CSL - what would you have changed

[E46CSL]

The CSL is an amazing bit of kit, we all know that :thumbs:

However,with the benefit of hindsight what bits would you have changed?

I would have preferred better seats, and more adjustment +

A solid black colour + a Red.

Better quality steering wheel, door kick panels

Better brakes


Over to you guys:)

[shimmy]

i would have preferred softer heated seats, softer suspension, manual box, quieter engine noise, sat nav, polished wheels, :)

[Yanto]

Sunroof :hahaha:

[E46CSL]

i would have preferred softer heated seats, softer suspension, manual box, quieter engine noise, sat nav, polished wheels, :)



But seriously, a manual box gets mentioned so often. Even the GT3 RS offers sat-nav (although not in 2003/4).....the fact that some CSL owners retro fit sat-nav suggests it could have been a good option - not sure I would have chosen that option though.

[Bounce]

Just better brakes,I like the rest,it makes the CSL a legend:thumbs:

[E46CSL]

Sunroof :hahaha:
I don't think so.....;) Further, the purists want a car without AC & without Xenons

[sailorbaz]

Better brakes - Full stop

[shimmy]

Sunroof :hahaha:

really do want cup holders ;)

[shane@mbtech]

But seriously, a manual box gets mentioned so often. Even the GT3 RS offers sat-nav (although not in 2003/4).....the fact that some CSL owners retro fit sat-nav suggests it could have been a good option - not sure I would have chosen that option though.

I tink shimmys response was tad tongue in cheek, think normal m3:wink:

[E46CSL]

I tink shimmys response was tad tongue in cheek, think normal m3:wink:

Of course, and the M3 CS, that seemed a reasonable compromise.:)

[shimmy]

I tink shimmys response was tad tongue in cheek, think normal m3:wink:

I tink shimmys response was tad tongue in cheek, think normal m3:wink:

however im serious about cup holders, the amount of times ive spilt my skinny latté ...........

[Trawler]

Easy access dip stick.

If I could change it now a few more bhp.

[Pip1968]

AP brakes as standard, a proper dipstick (leaving myself open here) instead of the electronic tomfoolery, a manual option and more use of carbon fibre in th cabin - particularly dashboard and surround.

Definately NO satnav!!! That sort of superfluous rubbis goes with automatic door closers and boot openers :moan:.

Pip

[83SY]

The seats are great, the colours perfect! Red! :banghead:
It's a CSL and the fact it's raw & has no cup holders or arse heater :

Brakes are fine on the road but I have just upgraded purely to do some track work.

Buy a standard e46 if you want a smooth ride and somewhere to place your costa coffee

Just buy it , you won't regret it! :thumbs:

[83SY]

SMG or manual? I personally would have bought a manual if the option was there but having lived with the smg in the CSL I wouldn't change it

[glendog74]

No rear seats and a half cage fitted - as per the pre-production show car.

Oh, and better brakes! :birdman:

[Bounce]

Higher seats and a half cage fitted - as per the pre-production show car.

Oh, and better brakes! :birdman::-D;)

[rstoughy]

Decent brakes
Rear cage
Dip Stick

[Yanto]

Aside from those mentioned, I always thought that the three piece dash trim should be CF as standard and the top of the dash / instrument panel should be clothed in alcantara like the steering wheel rather than the standard plastic finish.

[83SY]

Decent brakes
Rear cage
Dip Stick

Agreed on all

[83SY]

Fully flocked dash would have been a nice touch ?

[still no worries]

No rear seats and a half cage fitted - as per the pre-production show car.

Oh, and better brakes! :birdman:

Ive had mine just over 5 years now and no ones been in the back seats
Just spare wheels, half cage and ap's would have been great.

[E46CSL]

Better brakes, roll cage & dip stick seem popular choices.

Colour - I only mentioned a sold black, rather than metallic black, for it can look stunning e.g. E30 M3 Sport Evo.

The number of times of times Black or silver comes up is amazing, and in my times with the E30 (except perhaps diamond black) or the E9 the issue almost never came up with the colour choices.

And yet as the car gets older, I expect the colour will not matter.


Manual - has anyone converted?

[E46CSL]

Ive had mine just over 5 years now and no ones been in the back seats



Not easy to get in the back, and so easy to mark the back of the seat.

[83SY]

A few guys have wrapped in white, stunning - carbon stands out
Im not a fan of the black CSL hence the reason I bought a SG

[magnust]

Better brakes. Cup holder. Seriously.

:)

[CraigMillwardCroft]

Better brakes. Cup holder. Seriously.

