Discussion
Hi fellas
The pictures seem to have got a fair deal of attention! As they should, yup Dinkel you're right, Paul Harmer took the shots and once again did a stunning job with some moody London backdrops. I had no idea Sainsburys' car park and a dingy backstreet by Paddington Station could look so good!
Cheers
Nick
>> Edited by nickmhall on Saturday 11th February 18:32
The pictures seem to have got a fair deal of attention! As they should, yup Dinkel you're right, Paul Harmer took the shots and once again did a stunning job with some moody London backdrops. I had no idea Sainsburys' car park and a dingy backstreet by Paddington Station could look so good!
Cheers
Nick
>> Edited by nickmhall on Saturday 11th February 18:32
love his work . . . but you know that Nick. Doesn't mean I don't like the write up, it's yours and Grahams I like to read most . . . but hey, it's all quality stuff on PH isn't it 
DoctorD said:
You're welcome to try buying the upgrade parts on the aftermarket, but you'll not have much luck. You can't buy CSL parts from BMW without a valid CSL chassis number.
There's a certain CSL in Middlesex that must be having some serious problems with its wheels because they keep having to use their chassis number to get new sets.
Maybe they need a set for dry weather, a set for wet weather, a set for winter and a set for track days?
Or perhaps they're selling them to people like my mate to put onto his regular M3?
I have just got a CSL, a lot less money than a new CS with only 11k on the clock, drove a standard M3 worked out the CS must be the same, what reason is there for buying over the CSL. I have done 1100 miles in 2 weeks business and pleasure, the ride is firm but not bad, the seats are superb and the noise dont even get me started on that. My playstation hating girlfriend even wanted to play GT4 driving a CSL with the steering wheel just so she can use my new toy will let when she can lap Nurburgring in 8.00mins!!!!!!
Cant wait to get my Lotec E30 M3 350 bhp with that huge turbo from the company finishing off the work I have had done what a choice to face just to get to work.
Cant wait to get my Lotec E30 M3 350 bhp with that huge turbo from the company finishing off the work I have had done what a choice to face just to get to work.
DoctorD said:
But will it be remembered as a classic? I suspect with hindsight BMW should have made the M3 like the M3 CS all along. That would still have allowed room for an M3 CSL. It's amusing to see reviews of the M3 CS being all positive and glowing, when many reviewers were far more critical of the CSL. Perhaps it's taken them so long to understand it's virtues or recognise some of the limitations with the standard E46 M3. Price obviously has a bearing and whilst £40-50k seems straightforward for most to accept, I suspect £60k wasn't.
In some respects the biggest problem the M3 CS has is the M3 CSL which is available on the second-hand market for much less money and is a much more impressive car to drive, if you can do without some creature comforts.
I drove a manual M3CS this week that was also fitted with Stoptech brake upgrade, front and rear. I can honestly say it's the most pleasant, well sorted and fun M3 I have ever driven (had 5 before and CSL too - driven a lot of them...)
It was just so right I was struggling to criticise anything really. It also murdered the new RS4 I drove a couple of weeks ago too
Deeply impressive, but it's hard to argue a £34-38k CSL vs a £38k M3 CS in today's market.
Zod said:
No, Gareth, you never gave the CSL enough of a chance. It is in a different league from the CS.
Not really Charlie....and that wasn't what I was really saying here. As an overall ownership package the M3 CS I drove beat any CSL hands down. However if a CSL is not your main car, or you do little mileage, then it is, of course, a fine alternative. If you also enjoy track days on a regular basis then the CSL once again comes into it's own.
Have driven plenty of CSL's on the road and track since owning mine and I just really prefer the Manual stick shift compared to the SMG II - especially on the road. On the track the SMG is superior without a doubt.
Also a decent CSL will hold it's value (due to it's limited production status) a lot more than a CS, hence my last comment.
Gareth W said:Understood!
No, Gareth, you never gave the CSL enough of a chance. It is in a different league from the CS.
Not really Charlie....and that wasn't what I was really saying here. As an overall ownership package the M3 CS I drove beat any CSL hands down. However if a CSL is not your main car, or you do little mileage, then it is, of course, a fine alternative. If you also enjoy track days on a regular basis then the CSL once again comes into it's own.
