2023 BMW 3.0 CSL's Cost Starts From $2.1 Million in Denmark, but It Can Get Worse

Last year, the Bavarian automaker ended its half-century anniversary with the official introduction of the 3.0 CSL, sending collectors everywhere into a frenzy. It's understandable. We were as excited as ever. After all, BMW M can't celebrate its 50th birthday again with another 3.0 CSL. And we must acknowledge that the Coupe Sport Lightweight (CSL) badge isn't something many BMW owners worldwide can say it's theirs. Thus, this particular vehicle has been on the radar of many well-off people.

Many rumors anticipated its launch after the M4 CSL had made its debut. It took BMW four months to confirm, but all 50 rear-wheel-drive units with an estimated starting price of $780,000 had a rightful owner soon after the public launch.

Still, the German marque decided to advertise this magnificent piece of awe-inducing automotive engineering. Some Danish customers have received a physical copy of the brand's "Lifestyle Magazine," which included details about BMW M's latest production adventures. Lo and behold, the 2023 BMW 3.0 CSL had a starting price of DKK 5,869,223 (USD 864,073). While that may seem somewhat appropriate (but still jaw-dropping considering its underpinnings), the tax-inclusive pricing may leave you wondering what is happening in Europe - it starts from DKK 14,599,146 (USD 2,149,303). It nearly triples!

The M4 CSL shares a similar fate. It has a starting price of DKK 1,107,233 (USD 163,008) that triples when tax is included. Specifically, it nears the half of million dollars threshold when all the state dues are factored in.

Being a gearhead is not for every Dane

Nobody's going to argue that these aren't special cars that do not warrant a specific yet ridiculous price. But for Danes, even a 2024 BMW 330i is expensive. The sedan with a four-cylinder banger putting out 255 hp (258 ps) has a tax-inclusive starting price of DKK 612,247 (USD 90,135). That's more than double the MSRP Americans see for a similar vehicle.

In Denmark, dealers usually take care of the registration process. Thus, they must apply the correct registration tax at the point of sale, that is:

• 25% of the first DKK 65,800 (USD 9,687);
• 85% of the next DKK 138,800 (USD 20,434);
• 150% of anything above DKK 204,600 (USD 30,121).

Thus, a car costing DKK5,000,000 (USD 736,105) will end up with a price of DKK 16,783,900 (USD 2,470,946) after the registration tax is applied.

While this registration tax tactic may seem outrageous to many, it's worth noting that Danes used to pay 105% of the next DKK 138,800 and 180% of anything above DKK204,600 before the new legislation was introduced and dropped them to current levels.

Moreover, if a vehicle is registered on or after July 1, 2021, the owner pays a yearly CO2 tax that is calculated based on the CO2 emissions of a car per kilometer. This one is tiered as well, meaning that buyers of polluting automobiles pay:

• DKK 253 (USD 37.2) per gram of CO2 if the car emits 0 to 121 grams of CO2 per kilometer;
• DKK 506 (USD 74.4) per gram of CO2 if the car emits 121 to 155 grams of CO2 per kilometer;
• DKK 961 (USD 141.4 ) per gram of CO2 if the car emits over 155 grams of CO2 per kilometer.

A Danish Audi RS 6 Avant owner would have to pay DKK 286,378 (USD 42,161) yearly just to be able to drive the V8-powered wagon in their home country.

Before this tax was introduced, drivers paid another one known as the "gron ejerafgift" based on the vehicle's fuel consumption. Gas guzzlers weren't welcomed in the European country, and, as it stands today, they still aren't.

However, the good news for Danes is that dealers don't do markups as often as in the US. They at least have this going for them, which is nice.

But it can get a lot worse

The same BMW 330i we used for comparison above has a starting cost of SGD 368,888 (USD 273,920) in Singapore – a country around 6,000% smaller than Denmark. This might be why two-car-owning households come in at 3%, while three cars or more are reserved for a few Singaporeans.

All new cars in Singapore have a base price known as the Open Market Value (OMV). However, nobody is paying that price. An SGD 20,000 (USD 14,851) car will cost at least SGD 40,000 (USD 29,702) because of the Additional Registration Fee (ARF). It is a tiered levy that starts at 100% of the vehicle's OMV and goes as high as 320% of the OMV.

But the tiny South Asian country is famous for its harsh policies directed at car owners. After buying a vehicle, people must register it. But instead of going to the DMV, they must enter a bidding contest for a certificate of entitlement (COE). The average cost of such a document can rise as high as SGD 75,800 (USD 56,286).

All this is happening because the country's Land Transport Authority (LTA) decides how many cars can be on Singapore's roads. On average, 50,000 new vehicles can be added every year. But these values greatly depend on how many units are scrapped or simply deregistered beforehand.

On top of expensive cars and bidding for registration, Singapore also has a tiered road tax system that punishes owners of vehicles with large displacement engines and a road usage fee built around the concept of limiting congestion. If you're driving a car over 10 years old, you'll also have to pay another tax.

Then, there is the goods and services tax (GST), the excise duty, and the dealer's margin. That's how the Recommended Retail Price (RRP) of a Mercedes-Benz C Class starts from SGD 224,888 (USD 166,992).

It's hard being a gearhead in some parts of the world. Remember to enjoy your passion today!