day to day living with CSL

[nickb55]

hi guys, i've owned a couple of M3's in the past, both ,manual. currently using a little golf r32 with dsg for station car, and a bit of fun.

have only driven a csl once, and that was on a track, so didnt get a sense of "practicality".

any info on the following would be great:

what's it like when in auto for plodding around town? and very short journies from cold?

how comfortable is it for passengers (ie the kids!)

i had a 997s with variable suspension (pasm), and on the regualar setting, it was v good, but on the sport setting was far too hard for blasting around country roads (in my view). Is the csl ok on those types of B roads, or is it only really set-up for track?

thanks in advance,
Nick

[m12_nathan]

Never use auto - it is rubbish.

It is fine IMO but everyone will have their own definition of too harsh.

[shim]

i find it fine day to day.

I seem to make excuses for it to passengers of i happen to have any.

The kids dont mind it but always short journeys for them or we go in the SMax.

Auto is pants.................

Cold it is pants as well. The people at the end of the road think my CSL has a timing problem as i am always going past jumping or reving it. Luckily mine is kept in the garage so in the winter it is not as bad as it could be ............

[nickb55]

thanks very much, appreciated. one last Q, which ive seen covered before in the forum, but cant find it...

i am assuming for day-to day use, most people would put "regular" tyres on? and maybe have a set for summer/track ?? The m3's i've had in the past were a bit of a nightmare on even adamp road, so i'm imagining the csl on cup/semi-slick would be a real handfull??

cheers

[shim]

i have two sets of rims one with PS2 and one with Cups and change mainly for track days however if the weather is good and reliable the Cups may stay on in the summer.

Basically if you can pick and choose when to drive your car you can manage on one set of rims and swap over winter-summer from PS2 to Cups, or even stay on Cups all year.

IF you drive the car during the week for work I think it is a big risk leaving the Cups on as if you have to drive with standing water you are playing the percentage game and one day soon you will get that tap on the shoulder from mr oversteer and you wil be towing the car out of a hedge or ditch.

Most CSl guys i have met seem to follow this plan but a few just like the bigger risk and Cups are the choice and i am sure quite a few dont nhave any Cups at all.

[sjp63]

Its ok but one of the reasons I sold mine was the glorious noise it makes.....you just cant turn it off!

some days you just fancy a bit of quiet!

[shim]

I think thats the main reason i amnot going to change exhaust systems as i dont want more noise.......

Its not that bad OEM i find but i would not want it any pouder for day to day driving

[nickb55]

That's very helpful. much appreciated. Am thinking my next car will be a csl. I have an old swb landcruiser which i love. so can use that in winter if weather's really bad, and if i ever get some time, for off-roading, and use the csl for the station trip, blasting round the lanes, and chauffeuring the kids around, and if i ever get any time , for the occasional track day.

thanks again,
Nick

[robm3]

16,000 miles, two trackdays, one trip to Nurburgring, one and half years and still loving it!

Plus two baby seats in the back (Isofix) and it fits the double pushchair (just) in the boot for days wifey wife is driving it.

Auto is rubbish though, it drops the clutch in when downchanging into 2nd that makes it feel like a learner is driving.

[nickb55]

robm3 said:

16,000 miles, two trackdays, one trip to Nurburgring, one and half years and still loving it!

Plus two baby seats in the back (Isofix) and it fits the double pushchair (just) in the boot for days wifey wife is driving it.

Auto is rubbish though, it drops the clutch in when downchanging into 2nd that makes it feel like a learner is driving.

THAT'S the kind of endorsement i like! cheers Rob. spent a day doing the Palmersport at Bedford yesterday. Got me right in the mood for some csl action However, i've been thru a lot of cars the last 2-3 yrs, so i'll have to keep the golfR32 till next spring, in the interests of remaining married!

[[OcUK]Gibbo]

Hi there

Why is it pants in the cold? Does it have problems with winter/cold weather driving?

[MrOnTheRopes]

[OcUK]Gibbo said:

Hi there

Why is it pants in the cold? Does it have problems with winter/cold weather driving?

No it's not that - When the engines are cold they don't run as well as they do when warmed up - can be a bit hesitant for example. It clears as the engine warms. You just take it easy at first.. Not just a CSL thing, the E46 M3 is the same.
Apparently it's due to limitations in getting the emissions within spec during cold running.

[[OcUK]Gibbo]

MrOnTheRopes said:

[OcUK]Gibbo said:

Hi there

Why is it pants in the cold? Does it have problems with winter/cold weather driving?

No it's not that - When the engines are cold they don't run as well as they do when warmed up - can be a bit hesitant for example. It clears as the engine warms. You just take it easy at first.. Not just a CSL thing, the E46 M3 is the same.
Apparently it's due to limitations in getting the emissions within spec during cold running.

Hi there

Well thats fair enough then, I never try to drive a car quick or take it past 3000rpm in the first 10-15 mins of driving anyway.

[robm3]

[OcUK]Gibbo said:

MrOnTheRopes said:

[OcUK]Gibbo said:

Hi there

Why is it pants in the cold? Does it have problems with winter/cold weather driving?

No it's not that - When the engines are cold they don't run as well as they do when warmed up - can be a bit hesitant for example. It clears as the engine warms. You just take it easy at first.. Not just a CSL thing, the E46 M3 is the same.
Apparently it's due to limitations in getting the emissions within spec during cold running.

Hi there

Well thats fair enough then, I never try to drive a car quick or take it past 3000rpm in the first 10-
15 mins of driving anyway.

It does have a certain characteristic when v cold though and that's a lovely rasp around 2500rpm that goes after about 3 mins.

I never thrash mine when cold and boy, it's been cold for the poor gal.....