Oh BMW, where did it all go wrong?

You once built some of the most elegant cars the world has ever seen, and now you make the IX... We could lament the demise of great car design all day, but let's instead have a look at one of Bayerische Motoren Werke's finest creations - the E9.

These svelte two-door coupés were the brainchild of BMW design legend Wilhelm Hoffmeister, featuring his signature window "kink", and a distinctive "shark-nose". Good looks were backed up with good engineering, namely the venerable M30 straight-six with fuel injection.

Here we have the desirable 3.0 CSi model in right-hand drive with a manual gearbox. According to the BMW Car Club UK CS Register, this car is one of 128 "second series" E9s produced in 1974. These were factory right-hand drive cars, imported to the UK by BMW Concessionaires upon buyer order, hence why this E9 was registered in 1975.

The vendor has owned this car since 2017. It was previously restored to a high standard after an MOT test identified some corrosion issues. A detailed report documenting the extent of the restoration is included with the car and can be seen in the gallery below. Suffice it to say, a great deal of work has been carried out and the BMW has been dry-stored and enjoyed sparingly ever since.

The vendor summarises:

"While not concours per se, the vehicle is, I believe, as reasonably close to it as is possible."

As the well-documented restoration records attest, this E9 required some fabrication work which has been carried out to a very good standard. The colour is non-standard, although it reflects the fact that the colour was changed from blue to black during the car's early history. Pre-restoration, it had retained its blue vinyl roof, but this has since been removed for a less cluttered aesthetic. The wheels were also refurbished at this time, although the restoration report shows that the then owner was keen not to over-restore any aspect of the car that didn't need it so as to preserve its originality. Hence, the interior is wonderfully original and as such, lightly patinated as befits its age.

Work during current ownership reportedly includes:

For a car of the '70s, these 3.0 CSis were very advanced for their day, with a dependable fuel injection system and ample performance from that excellent 3.0-litre straight-six. While a mechanical rebuild was not part of this car's 2011 restoration, several jobs were completed around this time, once the car returned to the road, passed MOT and some miles were put on it. Mainly, service items like brake servos underwent replacement, but we're informed that the gearbox also underwent and overhaul after it proved a little noisier than it should. During current custodianship, the vendor has replaced several perishable parts like the fuel injectors and various rubber seals. We're assured that the BMW drives very well and the vendor is unaware of any faults.

BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions..
✓ We request that a non-refundable fee  be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's fee. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
✓ We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence.
✓ We also check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed on Car & Classic and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance. However, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and it is always worthwhile carrying out your own  full vehicle history check before making an offer on a vehicle.
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection
or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it’s worth checking beforehand..