CSL v E92

[Faltz]

I have been after an M3 for a while (I drive a 130i LE at present) and like the idea of a CSL...

What are the essential options to insist on, and how necessary is the BMW extended warranty?

I'm also considering an E92 M3, as they are now creeping into my budget (c£30k), although I think ultimately I would prefer a SG reasonably low mileage CSL (less than 30k miles). I do about 5k miles per annum so fuel cost not a major issue.

Any advice welcomed. Cheers

[shim]

If you buy an SG CSL you have to be prepared for what will follow;

One day 2-3 years from now you will either think about selling it or actually have to sell it and if you don't fight e thought and go through with it you will join the masses of ex-CSL owners who hark back to the days they had the CSL and wish, oh so much how they wish they had never sold it.

Porker, fez, lamob, AMG, E92 etc etc, all great cars but no car will tug on the heart strings like the CSL.

Be warned.

[Yanto]

Listen to the oracle.....he speaketh the truth

[Yanto]

Listen to the oracle.....he speaketh the truth

[Yanto]

Seems to be an echo in here...but a worthwhile one......

[rossw46]

I havn't driven either.

But if I see an E92 M3,I have a quick glance,and usually think "nice".

If I see a CSL however,I will go out of my way (if possible) to have a proper drool over it,and think "AWESOME".

[Mermaid]

rossw46 said:

I havn't driven either.

But if I see an E92 M3,I have a quick glance,and usually think "nice".

If I see a CSL however,I will go out of my way (if possible) to have a proper drool over it,and think "AWESOME".

Interesting view from a "viewer".

Does a CSL look that different to an standard E46 M3?

Isn't the E92 a better car for driving 5k miles per annum & with an engine that is as epic, if not more, than the great sounding CSL one.

[isaldiri]

Mermaid said:

Interesting view from a "viewer".

Does a CSL look that different to an standard E46 M3?

Isn't the E92 a better car for driving 5k miles per annum & with an engine that is as epic, if not more, than the great sounding CSL one.

The E92 has a very nice engine but personally I would hesitate to place it above the CSL. Having driven both recently, there's no question that the car I can't help wanting to get is the CSL despite already having a E46 M3 CS as I thought the CSL was so much better than the CS it was almost untrue.

However, I need to use my car as a daily driver which includes an indecent amount of stop/start through London traffic and I feel bad enough using a standard M3 through that, much less a CSL (plus I'd hate to scuff the front splitters on all the cursed speed humps...) and I have to admit I appreciate some of the creature comforts of the standard car so unfortunately it seems unlikely I would be able to get a CSL anytime soon....

[BlackPrince]

isaldiri said:

The E92 has a very nice engine but personally I would hesitate to place it above the CSL. Having driven both recently, there's no question that the car I can't help wanting to get is the CSL despite already having a E46 M3 CS as I thought the CSL was so much better than the CS it was almost untrue.

However, I need to use my car as a daily driver which includes an indecent amount of stop/start through London traffic and I feel bad enough using a standard M3 through that, much less a CSL (plus I'd hate to scuff the front splitters on all the cursed speed humps...) and I have to admit I appreciate some of the creature comforts of the standard car so unfortunately it seems unlikely I would be able to get a CSL anytime soon....

I've test driven the CSL recently, and I liked it a lot, perhaps even loved it! I'm coming from being an ex-biker who rode everyday so comfort isn't that much of an issue, though I do appreciate creature comforts. Was going to get a Caterham before I realized that I'd have to get dressed up everyday again, tho to a lesser extent, said sod it and test drove the CSL.

However my hedonist cousin thinks I should take a look at the CS as he thinks it will offer most of the performance/engagement of the CSL with the comfort of a standard CSL (one thing I was thinking of doing for instance as soon as I got the CSL was upgrade the radio, as the standard one was too horrendous even for Radio 2, but I think the HK sys of the CS would be grand).

Wondering what an owner thinks?
thanks

[outnumbered]

The CS was the best version of the E46 M3, but it still doesn't come close to being a CSL.

[FUNKSTER UK]

I wouldn't bother changing the radio ! Did you use the sport button ?
All the music you could ever wish for !

[isaldiri]

BlackPrince said:

I've test driven the CSL recently, and I liked it a lot, perhaps even loved it! I'm coming from being an ex-biker who rode everyday so comfort isn't that much of an issue, though I do appreciate creature comforts. Was going to get a Caterham before I realized that I'd have to get dressed up everyday again, tho to a lesser extent, said sod it and test drove the CSL.

However my hedonist cousin thinks I should take a look at the CS as he thinks it will offer most of the performance/engagement of the CSL with the comfort of a standard CSL (one thing I was thinking of doing for instance as soon as I got the CSL was upgrade the radio, as the standard one was too horrendous even for Radio 2, but I think the HK sys of the CS would be grand).

Wondering what an owner thinks?
thanks

I like my CS to bits but I have to agree with the post above. Don't think I would be exaggerating but the CSL is dynamically much better and the performance/engagement is on quite another level (maybe not quite Caterham level though!).

