YS53 YHY Anyone know this car?

[911-32]

Hi!

Introducing myself as a very serious CSL buyer. I am looking at this car - YS53 YHY - as a trade on another car I am selling. Does anyone know it?

It's SG, 72k miles and sits on red AP Racing brakes on all corners and KW v3s. I have had an inspection at Sycamore BMW by the service manager who is knowledgeable around CSLs.

The CSL has been on my shortlist of cars to own for a while now, so I am very much looking forward to joining the club.

Thank you!

[Mike R]

Not one I have seen before.

[911-32]

It’s only 2 owners and it’s been in a stored collection for part of that time so it was likely not seen out and about much. Its all BMW service history, but it has a time gap in the history whilst stored. The last owner spent a fair bit getting it running right after storage which is very helpful. A couple of sensor issues and inoperative intake flap have been fixed last week and I wait on written confirmation re the subframe, then should be all good to proceed.

Feeling very excited. I have never owned or even driven any e46, being a serial Porsche owner up till now.

[911-32]

I now have the print out of all work completed by BMW and it shows 170hours of boot floor replacement in 2014, so just about 5,000 miles ago, together with current inspection showing all clear.

So I think that means I am joining the community tomorrow afternoon!

[Mike R]

Congratulations :thumbs:.

Depending which era of Porsche you are used to, the balance of the CSL will be a bit of a revelation. The E46 is the sweet spot of BMW M-cars (even Chris Harris says so :blalalala: ) and the CSL is that same chassis turned up to 11 :supz:.

You will find the SMG a bit boring for the road (no heel and toeing to keep you occupied at sensible speeds), but take it on track and it feels much more involving and suddenly everything about the car makes sense (after-all, that is what BMW built the car for in the first place).

If the car has the OEM Cups on, be careful in cold and wet conditions - if not, you really need to try some tyres of that ilk at some point in the car's time with you (the Cup 2s aren't quite as good as the Cup 1s, but will bring the chassis to life compared to normal road tyres).

Any questions, feel free to post - everyone on here will be ready and willing to help :beer:.

[911-32]

Thank you Mike.

I am used to 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s Porsches and will still have a lightly modified 05 Boxster S alongside. After much experimentation I think NA cars from the 00s are my home.

Looking forward to all the experiences with a CSL. It’s on MP4S tyres but in Taller/skinnier M3 sizes (225/255x19) rather than CSL sizes so they will be changed before next summer for correct size 4S or similar like ContiCS6 perhaps.

[Trawler]

Congratulations in advance.
As Mike says get cups put on. Even on country roads you can feel a difference.
Have fun learning how to get the best out of the SMG in various driving conditions. If it's starts to feel like you are getting slurring/slip you are driving like miss daisy.

[DazBlackCSL]

Congrats on your new purchase, you will love the CSL ownership experience, and welcome to the forum :thumbs:

[911-32]

Thanks all. I am home safe and sound. On roads close to home that were largely dry and which I know well, it all came together. Goes pretty well when you wind it up.

I kind of get all the SMG comments - positive and negative. At this early stage if I was to be bold, I might suggest that the frustration is at least in part due to the fact that you really have to concentrate to get the best from SMG. If you don’t put the effort in, it can feel a bit shit. Initial thought though is that I like it.

Re Cups - don’t know about that. Having had a very racey 911 on Cup1s and 888s, I found I preferred road tyres. I tend to do long euro trips rather than track days, so I am biased to road use.

[Trawler]

Thanks all. I am home safe and sound. On roads close to home that were largely dry and which I know well, it all came together. Goes pretty well when you wind it up. :thumbs::thumbs:



I kind of get all the SMG comments - positive and negative. At this early stage if I was to be bold, I might suggest that the frustration is at least in part due to the fact that you really have to concentrate to get the best from SMG. If you don’t put the effort in, it can feel a bit shit. Initial thought though is that I like it.

You have hit it on the head. Takes concentration & how one uses the throttle during the change makes a difference. Needs also set to a fast change.


Re Cups - don’t know about that. Having had a very racey 911 on Cup1s and 888s, I found I preferred road tyres. I tend to do long euro trips rather than track days, so I am biased to road use.

Long euro trips I will use Michelin sport as I don't need the stress of driving a long distance in the rain on cups. Funnily enough the Mrs knows enough about tyres & as soon as it rains I get ear ache when running cups :hahaha:

[Trawler]

Thanks all. I am home safe and sound. On roads close to home that were largely dry and which I know well, it all came together. Goes pretty well when you wind it up.

I kind of get all the SMG comments - positive and negative. At this early stage if I was to be bold, I might suggest that the frustration is at least in part due to the fact that you really have to concentrate to get the best from SMG. If you don’t put the effort in, it can feel a bit shit. Initial thought though is that I like it.

Re Cups - don’t know about that. Having had a very racey 911 on Cup1s and 888s, I found I preferred road tyres. I tend to do long euro trips rather than track days, so I am biased to road use.

Still not good at this posting lark. :bigcry:
Left a comment on your first two paragraphs in previous post.

[DarrenR]

Looking forward to hearing more on how you’re finding it! This was my first experience of SMG and although it took quite a bit of getting used to (I came from an E92 M3 with DCT) I’ve now got the hang of how to get the best from it, a csl just wouldn’t be the same without having it.

Now, get it cleaned, dried, polished and wrapped up in the garage for winter ;)

[911-32]

Just to show it really is mine. I have been out and about this morning in the cold running errands and just generally mooching about and having fun. Its already growing on me.

https://i.imgur.com/8YYsSU2.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/HhlEAy6.jpg

Horrible grainy photos, but now its raining and we have all seen CSLs before. His 987 friend is lightly modified to a CS or CSL type recipe and while different is kind of similar as well. Not as punchy being 70hp down and similar weight, but delivers a pretty balanced, analogue, "noughties" drive just like the CSL.

I have a growing list of Qs I will post later, nothing earth shattering but maybe I can pick the collective knowledge of the register and avoid any newbie mistakes.

[911-32]

Questions playing on my mind -

1. My tyres are the wrong size being 225/40 and 255/35 4S Michies. I have 4mm at the back and 6mm at the front. They seem to work ok, so I think I just burn another mm or two on the rear and replace for next summer. Any huge objections to using the skinny M3 size tyre for now? And for road use, is there anything worth thinking about other than 4Ss? Like the Contisport6, for example? If I went Cup2s - not much more expensive, so tempting - realistically, how long do they last on the road? Its quite possible I take the CSL on a 3000+ mile trip next summer, so that's a factor. I am using Kumho PS91s on the 987 as I couldn't get Michies in the right size and needed tyres urgently for a trip and they are surprisingly decent in a close-to-Supersport-but-softer kind of way. And I have Supersports on another car and over the years used PZeroCs, Cup1s, 888s D98Js and SO2s on 911s. So those are my reference points.

2. I am still not totally convinced on how to drive the SMG. I had one ex-owner message me to say never lift on upshifts. I read other stuff in other places. I know its not one size fits all. It seems mechanically unpleasant to "no lift" at light acceleration and mid revs. But kind of ok at really high revs. Advice?

3. Bluetooth phone and music. I want a non-invasive solution to work with the basic business radio/cd. Seems like a Parrot type solution professionally fitted would be the answer. Anyone have experience with that? I don't want to try and get a modern bells and whistles set up, just basic music streaming and hands free.

4. The car feels solid and stiff, but still well damped and not crashie at all on the horrid roads round here. Its described as being fast road set up, so I am going to have to investigate that in due course. As it feels decent, I am not in a hurry, but will look to hunt down fast road alignment settings and KW V3 settings. Its much stiffer and newer feeling (bush firmness/lack of play) than the 987 despite also being on coilovers and being 20k miles newer. Thoughts on set up?

A couple of other random thoughts. The brakes are awesome. Front pads are yellow, the rears aren't. Whatever they are, they work better than the 987 with CL race pads running over bigger front discs. Ignoring a bit of wear inside (and the expensive carbon bits are all lovely, just other bits have some light wear and tear), the car feels like new thru the primary control surfaces. Very together and very nice underneath me. Can't say I feel very confident just yet to push really hard, but the traction control has caught my deliberate provocation so far, so the safety net feels reassuring.

Last thought - I read the seats are Pole Positions, but these are not the same as the PPs I had for about 12 years in one of my old 911s. The shell might be the same, but the base padding is much thicker making the sides lower and less supportive, but also easier to enter. Padding feels quite different, making the seat feel quite different. Its also a fraction to high in the car and too upright. Not so far off that I feel like I must "fix" it, but not immediately feeling"right". It's close enough that I forget about it when I am driving. The top of the backrest padding in my car feels a little prominent and gave me a little backache after about 2.5 hrs, so I may be looking to add a little padding somewhere to fix that. Just a teething problem though - I have re-padded every race seat I have owned except one pair of Sparcos that was right from the start.

Enough rambling. I should really use the search button a bit.

Edit - hmm, looks like I need to resize the photos rather than link to Imgur...

[ZKMI]

Congrats.

Such an addictive car...and Raw.

Keeper.

