How to make the perfect BMW M3 - autocar.co.uk 

America never got the CSL Steve, we got a "Competition Package" that adds CSL wheels, CSL steering rack, and CSL Drilled rotors. So the CSL was never available with a manual gear box.

one of the best vids of Autocar, well done... wish all vids is as meaningful as this...

why isn´t the e36 m3 shown?!?

that perfect balance sure does come in handy when you're making a turn at a light

Nice video!

Nice episode, keep on going! Steve Sutcliffe is one of the best car testers on planet

man you say some pretty smart stuff. i got one an i love it

You are very right mate !!

Love it!

I'm boarderline astonished how laid back the host is at high speeds. Towards the end of the video he's sittin back with one hand on the wheel as I would relaxing down neighborhood streets on a sunny day. It's almst comical \=-)

exactly! i have an smg m3 and I have to say that at the beginning I didn't like it, after a bit i got used and I love it now, i think its a special characteristic of the e46

For use during active driving on the road but specifically on the track I think the SMG2 gearbox in the CSL does the job rather well. But it really needs to be in S6 mode to really shine.

Thanks mate, Iv owned a couple of M3s in my day including the E36 Euro spec, E46 and the CSL, I know what Im talking about :)

Brilliant review Mr Sutcliffe, as always. Reviewing the E36 M3 would have been useful though. I do agree, the E46 M3, CSL or otherwise, is the best of the bunch. It looks brilliant, even today. It has just the right about of power. It N/A. It has great road presence. What more could one ask for?

I agree I love my e36 m3 handling is fun and good kinda like an e30 but with more power

Sadly the CSL was offered only with the SMG transmission ;-\

No bootlid change, no Engine upgrades. The CS was also offered in the UK. It consisted of "CSL" style wheels, except not as light as the CSL version, a faster rack, minor lowering of ride height, alcantara steering wheel and in the US it also included the larger drilled brakes the Euro version always had. It did have a secondary DSC setting, too, a precursor to MDM on the e92, I guess.

Finally, a real car enthusiast :)

Personally I love the SMG 2. To say its rubbish is ridiculous. There's enough info out there and enough reviews that it's clear it comes down to personal preference. It annoys me when people 'rubbish' what is, just a preference. Both manual and SMG 2 hold their own. I happen to prefer the SMG 2, but that's not to say the manual is crap. Grow up people!

That CSL looks like a new car, yet it has over 200k on the clock!!! The CSL is a dream car for sure!

Please dont forget that when the Csl came out, it was more than double the price of a regular E46 M3...and only 2500 units were made... I had 1 of them, and every day I miss it :(

E30 Sport Evolution, just perfect.

agreed. I myself own a e36 and it's a beauty of a car.

I know the U.S has strict rules on emissions, the other issue with changing the headers is you loose the cat, as the euro model its in the middle of the system and U.S its fitted in the headers, there is several ways around it though, but as you say not straight forward,

E46 M3 for the win! I love mine :)

I drove an E46 with a supercharger about a month ago. 440hp at the wheels. That is the perfect M3 recipe for me!

the csl is already a classic. that car will never look outdated or bad in my opinion.

CSL is a legend

True - it's been so long; I meant the old M division flat six. Surely engine technology has improved enough to make it worthwhile.

I'm very positive of a silverish CSL in Palm Beach, Florida.

Indeed, the first straight 6 m3 with no driver aid bollocks, except abs. Tru the steering rack wasn't great but a Z3 rack is a cheap enough fix and as time ticks on there aren't many rwd cars the size of an e36 with such a big bag of ferrets under the bonnet

good for u !!!!

I wish they still made those. But we have to acknowledge the M3 has moved into a different league, lets just hope BMW has something to take it's place one day.

They did make a Competition Package that had CSL wheels, CSL Springs, CSL steering rack, CSL's M-Track Mode DSC, CSL brake roaters, and I had the CSL Wheel. He was probably thinking of this lesser, much lesser car.

I love the E30

It'll happen, the 1 series will be it, the 2 series will be in essence the rwd 1 series. It's been in the works. It'd assume based off mini chassis.

