Has anyone out there had any experience short long or anything really of the BMW E46 M3 CSL? What i would like to know is your thoughts on the strengths and weaknesses? Particularly the inferior standard front brakes. Does the AP package really work well?
And the second bit: Does anyone know of a low mileage well maintained immaculate car for sale anywhere? And i mean anywhere on the planet in RHD? Thanks
IIRC DaveP had one and rated it.
Whenever I see them at trackdays they are running the big AP brakes.
What are intending to do with it? BMW brakes are generally very good, all BMW’s are tested in road form on the Nurburg Ring to make sure they are to the job. Unless your going racing in it I would have thought at the most some uprated pads would do the job 
There are a few on Pistonheads, low miles being offerd by Nick Johnson. The price includes 1 years warranty at �845…which is an annual must. I’ve looked at a few and decided it’s too high maintenance…gearbox and LSD’s seem to be main issues. Nice tho.
Standard brakes are crap on track. Overheat very quickly. Noise is stunning especially if you remove the induction flap. Gearbox isn’t a particular weakness but very expensive to put right if they do go as is the Vanos unit.
Don’t know if it’s changed in the past few years but tuning was always very limited. At 360hp the engine is pretty much on it’s limit. No huge power gains to be had that I am aware of.
Lovely car on road but no Lotus. Cup tyres bit of a nonsense IMHO. Some people used to say suspension was a bit too road orientated for heavy track use.
Only had one for a few months, had to go as did the M3 cab. when the kids got bigger.
I had to go and have a look. �25k on a sub 50k miles private sale has to be money in the bank if you plan to not put big miles on it. I would…apart for all the reason I can’t.
I ran an E46 csl in the Kumho championship!!
Changed the pads to Mintex 1166 and good fluid- brakes where fantastic!!! Sold it before trying Pagid yellow.
Happy to help all i can get in touch by all means.
Some of the more adventurous racers are getting well towards 400 bhp from a standard bottom end with cams and mapping etc.
Most Csl have nowhere near 360 bhp for like 340-345!!! based on my experiences.
IIRA, Lotus at Anglesey today passed the 04 CSL like it was a diesel London taxi.
GREAT on the road… but compared with the Elise/Exige, heavy and lardy on the track.
Nice car however!
[quote=M7EXG]My mate took his to Cadwell this week and he would say YES.
He was able to keep up with Evo’s but sadly I never met him on track.
He reckons prices are going to go up and he said he would never sell it,even if it does have a cardboard boot floor [/quote]
Graeme the cardboard boot floor was just the boot carpet!!
The actual boot floor of the shell is 100% standard M3
(Worked at the import centre for 15 years as Technical manager!!)