Exclusive Listing: 2018 BMW M3 CS w/ 15k Miles in Lime Rock Grey
Here is a 2018 BMW M3 CS for sale (VIN #: WBS8M9C59J5L01057) in the highly sought-after Lime Rock Grey (LRG). This sale listing is exclusive to m3csbuyersguide. If you are interested in this car, please contact us so we can put you in touch with the listing seller. The seller states the vehicle has 15,372 miles, has a clean title, and has had 2 total owners. The asking price is $76,000, and the car is located in Plaistow, NH.
General Observations
This example is equipped with the Executive Package and has the standard steel brakes. This is one of only 92 Lime Rock Grey examples that were brought to the USA. As far as good, solid, presumably drama-free examples in Lime Rock Grey go, they tend to not last long on the market as demand is very high for a car with less than 100 examples circulating in the USA. We expect this example to be no different.
Per the submission, there is no complimentary CarFax or AutoCheck report, so this is something you will need to purchase on your own to review. Again, the seller does mention the car has had NO accidents, has a clean title, and is the 2nd owner. We have no reason to doubt this, but it’s always important to confirm on your own and do your due diligence.
Exterior Condition
Going over the provided photos, the car appears to be in excellent shape with no glaring anomalies except for what appears to be a very minor blemish on the front bumper. Per the seller, the car recently had Suntek paint protection film installed over the summer, and the blemish was present prior to this. The good news is the front bumper is now protected from future chips and blemishes.
Original Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tires
Speaking to the seller, the vehicle is currently on its original Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. As mentioned in previous blog entries, tires, in general, have a shelf life of about 5-6 years before they need to be replaced. These cars are about that age, so this is something you may want to address sooner rather than later.
We’d recommend a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S if you want a summer-only tire that has some versatility for light inclement weather. However, these cars are tuned from the factory for Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2’s for optimum performance during spirited or track driving.
Please note: There is nothing wrong with the rotors. The car was freshly washed and pulled out immediately for photos, thus leaving streaks on the slotted rotors. Once you tap on the brakes a few times, they will again look normal.
Interior Condition
The interior is in immaculate, like-new condition. The Merino leather maintains its matte-like texture, just as if it rolled off the dealer lot. The driver’s side bolster shows little to no wear where there is typically significant wear.
The Merino leather silverstone colored inserts appear to be in great shape and show very little to no color discoloration on both front and rear seats. To the future owner: Your job is to keep it looking this way! Avoid dirty clothes or clothing such as denim jeans that can produce ink transfer.
A nice bonus is the original window sticker is included, which has even been laminated.
Looking at different angles of the Alcantara steering wheel, it also appears to be in like-new condition with little wear shown. The condition is consistent with the rest of the interior. As stated in the past, Alcantara, regardless of manufacturer, is not built for longevity. It’s a consumable that you are expected to replace periodically, depending on use.
Things I’d Inquire About This M3 CS
Paint Protection Film (PPF) & Ceramic Coating
According to the seller, the front bumper was covered in Suntek PPF last June by RS Auto Detailing. During this visit, the vehicle was paint corrected, and ceramic coating was applied. The brand of the ceramic coating is Ceramic Pro. Both products carry a transferrable warranty, which we recommend asking the seller more about.
If we were prospective buyers, we would highly consider getting the rest of the front end covered in the matching Suntek PPF. We’re fans of this product, speaking from experience as a former PPF shop owner. We would have the installer make some custom extended rear arches as it’s a known area to experience high wear and tear.
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Maintenance and Service
Speaking to the seller, the vehicle has had all of its routine service completed since new, with the latest service completed within the last 1,000 miles. Per the seller, the service is documented on its CarFax report.
If you’re looking to get a 3rd party pre-purchase inspection done by a trusted BMW independent mechanic or by a local BMW dealership, we would ask what needs to be addressed now or in the not-so-distant future so you can budget for future operating costs after acquisition. With only 15k miles, we don’t expect there to be any glaring issues to address, as these cars are proven to be reliable.
Good Examples Going, Going Scarce…
As of this writing, we’ve counted just 7 F80 M3 CS examples on Autotrader. Of the 7 examples, only 3 have a clean title. This is a far cry from what was available just a few months ago, representing about half the inventory that was once available. After 5 years since the F80 M3 CS release, we believe these cars are now becoming scarce and harder to source in this condition — especially if you are trying to source one of the 92 Lime Rock Grey examples brought to the USA.
Objectively speaking, if we were in the market for an F80 M3 CS, this is an example worth highly considering. What we’ve learned with the F80 M3 CS market is that finding an example with low miles and a drama-free history is not an easy task. Because the majority of these examples were leased, they were treated as such, and many have complicated histories. When you add the highly coveted and second rarest color offered, it makes for a feat that we’ve heard many people say they’ve spent months waiting for the “right one” to pop up, many to no avail. If all checks out, this could be “the one”! Again, contact us if you are truly interested and ready to buy, and we will put you in touch with the seller.
General Disclaimer
We are not affiliated with the seller or any sales platform. This review is based on the information provided and our expertise. We strongly advise conducting your own due diligence before finalizing any vehicle purchase.