BMW M3 CSL (E46) specs

I'm starting to think this was better than the M3 GTR which had the V8. For one, the street-legal M3 GTR was barely any more powerful than the CSL, and second, only a VERY FEW units were built (referring to the GTR and not the CSL) and none were ever instrumentally tested.

The CSL could even hang with SUPERCARS of its day, and I'M TALKING ABOUT SUPERCARS. This car was MUCH cheaper than the Mercedes CLK DTM, with MUCH better handling, EVEN with three-quarters of the AMG-based car's power.

It was only half a notch down from competing with Ferrari 360CS, Chevy Corvette C5 Z06, Dodge Viper GTS ACR, and Porsche 996.2 GT3RS.

The funny thing was, the CLK-Class was the 3 Series coupe and convertible's direct competitor!

SAME HOLDS TRUE TODAY with the M3 GTS, the previous M4 CS/GTS, and the current M4 CSL!

Speed limiter REMOVED BMW M3 CSL tested by Autocar 2003

https://ibb.co/Ks58W6r cover shot.

https://ibb.co/8cstCJh performance figures.

MPH
0-30= 2.0
0-60= 4.8
0-100= 10.90
0-150= 28.90
Top Speed= 165MPH!

AMuS Test

Please Correct - original Auto Motor und Sport Test results:

0-40 km/h: 1,4 s
0-60 km/h: 2,2 s
0-80 km/h: 3,6 s
0-100 km/h: 4,8 s
0-120 km/h: 6,8 s
0-140 km/h: 8,6 s
0-160 km/h: 10,8 s
0-180 km/h: 14,2 s
0-200 km/h: 16,7 s

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/supertest/bmw-m3-csl-im-supertest-auf-der-nordschleife-und-dem-hockenheimring-1200550.html?show=4

...A 430 for 60euros?......

Well, for 60-70k euros You can get 360 in very good shape, or even F430 no problem.
So those cars are Ferrari and that a Ferrari price level for me.

Got it? F430, E46 CLS in the same price range.

The prices are in the $39K to $45K sterling (hexagon). In Germany they are around 60-70K euros.

If you know anything about cars, you would not write such comments that it costs more than a Ferrari.

Yes. It is an incredible machine for skilled drivers.

...Where do you see CSLs anywhere near the price of a Ferrari? Good mileage or not? Even BRAND new it was almost 3 times cheaper then a 360 Spider. New they were £58,000.

Yes, it's faster than E90/92 and with modern tyres it's even faster than E92 GTS and FM3/M4. I think it's the fastest M3(4) forever because there won't be FM3/4 CSL/GTS(R):http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/bmw-will-not-develop-m3-or-m4-csl-ar162137.html

The prices of some good shaped CSL's, with minimal mileage are on Ferrari level. But i can agree one of the best BMWever made.

Just to save the weight , BMW made the boot floor from CARDBOARD! (According to Jezza)

Also, discussing the loaded version is not useful becoz its S/C, one off build and has a custom chassis setup.

for people who doubt the CSL's time and put it down to the PS2's have not dame clue what they are saying. Apart from power, a good car needs a great chassis to put that traction to use. For the un-informed pls stop wasting time in discussing the CSL based on fantasy, go to CSL Register and you will find all the answers there. How do you explain the E60 M5 being taken to lunch by a CSL by some of our members, how does a CSL take down a R35.

Now I'm no pro driver, but I've been to the ring a few times and the CSL demands respect from those in the know. Whether u are in a GT3 RS, Lambo etc.

Also FYI, the CSL is not comparable to a stock or even the CS version of the E46 M3.

@Red
a Factory run of the LP560-4 would probably do it in ~7:35 on the full track, so 7:30 in the 20.6km layout that these 7:50 was supposedly done.

The R8 V10 Spyder time was done in the full track, so a 7:47 in the same one as this car, and maybe 7:40 in a factory effort, same for the old Gallardo.

There's a lot of reasons and variables in place that make comparing Nring times kind of pointless.

The CSL used like basically racing slicks. That might explain some times

That is some bullshit. There is no f**ing way the csl is faster than these cars:
Audi R8 V10 Spyder
Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series
Lamborghini Gallardo
Ford GT
Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4
Wiesmann GT MF5
Mercedes CLK DTM

R8 v10 is all-wheel drive, v10 and def faster than csl both on straight and corners. SL65 amg?? v12 twin turbo, over 650 hp and top speed over 200, widebody. Wiesmann GT MF5??? Just look up what it looks like and tell me how a CSL can outdo that in corners, its lighter more powerful and better handeling. And last but not least CLK DTM is a supercharged V8 tuned to over 556 HP!!! I have a w211 E55 and I will smoke an M3 CSL anyday in straight, and when it catches up to me in corners, as soon as Im out the corner Im right back to where it cant see me!! Oh and another car thats behind both the CSL and the new m5 biturbo v8 apparenly? The RUF CTR Yellow Bird. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6Thomd4BQg so a CSL is supposed to be faster than that???!!?!?! Please!!!

aaaaaaa1 week ago .Nordschleif 7:50.00 bullshit! .

