RE: Spotted: BMW M3 CS
Discussion
what a load of s
t this artical is. pistonheads i can't believe you've let it go to print. pistonheads is now massive! there are hundreds of people out there surely that want a job here with real life experience of performance cars! for example the likes of chris harris, you should be employing people along the same lines as him, as it makes interesting reading.
good effort matt bird got nothing aganist you as we all have to start somewhere. but your on one of the biggest online car forums/sales websites there is. writing about cars and the previous cars you've owned are a rover 25 1.4ie and a vw polo 1.3 cl.
i understand you must have driven an m3 e46, m3 cs and driven a m3 csl for you comments to stand??
rant over and shoot me down if you like but i hope a small minority may understand where i'm coming from.
t this artical is. pistonheads i can't believe you've let it go to print. pistonheads is now massive! there are hundreds of people out there surely that want a job here with real life experience of performance cars! for example the likes of chris harris, you should be employing people along the same lines as him, as it makes interesting reading. good effort matt bird got nothing aganist you as we all have to start somewhere. but your on one of the biggest online car forums/sales websites there is. writing about cars and the previous cars you've owned are a rover 25 1.4ie and a vw polo 1.3 cl.
i understand you must have driven an m3 e46, m3 cs and driven a m3 csl for you comments to stand??
rant over and shoot me down if you like but i hope a small minority may understand where i'm coming from.
Edited by dave wilkinson on Saturday 8th December 13:38
The CS is a nice car but i really don't get all these comparisons with the CSL as if the latter is overpriced
The reality is the CSL is like a completely different model. It is like comparing a Carrera to a GT3 RS...completely different. Articles like this may be great for the egos of M3 drivers, but from my experience the CSL is a whole nother level. I've had both...no comparison!
The reality is the CSL is like a completely different model. It is like comparing a Carrera to a GT3 RS...completely different. Articles like this may be great for the egos of M3 drivers, but from my experience the CSL is a whole nother level. I've had both...no comparison!
hondansx said:
The CS is a nice car but i really don't get all these comparisons with the CSL as if the latter is overpriced
The reality is the CSL is like a completely different model. It is like comparing a Carrera to a GT3 RS...completely different. Articles like this may be great for the egos of M3 drivers, but from my experience the CSL is a whole nother level. I've had both...no comparison!
In my opinion using the Porsche 911 997.2 range as an example .... The reality is the CSL is like a completely different model. It is like comparing a Carrera to a GT3 RS...completely different. Articles like this may be great for the egos of M3 drivers, but from my experience the CSL is a whole nother level. I've had both...no comparison!
E46 M3 Coupe = 997.2 Carrera 2S Coupe
E46 M3 CS Coupe = 997.2 Carrera GTS Coupe (Parts bin special based largely on Carrera 2S or in the BMW's regular M3 Coupe) though a Carrera GTS has more extra parts I think than a M3 CS
E46 M3 CSL = 997.2 GT3 RS 4.0 or pretty much one of the GT3's (Based on the regular M3 Coupe but with extensive improvements similarly the GT3 is largely based on the Carrera 2S (except the engine which is of GT1 lineage as far as I am aware) but also with extensive improvements)
Pr1964 said:
Not daft talk at all. V’s a standard M3.
335i has more torque it's only .5 of a second slower to 60mph.
Yes I'm serious for every day use the 335i is probably going to be just as much fun.
And that’s even more likely when comparing a newer lower mileage e92 335i to some leggy old e46 M3 which has lost 10%+ power over the years and has suspension which needs a rebuild.
If you need an every day car then the later e92 is the way to go.
If you want a track day car then the M3 would probably be a better choice but even then I'm sure the 335i would still be a lot of fun around a track.
Personally I tootle around town 90% of the time so a 330i E93 with a manual box works for me the best compromise it’s definitely no M3 .. but still a fantastic drive.
After much consideration and research I decided I was going to get an M3 CS.335i has more torque it's only .5 of a second slower to 60mph.
Yes I'm serious for every day use the 335i is probably going to be just as much fun.
And that’s even more likely when comparing a newer lower mileage e92 335i to some leggy old e46 M3 which has lost 10%+ power over the years and has suspension which needs a rebuild.
If you need an every day car then the later e92 is the way to go.
