For Sale: Driver Quality 2018 BMW M3 CS w/ 40k Miles for $59,990

Here is a driver quality 2018 BMW M3 CS for sale (VIN #:  WBS8M9C55J5L71848) in Black Sapphire Metallic (BSM).  The listing dealer, Toy Barn Cars, states the vehicle has 40,651 miles.  Please note: If the original listing link does not work, this car has probably sold.  The attached CarFax report states the car has had 3 owners.  $59,990 is the current asking price.  Car is located in Dublin, OH.

 

General Observations

Right off the bat, this review won’t be too extensive as the selling dealer has provided poor representation of this vehicle.  To their credit perhaps the car was recently taken in and they haven’t had time to give the car a full detail and a proper photoshoot.  Nonetheless, I’ll make the most of what I’ve observed.

This has sort of have been a reoccurring theme as of late, but here is another Black Sapphire Metallic example.  It is equipped with the executive package and has the standard steel brakes.  This is 1 of 118 Black Sapphire Metallic examples that were brought to the USA.

Going over the CarFax, the car was originally purchased from Braman BMW in West Palm Beach, Florida on 03/31/2019.  From there the car was sold on 08/11/2020 to an owner out in Ohio where it has resided since.

An interesting note is the car was offered for sale on 06/20/2022 by the current selling dealer.  From there it sold on 08/11/2022 to its 3rd owner and was traded or sold back to the current selling dealer where it is listed today.

Service has been documented on CarFax from new.  The all-important 1,200 mile break-in was documented and routine service has been documented throughout it’s life.

 

Exterior Condition

Again, I wish the selling dealer spent the time to at least prepare the car for listing photos.  Presenting an extremely dirty vehicle is almost in a way “unselling” the car like they don’t want to sell it for whatever reason.  Whether thats a lack or professionalism or they love the car so much they don’t want it to sell.  The latter I can’t blame them for if that’s the case.  These cars are genuinely the complete package, for many.

Because theres not many photos for me to inspect I can’t elaborate extensively on the condition of the car.  Any prospective buyer should ask for new photos with the car cleaned up.  If you can visit the car in-person that obviously would be ideal.  If not for the vehicles clean CarFax report I probably would not be doing a review.  Because it’s CarFax report came out clean and the VIN # didn’t pop up anything troubling through a google search I decided to do a write-up based on potential.  The value price at $59,990 also played a key role in potentially finding a gem.

Because this car was owned in the Northern part of the USA I would absolutely put the car on a lift to inspect for potential rust.

 

Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tires

Zooming into the photo above I can see the car is currently sitting on a near bald set of Michelin Pilot Super Sports.  I hope the dealer will be replacing them as they prep the car for market.  Perhaps if you can catch them in time I would negotiate for a new set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S or Cup 2’s — depending on how you intend on owning the car.  Again, these cars were tuned to be on Cup 2’s from the factory.  Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires would be a great alternative if you plan on driving this car through light inclement weather.

 

Interior Condition

Based on 2 photos the interior looks to be promising.  The first photo below cuts off the driver seat and Alcantara steering wheel.  The aforementioned 2 areas by now will show the most amount of wear in the interior.  Again, if you’re a prospective buyer I would ask the dealer to provide more detailed photos for you to judge.

The rear seats look pristine and either minimally used or largely unused.  The condition of the leather in the 2 photos indicate no “ultra shiny” leather conditioner was used which for me is a plus.  I think “shiny” leather is a huge turn-off so this is a positive in my book.

 

Things I’d Inquire About on This M3 CS…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paint Protection Film (PPF)

With the poor photos and the car being dirty I am unable to tell if the car has PPF.  This is something I would inquire with the selling dealer or inspect for yourself.  The color black unfortunately is the worse to expose rock chips so I would hope it has PPF applied.  If not, I would take that into consideration in the cost of acquisition if the front-end needs to be resprayed.

Maintenance and Service

The attached CarFax report documents a solid and consistent service history throughout its life by 3 different BMW dealerships so this is a good sign.  The selling dealer seems to be reputable with the high-end inventory so this also is a positive sign that you’re buying from someone hopefully trustworthy.

Vetting and Buying Process

With its near rock bottom price I would proceed with cautious optimism.  For those reasons, this is absolutely a car I would want a 3rd party pre-purchase inspection by a trusted indie BMW mechanic or BMW dealership to go over before considering.  This is something I would schedule early-on in the buying process.  I would, at that point, inspect the undercarriage for potential rust.  While on the lift I would go over the exterior of the car while on the lift as you’re able to see flaws easier from an elevated standpoint.

Outside of this, again, the car has potential to be a good buy as a driver quality car at $59,990.  If I was prospective buyer I would visit the car in person after vetting the car over the phone and through updated photos, video, and a 3rd party pre-purchase inspection.  Off provided photos, I am unable to tell if the front carbon fiber lip is in good shape.  I would inquire about this through requested photos.  Again, the front lip costs ~$3,000 to replace plus labor.  So keep this in mind while tabulating true cost of acquisition in relation to comparable vehicles within the same price range.  Like shopping around for any car I would always want to keep in mind the cost to sort and service a car to your standard after acquisition.  From there I would choose the best example, value wise, that suits your needs and wants.

Lastly, if I got that serious I would buy or borrow an automotive paint meter to test the metal panels to detect any repaint of the car if this is something that would either qualify or disqualify you from purchasing.

 

 

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: