Info and pics stolen from BMW Nation


http://www.bmwnation.com/images/GALLERY/3/e46_m3csl_01_s.jpg

http://www.bmwnation.com/images/GALLERY/3/e46_m3csl_03_s.jpg

http://www.bmwnation.com/images/GALLERY/3/e46_m3csl_02_s.jpg


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As the Frankfurt International Motor Show nears, BMW unveiled another variant of the M3, the M3 CSL.

Harkening back to the glory days of the 70s and 80s, the CSL badge brings with it special meaning: a race-bred, high performance car. This special edition of the M3, destined for the racetracks, might make it into standard production and gives us a good indicator of where the development of the M3 is heading.


The new M3 CSL weighs in at 1,295 kg, or 3,296 lb unladen a full 200 kg (440 lb) lighter than the current production M3. The weight savings came from the use of exotics materials used in construction of an all new body. The roof, doors, trunk and front bumper all use carbonfiber as the building material. Inside, the standard seats have been replaced with light weight racing seats while the glass around the car has been replaced with a lightweight, thinner glass. Steel has been replaced by honeycomb fabric further improving the weight while increasing safety


Speaking of safety, the M3 CSL comes with all the airbags available in the standard, production car. It also retains other production features such as electric windows while adding such touches as a CSL door sill and carbonfiber interior trim.

At the heart of the M3 CSL is BMWs classic 6 cylinder engine tuned by the M division to 370bhp, increasing the output by 27bhp. This represents a significant increase in the power output, with 0-60mph times approaching 4.5 seconds. The series-production M3 has a power-to-weight ratio of 4.36 kg/bhp (9.6 lb/bhp) versus less than 3.5 kg/bhp (7.7 lb/bhp) of the M3 CSL Concept Car. Tested at the Nurburgring, the M3 CSL covered the northern circuit in well under eight minutes, besting the production M3 by a staggering 30 seconds. In racing 30 seconds is a lifetime. SMG II is the transmission of choice.
It is not yet known if the CSL will make it into full production as described above. The carbonfiber and honeycomb materials may make this a cost prohibitive car to own for uses other than full time racing. Stay tuned.

oh man,i think it's awesome.

OH MAN!!!!! Iwant that!!! :D

drool drool:ylinlove:

Going to go into production by the look of it now. Don't like the wheels as much as the standard cars but the rest looks good. I have two mags with full road tests in them. One is called EVO and the other is called Car (UK publications).
They both say that it is even better than the standard one due to the extra power, less weight, better suspension and better feedback (the one thing that a lot of people thought the e46M lacked in comparison to the e36M). Gonna cost between £50-55K, not currently going to be out for another year and currently does not look like it will be coming to America.

Will it also be offered with the regular 6 speed manual for the purist who still like to row gears and use their left foot?

Nope. SMG II only with a stubby gear lever

That's a mistake... :(

Originally posted by SilverStreak
That's a mistake... :(
It's a serious go-fast car. SMG is a most serious go-fast system.
The CSL is not really made in the retro-roadster philosophy of backroads barnstorming.
SMG allows them to show the most direct translation of technology from F1 down to street cars.
i.e.- it's not a "mistake" for the target market of the car. Granted, Dave, you are probably the one sole human that makes up the market segment of people who would buy the CSL for drag racing. :biglaughb

I saw it last year in person at the Frankfurt Show-letme tell you it is incredible!! I will see if I can Find the pics....

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It seems like they could do better than 440 pounds....

Oh man...way to dig up a thread that's almost a year old :rolleyes:

Good job! :D

I love this car...so much CF it's insane!

Awesome pics Alexd!

Yeah the amount of CF in that car is incredible, even the tail pipes are CF. I didnt even realize that someone dug this thread out of the archives. Should've known when the article talked about the upcoming Frankfurt show.

I say it's a mistake to just offer 1 transmission choice, they should offer both.

I agree

It's that a CF spree or something??? :D

That intake looks like it can swallow a human skull. :o

Production version won't have all the CF and won't save as much weight. There's a mini thread under the E46 M3 forum.

I didnt even realize that someone dug this thread out of the archives.

Oh man...way to dig up a thread that's almost a year old

I got this going again because I was too lazy to write a new post so I thought I would piggy back on to this one.

If you guys can get hold of a mag called evo I would recommend it. There are apparently a few shops in America that sell euro mags like EVO.
Someone told me they have it at Tower.

As far as CF goes the whole roof is made out of it as well.

The roof will have that weird goose pimple looking bumps all over then. That is the only problem with CF as body work, it looks slightly dodgy when painted. Still amazed they have not managed to shed more weight. I think they should offer a couple of versions that you can choose when you buy one. I think they should give you the option to have a completely stripped out version although keeping 2 seats, gotta scare your mates right! Imagine how fast that would be!

Actually, believe it or not the roof was smoth as hell. I know what youmean about those bumps I've seen them on an F40 before.

Strange, maybe they sand it down or something. That's a good thing then.

Imagine you have £50k - £55k to spend and you can get an M3 CSL or a second hand Porsche GT2. What do you take?
Me personally, I would take the porker but it would be damn close.

What would you guys get for that money?

I would have to go with the GT2.

That intake sure looks awesome, but yeah it does look like it could swallow a human skull. :O

guys, this is oooooooooooooooollllllllllllllllllllllddddddddddd news! seen those pics months and months ago! ...final production model looks slightly different....and doesnt have as much carbon fiber! here's a pic...

m3 csl

m3 csl

anyone knows if BMW would sell CSL parts? i'd love to get my hands on the rear spoiler, air intake and suspension and install them on my M3! :)

FouOriginally posted by moonluv810
It's that a CF spree or something??? :D

That intake looks like it can swallow a human skull. :o

Your not wrong!! They seem to have revised it a little from the original prototype though. (see pic i attached) Does anyone have any info on this intake system? Looks as if it has the air filter between the throttle bodies and the air intake monitoring device (i'm scared to called it an airflow sensor because of it size it may not like it and come knocking on my door!!lol)

Reason i ask is im currently researching/playing with air intake systems for Euro e36 M3. and im sure the csl gets most of it power hike from the super size intake and its supply of cold air.

BTW i see in this thread some of you guys get Evo magazine. If so do you remember an article in the June edition that featured a car called the Vemac RD180 & Rd320. Just in case you need to know... I'm the chief development engineer on this project:buttrock

Cheers

Rory

i heard the final production CSL was only $90K compared to the originally insane $250K sticker. also i heard that you could basically do the same mods and get the same HP for only about $10K, so in reality its not that much better than a regular one.

I really love the front lip.. Anyone know where and if i can get one??
Or one that is similar??

SMG owns.

owns what, exactly? :devillook

Owns you on a road course, where all BMWs are developed.

Uh-huh... ;)

BTW i see in this thread some of you guys get Evo magazine. If so do you remember an article in the June edition that featured a car called the Vemac RD180 & Rd320. Just in case you need to know... I'm the chief development engineer on this project

Damn Rory! That's pretty impressive.
I remember a bit about it. Have to dig the mag out and refresh my memory. Evo is a great magazine especially the Ecoty vids they occasionally give you. Anyone see the one a while back that had the M3, Vanquish, TVR, RUF Porsche etc. The boys at Evo certainly know how to make a car dance!

Anyone see the out-takes on the same CD which had the M3 etc on it. Best one was the M3 mid-way through a massive powerslide which he cocks up by putting on too much power, car spins and then the car fills with tyre smoke from behind him. Automotive porn at its best!

Originally posted by mikiejack

Anyone see the out-takes on the same CD which had the M3 etc on it. Best one was the M3 mid-way through a massive powerslide which he cocks up by putting on too much power, car spins and then the car fills with tyre smoke from behind him. Automotive porn at its best!

I remember it well! Indeed it was this moment in particular-when they all start laughing as he cocks up that reminded me why i'm sooooo jealous of Evo crew!;)

Maybe a change of career is in order........



