BMW E9

BMW E9 at a glance

From the four-cylinder 2000 CS to a six-cylinder coupé

The E9 grew out of the 2000 C and 2000 CS, the four-cylinder coupés BMW built from 1965 to 1969. To fit the new M30 straight-six, BMW lengthened the wheelbase and the nose, and the result went on sale as the 2800 CS in 1968. Karmann built the bodies. Retro Rides names the Osnabrück factory and Munich for final assembly, while Wikipedia gives Rheine, so the location varies between sources.

The coupé sat above BMW's saloons of the time, including the smaller two-door models in our BMW 2002 guide. The M30 engine was also BMW's base for the CSL racing programme that followed in the 1970s.

Engines and versions from 2800 CS to 2.5 CS

Build numbers come from Wikipedia DE and myAutoWorld; Wikipedia EN splits them by market and gearbox and arrives at slightly different totals, for example 11,063 for the 3.0 CS in one source and 10,898 in another.

The 3.0 CS replaced the 2800 CS in April 1971 and brought disc brakes on all four wheels. The 3.0 CSi followed in autumn 1971 with Bosch D-Jetronic electronic injection and 147 kW (200 PS). Manual cars used a Getrag four-speed gearbox, and the automatic CSA versions a Borg-Warner unit. The 2.5 CS came in February 1974 as BMW's response to the oil crisis, with 110 kW (150 PS) and 0-100 km/h in 9.9 s.

The CSL: a homologation lightweight

BMW launched the CSL in May 1972 so that the coupé could race in the European Touring Car Championship. The body used thinner steel, an aluminium bonnet, boot lid and door skins, Plexiglas rear windows and less sound insulation and trim, saving up to 200 kg. A limited-slip differential was standard, and buyers who wanted more comfort could order a "city package".

The first 169 cars still had the 2,985 cc carburettor engine of the 3.0 CS. The second run, from August 1972, used a 3,003 cc injected six. In July 1973 BMW homologated an aerodynamic package with a deep front air dam, fins on the front wings, a roof spoiler and a tall rear wing. The wing was supplied in the boot for the owner to fit, and the look earned the car the nickname "Batmobile". The final cars had 3,153 cc and 152 kW (206 PS).

Six European titles and the Group 5 years

Toine Hezemans won the 1973 European Touring Car Championship in a 3.0 CSL and, with Dieter Quester, took a class win at Le Mans the same year. CSL drivers won the European title again in every season from 1975 to 1979, including Quester with Alpina in 1977 and Umberto Grano in a Luigi-entered car in 1978.

The 1974 works racing version used 3,498 cc and 324 kW (440 PS). In 1976 works-supported Group 5 CSLs won three rounds of the World Championship for Makes against the Porsche 935, a racing derivative of the Porsche 911, and kept the title open until the final round. In 1975 Sam Posey, Brian Redman and Ronnie Peterson also won races with the CSL in the American IMSA series.

The road car gave way to the E24 6 Series in 1976.

BMW E9 today: what to check when buying

Classic & Sports Car (July 2019) notes that Karmann's rust protection was minimal. Retro Rides (October 2025) lists the window openings, sills, floors and sunroof as places to check, warns that the underside can be bad on a car that looks good elsewhere and says cars first sold in snowy countries carry the highest risk. The bonnet can bend if it is slammed or caught by wind while open.

On the M30, corrosion in the alloy head's water passages can lead to blown gaskets and cracked heads; look for emulsion under the oil filler cap and signs of overheating. Check the D-Jetronic cars for fuel smells and leaks, the Getrag gearbox for worn synchromesh and noisy bearings, and the clutch for slip. Leaking struts, broken springs, worn bushes and play in the steering gear are common.

A claimed CSL needs proof. Chassis numbers begin 2-275- (2-285- for right-hand drive), and the inner-wing spot-weld pattern and BMW Classic records help confirm a real car. Other BMW models are in our BMW catalogue, and the wider period is covered in our classic cars section.

Classic Trader's market overview of sales data from 2021 to January 2026 puts well-presented 3.0 CS and CSi coupés at about EUR 60,000-125,000. Most 3.0 CSL offers in the same January 2026 overview sit at about EUR 170,000-300,000, with race and special cars far higher; these are mainly asking prices.

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