THE IDEAL M3..steering from E30, design from M3 CSL, engine sound current M3....perfect

1:50. Why is the E30 facing the wrong direction?

all those engine sounds... gooooooddd daaaaaammmnnn

I did actually forget about the E36 M3, i have had 2 x E46's and now one E92 M3, i don't know why the E36 never gets a mention, it was a bit before its time perhaps?

what is with bmws new headlights? how does anyone think it looks better ?

First L6 M3 and best one.

My dream is to get an E46 M3 for my first car:) Its not that out of reach, they are only around $17,000! Great Video!

1:51 the red E30 is facing the oncoming V8 M3. Crazy!

Wait. I'm sorry, I must have missed something... We don't have any CSL's in the states, much less with a proper manual gearbox.

I don't understand why he thinks the SMG gearbox is rubbish?? Had one for 6 years and it's a tremendous box. Also, the CSL was never released in the states, with or without a manual box like he claims.

You forgot about the e36 a huge stepping stone for bmw

how.can you kill or get rid.of the rasp for e46? I love it but after a while.it gets a little.irratating

was thinking the same thing

He said the _car_ was available in the US with a manual gearbox. Which it wasn't. Because the CSL wasn't available in the US at all.

LOL. he said it, so it is. I've driven all of them except the last one and the E30 is def the one to own.

The SMG gearbox in the E46 M3 is exactly the same Getrag 6 speed unit box that was fitted in the manual (it is not an automatic). The only difference is that the clutch pedal and shifter are operated by hydraulics rather than hand and foot. It was based on BMW's F1 race tech and in the fastest setting can change gear in just 80ms, (half the time that the F355 took). Unfortunately Steve is talking bollox here as on the road SMGII can be clunky, but on the track it is far superior to a manual

is the E36 m3 that bad to not make it on the list?

E demais este video

The e36 is a great car as well!

M3's will always be legendary. FWD is not possible

Did you guys forget theres another M3 out there? Man the e-36 is like the love child no one wants to talk about. I admit the e-46 is the one, the best, (my favorite) but come on, the e-36 is awesome too. I hope the new M3 is lighter than the e-92 (porker) and im glad their going back to the 6 cilinder, a naturally balanced engine that is perfect for these size sports cars.

Now that's more likely :)

True, the closest thing they got i believe was the Competition Package but that´s about 1% of the CSL.

Right and wrong, the CSL wasn't released in the U.S (he is probably talking about the ZCP) but there has only ever been a SMG version of the CSL, no manuals in any country, yes the E46 M3 had both options all over the world but only 1400 CSL cars were made in either silver/grey or black sapphire and all with a SMG II transmission

never knew blurred plates were an option on the E30

the e46 m3 has one of the greatest sound naturally engines ever.

even if you drive an 190D you can feel this GREAT suspension and its so neutral, it gives you so much feedback and this tiny little 72Hp diesel cant even reach the limit of the suspension ! Really great cars ! really great time ! But today it simply just do not matter ! :(

no e36 m3?

Chris owns an E28 M5, for all the right reasons. My respect remains.

I've never driven a CSL but for me the E92 is the best. The punch of the V8 and the noise give it its own distinguishable character over the old models and with the extra power comes the constant urge to give it death coming out of every corner. I know everyone goes on about the weight but you only know that because you've read it. It doesn't feel lazy or sloppy in the slightest.

Way to go! You left out the E36 M3 from the family reunion.

Amen

No e36😐

I can understand induction sound but no they are not similar otherwise at all...... I haven't heard or seen a genuine CSL (they were never sent to the USA) but I have been in a E46 M3 with the genuine CSL airbox (the OEM BMW one, not a knockoff). A friend of mine had it on his 2004 M3 And I have heard a Mclaren F1 engine in person too. Different noises there.

The new S63TU (M5 F10 V8 Dual Twinscroll Turbo Engine) has better throttle response then the S85 V10 engine from the M5 E60 according to BMW M.

Sorry Steve: The CSL was never sold in the States, the SMG 2 is excellent for the track and fast driving outside the city, and the steering in the E30 is fine for a 80s car, but not nearly as delicate as the steering in the CSL.

