The standard M3 E46s sounded raspy, the CSL is on another level. Loved hearing them being revved back in the 2000's when they were new, the only car to sound like that.
The only car that still sounds like that. All modern M3/M4/M2 sound muffled or farty no thanks to the turbos and the exhaust. Shame really as the mechanical rasp is forever gone.
Agreeing with that I drive e46 m3 smg in gold (no pheonix yellow really just everyone says love your gold car lol. Smg gearbox Automatic or paddle shift or change manually. What more do you want .fabulous car every man should drive one of these car before you leave this earth . Amazing
E46 M3 was the best car BMW have ever made: simply superb in all respects. The CSL just gave it another edge. I am very jealous of a neighbour who has an almost identical one to the one you drove, sitting on Pilot Cup 2's
Miah Yeah it was well worth it. I’ve owned many cars, and this is the only one that always puts a smile on my face. I only drive it once per week. I get lots of compliments, and people looking. I have the spacers, and it gives a wide stance. Looks amazing. I also have the borla exhaust. Sounds amazing. I will say when looking for one try to stay low miles, and inspect the subframe. Maintenance records.
It's so nice to see reviews of legendary cars by a dude who is not rich af, wearing a stupid cap and sunglasses all time and living in california You are so humble man and the titles are not "OMG it finally happened" with red arrows on the thumb nail I stumbled across your channel watching the Ford Focus RS review Really enjoy your vids, keep it up
Haha well said mate 😂 Thank you, I try to be as "normal" as possible, I appreciate what RU-vid has allowed me to get access to and genuinely love sharing my experiences with everyone else. Have a nice weekend! Joe
My first car crush too (E46). Took Euro-delivery (I'm from Maryland) of M240x in May 2017 after ordering in January of that year. Your BMW Welt video, and the others tortured and soothed me for months before going. Traveled through Salzburg, Innsbruck, Interlaken, Lyon, and finally Paris. Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm, you will be forever part of one of the most marvelous experiences of my life.
What a great video well done Joe... Every time I get in my E46 M3 it makes me smile, the look the sound and the rawness of the E46 makes it such a intoxicating experience, and something I never become tired of, I even go the long way home to get a longer drive in it.. I would love have a drive of the CSL to compare how much better it is... if anyone is even considering buying a E46 M3/CS/CSL Then go and drive one and I promise you will not be disappointed, they are going up In value all the time.. don’t miss out on a already modern classic.. They don’t make cars like this anymore... and never will make them again..
Sport button gives you unbelievable throttle respons. I was blown away back in the day. The E46 M3 was my first M car at age 26. 14 years ago now, time flies...Still miss it so much. I now have M2 and the throttle respons is miles off compared to this beast! Bloody turbo’s. 😩
Similar story for me. Purchased mine 12yrs ago, at age 23, and never looked back, not once. Love the response with sport mode, won't roll more than an inch without it. Mine is manual in carbon black on imola red. CSL wheels, CSL front bumper, Brembo GT bbk, Eisenmann exhaust, and a few AC Schnitzer bits. Will without a doubt be fitting a CSL airbox to it at some point ($$$). Joe said it best, "intoxicating"
Had a drive of my Dads CSL before he sold it. Think I had only had my licence a few months. You can imagine the smile on my face! Would love one in the garage as a Sunday - Funday car!
I can listen to that sound on repeat all day. What a sought after machine and cheer's Joe for making this video, it's not everyday in present times that we come across a newly recorded CSL review.
Thats what BMW should build in their M cars. NA engines, light, raw. If they want to have something for everyone they could make the "normal" Ms with the twin turbo stuff and the CS/GTS with NA engines. Just like porsche do. Carreras with turbos but GT cars with NA engines.
That's what everyone always says but these didn't actually sell that fast despite the limited run. They were 58k new and the base m3 was 39k. In the used market they were going for as little as 25k in 2008 because the reality of this car is that the gear box is woeful at anything other than 90% attack plus..They went a step further with the e92 gts and they were slated for that car. There is a lot of hero worship but I remember these cars when they were new and everyone said it wasn't worth 911 money. Similarly with the nsx , people foam at the mouth talking about them but they were considered way over priced. Short run light weight cars with bespoke parts are really expensive, the standard cars without mod cons and practicality wont sell, what should BMW do?
OMG! If I could I would give 10 thumbs up. Thanks to Joe's talent, the passion and the excitement is on both sides of the screen. The M3 CSL is a great car, maybe one of the greatest, and many videos were made about it. But this one is the best I've ever seen, period. Listen to that soundtrack! How could you ever like an electrical car knowing a petrol engine can sound like that? If I understood correctly, more video on the CSL to come. Please, please, please. The extended version, the Director's cut, the unedited... are welcome. Favorite M car: M635 csi. It sounds as good as the CSL, maybe even better.
The greatest, most visceral and exciting car I’ve ever owned 😍 and the happiest 7 years of my motoring life so far 🤩 and mine sat on the original CSL specific Cup 1s 😎 Watching your video brings back some epic memories and makes me want another. Great to see BMW GB press office CSL still put through its paces 👍🏼🤘🏼💪🏼
Great video Joe. I haven’t driven my E46 M3 for over 18 months it’s sat on the drive looking very sorry for itself! This has motivated me to get it fixed and drive it again!
Possibly 1 of the best videos you have made, a lot of history about the car as well , fantastic job and the fact you had the car for only a few hours is more impressive.
actually the 330i has a tighter steering rack, first thing i noticed when switching to M3, it drives good, but just a notch worse than 330i thats the only downside, everything else is a step up
Amazing car and video Joe! I was fortunate enough to grow up with a CSL as a kid as my dad ran one as his daily for quite a number of years. Bought it new in 2004. I only wish he still had it now. Would love to know where his has ended up. Reg shows as SORN since 2013 so thankfully it seems it is still alive 😊
I think if it had a manual gearbox, it could be one of the greatest cars to have ever been made. The sound is just incredible. It sounds so mechanical. No stupid fake noises, just true mechanic straight six NOISE!!