Some say that lifting may cause clutch slur even if it is a smoother experience..

[outnumbered]

Questions playing on my mind -


2. I am still not totally convinced on how to drive the SMG. I had one ex-owner message me to say never lift on upshifts. I read other stuff in other places. I know its not one size fits all. It seems mechanically unpleasant to "no lift" at light acceleration and mid revs. But kind of ok at really high revs. Advice?


enter. Padding feels quite different, making the seat feel quite different. Its also a fraction to high in the car and too upright. Not so far off that I feel like I must "fix" it, but not immediately feeling"right". It's close enough that I forget about it when I am driving. The

I usually lift a bit on upshifts when I'm not driving hard, it seems more sympathetic and it can be a bit jerky for passengers otherwise.

The seat base has built in adjustments, three different heights front and rear, so you might be able to improve things by taking the seat out and tweaking it. You need a tiny allen key (2mm?) to get the seat release button off so you can get to the main bolts, and it's very easy to strip the head if you are not very careful.

Micheln Pilot Supersport has been the most recommended road tyre on here in recent years - I've no experience with the 4S, hopefully it's similar as it replaced the SS...

[rstoughy]

Congrats on the purchase :thumbs:
Awesome cars, Had mine almost 11 years now and currently giving it a bit of a mini restoration. Going to be great getting it out again next year.

[Mike R]

Questions playing on my mind -

1. My tyres are the wrong size being 225/40 and 255/35 4S Michies. I have 4mm at the back and 6mm at the front. They seem to work ok, so I think I just burn another mm or two on the rear and replace for next summer. Any huge objections to using the skinny M3 size tyre for now? And for road use, is there anything worth thinking about other than 4Ss? Like the Contisport6, for example? If I went Cup2s - not much more expensive, so tempting - realistically, how long do they last on the road? Its quite possible I take the CSL on a 3000+ mile trip next summer, so that's a factor. I am using Kumho PS91s on the 987 as I couldn't get Michies in the right size and needed tyres urgently for a trip and they are surprisingly decent in a close-to-Supersport-but-softer kind of way. And I have Supersports on another car and over the years used PZeroCs, Cup1s, 888s D98Js and SO2s on 911s. So those are my reference points.

I'd agree. This time of year, leave those on to wear out, it's not going to hurt. The correct sizes are 235/35 x 19 and 265/30 x 19, which "may" limit your choice, as the rear size is CSL specific. For road use, any good quality brand is going to be okay. I personally would go for 4S or Supersport.


2. I am still not totally convinced on how to drive the SMG. I had one ex-owner message me to say never lift on upshifts. I read other stuff in other places. I know its not one size fits all. It seems mechanically unpleasant to "no lift" at light acceleration and mid revs. But kind of ok at really high revs. Advice?

The SMG is purported to have a certain degree of self learning, so will adapt to the way you drive, so if you start lifting, this may lead to slurring at a later date (which can be remedied with an "Italian tune-up, but might take some time to adapt back). If you want to be more mechanically sympathetic, just slow the shift speed down using the button on the centre console and then you won't get the mechanical thump, whilst still being able to shift without lifting. Just set it to the fastest speed that gives you the mechanical sympathy you feel is best. For reference, you can only access S6 (the fastest shift speed), by turning the traction off, which then reveals a hidden section on the dash like in a video game LOL.

3. Bluetooth phone and music. I want a non-invasive solution to work with the basic business radio/cd. Seems like a Parrot type solution professionally fitted would be the answer. Anyone have experience with that? I don't want to try and get a modern bells and whistles set up, just basic music streaming and hands free.

Message "Mark CSL" (the owner of the site), he specialises in this kind of thing for a living, so would be able to give expert advice.


4. The car feels solid and stiff, but still well damped and not crashie at all on the horrid roads round here. Its described as being fast road set up, so I am going to have to investigate that in due course. As it feels decent, I am not in a hurry, but will look to hunt down fast road alignment settings and KW V3 settings. Its much stiffer and newer feeling (bush firmness/lack of play) than the 987 despite also being on coilovers and being 20k miles newer. Thoughts on set up?

For fast road use, stick with the normal CSL geo settings, you only need to make these more aggressive if you go on track. V3s are a very good road / occasional track use and club sports with the adjustable top mounts give you options for even more aggressive geo.


A couple of other random thoughts. The brakes are awesome. Front pads are yellow, the rears aren't. Whatever they are, they work better than the 987 with CL race pads running over bigger front discs. Ignoring a bit of wear inside (and the expensive carbon bits are all lovely, just other bits have some light wear and tear), the car feels like new thru the primary control surfaces. Very together and very nice underneath me. Can't say I feel very confident just yet to push really hard, but the traction control has caught my deliberate provocation so far, so the safety net feels reassuring.

I'm guessing these are Pagid RS 29s by the sound of it (an exceptional pad), so no wonder you like these :). MDM mode (accessed by the steering wheel button) will give you a bit more freedom to explore the limits of the car, whilst still having the TC safety net - it's a very good system considering it's age.


Last thought - I read the seats are Pole Positions, but these are not the same as the PPs I had for about 12 years in one of my old 911s. The shell might be the same, but the base padding is much thicker making the sides lower and less supportive, but also easier to enter. Padding feels quite different, making the seat feel quite different. Its also a fraction to high in the car and too upright. Not so far off that I feel like I must "fix" it, but not immediately feeling"right". It's close enough that I forget about it when I am driving. The top of the backrest padding in my car feels a little prominent and gave me a little backache after about 2.5 hrs, so I may be looking to add a little padding somewhere to fix that. Just a teething problem though - I have re-padded every race seat I have owned except one pair of Sparcos that was right from the start.

The seats are actually based on the SPGs, not the Poles. They just have the lower sides (without the harness holes there or in the back of the seat), but this is just for ease of use with normal seat-belts and getting in and out of the car, whilst also giving the ability to provide more support than a standard seat.

The "fixed" position can actually be adjusted in the same way as a normal bucket seat can (on the side mounts), but needs removing to do so (along with the side covers to access the mounting bolts). It only has limited positions though.

Hope this helps :).

[911-32]

Thank you Mike.

I feel like I need a couple of free days just to explore the car and get on top of little to-do list items. Followed by a week of driving somewhere nice and warm. Summer cannot come soon enough.

Here are my thoughts on the CSL vs my lightly modified Porsche 987S after back to back driving at the weekend.

1. Similar midrange tq, though the 987 probably wins subjectively, but top end the CSL wins easily

2. Night and day in terms of throttle response with 987 feeling comparatively mute, like a layer of thick wool is between you and the throttle. ITBs rule.

3. AP Racing brakes beat the Porsche monoblock/little red/986/987/996 set up hands down

4. CSL feels newer in terms of the bushings and general tightness of suspension despite being nearly 20k miles older

5. Both feel similar in steering being old school hydraulic assistance with the 987 having the edge in feel thru the much thinner rimmed steering wheel

6. CSL finds more traction on typically leafy, wet junctions and slow corners despite the 987 having a weight distribution advantage. Blame the lack of an LSD in the 987 and MP4S tyres being a distinct advantage

7. CSL rolls less than the 987 despite having similar spring rates - KWv3 vs close to KWv3 rates. 987 could handle a stiffer rear anti-roll bar

8. KW damping is firmer than the coilovers on the 987, but both are adjustable so not conclusive. 987 is better on really bumpy roads, but CSL feels like it is desperate to be unleashed on smooth, open, super fast roads

Good fun whichever way you cut it.

[CraigMillwardCroft]

Congrats on your purchase, maybe see you on a track in Europe some time :thumbs:

[breeze]

I lift on downshifts to smooth out running. Once you know the car you will know when it is going to change. I never lift on upshifts.

Driving normally, I find dropping the shift speed one click as soon as I start does wonders.

Enjoy!

[sailorbaz]

Welcome to the Forum mate, hope you're finding it a wealth of knowledge.

I have a Parrot CK3100 (I think) installed on mine with the controller in the cubby hole by the right knew, nicely tucked away with only the microphone visible on the A pillar, but as said previously, MarkCSL knows all things Parrot related and would likely do you a deal on supply and DIY install if you're handy you tools... which reading your history of car ownership, must be.

Have to admit, since 3 children arrived in our house, I've neglected the CSL but reading these posts gives me an itch to go get her out for a wee spin on a nice clear day, this is why I keep it Taxed all year round, shame I'm offshore at the moment.

Regarding Tyres, I had used PS Cups but as they've become almost impossible to get hold of now, I'm running Team Dynamic 18's on PZeros and cannot complain, cheap too. Fit over the AP's also.

Enjoy, look forward to more updates.

[911-32]

I have Team Dynamics Pro-Race on the 987 and my daily Mini already, so I have history with them...

I have a thread running on the car here https://www.impactbumpers.com/forum/index.php?/topic/34922-m3-csl/page/3/. Short story - I am getting busy on the detailing front and have ordered CSL size MP4S tyres from CostCo.

ImpactBumpers is my spiritual home given I have been in the air cooled 911 camp for the last 20-something years, hence why I will keep the thread running over there.

