BMW M3 CS boosted to 630hp by Dahler
The CS felt beyond much meaningful improvement - that hasn't stopped a Swiss BMW tuner trying, though
For all the contentiousness of its design, mechanical specification and weight, the current BMW M3 is a superb sports saloon. Furthermore, if the M4 CSL wasn’t universally loved, the CS felt like another M car legend: faster and more focused, of course, while also being comfier when required as well. And, um, quite a bit more expensive. All of which means you wouldn’t expect a mad rush to modify, yet here we are…
Swiss company Dähler has had a little tweak of the flagship M3, the result being 630hp (up from 550hp) and 546lb ft (up from 479). As is often becoming the case with this S58 twin-turbo 3.0-litre straight six, not much has been required for such a substantial uplift: it’s Dähler’s Stage 1 ECU software, which retains the standard (titanium) exhaust. There’s a set of stainless steel pipes built by Dähler themselves if desired, which promises the ‘full, imposing and powerful sound characteristic.’ But both exhaust and engine tuning comply with the WLTP Euro 6d-TEMP standard, separately and combined.
Though different wheels are offered, Dähler has kept the standard 19-/20-inch rims to ‘preserve the exclusive character of the M3 CS as a collector’s edition.’ But if you’re thinking this looks a little meaner than what’s already a pretty aggressive standard car, very good spot: excitingly, this CS has also been equipped with four-way adjustable coilovers. Which feels like quite a big undertaking given how impressive the standard setup is. And if it can better that, this will be a very special M3 indeed.
Again built by Dähler, they offer low- and high-speed adjustment for both compression and rebound. The quite modest claim is that the coilovers ‘enhance the driving dynamics’. Those who don’t want to go the whole hog can get Dähler Competition Line springs to work alongside the standard dampers, with wheel spacers as well. They drop the car 24mm lower at the front and 3mm at the rear. Finally, it’s worth noting that this latest range of Dahler upgrades isn’t exclusive to the CS - they all fit the standard G80 M3 as well. From £50k now, don’t forget. Prices haven’t yet been released for the suspension or engine bits, though Dähler does have a range of UK suppliers for those interested. And who wouldn’t be just a bit intrigued by an M3 that looks like this with M5-besting power?
It might be unfair to Dahler and all the work they've put in but my emotional reaction to this is similar to when Alexandra Burke covered Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah.
That said, there are excellent covers of that song too. Here's hoping this product by Dahler is more Jeff Buckley than Alexandra Burke in that respect.
And now people aren't allowed to cover songs they like? Jesus. The sheer elitism!
And no one said people can't cover songs, just that the rest of us have the right to cringe if they do a s
t job of it. No one objects to Jeff Buckley's version.Really I'm trying to make a point/analogy between well/poorly tuned cars and music. Articles about tuned cars that no one's driven yet are difficult to interpret to distinguish between delicate treatment by connoisseurs and overly showy chav tat. That's not the author's fault, it's just that very few people will ever drive these to find out.
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