Our M3 CSL
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PassionFord Post Whore!!
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From: Saving the planet
Our M3 CSL
After selling the cossie back in April I've been without a fast car for what seems like an age. POttering around in a passat diesel is not much fun. I didn't know what car to go for. At first it was going to be another cossie with a view to going 400+, then I looked at one of the new Evo 360's but decided that I didn't want to loose £10k in 5 minutes, also the wife didn't like them and she would be driving the car for most of the week.
A friend had a new M3 which we test drove and I didn't like originally. Being used to the thump in the back from the turbo the M3 seemed pretty tame. However this first drive was only for 10minutes so we decided to give them another go and went to our local BMW dealer to try with with the SMG.
By this stage I knew that if we were to have one it would have to be the CSL purely because of their being so many other M3's out there and again I wanted something that would hold its value (BMW plesae do not bring out a CSL version of the new model
)
The CS we drove was very nice and the wife got on with the paddle shift. But it was £8k over our budget - why don't the sales guys listen. When I told the wife she said - oh well we'll have to get the CSL as its cheaper
YUS result.
After a few weeks of hunting around and not really knowing what I was looking for I employed Gareth from Bespoke Automotive Consulting to find me the right car. This was great as he had a huge dealer contact list. THe first one he found looked great on paper but when we went to arrange a viewing some Bloke from scotland had bought it there and then over the phone. If I wanted a decent one I was going to have to move quickly.
That night I had an email of one down in Barnstaple. Gareth had spken to the dealer and sounded it out by 08:30 the following morning. After speaking to the dealer my £1k deposit was down and a viewing arranged for the next friday. I travelled down and took my old man (who got a speeding ticket whilst travelling to meet me - sorry Dad) to see it. The dealer let us go out in it by ourselves for a decent test drive. I didn't go mad as the only other RWD car I have driven is a friends old corolla in 6th form which had about 60bhp
The noise of the engines sells it in 5 mins. I had to buy it. Money was exchanged and a week later they delivered it up to me. We've had it for about a month now and the wife has driven it more than I have - I still use the passat for work
Anyway, here she is:
2003 M3 CSL
21K miles
FBMWSH
Climate Control
CD/radio - in any other car this wouldn't be a big deal
SMG II semi auto box
Xenon headlamps - 4kg heavier than the std ones
Continental Sports all round - not sure if I like these, but the cups are out of the question in winter.
355bhp/276lbft
0-60 = 4.9sec
Top speed: Limited = 155, unlimited = 185+ so I've heard.
I'll get a vid up soon. The engine absolutely howls when it gets past 6500rpm and needs to be heard.
The handling is so direct. It certainly feels different to the Escort Cossie. I think the wheelbase maybe longer. I have kept the traction control on and getting it to trigger in these damp conditions is very easy. I'll wait until the first track day before it comes off completely.
A friend had a new M3 which we test drove and I didn't like originally. Being used to the thump in the back from the turbo the M3 seemed pretty tame. However this first drive was only for 10minutes so we decided to give them another go and went to our local BMW dealer to try with with the SMG.
By this stage I knew that if we were to have one it would have to be the CSL purely because of their being so many other M3's out there and again I wanted something that would hold its value (BMW plesae do not bring out a CSL version of the new model
)The CS we drove was very nice and the wife got on with the paddle shift. But it was £8k over our budget - why don't the sales guys listen. When I told the wife she said - oh well we'll have to get the CSL as its cheaper
YUS result.After a few weeks of hunting around and not really knowing what I was looking for I employed Gareth from Bespoke Automotive Consulting to find me the right car. This was great as he had a huge dealer contact list. THe first one he found looked great on paper but when we went to arrange a viewing some Bloke from scotland had bought it there and then over the phone. If I wanted a decent one I was going to have to move quickly.
