CSL as a daily driver?

[mrdemon]

RTAB can go at any time depends on how hard you drive the car.

some have gone at 7k miles mine went at 27k miles.

Clutch slip is the same some people have had 2 new clutchs in 7k miles.

my car is one of the higer milage cars (if you can call 29k miles high, its just run in)

and my clutch is fine.

As 4 the bumper its classed as a CFP bumber (Carbon Fibre reinforced plastic) the boot is Duroplast.

[robm3]

Zod said:

mrdemon said:

not only that i have the sport button always on.

Doesn't everyone? Without it, the flap opens at higher revs, so you don't get to hear the glorious sound as often.

Ah, I thought it sounded better!
Does the sport button do anything else apart from remapping the throttle sensitivity?
E.g. Brakes or Dampers?

[m3desmo]

No, sport button only changes throttle response.

[michm3]

Is it possible to fit an OEM SatNav into the CSL...I know some of you will say it's not CSL-spirit and it adds weight to this beautifull performer...for me it'd be a great help. It'd also sharpen my desire of owning one.

Anyone?

[adamb]

Yes - someone on bm3w did it - looked pretty professional...

[MichM3]

great news!!!...yes also thought that with OEM parts you could achieve something.

[michm3]

What about fuel consumption of the CSL compared to the regular ///M3 on a daily driver basis?

[m12_nathan]

better I'd guess as it is lighter.

[michm3]

Don't think so...the big airbox sucks air like a vacuum cleaner!

[m12_nathan]

Only if your definition of daily drive is wide open throttle all the time.

It is better on fuel than my other halfs R32 when driven normally on busy commuting roads through town, I have no reason to think it'd be worse than the normal M3.

[DasChin]

better than the std m3 as it is lighter and has to not work as hard to pull the thing along.

first thing I noticed as have other E46 owners who had M3s.

[michm3]

That surprises me!!..but it's good news indeed:-)

[m3desmo]

Depends a lot on your abuse of the throttle pedal! But on a swift motorway drive over distance, I have found the consumption better than my previous '04 M3. It also feels happier cruising in 6th gear and more eager to pull than the M3. Suppose as said this is due to the lesser weight that is being lugged about. As an aside, there is also a marked difference in accellaration between fully fuelled and running on a low tank. Extra weight is a bigger duller of performance than many realise.

[michm3]

And what about driving in different temperatures? Very cold and very hot? Can the mapping of the fuel cope with these exremetees or can you notice some dips/hesitations?

[ChrisW.]

I drove mine, all weathers ---- with Michelin PS2's no problem.

I took delivery of it in October 2003 --- was I going to just look at it ?

They are great, and reasonably economical --- but you don't buy a car like that for it's economy.

Buy my Audi A2 TDI Sport instead !

Edited by ChrisW. on Saturday 27th January 18:35

[MichM3]

I agree..but I cover 40k - 50k km a year...so economy is important to me

[ChrisW.]

MichM3 said:

I agree..but I cover 40k - 50k km a year...so economy is important to me

How about one of the big engied diesel 3 series BM's

But it won't feel or sound like a CSL --- maybe you need two cars ? !

[StevieS]

Doing that sort of mileage will likely effect the depreciation quite a bit as well.

[wizz72]

The only problems i incurred on a regular basis were slight clutch slippage and a dodgy diff (the latter being remedied by a new diff under warranty), i used mine daily and loved every mile, its blend of practicality and performance near unbeatable.I would look long and hard into an older higher mileage example tho as BMWs extended warranty is not the best and incurrs excesses per claim which is crap, lets not forget that most m3s especially csls will have been driven hard(after all thats what they r 4)and im sure at some point many will need work doing which will not be cheap.Rattles and squeeks will become more apparent with age as the stiff suspension will tend to loosen up even the best Germanic fitments after a while, but find a good well serviced example and im sure that you will not be dissapointed

[robm3]

michm3 said:

What about fuel consumption of the CSL compared to the regular ///M3 on a daily driver basis?

I've run both an E46 M3 and CSL (current), the standard car got me around 25mpg whereas the CSL is around 26mpg. Both with the same sort of driving (fast road). Interestingly enough, a friends 330ci gets around 24mpg and it's driven slower!