1973 3.0 CS FS in California

VIN 2240726 - this car had a build date of 4-6-73 and lived in Chicago in 1989 - then moved to Virginia Beach, VA. didn't have any newer info since the early 90s ... so now we see it in 2026 in California.
 
With wide outer fascia vent with April build date. Both of my coupes were May with narrow vent in preparation for the 74 impact bumpers.
 
Dear all,

I’m the very happy new owner of this beauty! When I inspected the records that came with the car today, I was totally blown away by how Roger had maintained an impeccable record of the car. Thank you Roger!!

The car now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and I will do everything I can to preserve this timeless classic. In fact, if anyone has a recommendation on local mechanic or restoration specialist, please let me know.

I’m still learning but I have been following every BAT auction of E9 in the past 4 years so I’m extremely grateful to join this community.

-Ricky
 
hi all, i bought this car from a gentleman in CT in 2016. He had purchased from a collection in CA after the owner had passed. I refreshed the suspension, ordered custom Hardy and Beck wheels, refreshed engine bay and did some
minor cosmetic fixes (headline around sunroof, new foam in seat bottoms and gentle touch up of wear marks), a few minor mechanical improvements. She ran perfectly. i sold in 2020. Great to see her show up again. i’m an early 911/ R-Gruppe member and she was too perfect and original to drive the way we do.
i still have a triple weber set up and daddywad manifolds and Alpina airbox. i didn't want to destroy the originality once we were able to fix the mechanical issues.
 
Dear all,

I’m the very happy new owner of this beauty! When I inspected the records that came with the car today, I was totally blown away by how Roger had maintained an impeccable record of the car. Thank you Roger!!

The car now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and I will do everything I can to preserve this timeless classic. In fact, if anyone has a recommendation on local mechanic or restoration specialist, please let me know.

I’m still learning but I have been following every BAT auction of E9 in the past 4 years so I’m extremely grateful to join this community.

-Ricky
Congrats on your new purchase! What was the asking price?
 
Congratulations, Ricky! Welcome to the forum and to coupe ownership! Your car looks incredibly beautiful! I especially love your Hardy and Beck wheels. I just had a set made for my '73 which is just a few cars earlier than yours (VIN 2240697). What sort of restoration or mechanical work are you looking for? From the photos it is hard to see that it needs anything....

Mike
 
Dear all,

I’m the very happy new owner of this beauty! When I inspected the records that came with the car today, I was totally blown away by how Roger had maintained an impeccable record of the car. Thank you Roger!!

The car now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and I will do everything I can to preserve this timeless classic. In fact, if anyone has a recommendation on local mechanic or restoration specialist, please let me know.

I’m still learning but I have been following every BAT auction of E9 in the past 4 years so I’m extremely grateful to join this community.

-Ricky
Change your spark plug wires and your interior door handle position are 2 easy and smart things to do.

The wheels are awesome…
 
Dear all,

I’m the very happy new owner of this beauty! When I inspected the records that came with the car today, I was totally blown away by how Roger had maintained an impeccable record of the car. Thank you Roger!!

The car now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and I will do everything I can to preserve this timeless classic. In fact, if anyone has a recommendation on local mechanic or restoration specialist, please let me know.

I’m still learning but I have been following every BAT auction of E9 in the past 4 years so I’m extremely grateful to join this community.

-Ricky
Highly recommend you connect up with @sfdon for mechanical/restoration stuff.
 
not sure what has transpired in the 6 years
since i sold, but she was in perfect mechanical and physical shape when i was finished. Don helped me with a few missing things. i also sold with a perfect original face plate to change the modern for a period radio, clearly that never happened!
 
The engine bay is impressive. And the car is very nice.

Suggest you lose the smog devices- they are not needed here.
 
Change your spark plug wires and your interior door handle position are 2 easy and smart things to do.

Yes, the interior door handles should be one spline further downward. But from just those pictures, I'm not sure how you are diagnosing the spark plug wires (not that I'm disagreeing). Are you saying that it's just always a good idea to install new wires on an engine of unknown maintenance history?
 
Correct plug wires are 90* at distributor cap.

Plug wire that go straight up rub directly on the bottom of the hood and eventually ground out.
 
Correct plug wires are 90* at distributor cap. Plug wire that go straight up rub directly on the bottom of the hood and eventually ground out.
OK, that makes sense. Here's the shot of the R side of the car's engine.

1973-BMW-3.0-CS-Silver-2240726_014.jpg
 
Thank you for all the suggestions! Funny enough, the car actually won't start right now (which is quite odd, since it started well enough when the transporter picked up and dropped off the car, and we confirmed that the battery is fine). I wonder if that has anything to do with the spark plugs. In any case, things like this happen. Still looking for a SF Bay Area mechanic recommendation if there's one out there.
 
Try -

Philip in Burlingame 650 619-1644

Bill Arnold in San Rafael 415 459-2697

Jan in Walnut Creek 925 584-5737

M Service in Walnut Creek 925 357-9929

I would maybe call Bill and ask him for a referral closer to you? Stellar reputation.



Our shop is booked- sorry!
 
It’s the oldest story out there. Does your car not crank or does it not start there is a huge difference….
 
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