Here is another link ignoramus http://www.bmwblog.com/2010/08/21/bmw-m3-gts-faster-than-m3-csl-at-nurburgring/

Nordschleif 7:50.00 bullshit!

tuner Loaded BMW M3 CSL E46 record 7:22 at Nurburgring http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgMR9OVEDIY&feature=related

The csl in stock form is an amazing machine, even the std M3. How many cars can you use as as an everyday car? Pick up groceries, take kids to school, go to an important business meeting and then track with no additional work?
If you wana start comparing horsepower, look at the most powerful formula one engine...its a BMW, Maclaren F1 which eats up a Bugatti to 180km/hr.
Any monkey can make any car fast with forces induction, wats the point? Handling?
Everyone wants to say \"i beat a M3\"
Why is everyone obcessed with Bmw M Power?????????
Cause a M is a M, u get faster cars but they not M\'s. Same way a M is not a Ferrari or lambo.
Theres Lambo,Ferrari,GTR,M\'s,and a few other good cars....all the small donkey cars with Turbos that come close in a straigt line to a M ....go Fkin play in the mud.

My point was obviously mistaken. The whole point of my comment was to avoid numbers and stats and semantics - rather focus on the joys of driving a supercharged BMW engine, or a turbocharged Volvo engine (Noble M600), or any other engine that’s modified from its original design to achieve Hypercar performance - but since we\'ve already gone to a pissing contest, I will use the Ascari A10 as a \"stock\" example. The Ascari A10 uses a TEN YEAR old BMW engine from an old M5 saloon. But because it is custom built around that great, reliable engine, it is a mind-blowing car on the track that dominated the Top Gear board for some time. The Ascari A10, in its > Stock

form is not much different than the idea behind the Loaded CSL Project – namely to take a great BMW engine and make a supercar out of it (just like the McLaren F1 did). The Koenigsegg used a force-fed Ford engine. The Pagani used a 7.3L AMG V12 Supercharged Merc Engine. The Noble M600, a twin turbo Volvo Engine. All are wonderful cars, but the only point I was trying to make is that BMW engines are ALMOST always N/A, and when you force-feed them incredible things happen. Just like when you force-feed a Volvo engine you get a Noble M600, which smokes many cars that technically look better on paper. So you can talk about power-to-weight ratios and car badges until you\'re blue in the face, but the > Stock

Ascari is a beast of a car considering the engine in there.

Aspioration or whatever, putting a tuned car vs a stock ist fair, espescially if you take it serious. and these are the cars that are the most powerfull in there aspirations.

TwinTurbo (1,287Bhp 7.0L V8)
ShelbySuperCars Ultimate Aero TT

Normally (800Bhp 6.9L V8)
Iconic GTR Roadster

SuperCharged (1,018Bhp 5.0L V8)
Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita

Suprising all V8\'s all expensive, and all look really good, and are all extremely rare, but even so, putting any formed of tuned car surely would not be fair, even though most likely that tuned car will get is butt handed to it.

Unbiased
4 hours ago [Delete] [Ban IP]
While the Loaded CSL IS a modified car, ALL BMW\'S are naturally aspirated engines. So let me get this straight - Mercedes, McLaren, Porsche, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Koenigsegg, Ford, Chevy, and basically every other car manufacturer is allowed to supercharge and turbocharge their huge engines, but BMW is not??? I call BS!! If you compared the modifications done on the Loaded CSL to those parts used on an Aston Martin DBS or a Koenigsegg, the CSL would be made of much more primitive parts than either, and yet it still manages a MIND-BLOWING lap time. Don\'t forget the original McLaren supercar was powered by a BMW V12 Monster - that car set the standard for quite some time. Also, the Ascari A10 is Powered by a BMW Engine - That car also set the standard for quite some time when it came out. Sure the Loaded CSL IS a \"modified\" car - But it\'s still just a 3.2L Straight Six with a Supercharger and a suspension setup - not exactly unfair F1 technology here when compared to these 100% carbon fiber hyper car monsters.

what a BS comment...

Porsche GT3, GT3 RS, Carrera2 Carrera4, Carrera GT are all n/a engiens with more hp/l than BMW engines
this M3 CSL has 82.7kW/l
997 GT3 RS 87.11kW/l
997 GT3 84.21kW/l
even a 1966 Porsche 906 Carrera 6 already reached 81kW/l
Mercedes 6.2l V8 is n/a
Audi´s 4.2l V8 and 5.2l V10 are n/a and currently outperfrome similar engines from BMW. The Audi 4.2l V8 450hp and 5.2l V10 560hp

All BMW engines are surely not Naturally Aspirated, and it surely IS unfair, a Tuned car vs a stock car isnt fair, nomatter how you look at it, just compare it to something similar, like a MC12 or a Zonda.

While the Loaded CSL IS a modified car, ALL BMW\'S are naturally aspirated engines. So let me get this straight - Mercedes, McLaren, Porsche, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Koenigsegg, Ford, Chevy, and basically every other car manufacturer is allowed to supercharge and turbocharge their huge engines, but BMW is not??? I call BS!! If you compared the modifications done on the Loaded CSL to those parts used on an Aston Martin DBS or a Koenigsegg, the CSL would be made of much more primitive parts than either, and yet it still manages a MIND-BLOWING lap time. Don\'t forget the original McLaren supercar was powered by a BMW V12 Monster - that car set the standard for quite some time. Also, the Ascari A10 is Powered by a BMW Engine - That car also set the standard for quite some time when it came out. Sure the Loaded CSL IS a \"modified\" car - But it\'s still just a 3.2L Straight Six with a Supercharger and a suspension setup - not exactly unfair F1 technology here when compared to these 100% carbon fiber hyper car monsters.

its pretty real.. but then its a modified/tuned up like a race car only without stripes and sponsor sticker

dammmmmmmmm u guys are haters... great car though

the CSL LOADED is a non-factory bmw and is heavily modded with a custom supercharger by LOADED aftermarket tuners. Don't compare modded/tuned car$ to factory stock cars.

we all know the laptime of the loaded CSL.. it is a modified car