Friday 26th June 2009

Pic Of The Week: BMW 3.0 CSL At Goodwood

A classic BMW at a classic event

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It's a bitter-sweet POTW, this - the BMW 3.0 CSL 'Batmobile' charging up the Goodwood hill climb course at the Festival of Speed back in 2003.

Why bitter-sweet? Well, we're pretty bitter that the lights have gone out at Karmann, the coachbuilder that gave us such great cars as the original VW Scirocco, the Ford Escort Cosworth, the Porsche 356 and, of course, the immaculately proportioned BMW 3.0CS on which this car is based.

On the other hand, the racing BMW 3.0 CSL, the iconic Group 4-spec monster that raced all over Europe in the 1970s, is a pretty sweet car. So while we're sorry to see Karmann go, we're thankful that it left us with a legacy of great cars.

Of course, the pic is also a reminder that the FoS is back next week, another reason to be cheerful.

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[jon-]

Whether you love or hate modern BMWs, hopefully we can all agree that car is AWESOME

[adycav]

Great car, great event, great picture.

Nothing to add to that really.

[stuckmojo]

Gorgeous.

I wish BMW were so bold in their design again.

[PPPPPP]

stuckmojo said:

Gorgeous.
I wish BMW were so bold in their design again.

I wish I had kept this one (enjoyed it for 15 years though)

[E21_Ross]

PPPPPP said:

stuckmojo said:

Gorgeous.
I wish BMW were so bold in their design again.

I wish I had kept this one (enjoyed it for 15 years though)

i hate you. you lucky lucky git! that is such a fine example! that is a PROPER BMW. absolutely stunning styling, rear wheel drive, and a BMW straight 6. what more could you want?

Edited by E21_Ross on Friday 26th June 13:09

[PPPPPP]

E21_Ross said:

i hate you. you lucky lucky git! that is such a fine example!

One more for you, providing a clue as to what iteration this one was.

[LCR270]

awsome !

[PPPPPP]

One more from 1989 for your pleasure.

[E21_Ross]

PPPPPP said:

One more from 1989 for your pleasure.

now you're just showing off! that is, to me at least, automotive porn

such great cars...i've only ever seen one and that was at the classic bmw specialists i take my car to for big services. never ever seen one on the road my E21 is getting on in age now, and these are a fair few years older. still look the part and cooler than just about anything else! especially with that body kit you had on yours!!

[DJC]

And ladies and gentleman *that* is the reason why anything BMW happens to call a CSL in these modern times is but a marketing gimmick.

[Marf]

Any chance of including some different resolutions in these pic of the week threads?

1600x1200 maybe?

Edited by Marf on Friday 26th June 13:26

[Staffy1984]

DJC said:

And ladies and gentleman *that* is the reason why anything BMW happens to call a CSL in these modern times is but a marketing gimmick.

Damn straight, the last M3 CSL they did admittedly did weigh less than the standard car, but it was still a tubby git that failed to deliver what the CSL badge promised. BMW have gone the way of VW in recent years and nolonger push the boundaries of Automotion, they just sit on their comfy self made throne of indifferent superiority.

I love BMW and drive a '99 e36, but the only bimmer i'd buy these days is an e30 or older.

As the pic proves, they don't make 'em like they used to!!!!! Fact!!!

[okgo]

Staffy1984 said:

DJC said:

And ladies and gentleman *that* is the reason why anything BMW happens to call a CSL in these modern times is but a marketing gimmick.

Damn straight, the last M3 CSL they did admittedly did weigh less than the standard car, but it was still a tubby git that failed to deliver what the CSL badge promised.

You driven one? Marvellous car after a brake upgrade.

[PPPPPP]

E21_Ross said:

still look the part and cooler than just about anything else! especially with that body kit you had on yours!!

That is a standard 250ps 3.2 Alpina CSL - absolutely no mods, except the huge parcel shelf speakers.

[asbo]

I've died

The 3.0 CSL has to be one of the coolest cars ever.

How did the Alpina version differ from the 'regular' CSL?

[PPPPPP]

asbo said:

How did the Alpina version differ from the 'regular' CSL?

As far as I can remember (it was so many years ago...)

