2004 BMW M3 CSL

Built in November 2003 and first registered on the 1st of September 2004, this wonderful Silbergrau Metallic BMW M3 CSL is one of just 422 units made for the UK, as confirmed by the plaque on the console.

The recipient of a huge investment in maintenance over the years, it’s still only showing 51,323 miles on the clock - and is so good it was featured in EVO magazine.

The vendor says his six years with the car have solidified its position as “the best car I’ve ever owned”. Now reluctantly up for sale, we’d urge you to pop along to take a look at only the second BMW ever to be awarded the legendary CSL designation.

The silver coachwork looks wonderful, doesn’t it? With excellent panel alignment, consistent panel gaps and ripple-free flanks, it serves as a stunning canvas for the beautifully applied Silver Grey Metallic paint.

The carbonfibre roof looks absolutely stunning, and the front splitters and rear diffuser, which are made from the same material, are equally good.

It’s the same story with the CSL badges, lamp lenses, and window glass; someone has gone to a great deal of trouble to keep it looking like this and we applaud their diligence.

The frameless doors fit and seal well, and the alloy wheels, which have been refurbished at least twice in the car’s life, are stunning. Of course, they’re fitted with matching tyres, Michelin Pilot Super Sport in this instance. This too says only good things about the car’s curation.

Speaking of which, as you can see from the car’s history, it has had bodywork carried out over the years but there is no record of it being written off and the work was carried out by the right people and documented correctly.

Flaws? Well, there are few stonechips on the wing mirrors backs, a tiny "fisheye" imperfection below the indicator lense on the left wing, a handful of very small stonechips on the front bumper & a tiny scratch on the middle of the rear bumper (which is hardly worth a mention). We did also noteice a very small stone chip in the laquer on the carbon roof, in the middle front section of the roof just above the windscreen. A fastidious owner might like to replace some of the wheel bolts, a few of which are a little rusty, but that’s all.

Please contact us to make an appointment to see the CSL here at our HQ in Abingdon. You won’t be disappointed.

The original fibreglass racing seats are present and correct and still in great shape. Supportive and figure-hugging, they are as much a Statement of Intent as the carbonfibre centre console and matching lightweight door and side panel trims.

The suede-rimmed steering wheel is also good with only slight smoothing of the suede in high-wear areas, something that is also the case with the front seats.

The lightweight rear seats, with their wonderfully styled flat armrests, are finished in the same cloth and suede combination as those in the front. They are in an even better condition though, and still look almost new.

The headlining is excellent, as is the dashboard and the carpets.

The boot is very good too, with only some rusty fasteners (#293) spoiling its otherwise impeccable appearance.

In fact, we the only bits we can see that might need titivating are the rear of the centre console (#238), the edge of the rear seat divider (#246), and the back of the front seats (#240 and #251).

As you can see, it starts well and revs beautifully – and the noise produced from that beautiful carbon airbox is to die for, many motoring journalists ranking it amongst the very best.

The engine bay isn’t only dressed in carbonfibre, it’s also ridiculously clean, as befits a car with a service history like this one’s.

Most importantly, this CSL has had the boot floor reinforced, a common area of concern for E46's of all shapes & sizes, but this one has been attended to.

The underside also looks good with only some slight surface corrosion on brackets, suspension arms, and fasteners. Wonderfully, we can even see the legend ‘M3’ written on a wheelarch liner and bonnet struts, further reinforcing this example’s provenance.

The BMW’s history is recorded via a stamped service history book and various invoices. It can be summarised as follows:

· 26/08/2004 – PDI

· 20/09/2004 and 1,093 miles – running-in check

· 11/07/2005 and 11,304 miles – oil service by Sytner Nottingham

· 10.03.2006 and 20,681 miles – Inspection I by Rydale Sutton

· 29/05/2008 and 31,191 miles - oil service by Park Lane BMW

· 29/06/2010 and 40,751 miles – Inspection II service plus miscellaneous work including new rear brake pads by Classic Heroes

· 03/05/2012 and 46,581 miles – safety service plus bodywork as per invoice by Classic Heroes

· 02/12/2014 and 48,841 miles (sic) – oil and safety service plus a new battery, replacement airbag, and an ABS sensor by Classic Heroes at a cost of £1,358

· 22/04/2015 and 48,500 miles – Inspection II service by Classic Heroes plus to fit new rear discs and pads, remove and refit rear subframe for reinforcement work and fit new rear suspension components. The alloy wheels were refurbished too, all at a cost of over £4,000

It is MoT’d until April 2023 with no advisories, and the recent Vehicle History Check doesn’t show anything of concern.

It also comes with two sets of keys, a copy of the October 2010 EVO magazine in which it appears, the BMW book pack, and a photo album documenting some of the work that’s been carried out.

While the ‘cooking’ E46 M3 might have suffered a few years in the doldrums, the CSL’s star has never waned. Massively sought-after from day one, the 355bhp super-saloon’s rock-solid collectors’ credentials have never been in doubt; if you love M3s then you’ve almost certainly had this in your two-car collection alongside an early E30.

The E46’s neat, understated looks are aging beautifully too, maturing in a way that we in the office admire, albeit with more than a twinge of envy because while we seem to crumble further into decrepitude by the day, the M3 goes from strength to strength, getting better and better by the month…

Which makes the £75,000 to £85,000 we think this example will fetch very good value indeed. This is your opportunity to get behind the wheel of a very good E46 M3 CSL for less than you might have thought possible.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.