WT Help Buy 3.0 CS

Ives

Ives

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Friend is looking for a completed 1972-75 3.0 CS with the following conditions and Specs:

1. Good to Very good, paint, interior and overall condition. It needs to be a Good driver with very few if any issues.

2. Upgraded engine (M30/B35 or B34 Euro) Fuel Injection, 220-250 HP at the crank.

3. 5 Speed with Overdrive and LSD rear end preferably 3.45 ratio.

4. 16" Alpina or Faupina Wheels and a solid suspension system with sway bars.

5. Upgraded Exhaust System.

6. Complete Tool Kit not a deal killer.

7. A/C a plus but not a deal killer.

He'd prefer to not go the BaT route. He has money in hand and it doesn't need to be a CA Coupe. I will help him evaluate any opportunities.
Regards, Jon
 
That is a very specific and detailed list. Might I suggest he look at HBChris’s prior Malaga coupe for sale? Price is perhaps a bit high right now at its current listing but there may be some wiggle room there and he won’t find a better specimen easily
 
e9Leveque,
I am pursuing a number of channels for him and I have known Chris for years. Thanks for pointing out his Malaga but he's more interested in a very good driver that's not $125-150K. I've upgraded 3 Coupes and the list, I think, is correct for someone that wants to have a very good driver w/o issues. I posted the request here because many prospective sellers don't want to go through the BaT experience when they realize their Coupe needs a new home.
Regards, Jon
 
Agree, it is a very appropriate list and one which I would make as well / feel as if I am trying to get my CSi to hit all of those points! I wish him and you good luck with the search. I also believe that user Patton had a coupe he was planning to sell, not sure what happened with that or if he sold it.
 
Looked him up and looks like he's triple carbs. Thanks for the suggestion but I'm steering him towards fuel injection.
Regards, Jon
 
While the list of things your friend wants is laudable, it's about a perfect no hassles driver kind of car. It does seem to me that it's more likely that you maybe will some of the things that you are looking for and would have to do some mods after it is acquired. Finding a car with all of those AND is just a driver and not costing an armload of $ is a pretty big ask... I guess if you don't ask you won't find it for sure, but the number of cars that fit that exact spec are rare as hens teeth and because of that they may go for a premium over what something in that condition would normally bring.
 
ElGreco,
We're not bottom fishing. He has the funds to buy a nice to very nice Coupe and wants what I have listed. Many of us on this Forum are in our 70s and 80s and want good owners for Coupes we care about and do not want to go the auction route. I'm a BMW owner since 1968 and Coupe owner since 2007. There may or may not be a Coupe for my friend from the Forum but I've found that being transparent, specific and straight forward is appreciated by most people and if they're in the market to sell it's a plus. This will play out and you, by posting, are helping us out--thanks.
Regards, Jon
 
ElGrecko said:
While the list of things your friend wants is laudable, it's about a perfect no hassles driver kind of car. It does seem to me that it's more likely that you maybe will some of the things that you are looking for and would have to do some mods after it is acquired. Finding a car with all of those AND is just a driver and not costing an armload of $ is a pretty big ask... I guess if you don't ask you won't find it for sure, but the number of cars that fit that exact spec are rare as hens teeth and because of that they may go for a premium over what something in that condition would normally bring.
Click to expand...

I'm kinda with @ElGreco on this. Given the list of requirements, I'm guessing you are looking at well over a $100K for all of that. Just this statement alone, 'Good, to very good paint' also implies very good body work - that alone could cost $60 to 80k.

Plus, just guessing here, most of us on the forum want our coupes to go good owners AND we would want top dollar for the car we have so much invested in.
 
my take on what Jon's friend is looking for is an older restoration / car that was tastefully modified at some point and maintained ... it might have had a more recent engine upgrade. in excellent condition, this would be a 100k to 125k (in today's market). but a car in 'good driver' quality ... this seems like it could be a 75k to 100k car.
 
I suggest that Jon's friend take a look at the recent BAT auctions as a reference point. I just did this and find that based on the buyers criteria and past selling price points that the the crew here have this just about right.
 
Why limit yourself to the later e9s when you are specifically looking for a car with an upgraded drivetrain? What's wrong with a 2800 that has had a M30b35 swap?
 
Ohmess said:
Why limit yourself to the later e9s when you are specifically looking for a car with an upgraded drivetrain? What's wrong with a 2800 that has had a M30b35 swap?
Click to expand...
I agree Chris. Find the best car that checks all the criteria boxes and don't worry about what model/year it is.
 