If you want a track day car then the M3 would probably be a better choice but even then I'm sure the 335i would still be a lot of fun around a track.
Personally I tootle around town 90% of the time so a 330i E93 with a manual box works for me the best compromise it’s definitely no M3 .. but still a fantastic drive.
A friend of mine suggested I go for the 335i instead. He mentioned how smooth and refined they were and sounded nice and I would be getting a new shape car. Of course he also mentioned how quick they can become if I invested a little money in the modding side of things.
I tested a 335i out. Have to say I got out thinking that is a very nice car. I personally find the E90's OK in their various guises. But I did feel I would get bored of this car relatively quickly.
I then tested an M3 CS and got out thinking what a fantastic car! I was buzzing inside. Have to say I still love the E46 M3 shape and imho it's far better looking than any of the E90's standard 3 series.
I didn't realise how much I would love the M over the 335i.
So yesterday I joined the 'M' club again! Picked up a nice lowish miles (53k) CS in interlagos blue and have driven about 700 miles this weekend and its just a magical car with an epic engine :-)
Naddy786 said:
After much consideration and research I decided I was going to get an M3 CS.
A friend of mine suggested I go for the 335i instead. He mentioned how smooth and refined they were and sounded nice and I would be getting a new shape car. Of course he also mentioned how quick they can become if I invested a little money in the modding side of things.
I tested a 335i out. Have to say I got out thinking that is a very nice car. I personally find the E90's OK in their various guises. But I did feel I would get bored of this car relatively quickly.
I then tested an M3 CS and got out thinking what a fantastic car! I was buzzing inside. Have to say I still love the E46 M3 shape and imho it's far better looking than any of the E90's standard 3 series.
I didn't realise how much I would love the M over the 335i.
So yesterday I joined the 'M' club again! Picked up a nice lowish miles (53k) CS in interlagos blue and have driven about 700 miles this weekend and its just a magical car with an epic engine :-)
Congratulations! Although the 335i is a great car, I agree that it may be a bit boring after a while - it's not an 'M'.. Having moved from e46 M3 to a 3.0 Z4 in the spring I'm itching to get another M3 and these threads don't help! The Z4 is a very good car in it's own right (albeit flawed in some areas), but it just has that mass produced feel that the M3 doesn't have. Did you buy a manual or SMG car? Any pics yet?A friend of mine suggested I go for the 335i instead. He mentioned how smooth and refined they were and sounded nice and I would be getting a new shape car. Of course he also mentioned how quick they can become if I invested a little money in the modding side of things.
I tested a 335i out. Have to say I got out thinking that is a very nice car. I personally find the E90's OK in their various guises. But I did feel I would get bored of this car relatively quickly.
I then tested an M3 CS and got out thinking what a fantastic car! I was buzzing inside. Have to say I still love the E46 M3 shape and imho it's far better looking than any of the E90's standard 3 series.
I didn't realise how much I would love the M over the 335i.
So yesterday I joined the 'M' club again! Picked up a nice lowish miles (53k) CS in interlagos blue and have driven about 700 miles this weekend and its just a magical car with an epic engine :-)
Sidewindow said:
For those concerned with poor steering feel, this can be improved by moving the front strut tops inwards to increase negative camber angle. There are factory lock bolts in the top mounts which can be removed to allow this, settings are still within factory tolerances as far as i know. With a proper set up this improves turn-in and self-centering for a better drive.
Those 'lock bolts' are pressed indents in the strut tops of the majority of E46's, which you need to drill out to play with geometry. Rotating the strut mount 60 degrees alters the camber in itself.The steering feel on E46's was a moot point anyhow, with many comments saying the original E46 was over-servo'd, i.e. the steering was too light. It became heavier over time to add feel. The CS is supposed to use the CSL rack, so I would imagine it's pretty sharp.
P2BS said:
The CS is supposed to use the CSL rack, so I would imagine it's pretty sharp.
This is the biggest improvement from my point of view. Having owned normal E46 M3's and now a CS, the steering feel is a big step forward in the CS. I've found that I have much more confidence in turn-in and the car reacts much more keenly to inputs from the helm. The rest of the CS package is nice to have, but the steering rack gives the greatest reward. I agree that the CS and CSL seem completely different cars.
It's the reason I'd far rather own a CS than a CSL.
