Making a manual CSL...?

[Chappers]

I've asked M3Cutters and I've asked Pistonheads, I should probably ask the actual experts on the matter. I think I now what's coming and I'm not sure I'm going to like it. People have postulated it over the years, nobody has every really done it properly, the closest someone came was by making a blue one out of a normal M3.

My car has hit 131,000 miles, I've had it for 3 years and I'm thinking about a change. I've driven a Z4MR and quite liked it, I quite fancied buying one and sticking a carbon airbox on it and I'm sure it would be all the car I would want or need for some time…

…However, a crazier part of my brain keeps popping up. I've thought about it for 3 years now, maybe longer, probably before I owned a CSL in fact. The SMG is good in some circumstances but it also pretty crap in a lot of others. I really love a manual gearbox and Porsche have just admitted that hey, maybe quite a few other people do too by allowing it to be optioned on the GT3.

CSLs came with an SMG for the same reasons the 991 GT£ was only fitted with a PDK... it made the car quicker on track specifically probably a good few seconds quicker round the 'ring. It wasn't to make the car more pleasant to drive or lighter. It's 15-20kg heavier and can be a right old pig at times...arguably all the times you're not using a CSL as a CSL, I suppose.

The CSL is however also a wonderful road car, the lightness over the standard car, the interior, the sharpness, the noise, the engine, but with the SMG it's not quite my perfect car. Just nearly. So I’m thinking about biting the bullet and converting mine. If you were going to do it to one, why not to one with most of the value already taken out of it by high mileage?

What’s the consensus from those with actual experience rather than 3rd-hand keyboard expertise? Am I mad or is it worth a shot? If I fancy selling it in a year when I need the money am I going to have put an already niche buying prospect into its own sub-niche or opened it up to an SMG-hating market that currently isn’t accessible to people wanting a CSL? Should I go buy a Z4MR and live with for a while and see if I use the CSL at all during that time?

[billyboysm3]

After having CSL and Manual M3 at the same time I prefer the SMG all day long.

But I reckon a 4.1 diff in the CSL would make you smile!

[glendog74]

Originally Posted by billyboysm3

After having CSL and Manual M3 at the same time I prefer the SMG all day long.

Ditto - owned both at the same time and the manual M3 was a drag to drive compared to the CSL.

Each to their own though and it's your car...

[phoenixcsl]

Anything is possible if you have the time, the will and the cash to do it.

I think there have been conversions done on E46 M3's, the cost is circa £3k to do it.

There was an old post on it from a few years back on M3 Forum: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=591095

CPC in Amersham used to do a lot of E36 conversions, so did GCS in Horsham.

To be honest, you might be better selling the CSL and getting a E46 M3 or Z4M and stripping it, as I think selling a CSL with a manual conversion, you'll lose potential buyers in the future.

[Chappers]

Definitely physically possible, I have some concerns over correct programming of it and obviously the "moral" concerns voiced above.

[Mike R]

Drive it more often in the correct environment for it - job jobbed .

Seriously, it would be very costly as you would have to have the DME re-programmed to stop lots of the dash lights coming on, as well as the hardware.

It can be done (as it is done all the time in the USA, as they all hate the SMG in the M3), but along with the cost you will have the added issue of how much it will devalue the car.

I know a lot of people say how much they want a manual CSL, but finding someone to then put their hard-earned where their mouth is on such an "asset", might prove financially hard to swallow.

If you have the ability and can swap the transmission out at will and have the ability to put it all back to standard, then I'd say 100% go for it. If you are having to pay someone else, I'd ask yourself the question how much is the manual transmission "worth" to you. If the answer is more than the £10k-£15k it "might" cost to do and in loss, then again go for it. If all that is too much to swallow, then I'd say stick with what you have.

[billyboysm3]

Originally Posted by Mike R

I know a lot of people say how much they want a manual CSL, but finding someone to then put their hard-earned where their mouth is on such an "asset", might prove financially hard to swallow.

This man speaks sense!!

[Alx]

Hi,

I also considered doing this and contacted BMW Classic.

I was told that the CSL was too "modern" to be considered by them and they invited me to contact the BMW Niederlassumg in Munich

My mechanic is specialized in gearboxes and he knows the CSL quite well.

He told me not to do it as it would devalue the car...

[CraigMillwardCroft]

Had a manual M3 E46, then got the CSL and would never go back from the SMG great for track and every day driving

[select]

Technically it is possible and not a "big deal" but i wouldn't do it to a CSL.
The SMG is only about 7kg heavier than the manual.