Note of 2009:

 Acquired in June 1978 as a "swap" and initially used regularly and kept beyond 2009. It had not been treated well in its early life by one or more of the three previous owners so it wasn't long before it required significant investment to restore it to and maintain it in a reasonable condition. Some hard driving and the UK roads had taken their toll and to add to that it became my wife’s car for a year or so, used by her to support her job as a health visitor in the South Wales valleys – not a car friendly environment!

Restored mid nineteen eighties and color changed from original Taiga Green to black; mechanical components cleaned but not upgraded. Unused/stored during nineties, following initiation of modifications and upgrades, until 2008 when refurbishment and modification continued. Paintwork and woodwork completed and now nearing completion of mechanical work. But, some internal trim missing ("lost" during storage) and replacements still to be sourced before the car returned to the road. Has been used for a few sprints, intention is to use it for more sprints and hill climb events - for fun, not winning! More detail to be added plus a few pictures of the car's current progress

 

Modifications:

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In the late 1980s I decided I would start to sprint the car and began to move it away from the UK specification CSL towards the German more basic specification, I also wanted more power. Many years later and a job that had me living more out of suitcases than at home plus a seemingly 28 hours required out of 24 meant the car got put to one side (I almost lost it – another story!) and it’s now back with the previous restorer being brought back to life again after the more recent neglect.

The purists won’t like the car, or me, as I have done what many others have done and moved away from originality – visually it is a standard CSL plus the “Batmobile” wing kit per the last edition cars. Mechanically the engine is now 3.3 litres, still fuel injected but not the original, 5-speed CR gearbox, manual steering, and standard (non city-pack) springs plus dampers. Plus various other associated minor changes.
 

The box is ex 535, rebuilt with some upgraded internals.

 

I don't have the original engine, trashed by the previous owner and when I got the car I was relatively ignorant of the niceties of matching numbers (shame!) and so went with the BMW dealer's offer of an exchange engine (at a price) - represented as 3.0L but recently discovered to be running an 86mm crank so actually 3.3L; block is marked 3.0/3.3. I wish I could turn the clock back.

 

Outside color:

• Original: Taiga green (072))
• Repainted in Black

Owner:

• 1978 -> beyond 2009: TIMT (E9Forum), 30 miles west of London (UK)
• Owner #3
• Owner #2
• Owner #1
• Registered September 1973 in the UK
• Delivered:
• Built November 1972