It depends what you would be using the car for I would say, given you considered a Caterham I'm guessing it is for a 2nd/weekend car for trackdays/fast roads. In that case, I would definitely recommend you get the CSL over the CS. Even as a daily driver, assuming you don't get completely stuck in traffic as I tend to, I would still be tempted to recommend the CSL if you could bear with the firmer ride/seats and being pretty careful with the carbon fibre bits.

Shouldn't be too difficult to stick in something like Rainbow speakers to upgrade the sound system which is the only mod I would do if/when I ever got the circumstances to get one. There are some nice CSLs up on the classifieds as well as it so happens...can't help myself having a look for any that come up!

[clabcon]

E46 M3 CSL

Handling
Track Work
Speciality

E9x M3

Straight line speed
Torque
DSG Gearbox
Practicality

[anonymous-user]

The only thing that puts me off a CSL as a "daily" is they seem to have quite a steep "££ per mile" depreciation curve. Although i guess the answer there is simply to buy a higher miler in the first place ??

[Mermaid]

Max_Torque said:

The only thing that puts me off a CSL as a "daily" is they seem to have quite a steep "££ per mile" depreciation curve. Although i guess the answer there is simply to buy a higher miler in the first place ??

That's a good point - many of them have low mileage (for the age) and multiple owners. Higher mileage cars are cheaper per mile, but like the OP I too would prefer a low mileage car and for me it needs to be under 20k miles.

[rossw46]

Mermaid said:

rossw46 said:

I havn't driven either.

But if I see an E92 M3,I have a quick glance,and usually think "nice".

If I see a CSL however,I will go out of my way (if possible) to have a proper drool over it,and think "AWESOME".

Interesting view from a "viewer".

Does a CSL look that different to an standard E46 M3?

Isn't the E92 a better car for driving 5k miles per annum & with an engine that is as epic, if not more, than the great sounding CSL one.

No,I suppose a CSL doesn't look vastly dissimilar to the standard e46 M3,but then I wasn't really talking about looks,I meant the CSL as an overall package.IMO it's a very special car,more special than a standard e92 M3.

This doesn't mean I dont like the e92 BTW !

[Kucho]

Max_Torque said:

The only thing that puts me off a CSL as a "daily" is they seem to have quite a steep "££ per mile" depreciation curve. Although i guess the answer there is simply to buy a higher miler in the first place ??

I'm obviously biased (see classifieds for details of my 80k miler), but agree strongly with the above. For starters, I'd be willing to bet that some of the low mileage ones have been well abused on the track, whereas some of the higher mileage ones have been daily drivers (like mine). And for seconds, with an engine clearly capable of massive miles, a low £20s high miler leaves you £10k in your pocket to run it. As for creature comforts - I've got aircon, stereo, xenons and pdc. No clutch pedal and my garmin satnav is better than any BMW one. Comfier seats and softer suspension on an e92, but the buckets are grand (esp if you tilt them back on their mountings) and suspension ain't too hard. Never had a prob with speedbumps either. Can't see why an e92 wd be all that better in London traffic. Best of all, you've got the best BMW ever when the road clears (it really is miles different than a CS), and if already a high miler, your CSL will hold its value as the e92 plummets towards ten grand by its tenth birthday... I'm only selling cos I can't exactly live in it and it'll fund a deposit on a flat now that the property mkt has hopefully bottomed!!

[Pugsey]

Kucho said:

Max_Torque said:

The only thing that puts me off a CSL as a "daily" is they seem to have quite a steep "££ per mile" depreciation curve. Although i guess the answer there is simply to buy a higher miler in the first place ??

I'm obviously biased (see classifieds for details of my 80k miler), but agree strongly with the above. For starters, I'd be willing to bet that some of the low mileage ones have been well abused on the track, whereas some of the higher mileage ones have been daily drivers (like mine). And for seconds, with an engine clearly capable of massive miles, a low £20s high miler leaves you £10k in your pocket to run it. As for creature comforts - I've got aircon, stereo, xenons and pdc. No clutch pedal and my garmin satnav is better than any BMW one. Comfier seats and softer suspension on an e92, but the buckets are grand (esp if you tilt them back on their mountings) and suspension ain't too hard. Never had a prob with speedbumps either. Can't see why an e92 wd be all that better in London traffic. Best of all, you've got the best BMW ever when the road clears (it really is miles different than a CS), and if already a high miler, your CSL will hold its value as the e92 plummets towards ten grand by its tenth birthday... I'm only selling cos I can't exactly live in it and it'll fund a deposit on a flat now that the property mkt has hopefully bottomed!!

Brilliant. Man after my own heart. Buy the car you WANT and USE it! Don't buy for the next owner. If you can't afford the extra depreciation (not much really) more miles will bring then don't buy because these cars are to be enjoyed. You shouldn't be constantly totting the mileage up and wondering if you can afford to do another long run.

[EVLXGE]

Pugsey said:

You shouldn't be constantly totting the mileage up and wondering if you can afford to do another long run.

Thats all well and good (and I agree) but it doesnt help owners when they see all these wanted adds seeking under 30-35k mile examples.....Were all st scared to use them..

[Pugsey]

EVLXGE said:

Pugsey said:

You shouldn't be constantly totting the mileage up and wondering if you can afford to do another long run.

Thats all well and good (and I agree) but it doesnt help owners when they see all these wanted adds seeking under 30-35k mile examples.....Were all st scared to use them..