They have made a new 3.0CSL

[teahead]

They really improved the front end as opposed to the regular M4. Still huge, but at least not buck tooth beaver look anymore.

But ya, 750k Euros...for that kind of coin, I'd get a real Batwing CSL plus a 2005/2006 Ford GT.

 

[Cornishman]

A spare €750k to buy a car is a “high class” problem
For today I’m going to stick with my “working class” problems
However, I must concede, it is nice to dream

 

[Markos]

Special just like all the special Lamborghinis:

 

[CSteve]

Debating whether to buy or not is certainly a First World problem.

 

[x_atlas0]

So many of these newer 'refreshes' or 'reimaginings' of classic cars are missing a major piece of what makes the old ones great: actually winning at racing.

At least to me, the 3.0CSL is special because it is a winning homologation car, like the Delta Integrale, the Evo, the STI, the Escort Cossie, the AAR 'Cuda, the E30 M3, etc. These cars are special because they (or their nominally-similar brethren) went out and won races. That successful competition made the cars even more special at the time, and that hasn't diminished. Even when compared to other homologation vehicles that didn't win, the winning cars command a premium, since at least some buyers considered it when purchasing, and car nuts like the winning cars.

If BMW wanted to actually make a worthy successor, they would make a winning racing car in a series that required homologation. That would be something really special, instead of some carbon bits with racing stickers. That's part of why I'm interested more in the GR Corolla instead of the Civic Type R, for example, since the GR Yaris was actually supposed to rally.

That said, I get why they don't. It's much cheaper to make what they did and cash in on the past instead of actually adding to the heritage.

 

[Ohmess]

So many of these newer 'refreshes' or 'reimaginings' of classic cars are missing a major piece of what makes the old ones great: actually winning at racing.

At least to me, the 3.0CSL is special because it is a winning homologation car, like the Delta Integrale, the Evo, the STI, the Escort Cossie, the AAR 'Cuda, the E30 M3, etc. These cars are special because they (or their nominally-similar brethren) went out and won races. That successful competition made the cars even more special at the time, and that hasn't diminished. Even when compared to other homologation vehicles that didn't win, the winning cars command a premium, since at least some buyers considered it when purchasing, and car nuts like the winning cars.

If BMW wanted to actually make a worthy successor, they would make a winning racing car in a series that required homologation. That would be something really special, instead of some carbon bits with racing stickers. That's part of why I'm interested more in the GR Corolla instead of the Civic Type R, for example, since the GR Yaris was actually supposed to rally.

That said, I get why they don't. It's much cheaper to make what they did and cash in on the past instead of actually adding to the heritage.

There is another point to be made here, which goes to the reasons why many of us have strong opinions on these "refreshes." If there did not exist a large dedicated, passionate group of e9 enthusiasts, it would be far more difficult for BMW to “reimagine” our cars. Our enthusiasm for these particular cars provides BMW with a justification for undertaking this effort, and provides potential buyers of these "reimagined" cars with an affirmation that the original versions of these cars were really special.

This silly looking car was a marketing effort that likely cost BMW a lot of money. (Yes, they grossed $37,500,000 on the 50 cars, but given the costs to develop and manufacture a specialized low volume model, this amount probably didn’t cover their costs.) And the benefits from it will be short lived.

We look at this and can’t help but wonder: If BMW has marketing funds available to highlight the importance of our cars to its heritage, is there a way to do this that supports the remaining heritage cars (and their owners, who often are in this for the long haul)? The most obvious example would be to provide parts to us with a relaxed level of profitability so that our parts are maybe a little less profitable than newer model cars parts, with the difference made up in marketing funds. Another example might be to provide support (from BMW, not just BMW NA) for our events in some manner.

 

[GolfBavaria]

There is another point to be made here, which goes to the reasons why many of us have strong opinions on these "refreshes." If there did not exist a large dedicated, passionate group of e9 enthusiasts, it would be far more difficult for BMW to “reimagine” our cars. Our enthusiasm for these particular cars provides BMW with a justification for undertaking this effort, and provides potential buyers of these "reimagined" cars with an affirmation that the original versions of these cars were really special.

This silly looking car was a marketing effort that likely cost BMW a lot of money. (Yes, they grossed $37,500,000 on the 50 cars, but given the costs to develop and manufacture a specialized low volume model, this amount probably didn’t cover their costs.) And the benefits from it will be short lived.

We look at this and can’t help but wonder: If BMW has marketing funds available to highlight the importance of our cars to its heritage, is there a way to do this that supports the remaining heritage cars (and their owners, who often are in this for the long haul)? The most obvious example would be to provide parts to us with a relaxed level of profitability so that our parts are maybe a little less profitable than newer model cars parts, with the difference made up in marketing funds. Another example might be to provide support (from BMW, not just BMW NA) for our events in some manner.

GREAT POINT(S)! This ^^^^^^^^^^^^. Way better money spent IMHO. I mean how many parts are still listed as NLA? They are relying on privateers to 3D print this stuff or custom make parts but if the factory did this, with proper stamping, it would definitely keep these old birds on the roads longer and make more valuable with genuine BMW parts.

I also just don't get why it is so hard for these designers to REALLY follow the original design queues of these cars they want to emulate; but not over do it to the point of loosing all the heritage (yes, include a racing series in the mix if trying to capture the same car). Come up with a new racing series with limited editions...wouldn't cost much more and give them way more recognition and importance to the "newer" model they are trying to replicate. The free marketing in that would pay for the R&D (or at least cover more of the costs than doing something like this).

I mean aren't these the best and brightest in the business, aesthetically and mechanically? So far, to me, the only decent looking modern BMW to capture original enthusiasts was the BMW 1-series M (and the 135i) to emulate the original 2002's. That is about it. As they say, "back to the drawing board boys and girls!" Hopefully one of the BMW marketing executives follows this site.