That night I had an email of one down in Barnstaple. Gareth had spken to the dealer and sounded it out by 08:30 the following morning. After speaking to the dealer my £1k deposit was down and a viewing arranged for the next friday. I travelled down and took my old man (who got a speeding ticket whilst travelling to meet me - sorry Dad) to see it. The dealer let us go out in it by ourselves for a decent test drive. I didn't go mad as the only other RWD car I have driven is a friends old corolla in 6th form which had about 60bhp
The noise of the engines sells it in 5 mins. I had to buy it. Money was exchanged and a week later they delivered it up to me. We've had it for about a month now and the wife has driven it more than I have - I still use the passat for work
Anyway, here she is:
2003 M3 CSL
21K miles
FBMWSH
Climate Control
CD/radio - in any other car this wouldn't be a big deal
SMG II semi auto box
Xenon headlamps - 4kg heavier than the std ones
Continental Sports all round - not sure if I like these, but the cups are out of the question in winter.
355bhp/276lbft
0-60 = 4.9sec
Top speed: Limited = 155, unlimited = 185+ so I've heard.
I'll get a vid up soon. The engine absolutely howls when it gets past 6500rpm and needs to be heard.
The handling is so direct. It certainly feels different to the Escort Cossie. I think the wheelbase maybe longer. I have kept the traction control on and getting it to trigger in these damp conditions is very easy. I'll wait until the first track day before it comes off completely.
PassionFord Post Troll
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Wolverhampton
Originally Posted by CSLMan
Is niiice
It's the 80's DTM style howl from 3500RPM (with SPORT ON assuming you have the flap in) that's the killer though! NOTHING else on the road sounds like that
It's the 80's DTM style howl from 3500RPM (with SPORT ON assuming you have the flap in) that's the killer though! NOTHING else on the road sounds like that
Its kinda hard to hear it thoe when your in a cossie 1/2 mile infront of it and still pulling away
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PassionFord Post Whore!!
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Saving the planet
Originally Posted by RS_Ant
Originally Posted by CSLMan
Is niiice
It's the 80's DTM style howl from 3500RPM (with SPORT ON assuming you have the flap in) that's the killer though! NOTHING else on the road sounds like that
It's the 80's DTM style howl from 3500RPM (with SPORT ON assuming you have the flap in) that's the killer though! NOTHING else on the road sounds like that
Its kinda hard to hear it thoe when your in a cossie 1/2 mile infront of it and still pulling away
I've just got to sell my soul for driving talent capable of getting within 30 seconds of that time
oh and swap the tyres
Advanced PassionFord User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,388
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From: Northern Ireland
I drove my mates CSL, and I kid you not... Nothing compares to the note out of it when you get past 6500, it just howls...
Oh and his had the limiter out and we pulled 180 on more than one occasion.
Oh and his had the limiter out and we pulled 180 on more than one occasion.
PassionFord Post Whore!!
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,389
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From: in the sticks
Originally Posted by RS_Ant
Originally Posted by CSLMan
Is niiice
It's the 80's DTM style howl from 3500RPM (with SPORT ON assuming you have the flap in) that's the killer though! NOTHING else on the road sounds like that
It's the 80's DTM style howl from 3500RPM (with SPORT ON assuming you have the flap in) that's the killer though! NOTHING else on the road sounds like that
Its kinda hard to hear it thoe when your in a cossie 1/2 mile infront of it and still pulling away
Awesome car mate..the only M3 to own period
Ex Ford Man
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,725
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From: West Sussex
I love CSL's... i will have one... one day 
Very very nice car Paul, enjoy it I'm very jealous
If i wasn't getting a house soon, i would probably get one but i think i'm gonna get a M5.....Mmmmm 400bhp
P.S. Wheres this vid ?? 
Very very nice car Paul, enjoy it
I'm very jealous If i wasn't getting a house soon, i would probably get one but i think i'm gonna get a M5.....Mmmmm 400bhp
P.S. Wheres this vid ??
PassionFord Regular
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 359
Likes: 1
From: scotland
car look's mint mate,does it have the plaque on the console,if not get down to your part's dept & get the guy to e-mail bmw, if the original owner never got one they will give you one for free, will take a couple of weeks to come through, all car's were allocated one but the first owner had to ask for it,
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PassionFord Post Whore!!
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Saving the planet
Originally Posted by GAZ345
car look's mint mate,does it have the plaque on the console,if not get down to your part's dept & get the guy to e-mail bmw, if the original owner never got one they will give you one for free, will take a couple of weeks to come through, all car's were allocated one but the first owner had to ask for it,