Different front spoiler. with facility for brake cooling ducts
adjustable & stiffer front antiroll bar, I believe rear was the same
Getrag dogleg 5 speed box,
standard rear axle (but available with a pulley for cooling for racing)
Different steering wheel from Momo & Rosewood gear knob.
The 3153cc engine, with D-Jetronic (my one - others came with carbs I think)
Numbered Alpina plaques NOT offered on this model
Not sure about manifold, but I believe the rear box was different.
Wheels were the same 14" Alpina jobbies stsndard on all CSL's, I had the 16" wheels fitted later
Brakes - I think there were standard, but because of LHD, came with a single more powerful master cylinder
bonnet retaining clips on outside


I am so sad

Edited by PPPPPP on Friday 26th June 14:55

[Staffy1984]

okgo said:

Staffy1984 said:

DJC said:

And ladies and gentleman *that* is the reason why anything BMW happens to call a CSL in these modern times is but a marketing gimmick.

Damn straight, the last M3 CSL they did admittedly did weigh less than the standard car, but it was still a tubby git that failed to deliver what the CSL badge promised.

You driven one? Marvellous car after a brake upgrade.

My uncle had an e46 m3 csl delivered on the day of release, and I can agree that it was a much tighter version of the M3 and benefitted from the smarter engine management system and racier cams, but considering the cost brand new 60k, it didn't excite as much as say a lightly tuned skyline GTS, which I owned at the time, and these are his words.

Fair play you liked this car and probably wont hear a bad word said about it, but when you look at the e36 csl (rare as Fook) the weight drop mixed with the engine tweeks, and suspension made a landmark car. and a landmark car the e46 m3 csl is not!!!

[johno_VR6]

This is the first potw issued that has actually been worthy of replacing the Ferrari 250 that has been on my desktop for months!....So thanks for that!

Beautiful car indeed.

[E21_Ross]

Staffy1984 said:

okgo said:

Staffy1984 said:

DJC said:

And ladies and gentleman *that* is the reason why anything BMW happens to call a CSL in these modern times is but a marketing gimmick.

Damn straight, the last M3 CSL they did admittedly did weigh less than the standard car, but it was still a tubby git that failed to deliver what the CSL badge promised.

You driven one? Marvellous car after a brake upgrade.

My uncle had an e46 m3 csl delivered on the day of release, and I can agree that it was a much tighter version of the M3 and benefitted from the smarter engine management system and racier cams, but considering the cost brand new 60k, it didn't excite as much as say a lightly tuned skyline GTS, which I owned at the time, and these are his words.

Fair play you liked this car and probably wont hear a bad word said about it, but when you look at the e36 csl (rare as Fook) the weight drop mixed with the engine tweeks, and suspension made a landmark car. and a landmark car the e46 m3 csl is not!!!

there was no e36 csl. that's why you think they are rare.

[Staffy1984]

E21_Ross said:

Staffy1984 said:

okgo said:

Staffy1984 said:

DJC said:

And ladies and gentleman *that* is the reason why anything BMW happens to call a CSL in these modern times is but a marketing gimmick.

Damn straight, the last M3 CSL they did admittedly did weigh less than the standard car, but it was still a tubby git that failed to deliver what the CSL badge promised.

You driven one? Marvellous car after a brake upgrade.

My uncle had an e46 m3 csl delivered on the day of release, and I can agree that it was a much tighter version of the M3 and benefitted from the smarter engine management system and racier cams, but considering the cost brand new 60k, it didn't excite as much as say a lightly tuned skyline GTS, which I owned at the time, and these are his words.

Fair play you liked this car and probably wont hear a bad word said about it, but when you look at the e36 csl (rare as Fook) the weight drop mixed with the engine tweeks, and suspension made a landmark car. and a landmark car the e46 m3 csl is not!!!

there was no e36 csl. that's why you think they are rare.

[edit] E36 special models
There were six special-edition models of the E36 M3 produced: the M3 Euro-Spec (Canadian Edition), M3 CSL (M3 LTW), M3 GT, M3 GT-R, M3-R and the Imola Individual GT2 (the last of the E36s)

There was also an M3 Anniversary Edition only produced in 1999 for Australia. This was the final year of production for the E36, with only 50 coupes and 70 convertibles being made. Furthermore, "BMW Individual" were able to custom design an M3 with specific coloured leather, woodgrain and other personalized options including polished magnesium alloy wheels from the Anniversary edition. Convertibles lacked the sports seats found in the coupe but retained every other feature.

Wikipedia my friend