New CSL Owner

hoshy · 03-03-2012, 08:05 PM

Hi all,

I took the plunge a few weeks ago and bought my first CSL.

Previously I've had:

a cars not worthy of metion...
318i (E30, first RWD :D)
318iS (E30, later supercharged)
325tds (E36, runabout while rebuilding engine on 318iS)
M3 Evo (E36, favourite all-round car, ever, despite being a major E30 fan)
316ti (E36, mega-miles cheapo runabout)
M3 CSL - black, circa 80K miles.

Early thoughts on the CSL...

but really, it's too noisy and due to SMG not being perfectly fettled I can't say I'm in love with... yet.

I live in Germany so I get to stretch its legs on a regular basis and the speed at which it hits 250kph makes the Evo look like a childs toy. It's stunning and as soon as the weather gets better I'll be heading to the ring (only an hour and a half away

)

So - hello everybody. Just thougt I'd say hi as I'm about to post some questions about getting the SMG/clutch as close to perfect as possible.

Cheers,
Ashley.

Bounce · 03-03-2012, 08:14 PM

Welcome to the register Ashley,you will fall in love with it in time.

**grumps** · 03-03-2012, 08:28 PM

Dito! and how lucky living so close to the holy grail

rstoughy · 03-03-2012, 09:37 PM

Welcome onboard

Dont worry about the SMG, think most had a period like that upon purchase, I know I did. Took me a few months to get into it but wouldnt change it now. Love it!!

**Mark CSL** · 03-03-2012, 09:44 PM

Welcome

It takes me a day to get over to the ring you lucky sod

derek · 03-03-2012, 09:47 PM

Welcome enjoy your Csl !!!

**shimmy** · 03-03-2012, 09:58 PM

Ashley, spring is here and that drivers window will be open, the open autobahn and the air box.........love will come.

The secret of the CSL is he air box and the high rev gear changes, just superb for £20k

I'm spending more and more time over the next 10 weeks in Bonn so. Might pop over and watch you take a spin around green hell.

hoshy · 04-03-2012, 02:08 AM

Thanks for the welcome, folks. Shimmy - if you're about for a stop by the ring then just drop me a PM.

The noise is a weird thing I reckon. It's pretty much got the same all or nothing ethos as the rest of the car - sub 4/5k, bag of nails, above 5k, sweeter than man was intended to experience.

70-100mph in 6th is an unpleasant experience at best, but auto-blip it down to 3rd and floor it with sport on, and it's symphony.

As for the SMG, I gave it a good drive around town, back-roads and bahn this evening and it's getting better. SMG Reset and a few flat-shifts in S6 have definitaly improved the pull away and light load changes so I'm happy with that. S5, sport off, seems to be the way forward, for gentle and spirited driving. There's also a bit of drivetrain slack that I'm hoping can be fixed up without toooo much cost - maybe a diff at the worst. Hope it's not any of the cracked subframe issues I've read about.

Got a little holiday down to north Italy in two weeks, will run her over the alps and take a quick trip to the Stelvio pass - pics will follow

Thanks again.

KamalRostov · 04-03-2012, 08:43 AM

Congratulations on your new ride...

cslgirl · 04-03-2012, 09:23 AM

Hi Ashley, welcome to the forum and congrats on your CSL purchase

03-03-2012, 08:05 PM	#1
hoshy S3 - On the open road Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 80 Casino cash: $833	New CSL Owner Hi all, I took the plunge a few weeks ago and bought my first CSL. Previously I've had: a cars not worthy of metion... 318i (E30, first RWD :D) 318iS (E30, later supercharged) 325tds (E36, runabout while rebuilding engine on 318iS) M3 Evo (E36, favourite all-round car, ever, despite being a major E30 fan) 316ti (E36, mega-miles cheapo runabout) M3 CSL - black, circa 80K miles. Early thoughts on the CSL... but really, it's too noisy and due to SMG not being perfectly fettled I can't say I'm in love with... yet. I live in Germany so I get to stretch its legs on a regular basis and the speed at which it hits 250kph makes the Evo look like a childs toy. It's stunning and as soon as the weather gets better I'll be heading to the ring (only an hour and a half away ) So - hello everybody. Just thougt I'd say hi as I'm about to post some questions about getting the SMG/clutch as close to perfect as possible. Cheers, Ashley.

03-03-2012, 09:37 PM	#4
rstoughy S6, Sport On, Traction Off Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Aberdeenshire Posts: 1,947 Casino cash: $25387	Welcome onboard Dont worry about the SMG, think most had a period like that upon purchase, I know I did. Took me a few months to get into it but wouldnt change it now. Love it!! __________________ Paul. Ooooft!!! 15yrs in the CSL and still loving it "shine on you crazy diamond"

03-03-2012, 09:44 PM	#5
Mark CSL CSL Register Uber-poster! Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Scotland Posts: 8,777 Casino cash: $42229	Welcome It takes me a day to get over to the ring you lucky sod __________________ www.procarkits.co.uk

03-03-2012, 09:58 PM	#7
shimmy CSL Register Uber-poster! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Uk Posts: 14,646 Casino cash: $43909	Ashley, spring is here and that drivers window will be open, the open autobahn and the air box.........love will come. The secret of the CSL is he air box and the high rev gear changes, just superb for £20k I'm spending more and more time over the next 10 weeks in Bonn so. Might pop over and watch you take a spin around green hell. __________________ .

04-03-2012, 02:08 AM	#8
hoshy S3 - On the open road Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 80 Casino cash: $833	Thanks for the welcome, folks. Shimmy - if you're about for a stop by the ring then just drop me a PM. The noise is a weird thing I reckon. It's pretty much got the same all or nothing ethos as the rest of the car - sub 4/5k, bag of nails, above 5k, sweeter than man was intended to experience. 70-100mph in 6th is an unpleasant experience at best, but auto-blip it down to 3rd and floor it with sport on, and it's symphony. As for the SMG, I gave it a good drive around town, back-roads and bahn this evening and it's getting better. SMG Reset and a few flat-shifts in S6 have definitaly improved the pull away and light load changes so I'm happy with that. S5, sport off, seems to be the way forward, for gentle and spirited driving. There's also a bit of drivetrain slack that I'm hoping can be fixed up without toooo much cost - maybe a diff at the worst. Hope it's not any of the cracked subframe issues I've read about. Got a little holiday down to north Italy in two weeks, will run her over the alps and take a quick trip to the Stelvio pass - pics will follow Thanks again. Last edited by hoshy; 04-03-2012 at 02:12 AM.

03-03-2012, 08:14 PM	#2
Bounce CSL Register Uber-poster! Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Cornwall Posts: 7,057 Casino cash: $35793	Welcome to the register Ashley,you will fall in love with it in time.

03-03-2012, 08:28 PM	#3
grumps S4 - Getting the hang of it Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: devon Posts: 181 Casino cash: $632	Dito! and how lucky living so close to the holy grail

03-03-2012, 09:47 PM	#6
derek S5, Sport On, DSC M-track Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Scotland Posts: 1,159 Casino cash: $20658	Welcome enjoy your Csl !!!

04-03-2012, 08:43 AM	#9
KamalRostov S3 - On the open road Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Malaysia Posts: 99 Casino cash: $3395	Congratulations on your new ride... __________________ 2006 Euro A08 E46 M3

04-03-2012, 09:23 AM	#10
cslgirl S6, Sport On, Traction Off Simon Champion! Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,500 Casino cash: $33404	Hi Ashley, welcome to the forum and congrats on your CSL purchase