:)
:hahaha::hahaha::hahaha: what is the cup holder thing ??

[CraigMillwardCroft]

AP's as standard :whistle:

[magnust]

:hahaha::hahaha::hahaha: what is the cup holder thing ??


Well that or a third and fourth arm :thumbs: Hehehe

[shimmy]

Seriously I think the ONLY option should have been a Clubsport package consisting of;

1. Delete rear seats
2. Rear cage
3. Race Seats and harness
4. Adjustable suspension.
5. Better brakes

:thumbs:

[CraigMillwardCroft]

Seriously I think the ONLY option should have been a Clubsport package consisting of;

1. Delete rear seats
2. Rear cage
3. Race Seats and harness
4. Adjustable suspension.
5. Cup holders

:thumbs:
Spot on that is what they should have.

[E46CSL]

Seriously I think the ONLY option should have been a Clubsport package consisting of;

1. Delete rear seats
2. Rear cage
3. Race Seats and harness
4. Adjustable suspension.
5. Cup holders

:thumbs:

Sounds good. & the better brakes of course.

[shimmy]

Seriously I think the ONLY option should have been a Clubsport package consisting of;

1. Delete rear seats
2. Rear cage
3. Race Seats and harness
4. Adjustable suspension.
5. Better brakes

:thumbs:


thats what i said :)

[TommyR]

only thing id change would be the brakes

[Curly]

I pod conection
Estate?

[AlexGTT]

really do want Michelin cup holders ;)

EFA. They'd be very useful. Good thought Shim. ;)

[DuncanR]

A proper factory fitted towbar ?

[Mark CSL]

Make it chang from 1st gear to 2 faster
:banghead:

Big Brake kit

[Mark CSL]

Better brakes. Cup holder. Seriously.

:)

I have a cup holder in my csl :whistle:

[shane@mbtech]

cruise control, its a long fucking way from Liverpool to the ring. :)

[The Gorilla]

Hi,

Quote-

''cruise control, its a long fucking way from Liverpool to the ring. ''

Ha, ha, its fucking Denplan you'll need driving
from Liverpool to the Ring on KW Clubsport
with a Cage.

Regards,

The Gorilla.

[shane@mbtech]

Hi,

Quote-

''cruise control, its a long fucking way from Liverpool to the ring. ''

Ha, ha, its fucking Denplan you'll need driving
from Liverpool to the Ring on KW Clubsport
with a Cage.

Regards,

The Gorilla.

Its going to be Intrax now. Going to give them a try. See how they compare.

Did I mention solid bushes!!!

I have my gumshield:wink:

[shimmy]

Its going to be Intrax now. Going to give them a try. See how they compare.

Did I mention solid bushes!!!

I have my gumshield:wink:



Can you please make your mind up. :bigcry:

[magnust]

I pod conection
Estate?

My car came with that. And I don't mean it's an estate :hahaha:

[shane@mbtech]

Can you please make your mind up. :bigcry:

Shut it nitronintrax boy. :moan:

They're worth a pop, see what the fuss is about.

[glendog74]

:-D;)

:birdman: :smt055

[Mark CSL]

Can you please make your mind up. :bigcry:

Dont tell him that it will be for sale by friday :finga:

[sfh3l]

I've gotta say SMG. I know I'm going to be shot down and I know that it is part of the character of the car.

However, as an occasional browser of this forum, I am struck by the number of SMG problems everyone has and how far reaching they are through the rest of the drive train. It is a wonderful piece of kit when driving fast on the open road, but horrible when cold or in traffic and the whole thing does not operate with any mechanical sympathy at all. Put another way, if someone asked you if they could drive your (ordinary manual) car and then proceeded to jolt and jerk about like the SMG system does, you'd say "get out of the car - now!" and yet we all accept it as the way these cars are.

For me, it would be SMG and only SMG. No need for a cage where I come from and go to and my brakes have always been fine (no track work). Everything else I'll take just as it is please.

After all, what DO we get?
911 worrying performance
A noise you don't get this side of a Ferrari
Great handling and great (road) brakes
Cool understated looks

All of that AND genuine 4 seats and an enormous boot!!

IMHO the CSL is as close to perfection as it gets. Think Megan Fox, only with good conversation, Great cooking and mothering skills too...........

Now waiting for the shouts of derision

[Yanto]

Think Megan Fox, only with good conversation, Great cooking and mothering skills too...........

