BMW M3 CSL Deserted for Ten Years in a London Garage Is a Mysterious Mess

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If there’s a single vehicle worth being referred to as the Sacred Vessel of BMW 3 Series, it’s the 2004 BMW M3 CSL. This uncommon, lightweight coupe is not the type of automobile one would anticipate to be neglected for years in a parking facility, yet this exact situation is unfolding in an affluent district of London. The narrative behind the car is vague, growing more perplexing with further investigation. However, one thing remains indisputable: this CSL has been stationary for numerous years, and any movement seems improbable at present.

The M3 CSL represented the ultimate production variant of the E46, the ultimate M3 powered by a naturally aspirated inline-six. Widely regarded as the pinnacle of BMWs by some, the CSL enhanced the E46 M3 by shedding 243 pounds and utilizing a retuned suspension to fully exploit the weight reduction. It featured 19-inch wheels, bucket seats, a rapid-shifting six-speed automated manual gearbox, and to crown it all, a dash of additional horsepower. With only 1,383 units produced, they occasionally fetch over $100,000 in today’s market.

Nevertheless, none of these factors—neither the driving experience of the car nor its monetary value—have prevented an owner from allowing their BMW to deteriorate.

2004 BMW M3 CSL neglected in a London parking garage. @_drivecollective on Instagram

Pictures of the vehicle began circulating on social media in August, initially shared by Instagram user @Mildlyinterestingcarsoflondon. The CSL displays visible signs of neglect, with scratches on the paint, driver-side mirror, and front wheel, as well as the rear fender hanging loose from an impact. The tires are deflated, and clamps are visible on both driver-side wheels. This automobile has evidently remained immobile for an extended period.

The individual who posted the images provided an explanation, reportedly obtained from a friend of the owner. Allegedly, the BMW was purchased in August 2004 by a businessman who drove the car 37 miles to a private parking garage and simply… abandoned it there. It was never examined, never maintained.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by @mildlyinterestingcarsoflondon

But conflict regarding that account emerged immediately, with individuals mentioning aspects of the tale that unaffiliated sources didn’t corroborate. Some asserted to be aware of the authentic narrative but could not provide any credible information in communications. (One individual alleged an ownership disagreement between siblings but was unable to validate their assertion.) The original poster mentioned in a remark that they had encountered more than seven entirely different narratives; this specific CSL model is a hub for false information. Thus far, the prevailing hearsay has been the initial rendition.Nonetheless, by compiling all publicly available records on the vehicle and conversing with sources who demonstrated they possess access to the CSL, I have compiled a more comprehensive history.

2004 BMW M3 CSL neglected in a London parking garage. @_drivecollective on Instagram

Initially, I retrieved car history documents from the British government’s free Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, and purchased reports from HPIcheck.com, and uk.vin-info.com. This enabled me to cross-check information linked to the registration plate and a specific VIN report (not for public disclosure). All sources concurred that the CSL was officially registered in August 2004 but had not undergone MOT testing, resulting in the expiration of its plates in March 2006.

The reports also verified that the CSL was issued a new Vehicle Registration Certificate in July 2013, potentially indicating a change in ownership as per Auto Express. However, these certificates can also be reissued for reasons such as a change of address, so it does not definitively imply a sale. It simply suggests that the CSL had not been entirely forgotten by that period. The events between 2006 and 2013 are where discrepancies in timelines emerge.

HPI-Check-_-Vehicle-Check-_-Report-for-RK04EBZ.pdfDownload

Per information extracted from a HPIcheck.com vehicle history report, the CSL’s mileage was logged at 9,060 miles during a dealership service in March 2005. A conversation with @m635bmw on Instagram revealed that BMW customer service purportedly confirmed continued servicing of the car at a dealership in London until November 2006, with the odometer allegedly surpassing 15,000 miles by then. Interestingly, there seems to be an anomaly with the odometer readings during this timeframe, which will be explored further later on.

