After yesterday’s online reveal, the modern 3.0 CSL has arrived in Munich where it is currently on display at BMW Welt. This is the “00” prototype that will be followed by 50 customer cars, each costing €750,000. To put that sky-high price in perspective, the figure is more than eight times the money you’ll pay in Germany for a basic rear-drive M4 with a manual transmission, starting at €89,900.
The car looks downright spectacular, although we’d say the 2015 CSL 3.0 Tribute and later R Tribute feel even more special. BMWBLOG had the opportunity to get up close and personal with the new version of the Coupe Sport Lightweight, which wore the classic motorsport roundels signaling 50 years of M. A huge “M Power” logo on the rear fender is also a throwback to the old days .
40 Pictures
BMW claims that there are no less than 134 paint processes for each car, requiring an additional 6,700 manual work sequences in the paint shop. Pretty much everything you see painted in solid Alpine White is made from hand-painted carbon composites. The material was left exposed only on the lettering on the roof and the rear fender. A total of 22 individual parts require a special process not used by any other M4 derivative.
Along with getting an anniversary livery, the 2023 3.0 CSL also gets center-lock wheels and a nicely redesigned grille that we can all take behind. The bulging wheel arches are also unique to the limited edition special, as are the air vents at the front. At the rear, the spoiler and roof edge spoiler pay homage to the original E9 3.0 CSL of the 1970s.
Besides the exorbitant price, there is another downside to the 3.0 CSL since it has much less torque than the M4 CSL and M4 Competition. At 550 Newton-meters (404 lb-ft), you miss 100 Nm (74 lb-ft). BMW doesn’t say why, but the difference likely stems from the use of a manual gearbox which prompted engineers to reduce torque to ensure transmission reliability.
On the other hand, the 3.0 CSL uses the most powerful straight-six engine ever installed in an M road car. It produces 553 hp (412 kW) in a vehicle that weighs 1,624 kilograms (3,580 pounds), that’s over 350 kg (770+ lbs) heavier than its inspiration, the E9 3.0 CSL. Cars have gotten bigger and heavier over the years, and even this two-seat coupe is about as chunky as an E23 7 Series.
Ultimately, the XM plug-in hybrid SUV and 3.0 CSL aren’t the dedicated supercars BMW enthusiasts would have wanted for the 50s in the M division.e anniversary. Maybe that will happen one day because a true successor to the mid-engined M1 is long overdue.
After yesterday’s online reveal, the modern 3.0 CSL has arrived in Munich where it is currently on display at BMW Welt. This is the “00” prototype that will be followed by 50 customer cars, each costing €750,000. To put that sky-high price in perspective, the figure is more than eight times the money you’ll pay in Germany for a basic rear-drive M4 with a manual transmission, starting at €89,900.
The car looks downright spectacular, although we’d say the 2015 CSL 3.0 Tribute and later R Tribute feel even more special. BMWBLOG had the opportunity to get up close and personal with the new version of the Coupe Sport Lightweight, which wore the classic motorsport roundels signaling 50 years of M. A huge “M Power” logo on the rear fender is also a throwback to the old days .
40 Pictures
BMW claims that there are no less than 134 paint processes for each car, requiring an additional 6,700 manual work sequences in the paint shop. Pretty much everything you see painted in solid Alpine White is made from hand-painted carbon composites. The material was left exposed only on the lettering on the roof and the rear fender. A total of 22 individual parts require a special process not used by any other M4 derivative.
Along with getting an anniversary livery, the 2023 3.0 CSL also gets center-lock wheels and a nicely redesigned grille that we can all take behind. The bulging wheel arches are also unique to the limited edition special, as are the air vents at the front. At the rear, the spoiler and roof edge spoiler pay homage to the original E9 3.0 CSL of the 1970s.
Besides the exorbitant price, there is another downside to the 3.0 CSL since it has much less torque than the M4 CSL and M4 Competition. At 550 Newton-meters (404 lb-ft), you miss 100 Nm (74 lb-ft). BMW doesn’t say why, but the difference likely stems from the use of a manual gearbox which prompted engineers to reduce torque to ensure transmission reliability.
On the other hand, the 3.0 CSL uses the most powerful straight-six engine ever installed in an M road car. It produces 553 hp (412 kW) in a vehicle that weighs 1,624 kilograms (3,580 pounds), that’s over 350 kg (770+ lbs) heavier than its inspiration, the E9 3.0 CSL. Cars have gotten bigger and heavier over the years, and even this two-seat coupe is about as chunky as an E23 7 Series.
Ultimately, the XM plug-in hybrid SUV and 3.0 CSL aren’t the dedicated supercars BMW enthusiasts would have wanted for the 50s in the M division.e anniversary. Maybe that will happen one day because a true successor to the mid-engined M1 is long overdue.