1973 BMW 3.0 CSL

BMW 3,0 CSL for sale
The BMW 3.0 CSL, introduced in May 1972, was a special lightweight version of the E9 coupe, designed to meet homologation requirements for racing in the European Touring Car Championship. Only 1,265 units were built, with the "L" in its name standing for leicht (lightweight). To achieve this, BMW used thinner steel, aluminum doors, hood, and trunk and minimal soundproofing. While most CSLs were stripped down for performance, the 500 units exported to the UK retained some comfort features like soundproofing and electric windows. Initially equipped with a 3.0-liter engine, the displacement was later increased to 3.2 liters, and in 1973, an aerodynamic package featuring a large rear wing earned it the nickname "Batmobile." The 3.0 CSL saw significant success on the track, dominating the European Touring Car Championship throughout the 1970s.

Exterior: This BMW E9 3.0 CSL is painted in the iconic and highly desirable Golf Yellow, a color that really makes the car stand out and provides great contrast to the CSL striping. In my opinion, while you can have a CSI in more subtle and elegant colors, a CSL should wear a bold color like this almost neon green. This particular CSL is in exceptional condition, having undergone a proper restoration that was completed in 2022. What makes the CSL different from a typical BMW E9 is hinted at in the name—L stands for lightweight. The car was factory-equipped with a thinner body and aluminum trunk, hood, roof, and doors. It also had fender flares, and the European models featured plastic bumpers or no bumpers at all, as opposed to the 500 UK cars, which came with standard chrome bumpers. The hood latch was also ditched and replaced with hood cotters. The body of this example is in excellent condition, with good panel gaps and, of course, no corrosion. All exterior chrome trim, windows, and lights are in excellent condition. The car sits on original Alpina 14-inch wheels with new Michelin XWX tires.

Interior: The interior of this BMW 3.0 CSL features black vinyl and cloth. Up front, there are a pair of comfortable bucket seats paired with four-point seatbelts. The seats provide great support and place you in the perfect position for driving. Paired with the gorgeous Petri steering wheel, you really get the right feel when driving this car. The black headliner is also in great condition. As a CSL, the car features manual wind-up windows and no sunroof. The few remaining features, such as the heating system, gauge cluster, and lights, all work as they should. The wood trim in the interior is in excellent condition, as are all the small chrome pieces. The car has rear seats in good condition, but access to them is somewhat restricted due to the bucket seats.

Engine and Mechanics: This is where this BMW E9 3.0 CSL differs slightly from the original. The original 3.0-liter engine has been swapped for a 3.5-liter, which has been further tuned with a different crankshaft to increase displacement to 3.8 liters. The engine is fitted with headers, triple Weber carburetors, open air filters, and a custom exhaust, resulting in an output of 345 hp. In addition to the power, the car delivers an incredible exhaust and induction noise from the open air filters. The engine is paired with a five-speed gearbox and short shifter, making for very tight and precise shifts. The fifth gear allows for comfortable cruising at highway speeds with moderate RPM. The engine was fully rebuilt in 2012 and has not been driven extensively since. Alongside the engine rebuild, the car was dynoed to provide exact power figures. All bushings have been replaced and upgraded, resulting in handling that feels as good as new.

History: This BMW E9 3.0 CSL was imported from Germany to Sweden by its current owner in 2005 and was first registered in 2009. Around this time, the owner began an engine restoration, which was completed in 2012. The car then underwent a full restoration, which was completed in 2022