Have driven plenty of CSL's on the road and track since owning mine and I just really prefer the Manual stick shift compared to the SMG II - especially on the road. On the track the SMG is superior without a doubt.
Also a decent CSL will hold it's value (due to it's limited production status) a lot more than a CS, hence my last comment.
Hi - I'm new to this "piston head" talk thing and only stumbled on it whilst looking for infomation on the M3 CS and CSL. I find myself in the lucky position of hopefully being able to buy a used M3 in the next couple of months. At the moment I have an RS focus, but need to get out of my mid-life crisis and get something more grown up! I've driven a standard M3 but not the CS or CSL. Now that the prices of both a new CS and used CSL are close - which one is the best? I'll be using it for work every day in the London traffic with the odd burst around when I get the chance. I hope you experienced M3 chaps can give me some advice please.
Hi Barry, the main difference between an M3 CS and CSL is that the CSL weighs around 130kg less and has an engine that produces 30 or so horses more. The CSL is also a more alert and dynamic car to drive, louder, more viceral and a whole lot more thrilling. Its engine is more peaky and revs harder. The M3 CS feels a little baggy and subdued in comparison. Some claim the CS is the better all round car because you can enjoy it in more circumstances (i.e. better suited as a day-to-day car), it's also easier to drive being softer and less edgy. But it will depend on what you are looking for in a car. The CSL is a track car that's also very fine on the road - many people use them on a daily basis, but it's not as easy to use daily as a regular BMW. The M3 CS is arguably what the M3 should have been in the first place, so it's basically an M3 in it's final and most impressive evolution.
Hi Dr.D , Zod & Baz,
Many thanks for your advice and info. I've tried to read as much as I can about the CS and CSL. Although I haven't driven either of these yet (which is my next step really), I was unsure how suitable the CSL would be on a daily basis as I would need a few comforts like a CD player and air con. at least. For work, I'm a Senior Fire Officer and have to use my car to go to fires etc. with blue lights and sirens. It sounds good fun and is with the RS focus at the moment, but I was concerned that the CSL was purely a 'track day' car and would be too aggresive with extra hard ride.
>> Edited by BAZ 999 on Thursday 13th April 20:16
Many thanks for your advice and info. I've tried to read as much as I can about the CS and CSL. Although I haven't driven either of these yet (which is my next step really), I was unsure how suitable the CSL would be on a daily basis as I would need a few comforts like a CD player and air con. at least. For work, I'm a Senior Fire Officer and have to use my car to go to fires etc. with blue lights and sirens. It sounds good fun and is with the RS focus at the moment, but I was concerned that the CSL was purely a 'track day' car and would be too aggresive with extra hard ride.
>> Edited by BAZ 999 on Thursday 13th April 20:16
BAZ 999 said:
Hi Dr.D , Zod & Baz 1985,
Many thanks for your advice and info. I've tried to read as much as I can about the CS and CSL. Although I haven't driven either of these yet (which is my next step really), I was unsure how suitable the CSL would be on a daily basis as I would need a few comforts like a CD player and air con. at least. For work, I'm a Senior Fire Officer and have to use my car to go to fires etc. with blue lights and sirens. It sounds good fun and is with the RS focus at the moment, but I was concerned that the CSL was purely a 'track day' car and would be too aggresive with extra hard ride.
The ride isn't bad, in fact it's firm but still compliant. No chance of rattling your fillings or jarring your spine, just heavily damped and controlled.
I really find it hard to advise people on the every day usability of the CSL because mine sits in its own comfy garage being used only on track-days and other social excursions. The only thing that's not very user-friendly is the way it demands you pay attention, not because it's scary but because it's very alert and hyperactive. I've driven mine 700 miles in a day, so it's fine for long journeys too. Also the materials used on it are less sturdy than normal. The front bumper which is more easily cracked than a normal PU bumper, costs £2500 to replace (and isn't easily mended). Then there's all the CF inside which can be scratched if your're not careful and some of the surfaces (such as the seat backs) can also easily be scratched. So it's designed for light-weight and performance rather than standing up to a weekly trip to Homebase. But as long as you understand that, then there's no reason why you cannot enjoy it every day.
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