Can't stand csl Smg is well, I wish they gave it a manual.

Just so that we have the facts correct as Autocar mag. has chosen to neglect the E36 which was a better car than the E30 in certain undeniable aspects: MUCH MORE POWERFUL, BETTER OVERALL HANDLING, MUCH FASTER ACCELERATION, FASTER TOP SPEED, MORE COMFORTABLE, MORE STORAGE SPACE, MUCH LESS PRONED TO RUST ISSUES, AND BETTER MPG.......these are established facts agreed upon by all reputable car publications. The E30 is generally considered to be a little bit more fun to drive in terms of it being more "spiky" on the edge...infact this why initially the press 20 years ago were not giving the E36 total praise because they were not used to such great handling.

Fingers crossed for the new M3/M4. Let's hope M doesn't look too close to the competition and do there job with feeling in mind instead of ring laps and 0 to 60 times....

If they'd been built to the same spec in the US as they were in Europe, I would like them a hell of a lot more.

Yes its gonna be a straight 6 (3.3l) , its gonna have round 30 hp more than the e92 m3, but there will be three turbos like in die M Performance Diesels they released this year. i'm 99.5% sure...lets say i work in munich ;-)

The E 30. The first.The first always gets gold medal.

No e36?

well the new M3 is here and it's awesome...I've only seen several videos on it, but so far it seems the only things that would make it perfect is a V8 engine and hydraulic steering...although the 6 cylinder is still sexy and the steering hasn't had many complaints thus far

Where's the E36 M3 evo 2?

the new bmw will be a straight six twin turbo, and yes bmw was not very popular on turbos but they have designed a very effective almost zero lag turbo which is in cars like the 335 twin turbo and i believe the new 3 series will be starting with a 4 cyl turbo... which im not a huge fan of, anyways I LOVE THE m3 i couldnt imagine mine with twin turbos lol i have an e46 drop top 03 49k miles absolutely love the car.

Oh yes. E30 is a beautiful car with a soul, but today it is difficult to buy a well maintained and never damaged model.

Poor journalism, E46 M3 CSL was never sold in US and the E46 M3 had the manual in Europe as well, even in UK.

A perfect M3 for me would be a CSL style chassey , Wider arches, a DCT or manual box option,with a naturally aspirated straight 6 with a mimimum of 480hp and not weighing more than 1350kg, and to please play more notice to engine tone... the CSls induction noise is way better than the e92 V8 or the 1m for that matter,,, oh yes and dont forget the michelin pilot sport cups:)

SMG all the way. I would never not have paddle shifters

No love for the E36?

There's a 2011 BMW M3 Coupe in Edmonton with 96,000 kms for 37,995$ If you dont care about mileage it could be a decent deal. However I 100% agree with your comment as a new Vehicle it's just way to expensive.

The lack of an E36 M3 is disturbing. I'm the second owner of mine and had it since 60,000 now going on to 180,000. Greatest car I've owned. I test drove the E92 and it just did not feel right to me. The E36 is my favorite M3 ever.

Why talk about the CSL if you're going to neglect the E92 Performance pkg? Whatever, they're all amazing cars. Top notch German engineering.

cool i own an e46 m3

4:08 Who is driving?

The only E36 I have any desire for is an LTW.

where is the e36?

That e46 is the most beautiful car ever

He meant how the E46 M3 had the manual in the United States, but not a CSL.

What about the E36 :/

1:34 "...If nothing else, it proves that: to have fun, and to feel good behind the wheel of an [M3], you DON'T need to be going that fast..." Sounds like you could replace "M3" with the Toyobaru twins and still make sense! In comparison's to today's high-tech M3's, the closest you can get to feeling that same E30 feel, is the twins.

Is it Chris Harris who is the commentator? O.o

Umm because the turbo technology has gone up so far, you have nearly no turbo lag top that off with BMW using a twin turbo system, one very small turbo for low RPM's, and the large one for the higher RPM, this way the smaller one does the work in the low RPM until the big turbo has spooled up enough to be able to do its own job. I am not saying they should turbo it though. But now they can make the engine smaller and more powerful, less weight. See new M5 has V8, last had V10. Because of turbo.