Whats your story?

[select]

I recently talked with tom how we both ended up with the CSL and i thought this would make for an interesting topic.

So how did you guys end up with an CSL or what made you buy one?

Mine was basically that i was looking for roughly a year for an normal E46 M3 without sunroof but those are very rare as it turns out. In germany at least.

So i saw this ad of a reasonably priced CSL.. and i thought i could just take a look at it. Not necessarily planned to buy it. Because I had planned to look at a few other cars too..to see what i like best.
But as soon as the previous owner took me for a ride and eventually let me drive it too, all those thoughts went out the window and i bought it the same day.

Turns out he was an amateur racing driver and his driving together with the induction noise which i only knew from youtube videos before just blew me away.

[shimmy]

I was in 2006 and had been on a trackday in my E39M5 and decided i needed a replacement car that was a buit more compliant for the next trackday (the E39M5 was also kicking out loads of limp modes and codes).

Not sure how i heard about the CSL but had decided one Friday to look for one just curious, drive to St.albans to a private seller on the Saturday, loved it but it was black and RIng Tool so decided then and there to drive to one in Stratford, saw better grey one, bought it.

[Trawler]

I was invited by a car magazine to bring my car along for an article they were writing.
They said as part of the deal I would get to drive the csl. As it was only just launched it was too good an offer to turn down.
The rest as they say is history.
I only waited for just over two years to buy as I was advised the price would keep dropping. Luckily, price wise I made the right decision & have enjoyed every mile in the old girl.

[monkeycsl]

Top gear sealed the deal for me.
Bought one 3 years later and another one a week ago.

[ZKMI]

Watching the M3 CSL in the 5th gear episode with Tiff Needell stayed in my brain for many years..Top gear version with JC was even better.

[Yanto]

Originally Posted by ZKMI

Watching the M3 CSL in the 5th gear episode with Tiff Needell stayed in my brain for many years..Top gear version with JC was even better.

And then once taken out in one by a highly skilled driver, that just sealed it ?

[Chad]

2004 Christmas period, wife food shopping for turkey in marks n sparks, don’t do shopping, so called a bmw wilmslow, had r32 at the time, spotted csl , thought fookin having that for Christmas. Month later they got us the other one for the lad. Was quizzed by bmw finance asking why I had signed for another,... we all know the answer to that

[ChagaC]

I was lucky enough to have a windfall earlier this year so with a pocket full of notes (ok a plastic card!) I went to buy a 997 GTS, but lurking in the shadows at the back of the garage, right next to a Ferrari Enzo, looking all mean and aggressive was a SG CSL. Needless to say I didn’t even bother driving the Porker jumped straight into the Beemer and it was love at first engine rev!

Got to admit I didn’t even notice the Enzo parked next to it at first! I’ve always been a total BMW nut, and the CSL has been a dream car since being a teenager, so this summer I’ve had some epic fun! Think the car has done more miles in the last six months than it has in the last six years. Ooops!

[DazBlackCSL]

2007 for me, was in a semi standard E46 M3, and that went to be my donor car for the CSL Cup race car so needed a replacement and loved my M3 so thought Id try the CSL. Actually had a grey one booked in for test drive at Barons hindehead, which a mate actually ended up buying

So started looking again and found a black one that was on 32k at the time, loved every minute and track day, euro trip in her. SOLD her in 2011. Fond memories

Wouldn't of met you mental lot if I hadn't jumped into a CSL, some great people on this forum, still the most friendly and helpful and normal(ish) bunch of leg ends anywhere !

[Mark CSL]

My fist look at a CSL was in BMW in Glasgow
I thought if I had that I would paint the roof the same as the car
6 Months later the lad that owned Crail Raceway had 1 and offered to take me a blast in it Hell yea

That was it i wanted a CSL but they were 60K and out my budget


When they were 2 years old one was on eBay when it ended i sent the lad an email and we agreed on 32k for the car it was SG and 21,000 miles 1 owner
flew to Gatwick seen the car and bought it the drive home was fantastic.
Then the next morning off to Florida for 4 weeks i was thinking CSL all that holiday.


I sold it thinking I wanted a change drove a few cars but nothing was a CSL so the hunt for no 2 was on.
I found another CSL 2 years old up for £28,000 so booked flights to Gatwick again.

This car when i got there had had some work on the rear quarter panel I said to the wife I cant pay 28k for this it had a quarter replaced
Pulled up the carpet and the boot was full of water ( run a mile ) not me I offered him 21k for it

A short time later i was driving it home it was the P1 club car that was owned by Damon hill
It had an off and the quarter was replaced but they had not sealed the wheel arch wheel.

Drove hone and would you believe it off to Florida for 4 weeks the next day
So off to my m8s body shop and the next day all sorted.

2 years later I sold it thinking its a lot off cash for a E46 M3 when they were 11k at the time
I sold it for 28k to a friend who wanted it to do the ring and SPA with it he used it for many track days then traded it in for a GT3 he got 28k trade in LOL

I bought a 1 owner M3 E46 buy was i wrong nothing like the CSL sold it for a small profit in 5 days.

The CSL hunt was on again. I posted a wanted add for a CSL and I was contacted by a lad from Lincoln who had a SB csl from new and was thinking about selling
We did the deal and I drove down and bought it,

Had it for 2 years and need the funds so I sold it to my m8 he had it 2 years and did 1,000 miles in it.
I told him if he was ever selling it give me a shout so he did and i bought it back.

I had it another 2 years and prices were on the UP so I thought its time to move on and I sold it.

The I replaced it with the 1M coupe.

Hope i did not bore you too much