Quote:
Originally Posted by sdhotwn
Then the position makes sense to me as it's consistent  .
This is the part I don't 100% agree with. I don't see much of a gap in the differences other than the CSL being genuinely lighter. Revised suspension, different seats, changed out body panels (except doors on CS), etc are all the same set of mods. Same deal on engine etc. So the CSL was genuinely lighter, but otherwise was not a greater set of modifications, and it was a larger total markup than the CS. So I only about 20% agree with that idea. |
We'll have to agree to disagree on this one. It took a bit of digging since I hadn't thought about this in years, but here's a fairly comprehensive list of the differences between the e46 M3 and the e46 M3CSL. I think it's fairly significant-- and BMW obviously spent a lot of time (and engineering & production costs) to change a lot of things:
Differences between e46 M3 & e46 M3 CSL:
- Engine head (exhaust valve and intake/exhaust cams - longer duration, same lift) (17 hp difference in power over M2)
- Intake plenum (revised shape and in carbon fiber)
- Headers
- Catalytic converter (200 cell)
- X pipe, resonators (thinner material & slightly lighter)
- Rear muffler (slightly lighter)
- Different ECU
- Different SMG control unit program
- Pseudo Alpha N engine management (delete of MAF, but still runs a MAP sensor and air temp sensor)
- Different traction control system with M track mode on steering wheel
- Different ABS control program
- Shorter steering ratio (14.5:1 compared with 15.4:1 on M3)
- Front bumper (carbon fiber w/ intake port)
- Roof (carbon fiber)
- Rear diffuser (carbon fiber)
- Trunk lid
- Rolled rear fenders to accommodate wider rear rims
- Different wheels
- Suspension, springs, bump stops (lowered suspension)
- Different rear lower arms
- different front king pin/hub
- larger front sway bar
- larger rear sway bar
- larger front brakes/rotors
- larger rear brake/rotors
- Pilot Sport Cup tires
- Lighter rear glass
- Manual Recaro SPG Type front seats
- Lighter rear seats
- Honeycomb trunk floor cover (the infamous cardboard floor)
- Carbon fiber door panels & rear panel
- Carbon fiber center console
- Alcantara steering wheel
- Alcantara hand brake lever
- 4 rather than 6 airbags
- No interior sound deadening
- No hood heat shield
- Optional Radio and air conditioning
- Lighter battery
- different radiator
- Alcantara shift knob
- Different rear damper adapter
- Different floor covering
Taken in whole-- that's a fairly large list of significantly different parts, tuning, software, etc.-- in other words, a lot of mechanical differences.
Now, the M2C v. the M2CS appear to be largely cosmetic:
- Carbon fiber center console
- Carbon fiber rear trunk spoiler
- Carbon fiber roof
- Different door sills
- Carbon fiber door handle cover
- Alcantara interior trim
- M4CS seats
- Alcantara steering wheel
- MP exhaust
- Tuned engine (39 hp increase)
- Red brake calipers
- Carbon fiber hood
- Carbon fiber front splitter
- Carbon fiber rear diffuser
- Carbon fiber mirror caps
- Adaptive M suspension
- Different wheels
Other than the Adaptive Suspension, I honestly see the M2CS as more of a "Appearance Package" than a true performance upgrade. Yes, the parts will arguably add to the performance due to weight, but at the end, they're mostly for appearance.
As I said, we'll have to agree to disagree. I think the M2CS will be a fine car-- but it's not my cuppa as I'm not much into carbon fiber body trim, and (in my mind) I can't justify a $25k price leap from the "vanilla" M2C.
And? I can't get it in SOM, which would be a deal breaker!
