BMW has just launched the new M4 CSL to celebrate the M-divisions 50th birthday. When I first saw the car I wasn’t very impressed at all. However, after spending a bit of time looking at it, studying the details, etc it has started to grow on me.
The CSL nameplate dates back to 1972 with the E9 3.0 CSL which was a homologation special for the European Touring car racing. It was a fabulous car that nowadays is worth a lot of money. Jeremy Clarkson owned one, and he loved it until decades later he realized if he had kept the car he would’ve made a lot of money on it.
The next CSL was the E46 M3 CSL, which is the best M-car ever. No debate there whatsoever. That car came out in 2004 and over 1000 were built. That car today is also worth quite a bit of money and the value of it has exploded in the last year. The key feature of that car was the raised lip on the boot lid.
The current M4 CSL takes after the M3 CSL and somewhat the original 3.0 CSL. The car features that iconic raised lip on the boot lid, the exterior is full of colorful decals, and the front grille is different. Furthermore, all BMW badges on the car are special 50th-anniversary ones and the M4 CSL badges are red.
The whole design reminds me of one of those masks wrestlers wear when fighting. It’s all very colorful but at the same time aggressive. Overall though, the car does look pretty cool. My favorite feature is the rear lights which look stunning and make the M4 CSL stand out amongst the crowd.
So then, is the M4 CSL a good purchase? Or like the previous F82 M4 GTS it’s something that is a shadow in the Porsche 911 GT3’s light? Let’s find out.
picture via: motor1.com
It Packs a Lot Of Power
via: topgear.com
The M4 CSL has 542hp which is an extra 39hp from standard. The car will hit 60 in just 3.7 seconds and flat out it will do 191 mph. That’s not too shabby at all, but an X-Drive M4 Competition with less power will do a faster 0-60 time. Some owners have got times of 3.2 seconds with their cars. The two turbochargers have also been adjusted to make the throttle response more aggressive.
All this extra engine power means only one thing. Bigger and better brakes. The new brakes on the CSL are carbon-ceramic which means they are more suited to aggressive driving. Then there is the suspension which has had some huge changes. The car has been dropped by 8mm, each wheel has two coils rather than one, there are new anti-roll bars, and finally more camber built into the front axle’s swivel bearing. The rear axle has solid-ball joints that connect the upper and lower control arms to the rear subframe. The subframe itself is also bolted onto the rear chassis. This will make the car feel so much more precise around corners.
Weight has also been dropped by 100kg which increases the power to weight ratio to 333hp per tonne. The CSL has only two seats, both made from carbon fiber and if you want to adjust the height you have to use a spanner. Then the rear seats have been replaced with oxygen, a CSL badge, and some netting. Then there is no boot trim either which links back to the M3 CSL. The hood is carbon fiber and it looks fantastic and so is the boot lid. There are a few other small changes too, including kidney grille, carpets, automatic air conditioning, and the rear lights.
Unfortunately, the CSL does not have a 6-speed manual. It’s the same 8-speed automatic you get in the M4 Competition, on;y it’s a lot sharper and more aggressive.
Overall, the M4 CSL is a properly powerful car in every single way. It still weighs a good 207kg more compared to a 911 GT3 but BMW state that the CSL isn’t some lightweight track car. It has been designed for road use hence no roll cage or large rear wing. Despite that though, the CSL is the fastest ever track car BMW has built doing a Nurburgring time of 7:15:68 which is pretty good. Though that is 20 seconds slower than a GT3.
It’s Expensive and Limited.
via: topgear.com
So then, do you want an M4 CSL? Well, with only 1000 units globally available, prices start at $139,000. That is very expensive and it’s a lot more than the $79,000 needed to purchase an M4 X-Drove Competition coupe which we discovered earlier beats the CSL off the line. Plus, upgraded brakes, suspension, weight-saving, power, etc can just be fitted as modifications to any M4.
The CSL does carry a lot of pedigree though since it is built for a good reason. It’s nice to see BMW has gifted itself another present for 50 years of the M Division since the XM is just horrible. The M4 CSL will be on the shopping list for many BMW M enthusiasts since it is a very special car.
It’s not a GT3 rival at all, and its Nurburgring time proves that. The CSL is more of a rival to the likes of a 911 GTS Lightweight Package or an Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA. Nevertheless, it still is an absolute track weapon that will give many supercars a run for their money.
I’m pretty sure all of these cars are sold out. If they haven’t then build slots will be very hard to get and will depend mainly on dealer relationships. Just like what Porsche does with their limited edition cars or Ferrari. It’s an annoying principle but it’s there to award the best customers who have the best relationships with dealers. Re-sale-wise, these cars will shoot up in value due to their pedigree. Not as much as a GT3 but it will be significant. If you do manage to get yourself a CSL, then don’t sell it straight away. Enjoy it for a while, since it’s unlikely you will lose any money on it.