For Sale: 2018 BMW M3 CS w/ 27k Miles in San Marino Blue

Here is a 2018 BMW M3 CS for sale (VIN #:  WBS8M9C59J5L71836) in San Marino Blue.  The listing on BMW Seattle states the vehicle has 27,198 miles.  Per the attached CarFax report it states the vehicle has a clean title and is a 1-owner car.  $71,999 is the current asking price.  Car is located in Seattle, WA.

 

General Observations

This particular example is optioned with the executive package, the M-Performance carbon side mirror caps, and the M-Performance black rocker panel decals.  This is a local car to me that I’ve known about since new.  I briefly spoke to the owner on the M3 CS group on facebook when me and 3 other local members purchased our M3 CS’s brand new at around the same time.  I also viewed this car when it was brand new at BMW Seattle where it is currently for sale as a pre-owned model today.

With that said, theres not much to uncover with this example as it’s been well documented on social media.  Per the CarFax report, again, it’s a 1-owner car which is often times a positive as people that hold onto things long-term tend to take care of them.  The service records on CarFax documents normal yearly service with the selling dealer, BMW Seattle.  One thing I’d like to point out is the previous owner did the important 1,200 mile initial service.  It was completed on 05/19/2019 with 1,094 miles.  This service drains and replaces the engine oil and rear differential fluid.  This is key as any deposits from the initial break-in are extracted and replaced with new fluid for proper lubrication.

Rear Fold-Down Seats in a Track Inspired Car

One thing I often forget that the photographer at BMW Seattle kindly pointed out is the M3 CS is equipped with rear split fold down seats and not a fixed back.  I point this out as this was one of the reasons the M3 CS sold me over many other sports cars.  The CS is a track focused car that can also be used for the “streets” and daily use.  It’s amazing BMW can extract this much performance out of a street car and still develop a vehicle for utilitarian use.  Hard combo to beat, even to this day.

 

Exterior Condition

Regarding the exterior and reading through the previous owners comments on Bimmerpost the side door was involved in a small parking lot incident that resulted in minor paintwork.  The previous owner notes “the work was top notch and looks perfect”.  In photos the car looks amazing fully detailed and polished and under proper lighting, but that is not indicative of how the car presents in person as a camera cannot pick up everything the human eye can.  If I was a buyer, this is an example I’d want to inspect in-person to my satisfaction.

In the same post the previous owner states the front carbon lip was split at the time of his listing.  Through the current photos it’s hard for me to tell if that is still the case and will not make any assumptions.  This is something I’d inquire with the dealer or inspect in-person yourself.  As noted through previous blog entries, the cost to replace is ~$3,000 in parts plus labor.

Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Tires

One cool thing to see on this car is that it’s equipped with the proverbial Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires that the US issued models did not receive when new.  BMW tuned this car for Cup 2’s so it’s nice to see this car is properly equipped as BMW intended and developed.  The selling dealer notes 2 tires were replaced per CarFax.

 

Interior Condition

Interior wise, the interior looks great fully dolled up and detailed.  With 27k miles, the wear and tear appears to be normal for the mileage of the vehicle.  Again, this is not a brand new car so flaws are to be expected with the current mileage.

The only notable wear you can really detect is on the front drivers seat which is to be expected.  This is not a knock on the pedigree of the vehicle, but a general observation.  There is your typical bolster wear and discoloration from general use.  Although fully detailed I would look into a leather rejuvenation treatment for a deep clean and reconditioning for a like-new matte finish.

Outside of this, the Alcantara steering wheel appears to be in great shape and ready for some mileage.

A funny observation thats largely irrelevant is what appears to be an indentation and/or a “wear spot” on the driver side door panel arm rest. Again, this is largely irrelevant as it’s normal wear and tear. I only point this out to remind myself and future owners of what may develop down the line with use.

 

Things I’d Inquire About

Paint Protection Film (PPF)

Through photos the front-end appears to be in great condition, especially for the current mileage of 27k miles.  One can only assume the entire front-end is wrapped in paint protection film.  I would inquire with the dealer to confirm.  I am unable to tell in photos if the car has PPF or not.

Maintenance and Service

As stated above the entire service history is documented on CarFax and appears to be up to date service wise.  The previous owner noted the exhaust was replaced under warranty due to a valve rattling.  Outside of that the car appears to have had a trouble-free 27k miles as expected with these cars.  With the car at a BMW dealer, I would sit down with a service advisor to go over upcoming service and maintenance the car will need.  This way you can budget and set proper expectations in ownership today, tomorrow, and the future.

 

General Disclaimer

I’d like to first clarify that I am not connected to the seller or platform in any way.  When purchasing any vehicle, I highly recommend doing your own due diligence before consummating a deal.  My personal insights and opinions that I’ve shared through this post stem from my cautious perspective and carry no responsibility for the actual condition of the mentioned vehicle.  I highly recommend arranging a 3rd party pre-purchase inspection with a trusted mechanic.  I also recommend researching the vehicles history through a CarFax or an AutoCheck report.

 

Screenshots of the Original Ad

In the event the ad is taken down, below are screenshots of the original ad: