CSL Ownership: Two Weeks In

[Great Pretender]

OK, so I've had my CSL for two weeks now and I'm still smiling :)

Last week I took the car on a jaunt round Scotland, taking in the Doune Hillclimb too (spectating of course). Needless to say, the combination of our more scarcely populated mountain roads, that induction note and the aggressive chassis was an intoxicating mix. I'm very happy with the car and I certainly don't feel short-changed compared with the GT3; a car that despite its reputation for solidity, seemingly self-destructed at 25k. The CSL on the other hand - with double the mileage - still feels tight as a drum and is a real pleasure to throw down a favourite road.

The SMG has taken a bit of getting used to and it's certainly not perfect, but neither have I been inclined to do a 'Basil Fawlty' on the bonnet. I think it's fair to say that 'Auto' mode is hopeless though. My main gripe with the 'box (in auto mode) is its refusal to shift into first unless the car has more or less come to a halt - regardless of shift setting. Subsequently, roundabouts and junctions either need to be taken with a leap of faith by maintaining sufficient speed to avoid clutch slippage as the car pulls away in 2nd gear from 5mph, or by coming to a standstill (fine if there's traffic; embarrassing if it's clear). Given that I imagine Auto mode was designed with urban driving in mind, I see this as a major flaw. Secondly, I have noticed that short-shifting up through the box with more than half throttle applied (without lifting) produces a degree of 'slur' on occasion, but this is not evident at WOT/maximum revs. Is this a 'characteristic', or a sign that the clutch is on the way out (car has done 52k miles)?

I've also noticed that the water temp needle never quite sits in the middle and takes an unusually long time to reach that position (just to the left of the middle). I suspect the thermostat is kaput. In addition, I noticed a rumbling noise from the belt assembly area at idle. Could this be water pump related?

So the honeymoon period is over and there's potentially a couple of niggles, but just look at the thing; you could forgive it anything really :)


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4736145030_dc5d37159a.jpg

[DuncanR]

Glad you enjoying the CSL mate, they are a terrific piece of machinery...even if its German :banghead:.... cant fault mine, been no bother at all since I bought it ! ...faultless !:hahaha:

[lees csl]

Hi had mine nearly a year now had no problems with her had an evo 6 for three years then got csl can honestly say csl ten times better than evo and more rarer as well so enjoy it.:thumbs::thumbs:

[sailorbaz]

That's great news, glad you're enjoying it and even moreso now, I don't understand why it sat in Eastern for a couple of months. Great buy mate.

As far as the G/Box is concerned, doesn't it go into 1st when its in S5? I use it a little bit when knocking about town, but it's been over 6 weeks now and I can't remember. As far as the slur is concerned, I think we all get some of that at some point of ownership but a wee reset 'usually' sorts it out. If not, take it into BMW and have it looked at under the AUC scheme. FYI, Phoenix in Kirkcaldy are great with Warranty work. Can't wait to dig mine out on Thursday now, if I'm sober enough after flying home from Rio tomorrow!!!

WOOOHOOOO!

[daniel]

Good write up.

I am not a csl owner so I might be shot down in flames for this.... your car might have the motorsport 55 degree thermostat fitted, hence the lower temps.

You can run the car in diag mode with a digital live temp reading to see what you are actually getting. I run with this on track to see exactly what my temps are doing.

[Great Pretender]

That's great news, glad you're enjoying it and even moreso now, I don't understand why it sat in Eastern for a couple of months. Great buy mate.

As far as the G/Box is concerned, doesn't it go into 1st when its in S5? I use it a little bit when knocking about town, but it's been over 6 weeks now and I can't remember. As far as the slur is concerned, I think we all get some of that at some point of ownership but a wee reset 'usually' sorts it out. If not, take it into BMW and have it looked at under the AUC scheme. FYI, Phoenix in Kirkcaldy are great with Warranty work. Can't wait to dig mine out on Thursday now, if I'm sober enough after flying home from Rio tomorrow!!!

WOOOHOOOO!

Fingers crossed :thumbs:

I've still to get my warranty docs through from BMW, so I'll be keen to find out what's covered and what isn't. Any ideas?

Oh and while I'm nit-picking, the pickup from junctions/traffic lights and the like is quite 'lurchy' at times; feeling like the clutch has a couple of attempts before making a smooth departure. Sound normal?

[Great Pretender]

Good write up.

I am not a csl owner so I might be shot down in flames for this.... your car might have the motorsport 55 degree thermostat fitted, hence the lower temps.

You can run the car in diag mode with a digital live temp reading to see what you are actually getting. I run with this on track to see exactly what my temps are doing.

Interesting.

How do I run the diagnostic mode?

[daniel]

Interesting.

How do I run the diagnostic mode?


1. Hold Trip Reset while turning ignition key to on position
2. OBC should show "Test"
3. Push Trip Reset to select function 19.0 that unlocks all the features
3. Wait for display to show "Off"
4. Depress Trip Reset once and release it
5. With no delay press Trip Reset several times to select one of the following functions (you want function 7)

BMW E46 On-Board Computer (OBC) Hidden Codes
1 Car Engine and cluster data
1.0 46nnn Chassis nr/VIN serial number (last 5 digits)
1.1 4nnn K-number
1.2 690236 Cluster Part #
1.3 045210 Coding (04)/diagnosis (52)/bus index (10)
1.4 1200 Week (12)/year of manufacture (2000)
1.5 09_160 Hardware (09) and software # (16.0) of cluster
1.6 Not used
1.7 04__44 CAN-version (04) KI-revision index (44)
2 (test) Cluster System Test - Activates the gauge drivers,
indicators and LEDs to confirm function
3 SI Data
3.0 1098 Used fuel in liters since last SI (Service Inspection)
3.1 0231 Periodic inspection days; elapsed days (since last SI)
4 Momentary Consumption
4.0 0145+ Instant fuel consumption - 0145=14.5 liters/100km
4.1 0018 Instant fuel consumption - 0018=1.8 l/Hour
5 Distance Gone Consumption
5.0 082 Average mileage; 082=8.2 liters/100km
5.1 0536 Calc. km to refuel (momentary distance to go)
6 Fuel Level sensor inputs in liters
6.0 109330+ Fuel level averaged; Left half sensor input=10.9 liters; Right sensor input=33.0 liters
6.1 0439+ Total tank level averaged; vlgs 6.0: 10.9+33.0=43.9 liters
6.2 0442+ Indicated value (44.2) and tank phase
7 Temperature and Speed
7.0 021+ Coolant/Engine temperature (2.1C) <- this is what you want for engine temp
7.1 130 Ambient/Outside temperature - chg met 5 pts. 125/130/135
7.2 + Engine speed / Current RPMs 1/min
7.3 + Vehicle speed / Current Speed in km/hour
8 Input value in HEX form
8.0 1d0+ System voltage ADC-Value Hex code
8.1 26C33C+ ADC Values HG left/HG right
8.2 0000 ADC Value brake degradation sensor (000=o.k.)
8.3 18C ADC Value outside temperature
9 Battery
9.0 140 Battery Voltage - 140 = UB 14.0v
9.1 242013+?
9.2 074_78+?
9.3 0011+?
10 Not used
11 Not used
12 Not used
13 GonG Gong Test
14 Not used
15 Status cluster I/O-ports (bit codes) 0=low; 1=high
1st-belt contact, seat belt fastened=0; 2) ignition lock contact, key inserted=0; 3) door contact, door open=0; 4) clock button pressed=0; 5) SI reset=0, for reset=0; 6) EGS transmission failure=0
Status Digital Outputs (bits) 0=inactive, 1=active
1) Gong output; 2) Brake warning lamp; 3) Low fuel warning lamp; 4) EGA lamp; 5) seat belt lamp; 6) manipulation dot
16 Not used
17 Not used
18 Not used
19 Lock Status; unlocks functions in range 3-18
19.0 L-On/L-Off Unlock: press button when "L-Off"
20 Not used
21 Software Reset; reset OBC settings
00 End of test

After you have done this just turn you car on and drive around and you will see your live temp. When you turn your engine off diag mode is exited.

[Great Pretender]

Brilliant,

Thank you very much Daniel :thumbs:

[Bounce]

Glad your enjoying it mate:thumbs:.Ive just had a new clutch plate and fly wheel under warranty due to clutch slur,car was on 62k and clutch plate was still in good nick.its gear change is sharp again now with no slur in any gear or revs;)

[sailorbaz]

Excellent, handy enough wee gadget. Cheers for that Daniel, ;-)

[Great Pretender]

Glad your enjoying it mate:thumbs:.Ive just had a new clutch plate and fly wheel under warranty due to clutch slur,car was on 62k and clutch plate was still in good nick.its gear change is sharp again now with no slur in any gear or revs;)

Well I've just been out for a shake down on my local private test track, which, curiously enough, almost exactly mimicks your average B-road. Clever eh? :whistle: Anyway, a few things:

1) The steering/suspension isn't perhaps as sharp as it could be and my paranoid spidey sense can feel the onset of something just beginning to work its way loose. Prime suspect is perhaps a track rod and/or 50k mile dampers versus brand new rears. Any thoughts?

2) There's definitely a slur; full bifter in S6 slots home fine (albeit violently), but a slight lift or short shift and the gear changes are slurred - particularly 3rd to 4th. Fortunately S5 allows the engagement of 1st gear without coming to a complete halt however.

3) The drive train sounds like a bag of spanners when trundling along in first and general manoeuvring, particularly when hot. This isn't new of course; my previous BMWs (all 7 of them) have done the same, but with 'only' 50k on the clock, it's perhaps a little noisier than I'd like. The whining in first gear from the diff/gearbox is particularly irksome.

Anyone got any suggestions?

[DuncanR]

The whining in first gear from the diff/gearbox is particularly irksome.

Anyone got any suggestions?

Check diff fluid level, Triggers Broom, now on 68k has had 2 diffs and 2 further seal replacements.

[rstoughy]

Glad your enjoying it M8 :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:

Was talking with Ian (I mac) the other week about it as he was saying that someone he knows had bought one.

Need to get a local meet set up and get some decent pics of the array of CSL's that are appearing up here.

[DuncanR]

Glad your enjoying it M8 :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:

Was talking with Ian (I mac) the other week about it as he was saying that someone he knows had bought one.

Need to get a local meet set up and get some decent pics of the array of CSL's that are appearing up here.

Keep a parking space for me, I have transformers to install up your way soon, so that you can enjoy the freedom electricity gives you ! ... may try and coincide with a Knockhill TD if at all possible, not sure my ass will take the caning driving all that way in a Recaro with Intrax sussy either :bigcry:, bout the same as the Ring though i suppose !

[phat///M3]

Keep a parking space for me, I have transformers to install up your way soon, so that you can enjoy the freedom electricity gives you ! ... may try and coincide with a Knockhill TD if at all possible, not sure my ass will take the caning driving all that way in a Recaro with Intrax sussy either :bigcry:, bout the same as the Ring though i suppose !

Trailor solutions :thumbs:

[rstoughy]

Keep a parking space for me, I have transformers to install up your way soon, so that you can enjoy the freedom electricity gives you ! ... may try and coincide with a Knockhill TD if at all possible, not sure my ass will take the caning driving all that way in a Recaro with Intrax sussy either :bigcry:, bout the same as the Ring though i suppose !

Elec????whatity?? :hahaha: :hahaha:

Trackday would be good and i'd try and make it if a few fellow owners were to be present.

As for the ass issue, i have a nice drive from Aberdeen to the ring planned for Aug :bigcry: :bigcry: :bigcry: now thats gonna hurt. lol