Interested in opinions on these cars, as again, it's a type of car i've not owned. Again, i'm just curious and not planning on buying anything.

I do own an E46 323i M Sport and I like it as a daily drive, but feels a bit lardy and not that chuckable even with the M suspension and wheels on it.

But back to the CSL....

Is it a 996 GT3 contender?

Is it that much better than a standard M3? (i'm guessing yes)

Has anyone driven one?

I was chatting to my Lotus delaer man about it the other day, and he reckons it was just superb and didn't want to give it back. He doesn't get massively excited about most cars either, so it must be good!

I had to add some pics just as a refresher

 

Not so you'd notice (for road driving at least)

More induction noise than a standard M3

Harder suspension

I'd take a standard M3 (and the significant saving) and "upgrade" it to suit your needs

 

I've only paxed in a CSL that didn't really resemble a CSL any more. No interior, roll cage, uprated most things.

Best car I've had a lap in.

 

They start at 25k on Pistonheads. I thought we were told these things would be collectors items

Lot of car for that money but a shitload of responsibility when the bits start falling off

 

they are better than a standard M3 in lots of ways

but to keep the value up

you have to keep the miles right down

means they make for an expensive daily driver

there are also expensive peculiarities (if you want the full performance) like the tyres

wasn't so long ago we were told they would never drop below

 

I know someone who's got one and knows his onions, he rates it very highly indeed.

From what I can gather, it's only better than the standard one if you're going to use it as intended i.e. take it on track a lot and put some effort into learning to drive.

..and the noise

Still not as good as the E30 though

 

My next car, love 'em

 

Although it's an "in between" model as such, most reports I've read say that the best M3 is the M3 CS. More hardcore and fun than the std M3 but still more liveable with day to day than the CSL.

In a way, think CS as bmw's equivalent of the the GT3 where CSL as the GT3 RS.

 

CS is an M3 with the CSL steering rack, similar (not the same) wheels, and suspension. It doesn't have the 200kg diet.

 

A chap who collects cars and who owns one of these (same colour as the pic) says the car is a track car no more no less. For the road choose something more subtle.