Edcase

Got the urge for trackdays again, and while the M5 performed admirably at Bedford, it needs 3k spent at least on AP's, bushes and rear ARB and even then you can't hide it's girth on tighter tracks.

Considering swapping out for a CSL. Some see it is an expensive M3, I see it as a cheap GT3. Always loved the looks and the sound, and the performance is likened by many to the GT3 (in fact on many tracks its actually faster) plus the SMG is useful for me when I'm driving in central london and because I have mild RSI.

Thoughts on the move? Already over on the M forum, but keen to get some non-BMW opinions to balance the 'converted'.

Ed

mynickers

Yeah go on, get an even more exclusive Beemer, then you can get spat on by jealous chavs even more and cut up by white vans in trafffic

Steve vRS

How lomg have you had the M5 and the RS6 before that?

Would you not be better hiring cars

Steve

davyboy

Most of the CSL owners I know have also spent good money on brake upgrades.

It seems only one manufacturer produces cars with good brakes nowadays!

RB5SCOTT

Porcshe but also higher spec Mercs, and Ferrari's ar'nt too bad surely

Edcase, If the CSL brakes are the same as the M3 brakes which i'm pretty certain they are. You will need to change them also I suppose the CSL has weight on its side but its not going to make that much difference. Full AP kit front and rear cost me about £3200 on a group buy, well worth it though.

Scott

Flatcapdriver

The CSL has an uprated system but for some reason it gets slated, which I don't understand as I have the same setup on my car and the brakes are overwhelming.

RB5SCOTT

Is this just a pad upgrade or is there a bit more to it!... Hose's and fluid maybe?????

Edcase

The one I'm looking at tonight has AP's front and rear

Flatcapdriver

On mine, the only difference between it and the CSL is a change of pad material. However, the CSL has 345mm drilled discs, uprated pads and lines but having said that there are still plenty of people complaining about the braking performance on track days which is essentially what its built for. On the road, they are excellent stoppers.

Attu

Is that the ex Frank Sytner CSL thats going for £35k ?, if so it looks like a very nice car.

Terminator X

iTrader: (7)

Gotta be done for the looks alone?

http://www.eng.buffalo.edu/~bmdemers...20M3%20CSL.jpg

TX.

51st state

there were plenty at the ring last october
you remember there were 2 white ones originally black but had been wrapped in white leaving out the carbon panels
the owners had spent £25000 on the suspension, which shaved 20seconds off the lap times
fantastic car, i think a cheap GT3, your right
although a GT3 RS got to be the ultimate track toy
there was an orange with black wheels 997 at oulton on friday trackday, 225miles on the clock that had been put on getting to oulton park

TopBanana

Why not buy a track car like a Caterham? You'd save enough on brakes / tyres to pay for it within a couple of years!

Andy M3

I watched this: YouTube - supercar battle 5

Apparently the 360CS brakes fade on a track

I guess anything that is 'road legal' is going to be a compromise when used on a track.

P.S The video compares the on track performance of a CSL, NSX-R, 360 CS, Lambo 996 Turbo tip etc etc.......

Edcase

Guys,

After meeting with some other CSL owners last night I had an epiphany.

I'm now canning the idea of a CSL, keeping the M5 as my road car, and looking for a specific track car.

Not decided yet on tin top vs catelisefieldtypething but this caught my eye today...

Vehicle Details

Matteeboy

Edcase - Looks perfect - And very fun.

If not, you can't go far wrong with a decent Westie/Caterham.

davyboy

I'd sooner get an E30 M3 and do a few upgrades myself than spend 7k on a 1986 325!

Give some thought to the 968 CS too.

RobEvo5

iTrader: (9)

As said above - If you have the luxury of keeping the M5 and getting a total track toy I would personally go the whole hogg and get a Westfield or Caterham. They are damn quick and would give the perception of a proper racing car as well superb handling and feedback. And its something you can get your hands dirty with and play with the mechanics if needs be.

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Spend 3 grand on a track car and save ruining your M5 !

3 grand on mods that will either detract from the cars value or not add anything to it seems a bit crazy, up to you but I would rather hammer something cheap and expendable rather than something I was worried about damaging.

RRH

A grand on an old M535i would sharpen the rwd control no end, massive fun on track.

Maybe consider a 944 Turbo as well, speak to Davyboy. Or an MX5, massive fun, never break, just kick the tyres once a year and put petrol in and it'll never let you down, but give you a massive smile whenever you drive its perfect chassis. You'd probably be surprised at how quick a sorted MX5 can lap a circuit.

Dedicated track cars eat money at a fair rate of knots, and towing is a right pain in the **** once the novelty wears off, so go for something road legal.

Converting to 'track' spec is also real expensive and you'll lose virtually all the cash you spend modding it. Also bear in mind the extra road tax / insurance / storage when its not in use if thats relevant.

HTH matey

ps really skint now

Gutmann pug

The CSL is an awesome bit of kit, quick and very sure footed. Our good friend Thorleif doing his stuff in his white one

:: northloop.co.uk :: we're not playing games ::

Dunk

iTrader: (1)

Mmmmm.......

Track Day Cars : 944 Turbo SE trackday/ road car M030


D

chippy17

Have to say I agree with this, the E30 M3 is a fantastic track car and you can fettle and hone to your hearts content, built to race!

Sport160

Ed, what you need is a caterfield and then an RS6 to tow it with

Only joking, but a caterfied takes some beating as a track car and if you buy sensibly will make a fun weekend road toy as well.

RobEvo5

iTrader: (9)

Ed - There is a E30 325I sport with a M30 335I lump in it on Pistonheads for 4.5K - Was very tempted with this myself but thought better of it. A lot of RWD track car for the moneny. Would make for a fantastic track car with loads of torque and instance power delivery.

Edcase

Well, update as follows.

I was having oil consumption probs with the M5, and after testing BMW agree it is well out of tolerance and are fitting me a spanking new engine to replace my 93k mile one.

As such, I'm now definitely keeping the car, I have a set of 6 pots on order simply because the brakes aren't even up to fast road use, and I'm going to get a new clutch and flywheel done at the same time to save labour costs as the clutch is nearly worn anyway.

And then as soon as we move out of central London to Surrey (likely early March) I'm going to get a caterfield, or maybe a modified Elise. Give's me a month or so to read up on the three options.

Thanks for all your advice etc.

RobEvo5

iTrader: (9)

New M5 engine courtesy of BMW NICE! - Hate to imagine what that might have cost if you had to do it yourself i.e without a warranty which I assume you had. Made me think twice about getting a M5 now. Thought they were bullet proof.

Edcase

it would have cost more than I paid for the car.

engine issues are very very rare on this motor, but the very early ones sometime suffer from soft valve seats which cause the oil consumption issue.

I believe this was rectified from some time in 2001 onwards.

Flatcapdriver

How the hell did you manage to get a new engine out of them? I'm struggling to get them interested in the fact that mine pulls to the left.

Edcase

Polite persistence.