With all the news on the recently unveiled BMW M3 GTS, we thought we would bring back some old school footage of a previous exciting BMW: M3 E46 CSL. The famous Top Gear host, Jeremy Clarkson, took the M3 CSL on track along with another “old schooler”: E9 3.0 CSL.
Before we jump into the video, allow us to give you some background information on these two models. The BMW E9 3.0 CSL was produced from 1968 to 1975. The 3.0 CSL is considered the first project by the BMW M division. The car was a lightweight, 3003cc sports model of the 3.0 coupe. Special racing models with 3.2-liter (340 hp/253 kW) and 3.5-liter (430 PS) engines and aerodynamic trimmings helped establish BMW as a premier racing team.
At the time Clarkson review the car, he believe the 3.0 CSL would have been priced at 160,000 british pounds…in our money, of course.
BMW E46 M3 CSL was a low production, one-off model based on the E46 M3 using it’s wonderful, screaming 333HP S54 engine as a basis. The CSL (Coupe Sport Light) was truly a car in which less is more. Less in terms of things like weight, less in options, the CSL came with a lighter carbon fiber roof(now seen as standard on the E9X M3’s), only optional radio and air conditioning and only in two colors: SIlver Gray and Sapphire Black. The CSL did buy you paper-thin seats, carbon fiber interior paneling, SMG II Drive logic transmission.
The E46 M3 CSL featured 360 horsepower out of the 3.2L S54 block and a much louder engine note. At the time, the E46 CSL was priced at 60,000 british pounds.
Seeing these two cars in action again, we come to appreciate even more the E46 M3 CSL, a true enthusiasts car and a “rare specie” in the automobile world.
Author: Horatiu B.
Source: http://www.bmwblog.com/2009/11/06/e46-m ... 9-3-0-csl/