Old School Hero BMW M3 E46 CSL or Young Gun BMW M135i

markymark666 · 04-22-2017, 03:38 AM

The answer should be clear for the enthusiast (sound, style, ...) but in terms of performance?

On the one side:

2003 BMW M3 E46 CSL: 3246 ccm R6 - According to Auto Motor und Sport in the Top 10 of the most wanted BMW M3/M4 Models of all time. Only 1383 were produced between mid 2003 and 2004...
According to Jim Clarkson (Top Gear): "...the most hardcore BMW ever made."

Weight: 1385 kg / 3053 lb
Max output: 265 kW / 355 bhp
Weight to Power ratio: 8.6 lb/bhp
Max torque: 370 Nm
Sprint 0-62mph: 4.8 s
Top speed: 155 mph (limited)

On the other:

2012 BMW M135i (Automatic): 2979 cc R6 turbo (N55B30) - According to Chris Harris THE Bargain of the year 2012. Sports car performance in a hatchback.

Weight: 1515 kg / 3340 lb
Max output: 235 kW / 316 bhp
Weight to Power ratio: 10.76 lb/bhp
Max torque: 450 Nm
Sprint 0-62mph: 4.9 s
Top speed: 155 mph (limited)

It's on the road where you can "feel" the pure data as acceleration...

What do you think?
Can 10 years of technical development compensate the M3s ultimate approach?

MagnusT · 04-22-2017, 03:58 AM

I owned a CSL for a couple of years and now drive an M2. The CSL has the M2 beat on everything but comfort. Straight line speeds are similar but I've yet not managed to get close to the laptimes I've set in the CSL. And the whole experience... not even close. But the M2 is a more comfortable DD hehe.

markymark666 · 04-23-2017, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagnusT

I owned a CSL for a couple of years and now drive an M2. The CSL has the M2 beat on everything but comfort. Straight line speeds are similar but I've yet not managed to get close to the laptimes I've set in the CSL. And the whole experience... not even close. But the M2 is a more comfortable DD hehe.

The M3 E46 CSL can be a great finacial investment. Furthermore it is a great car for the hardcore BMW enthusiast.

But in my opinion it is amazing how close the cheap gun BMW M135i is after only 10 years of technical development.

So stylewise: M3 E46 CSL >>> M135i
Daily performance: M3 E46 CLS = M135i (nearly)

ShocknAwe · 04-23-2017, 02:36 PM

Weekend? E46M3 CSL all day.
Live with from day to day? M135i. CSL just doesn't have, well, any creature comforts.

markymark666 · 04-24-2017, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Weekend? E46M3 CSL all day.
Live with from day to day? M135i. CSL just doesn't have, well, any creature comforts.

Word!

infinitekidM2C · 04-26-2017, 04:10 PM

The fact that anyone would even compare these cars makes me feel good about my modded 135

..Seriously those were the days right?

View Poll Results: Old School Hero or Young Gun?
2003 BMW M3 E46 CSL	18	78.26%
2012 BMW M135i	5	21.74%
Voters: 23. You may not vote on this poll

04-22-2017, 03:38 AM	#1
markymark666 Second Lieutenant 298 Rep 233 Posts Drives: M135i F21 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Munich iTrader: (0)	Old School Hero BMW M3 E46 CSL or Young Gun BMW M135i The answer should be clear for the enthusiast (sound, style, ...) but in terms of performance? On the one side: 2003 BMW M3 E46 CSL: 3246 ccm R6 - According to Auto Motor und Sport in the Top 10 of the most wanted BMW M3/M4 Models of all time. Only 1383 were produced between mid 2003 and 2004... According to Jim Clarkson (Top Gear): "...the most hardcore BMW ever made." Weight: 1385 kg / 3053 lb Max output: 265 kW / 355 bhp Weight to Power ratio: 8.6 lb/bhp Max torque: 370 Nm Sprint 0-62mph: 4.8 s Top speed: 155 mph (limited) On the other: 2012 BMW M135i (Automatic): 2979 cc R6 turbo (N55B30) - According to Chris Harris THE Bargain of the year 2012. Sports car performance in a hatchback. Weight: 1515 kg / 3340 lb Max output: 235 kW / 316 bhp Weight to Power ratio: 10.76 lb/bhp Max torque: 450 Nm Sprint 0-62mph: 4.9 s Top speed: 155 mph (limited) It's on the road where you can "feel" the pure data as acceleration... What do you think? Can 10 years of technical development compensate the M3s ultimate approach? __________________ YOUTUBE BMW M135i Driving Videos DriveDeck DriveAnalyser RaceRender Share on Facebook Visit my BMW dedicated Blog Last edited by markymark666; 04-22-2017 at 11:14 AM..
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04-22-2017, 03:58 AM	#2
MagnusT Captain 547 Rep 624 Posts Drives: BMW M2 Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Stockholm iTrader: (0)	I owned a CSL for a couple of years and now drive an M2. The CSL has the M2 beat on everything but comfort. Straight line speeds are similar but I've yet not managed to get close to the laptimes I've set in the CSL. And the whole experience... not even close. But the M2 is a more comfortable DD hehe.
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04-23-2017, 02:36 PM	#4
ShocknAwe 1Addict 3627 Rep 8,173 Posts Drives: E82 Mutt, M57 X5D Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Charleston iTrader: (22)	Weekend? E46M3 CSL all day. Live with from day to day? M135i. CSL just doesn't have, well, any creature comforts. __________________ 2010 E82 1 Series M Clone Hydra Performance augmented OEM+
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04-26-2017, 04:10 PM	#6
infinitekidM2C Major General 4296 Rep 5,739 Posts Drives: 2019 M2 Competition Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2019 M2 COMPETITION [9.75] 2008 135i (my old car) [7.56]	The fact that anyone would even compare these cars makes me feel good about my modded 135 ..Seriously those were the days right?
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