There is a lack of information spanning several years until one of the reports indicated a manufacturer reporting the mileage as 49,016 miles in August 2013. However, some inconsistencies arise. Either the BMW accumulated 34,000 miles without registration (unlikely), or there are inaccuracies in the mileage documentation. This timeframe also coincides with another significant event.

2004 BMW M3 CSL abandoned in a London parking garage, circa 2010. @_drivecollective on Instagram

Date imprints and state of abandoned 2004 BMW M3 CSL tires. @_drivecollective on Instagram

In October 2012, the U.K. prohibited the use of parking clamps on vehicles stored on private premises, as documented in legal sources. A photograph from November 2010 showing the CSL in a comparable position to its current state, sans a clamp, suggests it had been immobilized for an estimated two-year duration. Furthermore, the tire date stamps all indicate 2003 or 2004, with the vent spews still intact, strongly suggesting the original rubber remains. The puzzle deepens as we resume tracing the car’s whereabouts.

back in August 2023.

Last month was when the vehicle started gaining popularity online, and during that time, three more inconsistencies in the odometer readings surfaced in the history report. Initially dropping to 37 miles, then rising to 38, and eventually reaching 100 as per the details from the National Mileage Register. These discrepancies are likely based on information provided by individuals who came across the social media post, given that E46 odometers cannot be read when the ignition is off.

Several vehicle history reports for the deserted 2004 BMW M3 CSL. @m635i on Instagram (bottom)

However, this situation introduces another layer of confusion to a narrative that only seems to get murkier with each revelation. According to a professionally acquired vehicle history report, the car supposedly covered tens of thousands of miles, with purported confirmation from BMW’s service network backing this claim. Yet, the condition of the CSL’s tires suggests they are nearly pristine originals, it has not been registered for 17 years, and by 2010, it was likely already in its current location. There are indications that the car may have been stationary there since 2005, possibly for up to five years, as per an informant stating the vehicle was initially parked there in 2005.

If I could connect with the owner, it would simplify untangling this mystery, but my nearest link was individuals using the same private garage where the BMW is housed. One source described it as an intensely secure facility, another linked to @_drivecollective, verified having access to the CSL, and shared insights alongside others, providing a rough sketch of the owner’s potential situation.

Various sources, claiming to be acquaintances of the owner, mentioned that they maintain an apartment nearby but spend most of their time abroad. They are characterized as reclusive individuals who avoid attention regarding the car, rejecting multiple purchase offers and previous media inquiries. There was a rumored connection to an equally neglected low-mileage 1M coupe parked alongside the CSL for a while, which supposedly belonged to another individual (and is said to have been sold).

Deserted 2004 BMW M3 CSL, beside an unattended 1M Coupe owned by another person.

Why the individual retains ownership of a sought-after high-performance car they do not drive, cannot start, and could potentially sell for a profit remains a perplexing enigma. One of my sources doubts that the CSL is being held as an investment, describing any profit from a resale as insignificant compared to the individual’s overall wealth.

Despite the conflicting information, the fundamental narrative—or something akin to it—appears credible. All indications point to the CSL having remained stationary since at least 2010, possibly even as far back as 2005. The accuracy of the 37-mile reading remains speculative, and issues with the historical reports raise doubts about the mileage as a whole.

It seems to be a scenario reminiscent of those observed in affluent locales like Dubai, where individuals possess vast wealth, rendering a rare and valuable car like the CSL insignificant and mere dust collector. The attention drawn to the CSL might even be considered bothersome, given that the owner presumably has the means to restore it with minimal effort.

Possibly, sentimental reasons sway them to hold on. Or perhaps, there are complexities with the odometer that complicate the registration process. Whatever the case, it’s reasonable to classify this M3 as abandoned. It is futile to criticize the owner; no amount of keyboard activism will alter their behavior. Sadly, this uncared-for CSL is likely destined to deteriorate further until its eventual removal—whether that be as scrap or for potential restoration lies solely within the owner’s discretion, should they choose to act.

If you have a tip or inquiry for the author, you can contact them at: james@thedrive.com

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