A (Very) Condensed History of BMW 3.0 CSL
BMW has been involved since the mid-’30s and became even more active by the mid-’60s. Spurned by the successes on track largely thanks to Alpina and Schnitzer, the M division was formed in 1972 when Bob Lutz focused his efforts on building up a factory race team. There was also the intention to sell road versions of said race cars, which has been quite a successful venture, we must say.
The very first official BMW M project was the 3.0 CSL. Affectionately known as the Batmobile, it was intended to compete in the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC) and was built to Group 2 rules. Group 2 required a minimum production of 1,000 units of the vehicle that an automaker intends to compete with, over 12 consecutive months.
To get things started, BMW M built 21 ‘Werks’ development cars. 11 of them were raced by the in-house team, while the rest were sold off to privateers. The car you’re looking at is E9/R1, the very first one built by BMW M. It’s also for sale, in case you’re curious.
E9/R1
The E9/R1 is currently up for auction at Dylan Miles LTD. Aside from being the very first competition 3.0 CSL, the particular car was instrumental in developing the wild (by ’70s standard) aero kit that’s ingrained in every BMW Motorsport fan’s mind. It was extensively tested by Hans-Joachim Stuck and Harald Menzel in late 1972.
Its competition debut was rather quiet, as it was the spare car in the ETCC round in Monza in 1973. E9/R1 would later be used in the Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft (DRM), the precursor of what we now know as DTM. The drivers? It was Stuck and Menzel.
BMW
A Storied Career
The E9/R1 suffered a DNF in its first DRM outing due to a water pump failure. But not long after that, this very car won at the Nürburging on August 5, 1973, with Menzel behind the wheel. This particular car would later win the ADAC-500 km Eifelpokalrennen at the Nordschleife.
By the end of the 1973 season, the car was sold to Hurtig Team Libra for the 1974 IMSA season. It was piloted by John Buffum, and while the performances were promising, E9/R1 did have its fair share of mechanical maladies. Its highest finish that year was fourth in the Mid-Ohio 5 Hours.
BMW
Into Retirement and Private Hands
E9/R1 was later sold to Mexican racing driver Daniel Muñiz and later retired from active competition. The car was exchanged twice more, once in the ’80s with noted BMW collector Richard Conway, and to another unnamed collector who is said to be an expert on classic BMW competition cars.
The car underwent a decade-long restoration to bring it back to its test car look. It made its public debut at the 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed. It was then entered in the 2025 Salon Prive Concours D’Elegance at Blenheim Palace, winning the ‘Most Iconic Car’ award.
Dylan Miles LTD
So, How Much Is It Now?
As the saying goes, if you have to ask, you probably can’t afford it. The price is “on application,” so you can bet that it’ll go for serious money. Mind you, E9/R1 was already an expensive car way back in the ’70s.
When BMW M sold the car to Hurtig Team Libra in 1974, it went for a staggering 99,000 Deutsche Marks. For reference, a BMW 525 from 1973 cost 17,505 Deutsche Marks, so you’ll need five and a half 5 Series to match the price of the race car.
Can it reach a million dollars? It’s not too far from reality. Back in 2020, an M1 Procar fetched for $913,000. Given the significance of the E9/R1, that alone makes it worth it.
BMW
