Have you ever seen a sight as sad as this abandoned BMW M3 CSL?
If you’re a fan of the German automaker, it’s enough to bring you to tears.
Even if you’re just a general gearhead, you’ll appreciate the 2004 BMW M3 CSL is the Holy Grail of BMW 3 Series, so it’s sacrilege.
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The rare, lightweight coupé is the type of car you’d expect to be tucked away in a climate-controlled garage given it’s value.
The last thing you’d expect is for one to be abandoned in a parking garage in a wealthy neighborhood of London.
But, that’s the reality of the matter, so curious minds want to know how it ended up in a sad state.
The truth is, the car’s backstory is murky, and it only gets more confusing the deeper you dive.
It’s obvious the BMW M3 CSL hasn’t moved in years, and it certainly doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere anytime soon.
Photos of the abandoned motor surfaced online in August, starting with a post from Instagram user @mildlyinterestingcarsoflondon.
As you can see from the pictures, the BMW M3 CSL is visibly in sad shape, with scrapes on its bodywork, as well as the driver-side mirror and front wheel.
The rear bumper is hanging off, the tires are flat, and the both driver-side wheels have been clamped, too.
The account that posted the pictures claims they heard from a friend of the owner.
Apparently, the BMW M3 CSL was bought in August 2004 by a businessman who drove the car 37 miles back to a private parking garage and just left it there.
Other stories have emerged, including an ownership dispute between brothers, but such claims have been unsubstantiated.
Then there’s mileage discrepancies, with some claiming the car’s odometer was recorded at 9,060 miles by a dealer service in March 2005, then in November 2006 it had exceeded 15,000 miles.
Then, in August 2013, a “manufacturer” reported the mileage to be 49,016, however, the mileage has since been adjusted and now reads 37 miles.
The thing is, though; the car has never undergone an MOT inspection, which led to its plates expiring in March 2006.
Plus, the date stamps on the tires of the BMW M3 CSL all read 2003 or 2004, and their vent spews haven’t been worn off, so they’re almost certainly the original rubber.
The long and short of it is, how long the car has been parked up there remains a mystery, as does who it belongs to and what mileage it’s actually covered.
Whether the owner’s holding onto it for sentimental reasons or they’re got that much money that a car as rare and valuable is an insignificant piece of property left to gather dust, who knows.
As sad as it is, it’s likely to continue decaying until it’s hauled away whether as scrap or to be restored to its former glory.
Hopefully it’s the latter.
