#094 BMW CSL E9

Published August 22, 2025 | last update August 22, 2025 | 36 models online

The BMW E9-model was released first as 2800 CS in 1968, a few years later it was upgraded to the 3.0 CS carburetor version and CSi with fuel injection. It was very successful in touring car racing in the special homologated CSL versions, in which the L stands for “Leichtbau” or Light weight. Production of the model seized in 1975 but the E9 remained successful in racing for some more years.

1970 – 1972: BMW 2800 CS

1970 Nürburgring 300 km, BMW 2800 CS – Alpina. The 1970 300 km race was held in three seperate events. One race for cars up to 1300 cm3, one for cars up to 1600 cm3 and the third for cars above 1600 cm3. Austrian Günther Huber won the last one in his BMW in front of two Alfa Romeo 2000 GTAm, but got beaten overall by a 1300 cm3 Alfa Romeo. Other than the name suggests, the competition versions of the 2800 CS didn’t have a 2.8 liter engine, but already 3.0 liters with about 250 hp.
#63 Günther Huber (A) – 2nd – 1st > 1600 cm3
Alpina BMW 2800 CS – 3.0 liter BMW M30B30V – straight-6 carburetors, approx. 250 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1125 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E9 #unknown

• SPARK SG018 #241 / 500 pcs (resin). Spark promotes it as a car driven by Helmut Marko …

1971 Spa-Francorchamps 24h, BMW 2800 CS. Dominique Moorkens is a Belgian entrepreneur who was distributor of BMW in Belgium in the 60’s and 70’s. He even owned a factory that assembled BMW’s in Belgium to avoid import taxes. Moorkens competed in his home race with the beautiful BMW 2800 CS with support from Castrol. Unfortunately the engine seized early in the race.
#9 Dominique Moorkens (B) / Jean-Louis Haxhe (B) – DNF
BMW 2800 CS – 3.0 liter BMW M30B30V – straight-6, approximately. 270 hp. Tires unknown. Weight 1125 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E9 #unknown

• TROFÉU RR BE16 limited 150 pcs (resin)

1972 Grote Prijs van Zandvoort, BMW 2800 CS – Alpina. Thanks to local distributor Alimpo and the BMW dealers, Rob Slotemaker managed to lay his hands on an Alpina prepared BMW 2800 CS for the Dutch Touring Car Championship in 1972. He drove it very sideways which was his trade mark, but wasn’t very successful with it unfortunately.
#80 Rob Slotemaker (NL) – DNF
BMW 2800 CS – 3.0 liter BMW M30B30V – straight-6, approximately. 300 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1125 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E9 #unknown

• TROFÉU RR NL05 limited 150 pcs (resin)

1973 – 1974: Group 2 BMW 3.0 CSL

1973 Coupes de Spa, BMW 3.0 CSL – Alpina. Hans Stuck and Niki Lauda drove the #60 Alpina BMW to a class win in the 1000 km race of Spa in 1973. On Saturday, Lauda already raced the same car in a non-championship group 2 event at the same track, using #28. He won that 15-lap race after fighting off Alpina team-mate Brian Muir and Jochen Mass in a works Ford Capri.
#28 Niki Lauda (A) – 1st
Alpina BMW 3.0 CSL – 3.2 liter BMW M30B32 – straight-6, approx. 340 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1050 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E9 #unknown

• SPARK SB266 #348 / 750 pcs (resin)

1973 Nürburgring 24h, BMW 3.0 CSL – Alpina. The light weight CSL version of the BMW 3.0 was quick, especially the ones from tuner Alpina. The Jägermeister car won the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. This race didn’t last 24 hours at all that year; it was 2 times 8 hours with 8 hours in between because of bad weather … it wouldn’t be the last time such a thing happened.
#29 Niki Lauda (A) / Hans-Peter Joisten (D) – 1st
Alpina BMW 3.0 CSL – 3.2 liter BMW M30B32 straight-6, approx. 340 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1050 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E9 #unknown

• SPARK SG004 #720 / 1500 pcs (resin)

1973 Le Mans 24h, BMW 3.0 CSL. BMW lost the battle to Ford in 1972, but was the strongest in 1973. Toine Hezemans and Dieter Quester took victory in the Touring Car Class at Le Mans.
#51 Toine Hezemans (NL) / Dieter Quester (A) – 11th / 1st Touring
BMW 3.0 CSL – 3.2 liter BMW M30B32 straight-6, approx. 350 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1050 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E9 #2275998

SPARK S1562 (resin)

