Roger Wray — Member, Editor, and Contributor to the BMW CS Register
Background and Role
Roger Wray joined the CS Register as a member in 1985. He is a U.S. Navy dentist who described himself as “infected with Coupitis” — a self-diagnosis shared by his friend and predecessor Charlie Richardson. In late 1993, after twelve years at the helm, Richardson handed the editorship to Wray, who had agreed to take it on when he relocated from Chicago to Virginia Beach. The handover took place on November 14–15, 1993, when Charlie and Roger transferred twenty-some boxes of correspondence and files — twelve years of alphabetically-filed member letters — to Wray’s home in Virginia Beach, VA. His spare bedroom became the new CS Register office. Richardson noted in his farewell letter that Wray had also, without mentioning it himself, spent the prior year shepherding the new CS Register emblem/logo through approval by BMW Clubs Europa and BMW NA, and then through production. Wray served as Editor from late 1993 through 1995, identified in later issues as “BMW CS Register Editor, 1992–1995.” After passing the editorship to the next team, he remained an active and respected contributor, referred to in a later issue as the “Revered former CS Register Guru.”
His Car
Roger Wray owned at least two E9 coupes documented in the Register, both registered to him and his wife Marcia at (redacted by @Markos), Virginia Beach, VA 23454.
His primary car: 1973 3.0 CS, VIN 2240726. Polaris silver with blue interior, power windows, sunroof, A/C. As of his introduction letter in late 1993 it had 25,800 actual miles and was described as “about as original as a CS can be — complete with the original tires and all emissions equipment.” By Vol. XIV No. 2 (a later issue) the odometer read 27,070 miles, indicating very low use over several years. He later changed the grille from the correct chrome/chrome to a chrome/black-slat unit, acknowledging it was not original but that it simply “looks better.”
His second car: 1973 3.0 CS, VIN 2240397, also listed at the Virginia Beach address in the membership roster. He described this car as a white 1973 model, 28,000 original miles, build number approximately 400 apart from the Polaris car. He restored this car himself at some earlier point.
Prior to these two cars, Wray restored a European-specification CS coupe while stationed in Italy with the Navy. Before importing it he visited the BMW factory in Munich, where the President of BMW Parts personally walked him through the differences between US and Euro-spec cars and gave him a tour of the factory basement — where BMW kept its test cars and one-off prototypes. He described this as “another story” he hoped to tell in a future issue.
Articles and Technical Contributions
From the master article index (Vol. 9 No. 2 and cross-referenced in later index pages) and individual issues:
Storage Tips for Winterizing Coupes
Vol. 9, No. 2, Page 5 — 1.5-page article covering proper winter storage procedures for the E9.
Concours Preparation
Vol. 9, No. 2, Page 7 — 3.5-page article on cleaning and prepping a coupe for judging events. Covers paint, upholstery, and engine preparation in detail.
Waxing and General Care
Vol. 3, No. 8, Page 6 — Tip recommending SMOOTHIE on hoses and rubber, described as superior to Armor-All. Manufactured by Marson, Chelsea MA.
Rust — Rocker Panel Treatment
Vol. 4, No. 2, Page 31 — Comprehensive article on foam treatment for rocker panels (the master index notes this article should be read alongside Vol. 4 No. 1 Page 10, which raised some controversy about foaming-type treatments).
Rust — Volvo Fender Liner Source
Vol. 9, No. 2, Page 32 — Short note on sourcing Volvo plastic fender liner replacements for the E9.
Rust Proofing
Vol. 9, No. 2, Page 33 — Note on rust proofing kit and Waxoyl application.
Power Steering Fluid Filter Tech Tip
Published as a standalone article, later reprinted in Vol. XIV issues, Page 12. Wray discovered the existence of a little-known power steering fluid reservoir filter (BMW part number 32-41-1-104-357, listed in shop manual section 32-41-27:1) after tracking down a groaning noise on his CS. He also found the low-pressure hose had swollen with age. The editors noted in a 1997 reprint that the filter cost about $11 and remained available through BMW Mobile Tradition as “oil filter.”
CS and CSi Roof Discussion — “The Roofs Are the Same”
Page 7 of a later issue (Jacksonville, FL byline, Vol. XIV era). Drawing on his experience importing two Euro coupes and his factory visit in Munich, Wray authoritatively settled a recurring debate: all US and Euro CS and CSi roofs are identical in strength and cross-section. Only the CSL roof uses thinner sheet metal. The difference in windshield gaskets is due to the windshield glass itself — US-spec windshields carry the “AS-1” mark and are thicker than Euro glass, requiring a different gasket. He noted this distinction is often missed on imported cars that were not properly converted at the time of importation.
Zenith Carburetor Tip
Same issue as the roof article, Page 7 (Jacksonville, FL byline). Wray identified a common stumbling and rough-idle problem on Zenith-carbed cars as caused by leaking insulator plates beneath the carbs — a leak undetectable by normal means. Replacing the insulators (which now use O-rings instead of gaskets) cured the problem on his car.
Grill Colors and Originality
Vol. XIV, No. 2, Page 11. Using his access to the orange and large blue factory parts books, Wray definitively answered a longstanding debate: the correct original grill for CS and CSi is chrome with chrome slats. Chrome with black slats is correct for the CSL only. He also noted the inconsistency between his two 1973 cars — the earlier one had chrome hood and fender grills, the April 1973 build car had chrome side grills and black hood grills — illustrating that small details varied even within the same model year.
New BMW CD-ROM Notice
Vol. XI era issue, Page noted as “New BMW CD ROM — Roger Wray, CS Register Editor 1992–1995.” A brief item alerting members to a BMW AG CD-ROM of the BMW Museum virtual tour, available from Penta Print in Munich for DM 19.80.
Summary
Roger Wray was one of the most substantive contributors to the CS Register across its run. As a member from 1985, editor from late 1993 through 1995, and continuing contributor afterward, he brought a combination of practical mechanical knowledge, factory-level research, and Naval officer precision to the newsletter. His factory visit in Munich gave him firsthand information few owners possessed. His tech tips — on the power steering filter, rocker panel treatment, Zenith insulators, roof specifications, and grill originality — are cited repeatedly in the master index as reliable reference material. His two ultra-low-mileage 1973 coupes, both documented in the registry, represent exactly the kind of original-condition cars the Register was founded to preserve.
