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BMW 3.0 cs

Discussion in 'Other German' started by riverflyer, Oct 29, 2005.

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  1. riverflyer

    riverflyer F1 Rookie

    Nov 26, 2003
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    John
    #1 riverflyer, Oct 29, 2005
    Anybody into these cars? I have always loved the styling of this car, as well as a nice driving postion, lots of glass for great cruising and a nicely balanced car. I have always kept me eye on the market and have found a really nice, pristine in fact, original car. Would love to hear from any present or former owners, or just thoughts in general.
     
  2. sjmst

    sjmst F1 Veteran
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    Jul 31, 2003
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    #2 sjmst, Oct 29, 2005
    Same here, would like to hear about these cars.
     
  3. boffin218

    boffin218 Formula Junior

    Oct 8, 2005
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    #3 boffin218, Oct 29, 2005
    I'll second that. Tell us about her. Pictures, perhaps?
     
  4. riverflyer

    riverflyer F1 Rookie

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    #4 riverflyer, Oct 29, 2005
    I will have some pics tommorrow and will post them then.
     
  5. Tyler

    Tyler F1 Rookie

    Dec 19, 2001
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    #5 Tyler, Oct 29, 2005

    Lucky SOB! :)

    I LOVE those cars. I have not owned one, but if a good example would ever present itself in my area I would snap it up. Truly one of the most beautiful BMWs. Congrats on a finding a good one, it's pretty difficult.
     
  6. asianbond

    asianbond Formula 3

    Nov 8, 2003
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    Chris
    #6 asianbond, Oct 29, 2005
    Now we're talking. I'm a huge BMW fan.

    I own a 73 3.0 CSL rhd, it was in storage for past ten years, car needs total restoration from ground up. Haven't started yet but looking forward to it, so can't really tell you how they drive yet.

    Values are creeping slightly but nowhere as precious as the same year 73 Carrera RS.

    I think most need something of restoration if haven't done so already. Parts are available since BMW made a ton of the 3.0 Cs. Basic 3.5 liter BMW straight six which they been using forever. Nothing that exotic about the car mechanically, very straight forward BMW stuff.

    If you want one, spend extra and buy a good one, buying a cheapone can easily cost over 20k to make into show condition.
     
  7. UroTrash

    UroTrash Four Time F1 World Champ
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    Jan 20, 2004
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    Clifford Gunboat
    #7 UroTrash, Oct 29, 2005
  8. Sfumato

    Sfumato F1 World Champ

    Nov 1, 2003
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    #8 Sfumato, Oct 29, 2005
    Never saw that thread. Had a red/black 72 5spd, webers. Great car, pretty. Tin-weevil loves them though. CSL's always make me twitch.
    Nice hit, John, can't wait to see it.
     
  9. riverflyer

    riverflyer F1 Rookie

    Nov 26, 2003
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    #9 riverflyer, Oct 29, 2005
    thanks Lee, get to drive two REALLY nice ones tommorrow. Pics to follow, John
     
  10. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
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    Jul 20, 2003
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    #10 wax, Oct 29, 2005
    Automotive Perfection. Go for what you know, and watch out for Sfumato's tin weevils.
     
  11. bmwracer

    bmwracer Formula Junior

    Mar 2, 2004
    645
    Toronto
    #11 bmwracer, Oct 30, 2005
    They are lovely cars but trim parts are getting extremely difficult to find.I own 3 CSLs and have done a ground up restoration on 2 of them.It cost an absolute fortune.In the case of a cs,the restoration will cost more than the cars value.
    Try and find the best car you can and pay a premium if you have too.I will save you a lot of aggravation in the long run.
    Also,they are very prone to rust.Look at the shock towers in the trunk and make sure there is no rust there.Also,inside the engine compartment,the shock towers should be solid and hopefully no sign of rust anywhere else.The other area where the car rusts is where the fender meets the body right before the doors.The rust is usually from the inside and very hard to pinpoint.
    Another crucial are is underneath the gas tank.I know it is difficult to remove the tank to look underneath but i have not come across a cs or csl that didn't have rust in that area
    I hope this is of some help
     
  12. riverflyer

    riverflyer F1 Rookie

    Nov 26, 2003
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    #12 riverflyer, Oct 30, 2005
    BMW racer, very helpful info. I am going to have the car inspected and will make sure they really check these areas.
    When you say trim parts, does that include weatherstripping? or do you mean brightwork?
     
  13. riverflyer

    riverflyer F1 Rookie

    Nov 26, 2003
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    #13 riverflyer, Oct 30, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Well, got two nice long test drives in, both twisties and highway. The unfortunate thing was the throttle linkage broke on the way up to meet me for the test drive. The owner cobbled a fix but it left the car running out of synch at lower rpms. After 3k it ran like a top though. Great through the corners and excellent brakes, cornering etc. On the highway it felt like a magic carpet compared to the low profile ride of the 360 and pcar. 75 came quickly and with very little effort. Tracked straight, no squeaks or rattles, very nice road feel and super feedback. Very straightforward car with nice communication and excellent visibility. In fact the amount of glass is one of the coolest things about these cars.
    Its like driving a skylight!
    With the sunroof wide open, all the windows down and with no window pillars, it is almost the same feel as a convertible.
    Great headroom(always an issue for us tall guys), nice very smooth tranny, plenty of top end even though only a 4 speed.
    Paint is excellent, interior good, though original (pigskin).
    Very original car so a number of little things that you might not get on a restored car, but the upside is you get to see the cars character and backbone, so to speak, rather than the airbrushed version if you know what i mean.
    I guess an inspection is next, so I'll see what that turns up before getting any farther into it.
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  14. Sfumato

    Sfumato F1 World Champ

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    #14 Sfumato, Oct 30, 2005
    Nice, John. Racer is correct about the areas for tin-weevils. Since original, should be easy to spot.
    Swapping gearbox and other goodies shouldn't be big deal if PPI is OK.
    Seals, interior stuff, trim all getting hard to come by.
     