1973 Nürburgring 6h, BMW 3.0 CSL – Alpina. The BMW was back at the Nürburgring, but now for the 4th round of the European Touring Car Championship. Competition came from the factory team from BMW and Ford and also Schnitzer. By now the new rear spoiler on the CSL’s was homologated and the factory BMW’s finished first and second.
#15 Niki Lauda (A) / Hans-Peter Joisten (D) – 3rd
Alpina BMW 3.0 CSL – 3.2 liter BMW M30B32 straight-6, approx. 340 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1050 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E9 #unknown

• SPARK CASPA 010 #259 / 500 pcs (resin)

1973 Spa-Francorchamps 24h, BMW 3.0 CSL – BMW Motorsport. By the time the European Touring Car Championship reached Spa-Francorchamps, the BMW had homologated the rear wing and roof spoiler. Toine Hezemans and Dieter Quester won both the 24-hour race and the European Touring Car Championship.
#10 Toine Hezemans (NL) / Dieter Quester (A) – 1st
BMW 3.0 CSL – 3.2 liter BMW M30B32 straight-6, approx. 350 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1050 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E9 #2275998

• SPARK SB026 (resin)

1973 Spa-Francorchamps 24h, BMW 3.0 CSL – Luigi. BMW won the 24-hour race at Francorchamps and the European Touring Car Championship. This is the 3.0 CSL of local heroes Luigi Racing which only competed in their home races at Spa and Zolder. Unfortunately, they retired with a broken engine.
#17 Jean Xhenceval (B) / Willy Braillard (B) – DNF
Luigi BMW 3.0 CSL – 3.2 liter BMW M30B32 straight-6, approx. 340 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1050 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E9 #unknown

• SPARK SB038 #133 / 500 pcs (resin)

• SOLIDO 1075 (diecast)

1973 Paul Ricard 4h, BMW 3.0 CSL – Alpina. Round 8 of the European Championship. The Jägermeister car had some good results in the European Championship with different driver pairings. Derek Bell, Niki Lauda, Hans-Peter Joisten, Brian Muir all piloted the orange BMW. At Paul Ricard, Jacky Ickx and James Hunt were the drivers and finished second behind the works BMW from Hezemans and Quester.
#2 Jacky Ickx (B) / James Hunt (GB) – 2nd
Alpina BMW 3.0 CSL – 3.2 liter BMW M30B32 straight-6, approx. 340 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1050 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E9 #unknown

• SPARK S2820 (resin)

1973 Paul Ricard 4h, BMW 3.0 CSL – Schnitzer. The new BMW 3.0 CSL won 6 from 8 ETCC races, 4 by BMW Motorsport and 2 by Alpina. But more BMW teams participated, such as Schnitzer. This beautiful Schnitzer car retired at Paul Ricard, a race that was won by Hezemans and Quester.
#7 Bob Wollek (F) / Henri Pescarolo (F) – DNF
Schnitzer BMW 3.0 CSL – 3.2 liter BMW M30B32 straight-6, approx. 340 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1050 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E9 #unknown

• SPARK MX 020P (resin) – P stands for Pescarolo behind the wheel, a Wollek version also exists.

1974 European Touring Car Championship, BMW 3.0 CSL. Belgian team Précision Liegeoise competed in the 1974 European Championship races with their pale blue BMW. Alain Peltier and Jean-Louis Lafosse won twice using #1. At Salzburgring using #9, Peltier drove together with Hughes de Fierlant. The #12 is from the race at Zandvoort. Peltier finished 2nd in the championship behind Hans Heyer who drove the division 1 Zakspeed Ford Escort.
#9 Alain Peltier (B) / Hughes de Fierlant (B) – 3rd Salzburgring
Précision Liegeoise BMW 3.0 CSL (E9) – 3.2 liter BMW M30B32 straight-6, approx. 340 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1050 kg.Steel monocoque, chassisnr. #2275998

• DETAIL CARS 436 (diecast)

1974 Nürburgring 1000 km, BMW 3.0 CSL. BMW didn’t compete in all races in 1974, so Ford took the European title in their last year with the Capri. BMW however, did compete in some world championship races such as the 1000 km at the Nürburging. Not in the familiar white, but in a dark blue livery. The T on the car means that it competed in the Touring category. Ickx and Stuck had a nice battle with arch enemy Ford (see pic), but retired with a broken gearbox.
#71 Jacky Ickx (B) / Hans J. Stuck (D) – DNF
BMW 3.0 CSL – 3.2 liter BMW M30B32 straight-6, approx. 400 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1050 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E9 #unknown

• SPARK SG625 #049 / 400 pcs (resin)

1975 – 1976: IMSA specs, DTM & Group 5

BMW moved their activities to North America. The cars received a wide body and new 24-valve engine that produced at least 440 hp. In 1976 BMW Motorsport entered the new Group 5 regulations and even introduced a turbo version to compete with the Porsche 935.

