The new BMW M3 CSL is finally here - BMW E92 M3 GTS

[RichUK]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIAL/CARS/news/BMW/M3/bmw_m3_gts.html

http://www.bespokeventures.com/blog/2009/11/04/bmw-e92-m3-gts/

http://www.zerotohundred.com/2009/auto-news/revealed-bmw-m3-gts-the-most-extreme-e92-yet/

My thoughts:

Let me preface this by saying I am a huge BMW fanboy. Ok, so…

• The front splitter might be functional, but I don’t like the look of it at all.
• It looks horrid in Orange. (bound to be one of a small choice of different colours)
• The rear spoiler looks dreadful.
• The price – Fucking LOL!! It’s twice the price of a standard e92 M3. D:

I would not choose this over its direct competitor, the Porsche 997 GT3 RS.

However, with all that said, I expect this to be a HUGE performer and look forward to it being reviewed on Top Gear (new season starts very soon).

The BMW E46 M3 CSL is the best BMW ever IMO.

 

[Mike]

Spoiler has to go

EDIT: For $170k, no one is going to be looking at a M3...

 

[Q]

Looks fantastic but lol at price.

 

[Aharami]

LOL at price

 

[zerocool84]

Spoiler has to go

EDIT: For $170k, no one is going to be looking at a M3...

I hate it when a car has a spoiler and people just associate it as rice and say it has to go. It is definitely functional and it needs it to make up for the car's lack of downforce.

 

[Mike]

I hate it when a car has a spoiler and people just associate it as rice and say it has to go. It is definitely functional and it needs it to make up for the car's lack of downforce.

I completely understand the practical use of spoilers. I think its gain in downforce does not make up for the aesthetic monstrosity.

...it has to go.

 

[Arkaign]

These CSL's, and the RS Porsches are very very expensive for their perceived power output / performance, but these are not meant to match up against street cars. Look at some of the info on this M3 for example :

"Indispensable for safety reasons: the lightweight construction body has been prepared for installation of the 6-point seatbelt included for use on the race track. There are also mounts for the roll-over protective structure bolted on from the B column. A fire extinguisher and a battery master switch/emergency shut-off preparation do not make the car lighter either – but safer."

This is a ready-to-go race car meant for heavy track duty. 6-piston brakes up front and 4-pistons in rear are also evidence of this.

We'll have to see how it does. For a street-driven car, I'd easily prefer a hot 911, Vette, or even a GT-R, but for a track car, well then you get into the territory of cars like this :

Viper ACR
Vette C6R
911 GT3 RS
etc

Some people might buy those for the collectible status, but for the most part they're bought by people with the money who are going to take them to circuits. For that purpose, I expect this GTS is pretty damned good. Could you make your own starting with a vanilla M3? Sure, but for someone with the serious wallet it takes to fund a real racing effort, I think getting a balanced/ready product ready to go out of the box makes sense.

 

[Arkaign]

I completely understand the practical use of spoilers. I think its gain in downforce does not make up for the aesthetic monstrosity.

...it has to go.

This is not a street car, or perhaps only a street car for over-monied idiots. That whale of a spoiler might look goofy, but you can bet your ass that if you were headed down a straight getting into the 170mph+ range with little deviations on the ground, you'd be pretty stupid not to want it there.

 

[Malak]

Just get an Audi R8 and save enough money to buy a daily driver too.

 

[TehMac]

7 spd auto gearbox = meh.


It's a hyped up track car. I really like the orange paint for some reason though.

 

[brblx]

they sure have gone through a lot 'e' numbers. e30 was less than twenty years ago.

are they going to use three digit number? or maybe go to 'f'? :whiste:

 

[yhelothar]

lolol @ comments at looks. Hey the interior is ugly as fuck too. There's a god damn fire extinguisher next to your right arm ffs.
If you want a nice looking car, get a street car. This is a racecar. Functionality over form.

 

[pray4mojo]

7 spd auto gearbox = meh.


It's a hyped up track car. I really like the orange paint for some reason though.

ppl can bash the "auto gearbox" all they want but we all know its the future of high-end performance cars.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Not a CSL, and also not my cup of tea.

 

[ballmode]

I'd rather get the LF-A

 

[thegimp03]

The matte black wheels are sick. $170k is way overpriced for a BMW - I would have hoped for more than 450 bhp...

 

[SSSnail]

lolol @ comments at looks. Hey the interior is ugly as fuck too. There's a god damn fire extinguisher next to your right arm ffs.
If you want a nice looking car, get a street car. This is a racecar. Functionality over form.

I know right? And I bet those seats are hardly comfortable; for pete's sake, at $170K and they can't even put in some leather seats. :awe:

 

[Mike]

@ $170k, its pretty weak for a track car.

I only see rich BMW fanboys even considering this.

 

[ElFenix]

it's the wrong shade of orange

 

[Demo24]

Not a CSL.

This. It's a track special, not the 'CSL' variant.

 

[overst33r]

I'd rather get the LF-A

wat


The LF-A costs $375,000.

 

[Koing]

I wonder how fast it is over an E92 on a track..

The old E46 vs E46 CSL there was about 1.5-2seconds on some tracks.

1490kg with 450BHp, I like

This is for a totally different type of buyer...the sort that drops £3.5-4k+ on a full brake kit that isn't fitted.

Koing

 

[DivideBYZero]

I'd rather get the LF-A

Haha, WOT? D:

 

[ayabe]

ppl can bash the "auto gearbox" all they want but we all know its the future of high-end performance cars.

Maybe, but does this one "get tired" like the version of the normal M3?

Fuck that, I don't want my 170K race car to get tired....ever....

The only thing that should ever be tired is your leg from the He Man clutch.

 

[overst33r]

Good try BMW, but this car falls flat on its face compared to the GT3RS.