IMHO the CS is a great compromise car, built to do a lot of things and the manual gearbox gives a lot more driving pleasure (which I appreciate may be a personal thing - for me it would now be the starting point on choosing any "fun" car though).
The CSL is leaps and bounds better on a track or when driving hard on the road - but the only occasions I do that are when there are no more than two people in the car, in which case a CSL wouldn't see which way an equivalently priced Caterham or Radical went surely?
It's the reason I'd far rather own a CS than a CSL.
IMHO the CS is a great compromise car, built to do a lot of things and the manual gearbox gives a lot more driving pleasure (which I appreciate may be a personal thing - for me it would now be the starting point on choosing any "fun" car though).
The CSL is leaps and bounds better on a track or when driving hard on the road - but the only occasions I do that are when there are no more than two people in the car, in which case a CSL wouldn't see which way an equivalently priced Caterham or Radical went surely?
Big E 118 said:
anniesdad said:
V8's do have a certain allure, don't they?! I was looking at some a short while back as an option, may still do something in the new year. What's your opinion now that you've lived with the E92 for a while? Would you say that you made the right choice, moving from the CS to the E92? Sacrificing a little of the fun factor for performance and arguably better day to day abilities?
edited: I can see through your posting history that you've put some initial impressions up comparing the two.
Edited by anniesdad on Wednesday 5th December 13:03
The only downside is the steering, the CS has very sharp and direct steering which IMO really transformed the car over the standard E46 M3 where as the E92 steering is too assisted and you get a touch too much under steer. That is being particularly critical though.
The E92 is certainly a great car but just doesn't pull the heart strings like the CS did.
My friend who is a BMW Dealer Technician says he prefers a E92 M3 Competition Package DCT over a E46 M3. Though i am not sure if he has driven the CS. He just does not like SMGII. He has a E46 M3 Coupe with a BMW Manual Gearbox which he bought a month or so ago now.
Just for the record guys I bought this car.
It’s fine, got a full history, its been on the ramps the rear floor has not a single crack!
The Hamann s/wheel centre was just a sticker the BMW now shows, the Hamann wide footrest is gone, the lovely red leather has fresh treatment and the interior is now excellent certainly for 65k.
Drives really well, everything works, its lowered but not too much and ride is fine.
The eyelids are gone and I expect the flashers and No plate surrounds will follow.
I like the colour combo and there are less than 100 manual non sun roof cars in the country, so you cant be too fussy if that’s what you want.
For £13k it takes some beating, especially if you can only have one car….
It’s fine, got a full history, its been on the ramps the rear floor has not a single crack!
The Hamann s/wheel centre was just a sticker the BMW now shows, the Hamann wide footrest is gone, the lovely red leather has fresh treatment and the interior is now excellent certainly for 65k.
Drives really well, everything works, its lowered but not too much and ride is fine.
The eyelids are gone and I expect the flashers and No plate surrounds will follow.
I like the colour combo and there are less than 100 manual non sun roof cars in the country, so you cant be too fussy if that’s what you want.
For £13k it takes some beating, especially if you can only have one car….
u009909 said:
Just for the record guys I bought this car.
It’s fine, got a full history, its been on the ramps the rear floor has not a single crack!
The Hamann s/wheel centre was just a sticker the BMW now shows, the Hamann wide footrest is gone, the lovely red leather has fresh treatment and the interior is now excellent certainly for 65k.
Drives really well, everything works, its lowered but not too much and ride is fine.
The eyelids are gone and I expect the flashers and No plate surrounds will follow.
I like the colour combo and there are less than 100 manual non sun roof cars in the country, so you cant be too fussy if that’s what you want.
For £13k it takes some beating, especially if you can only have one car….
Congratulations mate enjoy :-)It’s fine, got a full history, its been on the ramps the rear floor has not a single crack!
The Hamann s/wheel centre was just a sticker the BMW now shows, the Hamann wide footrest is gone, the lovely red leather has fresh treatment and the interior is now excellent certainly for 65k.
Drives really well, everything works, its lowered but not too much and ride is fine.
The eyelids are gone and I expect the flashers and No plate surrounds will follow.
I like the colour combo and there are less than 100 manual non sun roof cars in the country, so you cant be too fussy if that’s what you want.
For £13k it takes some beating, especially if you can only have one car….
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