Gentlemen,
You know what they say about opinions. Scott, I think, points out what I'm helping to look for in a Coupe. Sure we all want top dollar but right now the market is lower than it has been and BaT can be a PITA. They are an excellent reference point but if you read all of my original post you would see that he'd prefer to not buy one on BaT. This is a numbers game in my opinion. How many Coupes are represented on our Forum? There are a considerable number of long term owners and by posting a detailed list here I'm putting it out there and anyone can respond or not. I'm also reaching out to local Coupe centric shops in NorCal and other well connected sources.
The list speaks for itself. My Sahara 3.0 CS Restomod is in that $75-100k range and has all of the features that I've enumerated but it's not for sale. The Concourse cars now are the $125-150k range and that's not what my friend wants.
Ohmess and Jimmi I don't agree with you as I'm partial to 1972-75 Coupes because I have experience, first hand, 3 of those. Most people like to experience a known in repetition.
Once again thanks for responding and moving me to the head of the que.
Regards, Jon
 
Ives said:
Ohmess and Jimmi I don't agree with you as I'm partial to 1972-75 Coupes because I have experience, first hand, 3 of those. Most people like to experience a known in repetition.
Click to expand...

Well this is a discussion forum….

In all fairness the 2800CS is 99% identical to a 3.0CS after a driveline swap. I don’t think your experience would differ, and I don’t think it’s best to rule out opportunities on that bias alone especially if the car isn’t for you. You are doing a friend a favor though, and that’s great. Stick with what you know and love.

The far more salient point is that an $85K 3.0CS is a better investment than an equally priced/spec’d 2800CS. I actually prefer the 2800CS to the 3.0CS but the 3.0 is the bigger brother with a wider audience and a more consistent value. There will always be some guy claiming that the 2800CS is lesser than, which will always affect value. Just look at the 911 Targa (oh wait….).

Since you nobody asked… I like the 2800CS better because it has a better motor with higher compression - netting the same HP. I like the crisp ZF transmission found in the 2800CS. If you understand how it works, the ZF has three separate completely sealed selector shafts encased in aluminum. The 2800CS also has a foundational history in motorsport. Both Alpina and Schnitzer raced the 2800CS before jumping straight to the CSL. Incidentally, these cars had five speed ZF transmissions, which used the same front and rear case as that factory 2800cs tractor transmission.
 
Hi Jon, Here is a car that I thought of that may work for your friend: https://copleymotorcars.com/showroom/1973-bmw-e9-3-0-cs-coupe/

I looked at and drove this car when I was looking for a coupe. It wasn't for me, but It is a very strong driver that checks a lot of the boxes your friend wants for $75K (it does have triple webers and sounds great). Its been for sale for a while, so I am sure the seller is negotiable. Good luck!

Jim
 
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Mark,
Many nice points. We're really not talking about the 2.8 liter engine but a typically restored Restomod Coupe with either 3.5 or 3.4 liters. My Sahara Coupe has an M30B34 Euro engine and pushes 250 HP and 300Lbs. I appreciate that the 2800 probably was a better "performing" engine but now the discussion is heading into the weeds. We all have our favorites and I'm just trying to help an enthusiast find a Coupe ride that he will enjoy, has enough power and will be dependable.
Jim,
Thanks for the referral and it does look like a nice ride for the money. MA residence concerns me a bit because of the E Coast use of salt but I did forward it to him even though it's not FI.
Regards, Jon
 
Jon,

i hear you, however, at the end of the day ... the only things different between a 2800cs and a 3.0cs is
1. the engine - if i was keeping the original engine, i would want the 2.8L - higher compression / quicker revs. but if the car has a 3.5L m90 / b34 euro / b35, this is a non-issue
2. the brakes - if the car was routinely modded, this work is already done - vented fronts + rears
3. the seatbelts - this is the only real issue for the 2800cs. it is something that i am working on to find a better solution ... rather than the spaghetti belts or just the lap belt.
4. perception that the 3.0cs is the more desirable car ... not going to argue this one even though i think its misguided if all things are equal on the car, the price of the 2800cs purchase might be lower.

i agree with you about east coast cars (north of the mason / dixon line) and the high use of road salt. the same can be true for southern cars with the high annual quantity of rain. i think the recommendation of fuel injected is a good one, especially with more modern systems - very reliable.
 
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