The M3 CSL can quite reasonably claim to be possibly the greatest M road car ever made. The standard E46 M3 was already a masterpiece of engineering, with near perfect weight distribution, the most powerful normally aspirated engine ‘per cc’ ever made (and winner of multiple awards) and handling to flatter even the most frivolous of drivers. The CSL just crowned it all off. With an amazing 10% weight saving – by the use of carbon fibre panels (roof, valences, engine components, bumpers and interior) – and a centre of gravity downshift – as well as an increase in horse power from 343 to 365, the CSL wrote the book on how to squeeze every drop of goodness from an already supremely accomplished sports coupe. With hindsight, the CSL is easily the high point of BMW Motorsport, before the bean-counters and EU joy vampires finally got their way. With only 422 RHD CSLs produced for the UK market – many of which had a pretty energetic first few years – the number of truly collector quality examples available is probably only now in double figures, and we’ve seen most of them.
This particular example is well known to us, and is one of the best. As a low mileage example we’ve known the car for the last three owners – it has changed hands between collectors since owner #3 (at least to our knowledge, and possibly #2) without doing more than a few thousand miles in total. Having been in the hands of collectors, this CSL has always been super well looked after, and of course having been sold previously by Munich Legends it has been through our showrooms and workshop in the usual way, and will be again, prepped to the very highest standard for the next owner. Don’t be put off by the number of keepers, this is very normal in CSLs due to the fact that they are popular with collectors, and have seen regular rises in value, making them easy to sell and take advantage of the gain. We now regularly see cars well into the double figures in terms of owners.
To see Jeremy Clarckson’s excellent (if factually flexible) take on the M3 CSL on Top Gear click on this Youtube link
Even when we feel we know a car well, it still undergoes a rigorous inspection by our technical team, who were not disappointed. If you are looking for a very high quality CSL to form part of a collection, or to drive and enjoy to the full – whilst protecting your investment, then this is the CSL for you. For more information on this cracking car, or to book a visit – by appointment only please – contact our showroom team on 01825 740456 or sales@munichlegends.com
