laps, and always warm the car up and down.

What needs doing: With a new gearbox and all the engine rebuild work, the core mechanical condition is good. There are some niggly things that could still be done to improve the car:

• The windscreen needs replacing at some point as it has a couple of chips.
  
  
• The rear centre console is cracked and scuffed. This could either be repaired or replaced. BMW want £400 plus VAT for a new one.

• Although not as bad as several I have seen, the door kickplates are a little milky and would benefit from replacing at some point.

Price: £29,000

Car is currently at Elms for the next week or so as I have been working abroad, so I guess you could see it there if you are interested. This is the only car I've ever really gotten properly attached to and I would much prefer to see it go to an enthusiast who will take care of it. I've not put it up on Pistonheads or Auto Trader. If you're interested, PM me and I will send more photos.

Thanks for looking. Gregor