should i change my 03 sti for an m3 csl??
 

fancy a change, m3 csl looks very appealing!
any views??
cheers

Need abit more info than that.

What will you use the car for, have you driven one.

Seats don't recline.

Etc etc

Very differant cars, so give us abit more info...

Steve

What would you know steve ;) .

Nate.

YES

Oh yes indeed.

err, sti or M3 CSL?! Let me think...

:cuckoo:

:D

I would - one of the few BMWs I would love to own. I think Evo did a buyers guide in the July issue of M3s and CSLs.

Standard M3 is better Value.

Don't put your shopping in the boot.

There not really that fast. I bet a STi PPP is faster. A Standard M3 was just pulling away from a standard Focus RS, my RS (well, not enough to account for over 100 ponnies extra). When I had it Bluefin'd there was nothing much in it.

BMW couldn't shift all the CSL's they had planned to.
There's a write up in this month's issue of Evo, giving the pro's & con's, about the Tyre/wheel combinations.

B*llocks to value - any car that can lap Nurburgring in 7 mins 50secs gets my vote. To put that in perspective, that is faster than a 996 Turbo (7:56), 360 stradale (7:56), GT3 (7:52), Gallardo (7:52), Murcielago (7:52) and Mercedes SLR Mclaren (7:52) - none of which I think you could describe as a 'slow' car. So I'm not quite sure what that makes the CSL - certianly not slow - that's for sure.

Actually, thinking about it, it is pretty damn good value for money - given the cost of the other cars mentioned above - even at full retail price. Given that you can pick them up for 40Kish now, I think that represents something close to a bargin!

STi PPP has more weight, about 60 BHP less, turbo lag, AWD losses, slower gearchanges and less tyre.

Why not? I put 4 sets of brakes, 2 alloys, and an exhaust system in mine 3 weeks ago. Is shopping heavier? ;)

Well, you need to think how much less the CSL ways. :notworthy

And no, an STi PPP is not faster :p

Best site for real answers from people that have actually driven them:-

http://www.bm3w.co.uk/

If you can afford the CSL then go for it! Sport Mode alone is enough of a reason!

Comment re the standard M3 is a good one but if you let your heart rule your head then you'll still go with the CSL (lot of M3's around but I've only ever seen one CSL).

TX.

i have a company car which i use to commute e.t.c.

but in the evening and at the weekend the impreza is a play thing, so fuel consumption, tyre wear, noise, comfort e.t.c. does not bother me at all.

can you mod the csl much, exhaust e.t.c.?

Exactly - to most people, you're just driving another 3 series beemer. To those in the know, you are driving a very special car. You should get a fair amount of respect for having the CSL badge on the back :)

Yes, has 200 Cell race cats as standard (so I was told), rip these out and stick in 100 cell. Then a Lightweight Backbox, or titanium.

AP or Stop Tech Brakes are then needed.

Then you are ready for action :D

I've just done backbox and brakes and it's more than enough for me :p

Can also do suspension etc.

In that case then Yes definatly, but have a long test drive first. See if you can get on with the seats.



I prefer black myself, but looks good in silver as it compliments the carbon fibre. Only 20% in black, 80% in Silver :norty:

2 things is it as fast as people say, for example compared to an impreza sti ppp which i have now. i dont want a slower new car :) than what i already have!

and what does it handle like as i can only imagine going steady around the corners with rwd!

It weighs less than a Spec C, and has 360bhp, so yes it's rather rapid.

Noise is amazing.

I had a 2002 STi, decat, remap. CSL would destroy it.

Trouble going around corners????????

Can lap Nurburgring in 7 mins 50secs so erm, no..... ;)

However, don't expect to just jump in and become the stig, if you are not used to RWD and SMG than take it steady till you get used to it.

nevetas, you are obviously in the know being an owner!

would you mind if i was to pm you in the future in case i need some buying advice

Sure thing.

You will also get loads of help on the CSL forum on http://www.bm3w.co.uk

There are also some in the Sales Section, around 41k.

Fantastic cars - and I think in fact they are pretty good value, if you compare what it's rivals are.

I think some of it's time comes from the fact it is fitted with "R" compound tyres, which would make 10-15 secs difference.

That makes it a BTG tme of around 7.30.

Dave

cheers

True enough, but the GT3 time quoted above was on 'sports tyres' too :) Still pretty damn impressive in my books. The point is that I don't really believe that you can say the M3 CSL 'is not that fast'.

...me neither.

Dave

Cup tyres were indeed developed for the CSL.

Friend of mine of bm3w went to Driver Training at SPA. He told the instructor he was worried about using the cups in the wet. Later that evening it pored down, so instructor took out a CSL and lapped SPA quicker than my mate did in the dry!

Awesum tryes, even if they do only last 5 minutes ;)

Why does everyone quote times round the ring? That is a race track. We live in Britain, where roads are not smooth as a race track. All I was saying is that in the real world, with real drivers (not racing drivers) the STi PPP is faster. The CSL is not really any quicker than a standard M3 (as quoted in Evo & on Top Gear) Unless of course you stick them on a race track, then the CSL is faster. For that reason, that is why I said the M3 is better value. Just a quick in the real world, and it comes with a proper gear box !!!!!
As for not sticking things in the boot. The floor of the boot, is Cardboard, to reduce weight. Never seen it myself, but that's what they say.
I do understand, that the CSL is more desirable, but for every day use, I'd have the standard M3.

Well the ring is a road that is not smooth like a modern race track too.

What is the real world? Traffic light GPs ;)

Dave

Ring times are used because it is where most of these cars are developed. As Dave says - what would you rather quote? O-60 times? Please...

Also bear in mind that if you are thinking of buying one of the cars, I'd say you were an enthusiast and there would be a fair chance that you would take it on track, where you would really appreciate the quality and class of the car.