or engine tweaks, or seats, or roof (latter part of diet I know, but.....)

CS was a runout model

like all runouts it has frills without much substance

 

Not as standard, you need to spend around ~8k (brakes + suspension) on them to get them somewhere near

Bloody good cars though and the noise is rather special!

 

Most interesting comments chaps - I am now more learned!

Seems that most people hold them in very high regard.

Pete's point about the tyres is interesting... I've read a couple of reports that suggest a standard M3 running the same tyres wouldn't be that far off.

But as an overall package it sounds great. I particularly like the GT3 style seats and wheel.

Also I like the practicality

Couldn't have 2 beemers on the drive way though!

 

it's the only Beemer I would change to

but I/you would need to keep the miles right down if the value was to stay well above that of standard cars

the idea that there is no point in having one unless you track it is just daft

if we applied that kind of logic to vehicle ownership, we might as well all drive Trabants

 

I've chased CSL's in my M3 and whilst they were leaving me, on Cups it'd have been a LOT closer. The CSL would still win with an extra 20bhp and 200kg less, but the M3 would stand a chance of winning with the average level of driving.

 

But it does seem silly to pay such a premium for the differences you won't get the benefit of unless you do use it on the track occasionally.

I do think it would be daft to buy one for use only on the track.

 

you can extend that argument to any high performance car

none of my cars have been anywhere near a track, and with the exception of the Nurburgring (which I don't see as a track in the way I view others, such as Brands or Goodwood), I doubt any ever will

I completely see that for some people, exploiting a car's performance is very important

but for vastly more, I suspect that's the last thing on their mind when they buy

 

All true.

It's just the way I think

I think the CSL would be ideal MB given his recent activities.

 

Check out the fifth gear video on you tube - csl verses normal round anglesea with Tiff. I think its 2 seconds quicker.

Lots of differences and lightenings, the steering rack is very key Im told and the noise is pretty special. Its one of those cars that makes you feel special as soon as you sit inside it- big bucket alcantaras, carbon all over the place. Lots of the boys on the mtorque forum track them regularly, brakes are a popular upgrade as is a second set of wheels.

Id have one as a toy, maybe even a daily.

 

No matter how good an M3 or M3 CSL is, I can't get excited over looking at another 3 Series coup