1975 Sebring 12h, BMW 3.5 CSL. The 3.0 CSL won Sebring with four drivers as Stuck and Posey moved to the #25 when their car #24 broke down.
#25 Ronnie Petersen (S) / Brian Redman (GB) / Hans J. Stuck (D) / Sam Posey (USA) – 1st
BMW 3.5 CSL – 3.5 liter BMW M49/1 – straight-6, approx. 440 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1050 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E9 #2275984

• MINICHAMPS MC430 752925 (diecast 1:43)
• MINICHAMPS 80432454792 (metal 1:18)

1975 Le Mans 24h, BMW 3.0 CSL. The BMW entered by Hervé Poulain was the very first BMW Art Car. The livery was designed by Alexander Calder, a German artist and friend of Poulain. The car was fast in qualifying but retired early in the race.
#93 Hervé Poulain (F) / Jean Guichet (F) / Sam Posey (USA) – DNF
BMW 3.0 CSL – BMW M49/1 – 3.5 liter straight-6 injection – approx. 440 hp. Weight 1100 kg. Dunlop tires. Chassisnr. unknown

• SOLIDO + transit #unknown (diecast)

1975 Norisring, BMW 3.5 CSL. At the end of the 1974 season, Ford retired from Motorsport and archrival BMW went to the USA. Only for the most prestigious race in the 1975 DRM Championship at the Norisring , the old rivals met again. Peterson drove the car in the non championship “money race” and Stuck piloted it in the DRM race. Both times the BMW retired with brake problems. That last one was won by Jochen Mass in the old factory Capri.
#30 Trophy “money” race Ronnie Peterson (S)- DNF / DRM race Hans J. Stuck (D) – DNF
BMW 3.5 CSL – 3.5 liter BMW M49/1 – straight-6, approx. 440 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1050 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E9 #unknown

• MINICHAMPS MC430 752930 (diecast)

1975 Nürburgring 4h, BMW 3.5 CSL – Alpina. Privateer teams such as Schnitzer and Faltz-Alpina took over the BMW honors and did well: The Alpina team took the first 3 places in the Nürburgring 4-hour race in the ETCC. This was the winning car.
#2 Helmut Kelleners (D) / Harald Grohs (D) – 1st
Alpina BMW 3.0 CSL – 3.5 liter BMW M49/1 straight-6, approx. 440 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1050 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E9 #unknown

• SPARK Raceland Gold Edition RS 1407 #90 / 300 pcs

1975 DRM Hockenheim, BMW 3.5 CSL – Schnitzer. Privateer teams such as Schnitzer and Faltz Alpina continued racing the ETCC and DRM. Swiss Urs Zondler was one of the Schnitzer drivers, racing both series. He took pole position at the DRM race at Hockenheim, his team mate Albrecht Krebs took victory.
#41 Urs Zondler (CH) – pole position
Schnitzer BMW 3.5 CSL – 3.5 liter BMW M49/1 straight-6, approx. 440 hp Dunlop tires. Weight 1050 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E9 #unknown

• SPARK Raceland Gold Edition RS 1101 #393 / 500 pcs

1976 Daytona 24h, BMW 3.5 CSL. The factory “Bavarian Motor Works” team won the Sebring 12-hour race last year and this year’s Daytona 24-hour race. The Coca Cola sponsored #24 BMW finished 10th despite the damage, #25 retired. Drivers to the winning #59 were Peter Gregg, Brian Redman and John Fitzpatrick whose name isn’t on the car. He originally drove the #25 car together with Tom Walkinshaw.
#24 David Hobbs (GB)/ Benny Parsons (USA) – 10th
#59 Peter Gregg (USA) / Brian Redman (GB) / John Fitzpatrick (GB) – 1st
BMW 3.5 CSL – 3.5 liter BMW M49/1 – straight-6, approx. 440 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 1050 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnrs. BMW E9 #unknown

• TRUE SCALE MINIATURES TSM 114347 (resin)
• MINICHAMPS MC430 762959 (diecast)

1976 Silverstone 6h, BMW 3.0 CSL turbo. BMW customer teams contested the World Championship with normally aspirated CSL’s, not without success but they couldn’t match the pace of the Porsche 935 turbo. BMW developed a turbo version of the CSL that delivered a stunning 750 hp. It retired while the normally aspirated Tom Walkinshaw prepared CSL won the race. The turbo car would later race at Le Mans as Art Car, painted by Frank Stella.
#1 Ronnie Peterson (S) / Gunnar Nilsson (S) – DNF
BMW 3.0 CSL turbo – 3.2 liter BMW M49/4 straight-6 turbo, approx. 750 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 1100 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. BMW E9 #2275980

