RE: BMW E46 M3 CSL: Spotted
Discussion
I have to disagree with the articles insinuation about the SMGII vs SMGIII vs manual option. The manual box from the standard e46 M3 was a pretty unforgiving beast, notchy 1st to 2nd, heavy clutch and constant need to work it around town were big factors in me trading my regular e46 for a CSL.
Yes, the SMGII could be savage, but so was SMGIII, both have a degree of user learning based on driving style but my recollection was that SMGII was the sloppier and more slur prone of the boxes. The SMGIII's Achilles heel is often trotted out but in my 8+ years ownership of two different cars I had nothing but positive driving experiences (in regards to the drive train at least, I had a fair few other issues)
Based on my own track day experiences I'd pick the SMG box over the equivalent manual option any day of the week.
Yes, the SMGII could be savage, but so was SMGIII, both have a degree of user learning based on driving style but my recollection was that SMGII was the sloppier and more slur prone of the boxes. The SMGIII's Achilles heel is often trotted out but in my 8+ years ownership of two different cars I had nothing but positive driving experiences (in regards to the drive train at least, I had a fair few other issues)
Based on my own track day experiences I'd pick the SMG box over the equivalent manual option any day of the week.
Genuine Barn Find said:
Might be wrong, but I don't ever recall CSL's sat at the 20k mark?
I've always preferred the CS because of the manual box. I was priced out when I went looking in 2017 - they were nudging towards £20,000, and the boat looks to have well and truly sailed. Regular manual M3 prices were all over the place - and still seem to be. I paid a little over what I thought was market rate to secure a minter that will be my weekender for years..
I think the key to the CSL prices is that there are lots of cars sat the classifieds which have been there a while. They are coming down, but £40,000 + is personally where I see them (for the moment).
I'd be interested to hear the thoughts of anyone who has bought one at the top of the market. Was it a 'must have', or selected after comparing against other cars?
They did, I paid bang on £20k for mine in 2010.I've always preferred the CS because of the manual box. I was priced out when I went looking in 2017 - they were nudging towards £20,000, and the boat looks to have well and truly sailed. Regular manual M3 prices were all over the place - and still seem to be. I paid a little over what I thought was market rate to secure a minter that will be my weekender for years..
I think the key to the CSL prices is that there are lots of cars sat the classifieds which have been there a while. They are coming down, but £40,000 + is personally where I see them (for the moment).
I'd be interested to hear the thoughts of anyone who has bought one at the top of the market. Was it a 'must have', or selected after comparing against other cars?
Genuine Barn Find said:
darreni said:
They did, I paid bang on £20k for mine in 2010.
Fair enough then! Practically stolen
It's probably the most sought after type now .
paulwirral said:
Genuine Barn Find said:
darreni said:
They did, I paid bang on £20k for mine in 2010.
Fair enough then! Practically stolen
It's probably the most sought after type now .
slipstream 1985 said:
They were 20k and people thought they were pricey back then.
Yep I remember considering one when they were about that price and thinking it was too much money. It's amazing what time and over-hyping in countless magazine articles over the years can do to prices. I remember a time where a week couldn't go by without one journo or other waxing lyrical about the CSL, the E30 M3 or even both. It was almost like the motoring press where in on a conspiracy to inflate the prices on these cars.paulwirral said:
Genuine Barn Find said:
darreni said:
They did, I paid bang on £20k for mine in 2010.
Fair enough then! Practically stolen
It's probably the most sought after type now .
WCZ said:
really nice cars
-110kg is a proper weight saving although unfortunately everyone spec'd aircon back in (even though it's not necessary in the uk)
when you think about the 911 T and Cayman T with -5kg and door pulleys calling themselves lightweight driver focused editions, it looks a joke in comparison
-110kg is nothing, you can easily drop -200kg+ from regular e46m3, without spending much money -110kg is a proper weight saving although unfortunately everyone spec'd aircon back in (even though it's not necessary in the uk)
when you think about the 911 T and Cayman T with -5kg and door pulleys calling themselves lightweight driver focused editions, it looks a joke in comparison
kars said:
-110kg is nothing, you can easily drop -200kg+ from regular e46m3, without spending much money
no doubt but the csl's weight savings are done in a nice oem wayI've personally taken well over 100kg out of cars before (with lightweight parts too) so know the potential and would enjoy making a proper Cayman T which wasn't literally just removal of the nav
Matthew7711 said:
Best car I’ve ever owned.
Getting rarer everyday..these will be worth megabucks when they get imported to America.
Never understood the argument of modding another e46 to look exactly the same..it will never be the same..it’s a CSL.
Totally agree, it’s an oft trotted out argument for most special editions. Getting rarer everyday..these will be worth megabucks when they get imported to America.
Never understood the argument of modding another e46 to look exactly the same..it will never be the same..it’s a CSL.
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