BMW M3 CS
I know what youre thinking. Why on eath should you buy a BMW M3 CS when an all-new 3 Series generation has just been launched? Although it is based on the old E46 platform rather than the newer E90 chassis, the BMW M3 CS doesnt require too long to make a convincing case for itself.
Higher profile models like the latest M5 and M6 variants may well hog the limelight, but the M3 remains a tightly focused drivers car and one of the most enjoyable options for around £42,000. Part of the genius of this model is the way BMW have engineered a certain playfulness into the car without compromising on its basic competence. It really is a cake and eat it sort of deal, offering a practical four seat coupe body with manageable running costs and safe handling on one hand and on the other, a sideways hooligan nature when the DSC stability control is switched off and the M-differential is working its magic. Faced with such a tempting combination, it was inevitable that some owners would want a little more and BMW served that up in the shape of the M3 CSL, a car that cut weight, added power and became something of a cult.
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Youll also have some difficulty spotting your example in a sea of lookalike metal. The CS will definitely help in that regard. Although it lacks the tell-tale carbon fibre roof of the CSL, it does wear the desirable but kerb-vulnerable 19-inch CSL design alloy wheels and 18-inch disc brakes. Although all the standard M3 colours are offered, an exclusive Interlagos Blue finish is sure to be popular amongst CS owners looking to make a rather more individual statement.
The interior benefits from M3 CSL Design alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, handbrake lever and, if you opt for it, SMG gearbox shifter. Theres also what BMW dubs Alu-Tec interior trim. Real enthusiasts will appreciate a more direct steering rack (14.5 ratio rather than 15.
4 of the ordinary M3) and M Track Mode, a steering wheel-activated set-up that increases the threshold of the Dynamic Stability Control System, giving skilled owners the opportunity to slide the car around a bit without completely disengaging the DSC safety net.
"The reserves of talent this car possesses borders on the freakish"
Priced at £44,850 on the road, the CS adds £2,400 to the price of a standard M3, but the M Track Mode alone will be enough to interest some. Given that many M3 drivers will spend £392 a corner on the 19-inch alloy wheels, the remaining sum for the CS doesnt look unreasonable although inclusion of the CSLs carbon fibre intake would have been a nice touch. In order to understand the significance of the M3, its important to understand how it was brought into being. The first E30 M3 was a homologation special, a car built in limited numbers for the road solely to allow BMW to race in Touring Car competition.
This granted the M3 a certain kudos amongst motorsports cognoscenti, and its appeal grew. The four-cylinder model went through a variety of guises, but an indicator of where BMW saw the M3 brand going was provided by the E30 M3 Convertible, a model frowned upon by most as sullying the cars hardcore reputation. The second generation continued this theme, yet still proved to be the most popular with UK buyers. The E36 M3 was a vastly more powerful car, its six-cylinder engine developing 321bhp in Evolution guise, but it never developed the cult following of the old car.
This was due in no small part to its understated looks and crushingly competent chassis that ironed a lot of the fun out of the driving experience. Many BMW enthusiasts felt the car didnt warrant the M designation, feeling it was a softer-edged model that was more deserving of something like the Bavarian companys traditional CSi branding for sporting coupe models. Available in coupe, saloon and convertible models, the E36 M3 was a sales success without ever challenging for a place in the hearts of fans of the marque. The E46 M3 rectified this issue, both as a Coupe and a Convertible.
Dealing a double knockout of more power and sledgehammer visual impact, the car generated universal approval at its first showing during the 1999 Frankfurt Motor Show. Displayed in a titanium finish, the detailing on the show car was beautifully judged. Big front wheelarches that bulged outwards like gym-toned muscle, a deep front spoiler, chromed side intakes and big wheels shod with an unapologetically anorexic sliver of tyre acted as an unambiguous statement of intent. Whereas most of the rawness gets rubbed off show cars when they become productionised this hasnt happened with the E46 M3.
Nonetheless, its not really a car you can easily lose your heart to. In many respects its a Michael Schumacher of a car; extravagantly talented in a swaggering, strutting, self-satisfied manner. "BMW stands for automotive perfection", claimed one senior suit at the launch press conference, echoing the car's massive superiority complex. The years have softened attitudes to the M3. Its now seen as a performance bargain, offering all the performance and reliability of a Porsche 911 at a lower price. The CS may not be quite such a bargain as the standard car, but its outrageously talented and hugely desirable.
Respect is most definitely due.
Facts At A Glance
CAR: BMW M3 CS Coupe
PRICE: £44,850 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 20
CO2 EMISSIONS: 287g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 155mph / 0-60mph 5.1s
FUEL CONSUMPTION:(Euro average) 23.7mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side and head airbags / ABS / DSC
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4488/1947/1369