• SPARK SG376 (resin)

1976 Le Mans 24h, BMW 3.0 CSL turbo. To compete with the very successful Porsche 935, BMW fitted the proven CSL with a turbocharger. The 750 hp super saloon only raced at Silverstone, Le Mans and Dijon. At Le Mans the car was painted by artist Frank Stella and is the second in the Art Car range, an initiative by Hervé Poulain.
#41 Hervé Poulain (F) / Brian Redman (GB) / Peter Gregg (USA) – DNF
BMW 3.0 CSL turbo – 3.2 liter BMW M49/4 straight-6 turbo, approx. 750 hp. Weight 1100 kg. Goodyear tires. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. #2275980

• SOLIDO + transit #unknown (diecast)

1976 Le Mans 24h, BMW 3.5 CSL – Alpina. The new group 5 rules were a perfect match for Porsche. They developed the 935 out of the 911 turbo (930) streetcar. Their main competitor were the BMW CSL’s. The group 5 versions used the powerful 24 valve engine but still were not as strong as the turbo charged Porsches. The Alpina BMW managed a 2nd place at Vallelunga, behind the Martini Porsche.
#42 Sam Posey (USA) / Harald Grohs (D) /Hughes de Fierlant (B) – 10th / 4th Group 5
Alpina BMW 3.5 CSL (E9) – 3.5 liter BMW M49/3 straight-6, approx. 470 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 1100 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. #2275988

• SPARK S1562 (resin)

1976 Le Mans 24h, BMW 3.5 CSL – Schnitzer. This entry from Schnitzer retired after a fire in the 117th lap. At the long straights of Le Mans, it was no match for the turbo Porsches, but it managed to win the world championship races at Nürburgring and Zeltweg!
#43 Dieter Quester (A) / Albrecht Krebs (D) / Alain Peltier (B) – DNF
Schnitzer BMW 3.5 CSL (E9) – 3.5 liter BMW M49/3 straight-6, approx. 470 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 1100 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. #2275982

• SPARK S1570 (resin)

1976 Le Mans 24h, BMW 3.5 CSL – TWR .This British entry has been prepared by Tom Walkinshaw. He won the World Championship race at Silverstone, but at Le Mans had to retire early in the race after a fire.
#45 Tom Walkinshaw (GB) / John Fitzpatrick (GB) – DNF
TWR BMW 3.5 CSL (E9) – 3.5 liter BMW M49/3 straight-6, approx. 470 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 1100 kg. Steel monocoque, chassisnr. #2unknown

• SPARK S1567 (resin)

1974 – 1977: Cheaper alternatives

The group 5 cars were super spectacular but also mega expensive as these needed a constant development. Soon, the group 5 cars wouldn’t be improved touring cars anymore but space frame prototypes. Alternatives were created in Belgium the Trophee de l’Avenir and the French Production Car Championship.

1974 Spa-Francorchamps 24h, BMW 3.0 CSi – Luigi. The Spa 24-hour race was part of the new Trophée de l’Avenir. The rule set was a mix of standard Group 1 and improved Group 2. Cars were heavier and less powerful than before and only some BMW 3.0 CSi (not the light weight CSL which had no Group 1 homologation), Ford Capri 3.0S and Opel Commodore GS/E matched these new rules. But there was enough racing to enjoy; about 45 standard group 1 cars filled the grid.
#12 Jean Xhenceval (B) / Alain Peltier (B) / Pierre Dieudonné (B) – 1st
Luigi BMW 3.0 CSi – 3.0 liter BMW M30B30 straight-6, approx. 250 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1200 kg. Steel monocoque, chassinr. BMW E9 #unknown.

• SPARK 100 Ans Spa 43SPA1974 (resin)

1976 French Production Championship, BMW 3.0 CSi – Maublanc. The French Production Car Championship followed a similar route and was fought with Group 1b cars. Roughly the same rule set as the Trophee d’Avenir but without the wide wheel arches. Marie Claude Beaumont competed in a BMW 3.0 CSi. Her best result was 3rd at Le Castellet, the very competitive championship was won by Formula 1 driver Beltoise in a similar BMW.
#7 Marie Claude Beaumont – 3rd
Maublanc BMW 3.0 CSi – 3.0 liter BMW M30B30 straight-6, approx. 250 hp. tires unknown. Weight 1200 kg. Steel monocoque, chassinr. BMW E9 #unknown.

