The 'unique' colour is actually interlagos blue, and was only available on the M3 CS model
And Estoril Blue was never a special colour on the E46 either
Wrong.
The CS model, yes.. I actually owned one my self. Called CP ("Competition Package") in Sweden.
Interlagos blue was never an option for the CSL.
The CSL came as Grey or Black.. You could order it in what's refered to "individual", and then you could get it in Estoril blau.
99% of the CSL's (1400ish) produced was delivered as grey or black.. And a very few ones as Estoril blau (the most beautiful BMW original color ever).
Estorilblau, was not unusual on the E46 series and E53 series, that's true. But it was not a standard color ever.
Reason why it's so common is because it's really good looking.
Interlagos blue:
Estoril blue:
The Estoril blau was only awailable to the CSL as an "Individual" color.
I know that you can pick other colors as well, but for the CSL, the Estoril blau was the only option.
Interlagos blue "replaced" Estoril blau in 2005. That's why it was an option for the BMW M3 CP (CS), cause the CP (CS) was released in 2005.
In 2003, when the CSL was produced, the color "Interlagos blue" did'nt even exist.
There was a color called "Topaz blue", and that was a really popular color for the i.e M5 E39.
It was also the color of my E46 325i '01. 👍
This is in Sweden.. But I doubt Interlagos blue was released 2 years earlier in Scotland.
I'm not trying to be a smart ass here, but I'm
really in to BMW's.