BMW 3.0 CSi premieres at the BMW Welt -- First restoration from BMW Classic Center

Beautiful coupe but he put in an Automatic! It does have the undercarriage cover below the engine that was discussed recently and is still available apparently for around $350.
 
I like the bit in the write-up where they say: "The refit and complete overhaul of the vehicle required months of research and countless hours of manual labour."

So, can we assume that when the owner went to pay the bill, the Classic Center said: "Oh, we didn't charge you anything for labor - we didn't bother to count the hours"? I don't think so!
 
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Perfectly restored 3.0CSi

It is a beauty!!

Some observers have made a negative comment on the A/T fitment--calling it sacrilege ("gross irreverence towards a hallowed thing") as if a 4 speed stick is a sacred object--and for the owners head to be removed or similar penalty--hhhmmmm--quick draw?

Perhaps--not sacrilege if the owner has an impaired or very limited use of left leg--this could be his reason as its obvious he is not in the condition of an Olympian--speaking as one who knows how that limited use effects ones skill at three pedal operation.

Noted two mods that did not appear as "original" and a possible third.
1) original factory radio antennas came mounted on left front fender on LHD coupes--can't speak for the RHD cars--restored location on drivers side rear fender is the "new" preferred location.
2) never saw a 1972 that came with R&L outside mirrors--rights were always a later fitment by owner for safety reasons--need help here--were the mirrors for 1972 the "flag" type or were they still trapezoid?
3) the wheels look more reflective of light than did the original finish that was used--original wheels did not have the higher reflective quality that implies use of a clear coat that appears to be the case here.

Methinks the many hours of research claimed did not entirely disclose that which was then!! The things I have mentioned are however all improvements over "original".
 
Door mirrors are correct in type and placement. I have them there too on my cars. Further back was a Max Hoffman decision, AFAIK. Requires the driver to turn his head too much.
Antenna placement was normally left front wing on German cars whereas the Italian cars had them on the rear left wing (I have several Italian cars, and they all had the antenna there. I say had, as I have filled the hole on 2 cars. A loose antenna in the trunk is good enough).
195s are not available but very very similar to what the current 205 XWX are, in terms of width and diameter. I use these, and they are very good, and look fantastic.
A shame with the clearcoat on the wheels. I doubt they had that when new. I have mine blasted and silver painted. Nothing else.
We who work on these cars will know how many hours go into such a restoration. Few others will.
Nice colour combo.
 
Murray,

I haven't seen any comments as to "sacrilege" posted yet but I will bet that the owner is impaired as suggested, in the wallet! I wonder if the stainless wiper arms and blade holders are now available. I think flag mirrors were introduced on `73 US coupes and perhaps euro coupes too, `73 2002s however kept with the trap mirror.
 
The reason all such restorations are fitted with automatic transmissions is simple.

"Our services cost an arm and a leg, therefore the owner can no longer use the clutch pedal",
said an Aftersales manager at BMW Group Classic who declined to provide his name.
 
Very nice !

BTW: This is the real one !

One of the two prototypes of the BMW 3.0 CSi Automatic with LHD !
Original colour INKA

More pictures and a video : http://s984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/GruberAndreas/BMW 30 CSiA INKA/?start=all

And the thread in our austrian forum: http://www.razyboard.com/system/mor...30-csi-automatik-hoeni-2144797-5893457-0.html

My colleague Günter, the owner, has offered the prototype to the BMW Classic Group, and he said no price!
No interest, no offer, no feedback......policy of economy ?​
 
Arde said:
The reason all such restorations are fitted with automatic transmissions is simple.

"Our services cost an arm and a leg, therefore the owner can no longer use the clutch pedal",
said an Aftersales manager at BMW Group Classic who declined to provide his name.
Click to expand...

;-)
 
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