The 2023 BMW 3.0 CSL Has Nearly Doubled In Value

The 2023 BMW 3.0 CSL cost a helluva lot when it was new – as much as $780,000 in fact – but since it was an ultra-limited edition built to celebrate the 50th anniversary of BMW M GmbH, we weren’t surprised when a pre-owned example showed up asking double that. German dealer Hollmann International, located near Bremen, has one of the 50 carbon-bodied special editions ever built, and the retailer asking more than $1.3 million for the pleasure of being its next owner.

A Cool Million-Plus For BMW’s Anniversary Gift

The 3.0 CSL pays homage to BMW M GmbH’s first product, the 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL “Batmobile.” The automaker limited production to just 50 units, which were hand-built over a period of three months at the same Dingolfing assembly faciility that produces Rolls-Royce bodies. Its exclusivity and craftsmanship surely contribute to its value, as does its unique powertrain. Although it uses BMW’s stellar S58 inline-six shared with the M3 and M4, the 552-horsepower 3.0 CSL is the company’s most power-dense engine of all time, producing 184 ponies per liter.

All that adds up to some pretty prodigious pricing on the pre-owned market, since those who weren’t able to snag one of the 50 examples from BMW will have to fight with each other over limited supply. Hollmann International wants $1,346,555 (€1,184,050 in local currency) for its example, making it one of the most expensive BMWs ever sold – if it goes for that much cash, that is. For comparison, earlier sales of the 3.0 CSL homage crested $1.1 million, and this one would beat them out handily.

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A High Price For A Special Car

Although the 3.0 CSL shares a fair amount of its body-in-white with the much more common M4 CSL coupe, there’s a lot going on under the surface to set it apart from its more plebeian sibling. For starters, its engine is also the most powerful inline-six BMW has ever built, producing 552 horsepower and 406 pound-feet. And while the M4 CSL is available solely with the company’s admittedly excellent eight-speed automatic, the 3.0 CS comes exclusively with a six-speed manual. The only other way to get a handshake from an M4 is to limit yourself to the 473-hp base model.

In addition to the power upgrades, the 3.0 CSL wears new bodywork constructed extensively in carbon fiber and glass-reinforced plastic. Harking back to the original CSL Batmobile, the towering rear spoiler and roof wing were designed in the wind tunnel to ensure the 1970s throwback had 2020s aero efficiency. A new front fascia and flow-through fender elements likewise improve downforce, and the modern look is all done up in the BMW tuning arm’s signature three-color stripes over Alpine White paint – just like the original CSL. Inside, the car’s shift knob even comes in a throwback shape and white enamel color.

Whether those attributes make it worth a cool $1.3 million is a question only a prospective owner could answer. Since neither we nor any of our friends have that kind of coin, all we can do is speculate.

Source: Hollmann International, via Luxury Pulse