CSL Ownership: Two Weeks In

**Great Pretender** · 29-06-2010, 02:16 PM

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

DuncanR · 29-06-2010, 06:03 PM

Glad you enjoying the CSL mate, they are a terrific piece of machinery...even if its German

.... cant fault mine, been no bother at all since I bought it ! ...faultless !

**lees csl** · 29-06-2010, 06:47 PM

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.

sailorbaz · 29-06-2010, 07:18 PM

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 · 29-06-2010, 08:17 PM

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** · 29-06-2010, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

Interesting.

How do I run the diagnostic mode?

**Great Pretender** · 29-06-2010, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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!

Fingers crossed

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?

29-06-2010, 02:16 PM	#1
Great Pretender S3 - On the open road Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Aberdeen Posts: 109 Casino cash: $772	CSL Ownership: Two Weeks In 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

29-06-2010, 06:03 PM	#2
DuncanR CSL Register Uber-poster! Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Olney, Bucks Posts: 3,735 Casino cash: $9994	Glad you enjoying the CSL mate, they are a terrific piece of machinery...even if its German .... cant fault mine, been no bother at all since I bought it ! ...faultless ! __________________ " I use Gleaming Kleen.... for that new car look " I wish I had used - Race Data Systems - Motorsport Data Loggers forgive me Nathan !

29-06-2010, 06:47 PM	#3
lees csl S2 - Picking it up Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: chorley Posts: 58 Casino cash: $3056	csl ownership 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.

29-06-2010, 08:17 PM	#5
daniel S4 - Getting the hang of it Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 247 Casino cash: $11332	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.