Now waiting for the shouts of derision

I can report she has all these and more :smokin:

[DuncanR]

Now waiting for the shouts of derisiondERISION dERISION FOOK CAPS :banghead:

[toplad]

Id have a manual and wouldn't mind a arm rest on the drivers door

Smg only, is the biggest fuck up since bill Clinton jizzed on that bird's jacket and didnt have it dry cleaned.

[E46CSL]

A club sport package would have worked well.

Better brakes
Manual
Better seats
Half cage/ no rear seats
Lighter Exhaust

& Cup holders ;)

[J13NY S]

Not really an issue but often thought I’d prefer the gear indicator displayed higher on the dash.

I’m 6ft but even at that were I like the steering wheel it can obscure the gear indicator a little, at the top between the rev & speedo I think would be ideal.

But ya better brakes are a requirement & a half cage would've been nice.

[sfh3l]

dERISION dERISION FOOK CAPS :banghead:
Oh well. I suppose SMG is a bit like having a pot of Marmite in the car - perhaps in one of your cup holders?:wink:

[83SY]

Id have a manual and wouldn't mind a arm rest on the drivers door

Smg only, is the biggest fuck up since bill Clinton jizzed on that bird's jacket and didnt have it dry cleaned.

Smg as said is superb when driven hard and realistically if you don't use or drive the car how it should be driven you've bought the wrong car!

IMO when you drive around steady in town & traffic etc it's fine if you decrease the senstivity down to a couple of bars.

I always wanted a CSL but before I made my purchase I did the rounds and drove the rs4 (boring) and ive owned an rs focus mk2 and many other similar cars, but the longest I kept any car was six months!

Now a year with the CSL and I wouldn't change it for anything in the sub 50k bracket

Do agree with the comments regarding a cup pack with cage and harnesses etc

[E30M3SE]

Mudflaps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:finga:

[toplad]

Smg as said is superb when driven hard and realistically if you don't use or drive the car how it should be driven you've bought the wrong car!

IMO when you drive around steady in town & traffic etc it's fine if you decrease the senstivity.

What a load of fan boy rubbish

I suppose its easier for you to say I bought the wrong car than for you to admit that smg is piss poor at any other thing than track driving or when on a charge.

I test drove many cars and knew the pros and cons of the smg gear box, for my particular needs I can live with it, but that doesn't mean its not poor in auto mode does it?

Id much prefer a manual, I miss matching the revs and heal n toeing down through the box.

[Alx]

I would also choose a manual gear box.

But you know that I don't track the car much and rather use it as a garage queen on sunny week-ends. :)

I wouldn't mind a reinforced subframe too. I've had no problems with mine, but it keeps me worried.

[Christophe.m]

The concept car of the CSL was kind of better with :

-no rear seats
- better seat
- no rear electrique windows
- more carbon

[E46CSL]

The concept car of the CSL was kind of better with :

-no rear seats
- better seat
- no rear electrique windows
- more carbon

The E9 CSL did have rear seats, had the Scheel seat (better in some ways), did have electric windows and of course plenty of aluminium.

[Trawler]

Got to say I love the smg. Find it a challenge to drive it smoothly in town/A roads by changing at the right point/modulating the throttle. The new double clutch may be better but I feel less involved. Bring back cars with no synchro so we have to double de-clutch I say.

[83SY]

What a load of fan boy rubbish

I suppose its easier for you to say I bought the wrong car than for you to admit that smg is piss poor at any other thing than track driving or when on a charge.

I test drove many cars and knew the pros and cons of the smg gear box, for my particular needs I can live with it, but that doesn't mean its not poor in auto mode does it?

Id much prefer a manual, I miss matching the revs and heal n toeing down through the box.

Only my opinion, sorry

I did feel the same until I learnt to drive it properly

[shimmy]

What a load of fan boy rubbish

I suppose its easier for you to say I bought the wrong car than for you to admit that smg is piss poor at any other thing than track driving or when on a charge.

I test drove many cars and knew the pros and cons of the smg gear box, for my particular needs I can live with it, but that doesn't mean its not poor in auto mode does it?

Id much prefer a manual, I miss matching the revs and heal n toeing down through the box.

I agree manual would be preferred choice on the road but the SMg is far from piss poor on the road. In auto and manual of set tot he right speed setting it changes well and without too much jerking and does its job.

[sfh3l]

I knew that would get you talking :-D

[toplad]

Only my opinion, sorry

I did feel the same until I learnt to drive it properly


Nothing to do with not being able to drive it properly, the system should work without having to adopt to idiosyncrasies, its just poor on the road.
Modern DCT gearboxes make SMG feel dated and its one of the few things that show the CSL's age

[shimmy]

Nothing to do with not being able to drive it properly, the system should work without having to adopt to idiosyncrasies, its just poor on the road.
Modern DCT gearboxes make SMG feel dated and its one of the few things that show the CSL's age

Those Model T Fords are a bit bumpy on the road too. Not sure what Henry was up to Tbh.

