Affordable E9 Project: 1974 BMW 3.0 CS
A few days ago, we featured a desirable 5-speed manual-equipped BMW E9 coupe, which you can check out here. It turns out the seller actually bought a total of three E9s and this is one of the other cars. In each listing, he seems to be selling them due to each car incurring damage during shipping; whether this is because he feels the value has decreased or he’s just sick of looking at them is unknown. It does seem like his shipper did a fair amount of damage, especially since each car has fresh bodywork damage they didn’t have before being picked up. Would that be enough of a demotivating factor for you to sell off three projects at once?
The E9 shown here is another 3.0-liter car, which is certainly desirable in and of itself. But it’s also equipped with an automatic transmission, which will almost certainly kill off some of the excitement behind seeing a nearly rust-free E9 for sale. This particular car wears a desirable shade of paint known as Malaga Red, which carries some weight in the BMW community. I just noticed that despite living in New Mexico now, this E9 – and presumably, the other two – came into the U.S. from Canada, which makes the overall rust-free condition of all three vehicles even more remarkable.
The interior looks to be in nice shape, but the seller says it is not without its caveats. Despite the seat covers being new, he notes that the previous owner hadn’t fixed the bolsters underneath, which are presumably collapsed. The dash looks decent and the steering wheel is correct for the model, but knowing that the seats have to torn down and done over is a bummer. The carpets are also fairly tired, but perhaps a weekend with a steam cleaner can bring them back to life. Photos show evidence of wiring work under both sides of the dash, so fingers crossed it doesn’t have major electrical concerns.
The seller has gotten this car to fire up and drive, bringing it down the road a few miles and back to his driveway. Although he notes the engine needs a tune-up, he’s confident it doesn’t need a lot of extra love to be a driver. I see some rust bubbling on the trunk lid, but no other significant rot – but don’t jinx yourself, as the rust can blossom on an E9 at a moment’s notice. The seller has a reserve attached to his E9 project here on eBay, and it’s currently unmet with a handful of bids to $6,766.
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Comments
I remember the 1600/2002 was the hottest sedan, but wait, there was an even nicer BMW, the 3.0 CS, or so we had heard. A 2002 on steroids, as it were. Never saw one. Barely saw the 1600/2002. I’m no BMW freak, but I think the 3.0 CS signaled the start of the swoopy BMWs for Americans. BMWs are such nice cars, most buyers will buy another, and I don’t blame them. What would you buy that is better than a BMW? My daughter has one, not sure the model, but loves it and will surely buy another.
I was in the USAF in Omaha in 1974, driving my ever-dependable Dodge van with a Slant 6 and 3 on the tree. One day, I drove past a car that I had never seen with a “For Sale” sign, so I pulled over and looked. It was a BMW 2.0 CS, which a service member had brought back from Europe. I was in love- silver with blue interior, wood accents, glass covered headlights, it totally seduced me (it felt like I was cheating on my faithful van). Fortunately, my mechanic talked me out of it- he felt that parts availability would be an issue for it to be a daily driver, so I kept the van. He likely saved me from a lot of mental and financial grief. Still, wow- what a beautiful automobile.
I owned a beautiful Silver Euro 3.0 cs in ’83-84. Despite being 12 years old, people would ask me if it was BMW’s latest model. Of course, with those elegant chrome bumpers (not the “diving boards” on this ’74) the question was rather curious!
Looking at the shots of the dash, I was surprised to notice that the Automatic Shift indicator is hanging out of the speaker slot? Further, looking where this indicator would be at the bottom of the gauges, there is no slot. Long story short, who in their right mind would convert a 4/5 speed to and automatic?
The auto indicator was moved to the dash in 74, this car was always an automatic.
Okay Chris, I get it; you know more about these cars than I do. I’m but a mere 2002 guy. One last question: Was BMW in the habit of putting an extra shift indicator behind the dash and underneath the speaker enclosure?
Ended at 14K.
Reserve Not Met.