  15. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

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    #15 judge4re, Oct 31, 2005
    Nice ride, but it makes the 360 look huge!
     
  16. bmwracer

    bmwracer Formula Junior

    Mar 2, 2004
    645
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    #16 bmwracer, Oct 31, 2005
    The car looks very nice from the pics.I forgot about the sunroof.CSLs don't have sunroofs.In case of the cs,that is another area where rust usualy hides.
    Also,check in the wheel wells,see if you can remove the rocker panels to look underneath.Another major rust spot.New rocker panels are a fortune.
    The water drainage is a short little pipe that runs between the fender and the body where the door and front fender meet.That is why that area rusts very easily and the E9 body from Karman is notwell treated for rust protection.I know i am repeating myself,but if the fenders are rotten,they cost about $1500CDN EACH TO REPLACE.
    The trim pieces i am refering to are pretty much everything.There is a chrome piece that covers the carpet at the door sill.It is a very thin piece of metal and quite long.$1000CDN per side if you can get it new.All the chrome parts of the car are very expensive if available.I know,i replaced them all as they were bubbling.
    In case of the 4 speed,a good mod would be to replace it with a close ratio 5 speed dog leg.I have a few available and they are not prohibitive.The 5 speed makes the car that much nicer to drive.
    If you want more info,PM ME.
    You can also reach me through www.bmwm1.com.That is my site as i collect BMWs
    Cheers
    Aram
     
  17. bmwracer

    bmwracer Formula Junior

    Mar 2, 2004
    645
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    #17 bmwracer, Oct 31, 2005
    And just in case you want to splurge,i do have a mint 30CSL that is have been contemplating selling.It is white whith all the batmobile spoilers and wings but not an original bat.Completely restored with a 5 speed gertrag close ratio.16in bbs wheels polished and needs nothin.I mean nothing.You get in an drive.
    I will not mention price at it will not be cheap and it is subsantially more money than the cs.However,they are appreciating nicely and i can see them surpassing the 100k mark in 5 years.
    Best
    Aram
     
  18. riverflyer

    riverflyer F1 Rookie

    Nov 26, 2003
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    #18 riverflyer, Oct 31, 2005
    LOL, Fcar is a bit wider, eh? 3.0 is actually a little longer, which suprised me, as I always think of them as really little cars.

    Aram, thanks for the continuing advice. Appreciated. If I go through with this I may very well take you up on the tranny. The current owner told me he was going to do the same thing. He has a good parts car that he will throw into the deal. It has a good interior, all the glass and lots of trim in varying degrees of condition. I have always avoided junk cars though and would need to find storage somewhere inland, as it is too humid here on the coast. Would it be worth the hassle in your opinion to take him up on it?
     
  19. riverflyer

    riverflyer F1 Rookie

    Nov 26, 2003
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    #19 riverflyer, Oct 31, 2005
    Heres a question I have been kicking around in my head since seeing the car. The pics originally sent to me, showed the car as much more silver than blue. In person, you can see the silver but the car is more blue than silver.
    The color is nice but does not quite "grab" me. Being that the body is in excellent condition, a respray would seem like it could be done fairly reasonably. Would changing the original color be a bad idea, or does it, if well done, not really matter?
     
  20. UroTrash

    UroTrash Four Time F1 World Champ
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    Jan 20, 2004
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    #20 UroTrash, Oct 31, 2005
    That car is a TOTAL KNOCK-OUT!

    Absolutely a beauty, and I like the blue-silver.

    Congrats.
     
  21. bmwracer

    bmwracer Formula Junior

    Mar 2, 2004
    645
    Toronto
    #21 bmwracer, Oct 31, 2005
    It will not matter much if you change the colour of the car as long as it is done right.The problem is that a good paintjob is quite a bit of money and unless you plan on keeping the car for quite a while,you will not recoup your investment.Again,your coin,your call
    Best
     
  22. bmwracer

    bmwracer Formula Junior

    Mar 2, 2004
    645
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    #22 bmwracer, Oct 31, 2005

    I deleted your e-mail address by mistake.Could you pm me again please
    Thanks
    Aram
     
  23. Maseroche

    Maseroche Karting

    Aug 10, 2004
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    #23 Maseroche, Nov 2, 2005
    Had a '75 3.0 CSL, white with the black stripe and the full batmobile package. Sold it in 1982 for measly sum of money. Regreted it ever since. It had alot of options, being one of the last in line, like the 3.2 engine, aircon, am/fm radio with that wood covered center dash location, the optional rear chrome bumper and the rear wing, was a three poster instead of the two. An English guy baught it, and another silver one that had power steering as well and shipped them to the UK. One of the best looking cars ever.
     
  24. bmwracer

    bmwracer Formula Junior

    Mar 2, 2004
    645
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    #24 bmwracer, Nov 6, 2005
    Sounds like you had one of the 4355 serial number cars.You'll be sick to find out what they are worth now
     
  25. tbakowsky

    tbakowsky F1 World Champ
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    Sep 18, 2002
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    #25 tbakowsky, Nov 6, 2005
    I've been poking around the idea of buying and older BMW or Benz. I have been looking on ebay and have come across quite a few interesting cars, but I'm not sure what to buy. I found this one this morning, what do you guys thinks of these BMW's? They seem to be getting a bit popular to own up here in Canada
    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1981-BMW-635CSi-EUROPEAN-MODEL-WITH-TURBO-CONVERSION_W0QQitemZ4586992013QQcategoryZ6129QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

    Sorry..your gonna have to copy and paste the link to your browser.
     
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