When a video gets you in the right mood from the first few seconds... Good job Joe! How about doing the forgotten fun old BMW's (like E36's) or a 5 series (non-M)?
A really outstanding review & amazing capturing of that engine sound. Stops me in my tracks & I just swoon every time I see an E46 M3 in any guise, especially as CSL.
Only ever seen one of these and it was black, absolute beauty. The owner was shocked I even knew what it was, he opened his door and that’s how I noticed, dream car.
SMG gearbox seriously underrated, gone are the days of ridiculous costs for dealer only repairs. Now the CSL software and “mapping” can be added to any SMG equipped car and once you get the hang of it I honestly find it a pleasure to drive, it’s plenty quick enough changing when your pushing on. It is a manual without a clutch pedal though don’t be fooled, the auto mode is a token gesture and one I have only ever used once in a year of owning my E46 M3 coupe
Love the video. This generation was fantastic. I'm on the hunt for a 330i. Used to take my dad's out for a blast when I was about 18 and it was a beautiful thing to drive. Engine was superb and a real beauty to look at. M3 isn't close up my budget but what a thing!
The Joe Achilles drinking game - every time Joe says what a machine/what a car you have to take a shot! Serious note, awesome vid and it’s amazing how well these have aged given others of its era haven’t done nearly as well
Great video Joe and so glad you love the CSL. I've got a CSL video in my channel (mine is black) alas with no engine sounds but I'll put another one up. You've got to get one.
Brings back memories of when I owned one of these in 2005-6, complete with xenons, AC and radio! Used it as my daily driver. SMG was fine once you got used to it. Steering wheel replaced for a new alacantara one under warranty. Car in the video sounds like the air box isn’t actually opening fully; there used to be an issue where the switch controlling the intake flap would fail. Had mine replaced a few months in to ownership and it’s a whole different noise! Great car!
Mate of mine owned one in 2005, it was the lightest spec bar a single cd radio. We pulled up in the Ring car park on the hottest day of the year and within a few moments an identical (but LHD) CSL pulled in right next to him. Identical car in every details except this one had air-con installed. Oh how we laughed 😂
Owned a standard E46 M3 in 2009 for a couple of years, with SMG2 box. To this day, still the best car I have ever driven. Simply awesome and will get myself another one soon, before they get silly money.
I think it's hard for those who haven't driven the E46 M3 to appreciate how good it really is, even by today's standards. I can only imagine how good the CSL must be. BTW, I've had my 05 for almost 4 years and I still get excited every time I drive it, which is actually pretty often.
I owned a CSL when they first came out for about two years!... always remember that induction noise!.. got a m2 with the N55 engine now love the noise in that too, both different sounds though...
The best car BMW has ever made without doubt, hard to believe it was possible to improve on the E46 M3 but they pulled it out of the bag! The noise of that intake is incredible!
I always dreamed of owning the CSL - I was in love with that car. Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear did a bit on it at the Isle of Man and I was hooked. The sound is soooo good! Now I am hunting for an M2 like your Competition or a 2018. There is no BMW that checks off all the marks for me now... the M2 is the closest. Just need an exhaust and the unpopular sunroof (must have for me). I caught the vid where you replaced your exhaust 👍
981 GT4 and E46 M3 owner (US) , I wish I could have the chance of driving a CSL, it has to be very special when is regarded as the best M car and close to a GT4 driving experience.
Bought one a good few years back for 26k...sold it in desperate times for 18k...have felt sick ever since! Fantastic car, not that quick by todays standards but the handling/balance is amazing.
SMG is built for those who already mastered manual shifting (heel-toe, etc) on track. It allows the driver to not think of clutch timing or the amount of blipping when focused. If you prefer daily driving fun, Id recommend manual. But for serious time attack, SMG is just amazing. It literary drops clutch like a boss and shifts faster than 99.9% of hardcore manual drivers. 2005 M3 SMGII owner here. I think Wangan Midnight's comic book explains the SMG's purpose the best. Seriously, put your foot all the way down and upshift it...you will quite literary hit your head to the seat.
Jo I am loving this, the experience is truly felt watching this video. What a car this M3 CSL fantastic presentation Jo, many thanks for doing this video.
I remember this coming out and loved it at the time. Given where cars have headed in the 18 years since, I wish I’d realised just how special this was...and is....
When you re locate the smg pump It becomes virtually bulletproof * It’s originally mounted right above the motor witch creates the brushed motor to burn up on hot laps
The induction noise is magnificent. I don't think I've heard induction noise like that on a six before. Reminds me of an old carbureted high performance inline-4 or E30 M3 DTM.
Best video yet, best real world csl review I’ve seen, didn’t realise they made it in black ! 100k subs coming soon and well deserved, 1M subs before the end of the decade and then maybe you can own all the M-legends
Having to film this in a few hours must have been a bit stressful. Video turned out great in the end. Didn’t know BMW removed three boot lid mechanism to save weight. That was such a special era for BMW. Absolutely adore the E46.
Good Pal of mine has had one from Brand New. I’d say it’s been garaged, only coming out to play the odd Sunday - for the last 15 years. He’s a good driver, raced fiesta challenge & the Clio Cup series following the Touring Cars around the country. He’s a cracking lad as well I’m pleased for him, it’s a little nest egg, the best ones are touching £100k
