BMW proudly delivered the first complete car from their Classic Center Customer Workshop earlier this month. The car, a 1972 BMW 3.0 CSi was "an authentic conversion" as the owner wanted his car simply to be a new 1972 model, only in 2010-- and with an automatic transmission-- from a 2.8 CS-- instead of the car's stock four-speed manual. The BMW Group Archive and the center spent months researching and completing the restoration.
"The successful restoration of the BMW 3.0 CSi shows that we are on the right track and that, together with our partners within the BMW Group network of facilities, we are capable of restoring vehicles to the highest quality standards and to individual customer specifications." -- Ralf Vierlein, Head of Sales at BMW Group Classic.
With BMW-spec re-manufactured parts to worldwide and pickup at BMW World (BMW Welt in that language), this surely will not be the last as-new classic coming out of the BMW Workshop.
More photos after the jump.
agnh says:
04:36 PM, 07/22/10
Absolutely stunning. I can't even guess what it must have cost this lucky man. Please make mine a red 4spd.
alman08 says:
04:41 PM, 07/22/10
this is awesome. Will we see a M1 and a 2002tii?
felonious says:
04:53 PM, 07/22/10
Great car, BUT... automatic??
slickersdrip says:
05:02 PM, 07/22/10
What felonious said.
roadburner says:
05:21 PM, 07/22/10
My wife drove a friend's 1974 3.0 CS to Columbus for Oktoberfest 1990. We drove it around all week. All the other CS owners kept their cars under cover; meanwhile, we were having a ball...
"Will we see a M1 and a 2002tii?"
BMW Classic built a tii from the ground up inside a workshop in the BMW Museum, which allowed visitors to follow the process.
throwback says:
05:39 PM, 07/22/10
I would take this car (even with an automatic) over any current BMW.
sharpend says:
06:40 PM, 07/22/10
Actually, back in the day it was called a 2800 CS, not 2.8 CS.
Conversion to automatic? wtf. That 4-speed manual was sweet.
majin_ssj_eric says:
07:32 PM, 07/22/10
If anybody ought to be able to restore an old BMW it should be BMW...
roadburner says:
07:38 PM, 07/22/10
A guy in CA has a 3.0 CS fitted with an E24 M6 engine and transmission. He even retrofitted Bosch ABS. It looks almost dead stock; the only tip-off is the 16X8 wheels.
bimmerjay says:
08:25 PM, 07/22/10
Pretty awesome, except for the automatic part. I'll just assume that the owner has some debilitating injury to his left leg/knee....
Pretty cool too that he took delivery at the Welt - U.S. European Delivery customers pick up their cars from that very spot in the photos. I've done it twice from the Welt now, it's a blast!!
Anyone on here do ED from Freeman before the Welt opened in 2007?
blueguydotcom says:
09:26 PM, 07/22/10
Oh, wonder if they could do up an e46 sedan but to e46 M3 specs? Still mad they never made that car...
pradden says:
05:04 AM, 07/23/10
This concept of restoring/selling older cars is a really good idea. For years I have wished Honda would restore/sell original CRXs, 2nd gen (90-93) Integra GS-R as well as Preludes, just with 6-speed manuals.
zoomzoomn says:
05:04 AM, 07/23/10
Can you imagine the price tag on this?
rsholland says:
05:47 AM, 07/23/10
For those with deep pockets only. The rest need not apply.
ed124c says:
06:52 AM, 07/23/10
@pradden: My brother has a mint '85 CRX, manual, air, etc.-- but it's not for sale. Although, if you offered him an amount equal to what the man above paid, he might be interested.
The CRX is certainly a cute little thing, but would you really want a car with 75 hp?
The CRX basically hasn't been driven since '89, but he takes care of it. The car he drives is a 90s Miata (in addition to his new Outback).
He has certainly had offers over the years, but he still has it (garaged, of course) and why he keeps it without actually USING it I'll never know.
It isn't an SI-- just a base model. (Did Honda make an SI in 1985?
roadburner says:
07:20 AM, 07/23/10
"This concept of restoring/selling older cars is a really good idea. For years I have wished Honda would restore/sell original CRXs, 2nd gen (90-93) Integra GS-R as well as Preludes, just with 6-speed manuals. "
Nissan rebuilt a few 240 Zs several years ago. Ford has an outstanding licensed restoration parts program; Ford notes that the program is so extensive that you can build a 1967 Mustang from reproduction parts- 98% of the parts are currently available.
ptcdawg says:
07:26 AM, 07/23/10
Blasphemy....changing out the stick.
roadburner says:
08:52 AM, 07/23/10
"Blasphemy....changing out the stick."
How times change; back in the 1980s everybody was swapping 2002, Bavaria, and 2800/3.0 slushboxes for manual trannies. It was a very simple weekend project. BTDT...
andersendl says:
09:39 AM, 07/23/10
Gorgeous car! I would've spec-ed a modern 6 speed, or even the original Getrag 4 speed, but to each his own. You pays the money, you get what you want, and it's nobody else's business to criticize your choice.
alman08 says:
10:16 AM, 07/23/10
off topic: is that a M3 or just a 3 series coupe with the plate number "ME XX2199" in one of the photos above?
bimmerjay says:
12:52 PM, 07/23/10
"off topic: is that a M3 or just a 3 series coupe with the plate number "ME XX2199" in one of the photos above?"
That's a Deep Sea Blue Metallic European-market 1-Series with the M Sport package and Munich plates.
roadburner says:
05:20 PM, 07/23/10
"That's a Deep Sea Blue Metallic European-market 1-Series with the M Sport package and Munich plates."
Showoff...
;)