RE: Spotted: BMW M3 CS

[Big E 118]

Here's an excuse to put a couple of photos of my old CS, really enjoyed that car!

[Kong]

kambites said:

Kong said:

I'll ignore your comments about it being an automatic as I'm not going to bite. However the whole point of the CSL is to make it as fast and track orientated as possible which means SMG is better. I prefer swapping cogs myself too but it wouldn't put me off a CSL if I had the money.

I think this is what confuses me; for me "fast" and "track orientated" are completely unrelated. A track is exactly where I want the most interaction from a car; I don't give a damn how fast I'm going unless I'm actually racing. If I was buying a track car I wouldn't even want strong syncromeshes, let alone an automated box.

Each to their own, though.

You do get more interaction because you don't have to take your hand off the wheel to change gear so you get more control. Plus if it provides good enough interaction for F1 drivers to do their job then it's probably good enough for me

All things being equal I'd have the manual but I'd rather have SMG and get the CSL goodies.

[kambites]

Kong said:

You do get more interaction because you don't have to change take your hand off the wheel to change gear so you get more control. Plus if it provides good enough interaction for F1 drivers to do their job then it's probably good enough for me

All things being equal I'd have the manual but I'd rather have SMG and get the CSL goodies.

Why would F1 drivers want interaction? I'd imagine they want as much to be automated for them as possible - they'd run with fully automatic gearboxes if they were allowed to.

[Pookster]

bigweb said:

Ha I'm trying to sell a normal e46 M3 not a CS.

I will revise my 98% to 95% but I am sticking to that. As a car the CS is 95% of a CSL.

This is worth joining to say what a load of nonsense, but luckily I'm already a member. So what a load of nonsense.

[DanielSan]

kambites said:

Are they actually appreciating then?

Not sure on appreciating, they just seem to be sitting at a constant value. I've spent 12 months on and off looking at them just to see where the prices seem to be going, cheapest haven't dropped below £23k and the tidy ones are all around or just over the £30k mark.

[Chapppers]

Pookster said:

bigweb said:

Ha I'm trying to sell a normal e46 M3 not a CS.

I will revise my 98% to 95% but I am sticking to that. As a car the CS is 95% of a CSL.

This is worth joining to say what a load of nonsense, but luckily I'm already a member. So what a load of nonsense.

Hmm, do I know you?

[kambites]

How close to the CSL's weight could you get a "normal" M3 (or a CS) just by stripping out the bits that the CSL doesn't come with, and how much is down to using different materials in essential components (like the roof)?

[Mermaid]

kambites said:

How close to the CSL's weight could you get a "normal" M3 (or a CS) just by stripping out the bits that the CSL doesn't come with, and how much is down to using different materials in essential components (like the roof)?

Stick Cups on the car and you start to get closer quite quickly

[anniesdad]

Big E 118 said:

Here's an excuse to put a couple of photos of my old CS, really enjoyed that car!

What a great looking car, perfect colour and wheel combo.

Lovely...

Out of interest, what did you get rid of it for?

edited: other than to get into a new model car..

[Big E 118]

kambites said:

How close to the CSL's weight could you get a "normal" M3 (or a CS) just by stripping out the bits that the CSL doesn't come with, and how much is down to using different materials in essential components (like the roof)?

Take out the very heavy electric seats in the CS and you're getting a lot closer very easily! I think the other gains needed would get harder and more expensive.

[Kong]

kambites said:

Why would F1 drivers want interaction?

Are you joking? Maybe to help them drive on the limit oh adhesion at 200mph? You will saying they should wear wellingtons next!

Lets not have a 10 page debate mostly about semantics. Fact is you find a manual more fun (so do I) but I don't see how a drivers interaction with the road is negatively affected by SMG. Crap PAS yes, over jealous ESP yes but not SMG.

[kambites]

Kong said:

Are you joking? Maybe to help them drive on the limit oh adhesion at 200mph?

You think interaction with the gearbox will help them find the limits of grip at 200mph?

[renorti]

nice find, never knew about the CS.

[Mermaid]

renorti said:

nice find, never knew about the CS.

Rarer than the CSL - in the UK at least.

[Arun_D]

One of these, no additions and in Interlagos Blue...gorgeous.

[Itsallicanafford]

Mermaid said:

Stick Cups on the car and you start to get closer quite quickly

Here's a link to the CSL differences over the normal M3 if this is any help...

http://www.ca-automotive.co.uk/items/M3VsCSLSpecDi...

as the CS doesn't have the weight loss, you can see that there is quite alot to change to get close to the CSL weight. Also, i beleive the weight was lost only in places that did not effect the over weight distribution (but i am no expert)

[kambites]

Big E 118 said:

kambites said:

How close to the CSL's weight could you get a "normal" M3 (or a CS) just by stripping out the bits that the CSL doesn't come with, and how much is down to using different materials in essential components (like the roof)?

Take out the very heavy electric seats in the CS and you're getting a lot closer very easily! I think the other gains needed would get harder and more expensive.

Could you not specify the M3 without electric seats? How rubbish.

ETA: 77kg difference in front seat weight?!?!

[Big E 118]

anniesdad said:

What a great looking car, perfect colour and wheel combo.

Lovely...

Out of interest, what did you get rid of it for?

edited: other than to get into a new model car..

Thanks! I just really fancied the V8 M3 after a year of the CS. Couldn't fault the CS at all, it's a more involving/fun drive than the E92 M3.

[Kong]

kambites said:

Kong said:

Are you joking? Maybe to help them drive on the limit oh adhesion at 200mph?

You think interaction with the gearbox will help them find the limits of grip at 200mph?

Yes because they will have both hands on the steering wheel!

[carter711]

TaylotS2K said:

Would never buy one, simply for the fact they are mainly driven by rude boy bellends.

I agree that the E46 M3 is a prime bell end aquisition but it wouldn't stop me buying one if I decided that I wanted to pay for it. A well kept unmodified E46 M3 is a beautiful example of engineering and design and its important that you buy a car for the right reasons and not simply for status, or because you care what strangers might think of you.