As some may have seen, I am parting out and selling the CL-S:

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...26#post2107626

This is not an absolute or something I want to do. It is a matter of compromise which I will go into in a moment. I am not in any hurry nor would I be upset if this never occurs. I plan on continuing to drive it until the intercooled SC kit sells. I will then sell the car. All of this may take several months so I will be around here for some time (except last week when I was on vacation). As mentioned, if it doesn't sell I will not be upset as I love driving this car. I've just come to a point where I should make some concessions but do so to where I can still have fun.

The ideal plan would be for someone to buy the car as it is but I know it won't happen. But hey, there may be someone who wants a 370 WHP CL-S 6MT with 23k miles for $28k.

As for the reason, just prior to our vacation last week my wife and I made another vehicle purchase. We bought a Sienna XLE Limited, yes, as dreaded minivan. But it is pretty sweet as far as minivans go and fully loaded. I can't say how much of a pleasure it was to have on this trip. My wife was not happy about this change and didn't want to give up her Lexus (RX300, which I was never that thrilled about anyway) but did so knowing the benefits.

While on vacation I got to thinking about her needs and desires and about what I like. I know she doesn't like driving the Sienna as well especially when I am watching the girls and she needs to run some errands. I have always told her she can take my car whenever she wants but she never does. She has never liked driving my car. This goes all the way back to the '01 CL-S I had. There is something about the CL-S which she can't get comfortable in and feel good driving it. So she won't drive my car, she will take the minivan instead. This puts me in a situation to where I can't easily go off with the girls when Jennifer is running errands as moving two car seats into the back of the CL-S is not something I care to do which takes me to the next issue.

The lack of rear seat access in the CL-S. This was never a problem in the past but has now begun to come up more often. When customers are at our office or I am on sales calls, we never ride in my car as it is too difficult to gain access.

So, I have a car which I only drive by myself normally. If that is the case I could have a two seater sports car which is something I considered. Jennifer would probably even like having something fun too which she could go places in. However, I have to have access to the rear seats when needed so no sports car.

I was considering my requirements:

Four Doors
Manual Transmission
Something Jennifer Likes to Drive

If I was to make a move I would also add in the following:

RWD (AWD would be OK but RWD is preferred)
Can be modded to a level close to where I am at currently

That last one makes this choice trickier. When mulling this over it dawned on me that the choice was somewhat clear. Jennifer loved her E46 328i more than any car she had owned. I also loved its drivability, interior, exterior, build, etc. The driving feel cannot be replicated in the CL-S. So why not get another E46 3-Series? I would get a 330i with sport suspension and then start modding it. The Active Autowerke supercharger came to mind and would certainly fit the bill.

http://www.aatuning.com/Supercharged...percharger.cfm

This would give me all of the requirements and plus some. The SC would bring the BMW close to the acceleration of the base CL-S SC kit did. But it would be coupled to a better RWD chassis with greater handling capability. But most importantly, it would be something Jennifer would be happy to drive.

As mentioned, this is not something I have to do and would be glad to continue driving the CL-S. With this in mind I can take my time and sell everything at a reasonable price and then make the move when ready. If it doesn’t happen in a year, oh well. I would be left with driving the very powerful and fun supercharged and intercooled CL-S 6MT.

 

Understood.. With two daughters I'm not sure how long you would've made it with the CL/2 door.. Best of luck with the sale of the car and the family Steve.. Hope you stick around..

Good choice on the E46..

 

Sad to see this post, but I know the family is worth it!

 

Sorry about you having to sell your CL-S but your family comes first. I appreciate all that you have done fo the CL community.

 

I don't really have to sell it; it would just be better for us if I did.

 

Say it isnt so


I do understand why tho....its just going to be a sad day when one of the most respected gear heads has to leave. Good luck in selling bro

 

Try to stick around and report the status of project 400 Rwhp E46.

 

:'(

It's only a car, but... Damn... All the blood, sweat and tears you put into that thing. But alas... the 330 will keep you busy.

What is going to happen to the RX? Did you sell it??? I'll buy it from you (actually somwhat serious).

 

Minivan, 4 door sedan,.... next thing you know, you'll be looking for a boat.

Not your typical daily driver, but this might be fun,.. http://www.factoryfive.com

 

Makes sense considering the circumstances. Sorry to hear about this though.

A blown 330i would make a worthy replacement.

 

I traded it in on a Sienna XLE Limited:

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...=137199&page=3

It had only about 10k miles on it and I got about $28k for it. It stickered for nearly $40k but I bought it when the RX330 came out so I got a huge, about $7k, off of it. I paid $24k for it, drove it 1.5 years and traded it for $28k. Not a big hit so it was easy to let it go.

 

I had a boat, but had to sell it to pay the increasing IVF expenses to get the girls. So another boat will be down the road when the girls are about 5 years old.

 

Oh, I'll be around. Heck, I've been around here for four years, its hard to leave after that much time.