Rory

Maybe a change of career is in order........

If only!

Have a look in the latest Evo for an advert in which the Evo crew and a few racing drivers are offering the chance for £50 to be driven round the track in some of their fave cars. One of them being the M3 Trackmeister!

Originally posted by SilverStreak
That's a mistake... :(


I agree, I do not care how much of a "GO FAST" car it is, no matter what SMG II is the not the ideal "GO FAST" item for me. I want a traditional six, no :bs: I want full control of my car, including the clutch. If i wanted an Automanual i would buy a mercedes.

A fellow Roadster-ite... :D

Oh no, not another SMG vs 6spd debate. :orangesle

I am still looking for a place to settle the first one. :devillook

If we do find one MDriver315 you are welcome to come out and show us all how superior that 5/6spd really is.

Not a debate, Enigma ol' buddy, I'm just saying that with a performance-oriented hardcore version of the M3, they should have at least offered a choice or either tranny.

Now if you wanna debate, SMG vs 6 spd, here we go, 6 spd is better for drag racing, SMG better for Auto-X. There, done, we all agree. :D

Originally posted by SilverStreak
Now if you wanna debate, SMG vs 6 spd, here we go, 6 spd is better for drag racing, SMG better for Auto-X. There, done, we all agree. :D
Auto-x? Although I'm the biggest SMG proponent on the board, I'm not even sure it's better for auto-x, because the steering wheel gets turned so much in slow corners at auto-x's. HOWEVER, SMG's real advantage is on the road courses, where it will almost always be faster lap-to-lap than the regular 6spd, for the highest percentile of drivers.
And please, do not call SMG an auto-manual, because you will be inaccurate.

SMG is great for autoX. I ocassionally need those 2-3-2 and 2-1-2 shifts. Just remember to hit the console shifter if you have shuffled and all is good.

You are right its really shines on the roadcourse.

The bet was for autoX because I didn't see a roadcourse challenge with drivers that have limited to no track experience as a safe thing. :)

Safe assumption... :D

And for 90% of the drivers, SMG will perform better for them. But hardcore old school purists, will always want the 3rd pedal, adds to the challenge, etc.

And for launching in any race, you need that clutch pedal for absolute control...

Originally posted by SilverStreak
But hardcore old school purists, will always want the 3rd pedal, adds to the challenge, etc.

Hans Stuck, among others, disagrees with you.

I don't even know who that is, but that's ok... :D

My perspective is skewed, most of the guys I know who are gearheads, like the 3rd pedal... It's a preference...

It's really a prefrence thing. Most of my friends preffer the F1 style shifting. However, you would expect that since they are all autoX or roadrace drivers.

Its funny there were a few people who though they would miss the clutch pedal in my car. I tossed them the keys for a lap and when they got back they couldn't stop raving about it.

It basiclly breaks down like this.

To go fast in a drag race you need in order of importance:
1. Very fine control over the clutch to launch the car,
2. Throttle modulation.
3. Fine control of the clutch action on upshifts

Since a large portion of your focus is on that clutch pedal in your driving I can completly understand why you wouldn't want to give it up.

To go fast in a roadrace you need in order of importance:
1. The ability to place the car correctly on the course (the line)
2. The ability to pick your breaking points correctly.
3. The ability to modulate the throttle.
4. The ability to heel and toe on downshifts.

Operating the clutch is a distraction for 1,2, and 3. The SMG system does #4 as well as any driver I have ever meet. Also a mistake in #4 can put you into a wall or at least off the track so the consistancy is a huge bonus there.

I list heel and toe as #4 because you will lose less time waiting for a "safe" place to downshift than you will messing up the first three.

Very well said, Enigma. And I should qualify that most of my gear head buddies are drag racers, (Z06's, Z28's, Mustangs, etc...)

Originally posted by SilverStreak
And I should qualify that most of my gear head buddies are drag racers, (Z06's, Z28's, Mustangs, etc...)
(in a Gomer Pyle voice) Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!

:D I'll further qualify that most of them are very good, experienced, accomplished, drag racers.... ;)