• SPARK SF038 (resin)

1976 – 1979: Group 2 BMW 3.0 CSL

The CSI (that would become FIA in 1978) wanted to create some distance between the Group 2 and the new Group 5 touring cars, so the Group 2 were a bit more limited than before. The wide bodies disappeared and only round wheel arches were allowed, also the tire size was limited and the 24-valve engines were not homologated.

1976 European Touring Car Championship, BMW 3.0 CSL – Luigi. The new group 5 category got much attention in 1977. The European Touring Car Championship, where they raced with group 2 touring cars got much less attention and not so large starting grids. BMW’s dominated the championship in 1976, most races won by the Luigi and Alpina teams. The #1 Luigi BMW took 5 wins and won the championship, the #2 won the race at the Nürburgring.
#1 Jean Xhenceval (B) / Pierre Dieudonné (B) – Championship 1st
#2 Claude de Wael (B) / Hughes de Fierlant (B) / Gunnar Nilsson (S) – Nürburgring 1st
Luigi BMW 3.0 CSL – 3.2 liter BMW M30B32 straight-6, approx. 370 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1050 kg. Steel monocoque, chassinrs. BMW E9 #unknown.

• #1 SPARK Endurance-Info.com #091 / 333 pcs (resin)
• #2 SPARK Raceland Gold Edition RS1207 #051 / 300 pcs (resin)

1977 European Touring Car Championship Nürburgring, BMW 3.0 CSL – Alpina. BMW’s dominated the championship in 1977, most races won by the Luigi and Alpina teams. Dieter Quester and F1 driver Gunnar Nilsson won the race at the Nürburgring in front of the heavy Jaguar XJ12C.
#1 Dieter Quester (A) / Gunnar Nilsson (S) – 1st
Alpina BMW 3.0 CSL – 3.2 liter BMW M30B32 straight-6, approx. 370 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1050 kg. Steel monocoque, chassinrs. BMW E9 #unknown.

• SPARK SG003 #974 / 1000 pcs (resin)

1977 Le Mans 24h, BMW 3.0 CSL – Luigi. Belgian Luigi Racing used to race European Touring Car Championship with their BMW CSL’s. They brought the group 2 cars to Le Mans. The #72 blew its engine, but the #71 car kept on going. It finished 8th, winning the IMSA category.
#71 Jean Xhenceval (B) / Pierre Dieudonné (B) / Spartaco Dini (I) – 8th / 1st IMSA
#72 Tom Walkinshaw (GB) / Eddie Joosen (B) / Claude de Wael (B) – DNF
Luigi BMW 3.0 CSL – 3.2 liter BMW M30B32 straight-6, approx. 370 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1050 kg. Steel monocoque, chassinrs. BMW E9 #unknown.

• SPARK S1573 & S1574 (resin)

1978 European Touring Car Championship Zandvoort, BMW 3.0 CSL – Luigi. The European Touring Car Championship had its best years behind. The big battles between BMW and Ford and later between BMW and Jaguar belonged to the past. Luigi Racing / BMW Italia entered this car for Umberto Grano who took the championship. He won 6 races; three together withTom Walkinshaw, one with John Fitzpatrick. At Zeltweg he drove together with local hero F2-star Markus Höttinger and at Zandvoort he was accompanied by former European Touring Car ChampionToine Hezemans.
#65 Umberto Grano (I) / Toine Hezemans (NL) – 1st
Luigi BMW 3.0 CSL – 3.2 liter BMW M30B32 straight-6, approx. 370 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 1050 kg. Steel monocoque, chassinrs. BMW E9 #unknown.

• SPARK Raceland Gold Edition RS1104 #391 / 400 pcs (resin)

1979 European Touring Car Championship Zandvoort, BMW 3.0 CSL – Luigi. The European Touring Car Championship was , more and more standard group 1 cars were called on to fill the small grids. It was the last year for the old BMW 3.0 CSL but they still dominated the championship: The Jolly Club BMW from Finotto and Facetti took the title with 5 wins. The Luigi BMW from Belgian drivers Xhenceval, Van Hove and Diedonné finished 2nd with 3 wins. Also 3 wins for the BMW Italia car from Grano and Joosen, they finished third. Model producer Spark advertises with this car as winner at Silverstone, but that’s not true, Jolly Club won at Silverstone and this one retired.
#1 Umberto Grano (I) / Eddy Joosen (B) – DNF
Luigi BMW 3.0 CSL – 3.2 liter BMW M30B32 straight-6, approx. 370 hp. Pirelli tires. Weight 1050 kg. Steel monocoque, chassinrs. BMW E9 #unknown.

• SPARK SI001 (resin)

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