I think I will limit the E46 330i power to about 300 WHP. That should be enough to turn low 13's if not dip into the 12's. Certainly better than an E46 M3. But we will have to see how it turns out as I have certainly gone beyond similar promises to myself in the past. Heck, I was supposed to leave it alone if I made 300 WHP with the CL-S.

 

damn scalbert... if u had only come to this sooner i had a e46 330xi MT for sale like 3 months ago... i would've given u a really good deal on it too.

on that note i would recommend looking at the 330xi over the 330i. the AWD system was such a blast to drive... i know GA doesnt get too much snow like in ny but cornering with the awd is incredible.

300 AWHP 330xi would probably dip into 12's, 5000 rpm clutch drop off the line. i was always a little to chicken to do that with my bmw but people in forums have done it with aftermarket clutches and they've been fine.

anyhow, good luck to you. even without the cl-s dont leave a-cl

-rez

 

DOH

I would have paid that for it.

 

Naw, RWD will be better for us. In my area we get essentially no snow. We may get a morning of ice but some cautious driving and the DSC in the previous 3-Series worked fine.

The RWD in the mountains was fantastic too. I miss the feel of that car in the turns which is what makes this planned move a bit easier.

 

You would have had to pay more to make up for the tax benefit. I ended up paying sales tax on only about $6000 versus the whole $34k.

 

Wow... I didn't see this coming...

Even as a single guy, I can see myself moving into a 4 door eventually, and the 330 was actually on the list of cars I checked out when I was looking at the CLS 6spd.

It'll be nice to see what you can do to a BMW... Didn't you have a GTP and a S10 Cyclone too that you modded ??

As life changes, your choices in cars have to change too...

 

You've got to do what you've got to do . Good luck and definately stick around.

Actually, if you get the current 330 4dr. before or when the new redesigned 3-series sedans start filling the dealership you might $ave enough as you did on RX.

PM sent.

 

Its the right move, family comes first. Good luck with everything... dont mean to get off topic but what does this mean for Hope Systems? I need to cure wheel hop!!

 

Stop trying to steal my thunder!

 

Wow.... sad to see her go Steve! However, you need to do what is right for the family - good luck with whatever happens!!

 

It's not April Fools day is it?

 

You sellout!




















JK

I can understand the changes. We all go through them.

 

good choice I hate to see your car go. Funny thing is I am also getting rid of my cl-s due to a child on the way have have the same requirements as you. I also thought about the 330zhp but the shape will be changing in 06 and the S4. Good luck and keep us posted

 

A '97 GTP and a '92 Typhoon (among others), both were not stock.

 

Nothing changes for the imediate future. Still owrking on some things. More on that in a couple of weeks.

 

After more thinking, I would probably let the car go as is for $27k. That would be like buying an '03 CL-S with just 23k miles for under $20k if installation of the items is considered.

This also has springs, sways, ported TB, two amps and a 10" sub. Not to mention the gauges are all in, etc. along with the headers and cut out (for when that is needed).

So, if anyone knows of someone looking for a 6MT CL-S and is planning on modding it, here is pretty good deal IMO.

 

$27k Someone is gonna jump all over that! Including the inital investment in the CL-S I've put that much into mine and I don't have the blower yet. WOW

 

I toyed with the same idea and that's why I went with the TL-S. No, it's not a BMW,MB or even a CL-S for that matter but it is a very reliable 4 door(Honda). I needed it after getting married and 2 kids. My wife is a very finicky driver(previous back injuries)and she does drive my car so no problem as that is concerned. So I certainly understand.

Hope all goes well for you and your family Steve, your heart is certainly in the right direction.

PS. After my wife and I got married we both sold our 2 mini vans and got 2 TLs.

 

good luck steve...

 

That was certainly not the typical change.

 

I like the 330i but what about a new TL? Doesn't Comptech have plans for a blower?

 

he wants the RWD

scalbert the 3 series is also a bit small though.. that was my biggest complaint with the 330xi... smaller than the CL-S! actually by quite a bit. trunk space was small, back seat was tiny.

i would actually consider bumping up to a 5 series, IMO.

 

I had thought about size and possibly getting a 540i 6MT. Remember, we had an E46 328i so I am familiar with the interior and the trunk. For what we need it would be fine.

What is keeping me with the smaller 3-Series is the handling response out of the box.

 

Wow, this is big news. Good luck on the sale, maybe post on SELOC as well? Can't wait to see what you do to the 330!

 

Good luck man! Hey screw it why not just make a 400 hp sienna! You would really be the man then!

 

I'm speachless.

This is ACL's Black Tuesday Crisis.

Forget the 330i, mod the Sienna.

 

The possibility of modding the Sienna is not completely out of the question.

A TRD Solara blower might be able to be adapted to the Sienna.

 

I think I'll do that as there maybe someone in the southeast who wants a CL-S 6MT.