[911-32]

I have a Parrot CK3100 (I think) installed on mine with the controller in the cubby hole by the right knew, nicely tucked away with only the microphone visible on the A pillar, but as said previously, MarkCSL knows all things Parrot related and would likely do you a deal on supply and DIY install if you're handy you tools... which reading your history of car ownership, must be.


Mark has been in touch. I kind of want a plug and play, install included deal. Yes, I get my hands dirty, but I am not a fan of electrics and wiring.

[VJP84]

Congrats on the purchase! i'm sure you will come to love the CSL! I've certainly found that it's a completely different animal once you get off the horrible UK roads and get it on track or a Euro road trip, that's where it really comes alive and the car makes complete sense.

A couple of useful points for the trips which I suspect you maybe familiar with but just incase....

1. Keep a spare Salmon Relay with you, my gearbox began throwing up error codes in the extreme heat and high altitudes this year at the top of stelvio after some heavy abuse, didn't require a change but useful to have one handy in case it completely burns out.

2. Take some 10w 60 oil with you it's difficult to find on the road, most service stations don't stock it, the ring has it but it's extortionately priced!

3. Basic code reader in case you do get some error codes

4. I've used MPSS and they have been great especially on the longer Euro Trips, I believe the MP4S is a direct replacement for these so sure they will also be good in the correct size.

5. Re SMG I never lift even at higher revs lol car seems fine so far...!

6. If you get the chance turn traction off and use s6 it's a brilliant experience! as Mike mentions the M Sport button on the steering wheel is also great giving you that safety net.

Enjoy!


Questions playing on my mind -

1. My tyres are the wrong size being 225/40 and 255/35 4S Michies. I have 4mm at the back and 6mm at the front. They seem to work ok, so I think I just burn another mm or two on the rear and replace for next summer. Any huge objections to using the skinny M3 size tyre for now? And for road use, is there anything worth thinking about other than 4Ss? Like the Contisport6, for example? If I went Cup2s - not much more expensive, so tempting - realistically, how long do they last on the road? Its quite possible I take the CSL on a 3000+ mile trip next summer, so that's a factor. I am using Kumho PS91s on the 987 as I couldn't get Michies in the right size and needed tyres urgently for a trip and they are surprisingly decent in a close-to-Supersport-but-softer kind of way. And I have Supersports on another car and over the years used PZeroCs, Cup1s, 888s D98Js and SO2s on 911s. So those are my reference points.

2. I am still not totally convinced on how to drive the SMG. I had one ex-owner message me to say never lift on upshifts. I read other stuff in other places. I know its not one size fits all. It seems mechanically unpleasant to "no lift" at light acceleration and mid revs. But kind of ok at really high revs. Advice?

3. Bluetooth phone and music. I want a non-invasive solution to work with the basic business radio/cd. Seems like a Parrot type solution professionally fitted would be the answer. Anyone have experience with that? I don't want to try and get a modern bells and whistles set up, just basic music streaming and hands free.

4. The car feels solid and stiff, but still well damped and not crashie at all on the horrid roads round here. Its described as being fast road set up, so I am going to have to investigate that in due course. As it feels decent, I am not in a hurry, but will look to hunt down fast road alignment settings and KW V3 settings. Its much stiffer and newer feeling (bush firmness/lack of play) than the 987 despite also being on coilovers and being 20k miles newer. Thoughts on set up?

A couple of other random thoughts. The brakes are awesome. Front pads are yellow, the rears aren't. Whatever they are, they work better than the 987 with CL race pads running over bigger front discs. Ignoring a bit of wear inside (and the expensive carbon bits are all lovely, just other bits have some light wear and tear), the car feels like new thru the primary control surfaces. Very together and very nice underneath me. Can't say I feel very confident just yet to push really hard, but the traction control has caught my deliberate provocation so far, so the safety net feels reassuring.

Last thought - I read the seats are Pole Positions, but these are not the same as the PPs I had for about 12 years in one of my old 911s. The shell might be the same, but the base padding is much thicker making the sides lower and less supportive, but also easier to enter. Padding feels quite different, making the seat feel quite different. Its also a fraction to high in the car and too upright. Not so far off that I feel like I must "fix" it, but not immediately feeling"right". It's close enough that I forget about it when I am driving. The top of the backrest padding in my car feels a little prominent and gave me a little backache after about 2.5 hrs, so I may be looking to add a little padding somewhere to fix that. Just a teething problem though - I have re-padded every race seat I have owned except one pair of Sparcos that was right from the start.

Enough rambling. I should really use the search button a bit.

Edit - hmm, looks like I need to resize the photos rather than link to Imgur...

[911-32]

Sounds like good advice. Thank you!