[Yanto]

Surely you go into a CSL purchase knowing its a compromised car ?

If you want a track star, buy an RS, Caterham, Exige, Radical etc with a manual box, cage etc depending on budget. Don your Nomex undercrackers and off you go.

It's not perfect, but as an all purpose car, a good shout.

Alternatively, buy a £10k E46 M3, a trailer and a £15K tricked up Caterham for the same cash ???

[Christophe.m]

The E9 CSL did have rear seats, had the Scheel seat (better in some ways), did have electric windows and of course plenty of aluminium.

I have some picture on my laptop where we can see than there is not all these things...

http://www.google.ch/search?q=m3+csl+concept&oe=UTF-8&hl=fr&client=safari&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=E6mhT-jVEqmo4gTEju36CA&biw=768&bih=928&sei=GKmhT5WTKKiM4gTqhf2dCQ


Carbon front seat, dash trim etc....

[3wheels3]

Seriously I think the ONLY option should have been a Clubsport package consisting of;

1. Delete rear seats
2. Rear cage
3. Race Seats and harness
4. Adjustable suspension.
5. Better brakes

:thumbs:

+1, spot on :beer: but with front bumper made from standard plastic BUT in same shape as csl which along with Recaro SPG's would fund entire Clubsport cost haha :-D

One thing that pi$$es me is people who can't drive smg smooth :mad: It is like it is hard wired into your brain it's so good.

[Bounce]

+1, spot on :beer: but with front bumper made from standard plastic BUT in same shape as csl which along with Recaro SPG's would fund entire Clubsport cost haha :-D

One thing that pi$$es me is people who can't drive smg smooth :mad: It is like it is hard wired into your brain it's so good.I'm with you Wheels,got no trouble with SMG on the road,I'm worse with a gear stick.:hahaha::hahaha:

[s.mac]

I love the smg :)
and each to their own :)
I always think these threads are pointless unless you are on the BMW panel for design and engineering :smt015

[83SY]

Nothing to do with not being able to drive it properly, the system should work without having to adopt to idiosyncrasies, its just poor on the road.
Modern DCT gearboxes make SMG feel dated and its one of the few things that show the CSL's age

I've got to be honest and this isn't me being a fan boy but I drove a friend new shape dct m3 2008 and I thought the gearbox was lazy compared to the smg in the csl but I also think the same of the smg in the standard m3. Maybe the software in the csl just makes the smg work

All just my opinion and I understand what your saying but I think as pointed out by others the car was built to be abit raw and that's what I adore about it

[83SY]

I love the smg :)
and each to their own :)
I always think these threads are pointless unless you are on the BMW panel for design and engineering :smt015


Very true

[toplad]

I've got to be honest and this isn't me being a fan boy but I drove a friend new shape dct m3 2008 and I thought the gearbox was lazy compared to the smg in the csl but I also think the same of the smg in the standard m3. Maybe the software in the csl just makes the smg work

All just my opinion and I understand what your saying but I think as pointed out by others the car was built to be abit raw and that's what I adore about it

I love my car too, more than any I've owned in the past, I like it because it's raw also, but raw isn't an excuse for what's a pretty poor auto mode. I don't really use it, but thought I'd give it a go this weekend. It's fine on the motorway, but hopeless at low speed maneuvering, I'm glad I didn't buy it for it's auto mode, that's all can say :whistle:
In Evo magazine's buying guide the SMG gearbox gets a mention too, so I'm not the only person to notice the failings.

Took mine out for blast this weekend, on a charge the paddles and speed of changes add to the experience and really suit the car, so it's not all bad:-D
Still shocked by the speed of the thing in a straight line and through the bends:supz:

[shimmy]

Top lad

Did you try auto mode in S5 or S6?

3wheels3 uses this on track and I've tried it and I swear it is superb (except for the odd change when you don't want it)

[toplad]

Yes shim, I find in S5/6 , the box holds on too the gears to long, so you end up using more revs every where.

[3wheels3]

Auto mode is very good and have no idea at all why it gets a bad press. A3 for road may be A2 for some A5 for track. Only a few corners I've found where it may change up but not really wanting it to but slight change of line and touch of commitment can help iron those little bits.

It does work (if only I hadn't coasted in couple of places tidy lap imo)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW5_jyeuEvg