[Mani59]

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The BMW 3.0 CSL – an automotive icon marks 50th anniversary of BMW M



Landshut. To mark its 50th anniversary, BMW M GmbH, the BMW Group’s motorsports subsidiary, which was founded in 1972, has unveiled the most exclusive special model it has ever developed: the BMW 3.0 CSL (fuel consumption combined: 11.0 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 249 g/km WLTP; NEDC data: – ). The small series, strictly limited to just 50 models, is inspired by the historic BMW 3.0 CSL – the “Batmobile” – from the early 1970s and features custom paintwork expertise from BMW Group Plant Landshut. Around 20 exterior components for the unmistakeable design of the special model will be refined by paint finishing specialists from Landshut. Several of the carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) components are also manufactured in Landshut.

The Landshut plant is very familiar with special paint jobs like this. In addition to creating small-series and custom paintwork, more than 1,200 painted plastic outer panel sections come out of the plant in 40 standard and 200 custom colours every workday. That adds up to around 273,000 components per year. Now, Landshut’s custom paintwork expertise is also being showcased in the 50 BMW 3.0 CSLs, including in the front and rear side panels, the roof and rear spoilers, the front and rear bumpers, side-sills, bonnet, carbon-fibre roof and tailgate.

The bonnet and roof – both made of CFRP – are manufactured in an elaborate, highly specialised craft-scale process at BMW Group Plant Landshut. Thanks to the high percentage of carbon fibre, the BMW CSL 3.0 boasts a power to weight ratio of just 2.9 kilograms/hp – an excellent example of intelligent lightweight construction in a BMW M car that is in a class of its own.

It is also clear from the outside that the BMW 3.0 CSL combines the very best of five decades of motor racing expertise: Its paintwork, in the style of classic race cars, sports the brand-defining M stripes, known as the livery, in blue, dark blue and red, on an Alpine White solid base colour. The livery stripes along the body trace the curvature of its surfaces to great effect, reinforcing the Coupé’s powerful aesthetics.

It was precisely these livery stripes that presented the biggest challenge in painting the mounted parts, as Project Manager Dr Christian Koch explains: “The transitions between the M stripes, from one component to the next, had to be absolutely perfect. For example, the stripes on the side panel have to be at exactly the same height as on the door to make sure the optics are aligned. That takes a lot of painting know-how, individual experience and flair.” Unlike many other visually striking special editions, the stripes are not applied using film; they are painted. Close coordination with the specialists at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing is also required – since they apply the paint to the door, as well as to the vehicle body.

The Landshut custom paint shop has developed a special process for such demanding tasks: The livery design is projected onto each component using a laser projector, so it precisely aligns with the next body element. The meticulous process of masking the lines between different-coloured surfaces is carried out manually by specially trained experts following the laser projections. Up to eight customised contour films and up to seven layers of paint are required for each component.

In addition to adding the M stripes, it is also the job of the Landshut paint experts to position the "M Power" badge on the rear spoiler and the "50" on the roof. Even these details, which are so central to the appearance of the special model, are masked by hand. Unlike with the livery stripes, the Landshut experts do not expose any layers of paint, but, instead, reveal the visible carbon fibre. This creates slight indentations in the surface – so the high-tech material of the components can also be experienced haptically.

The individual exterior components of the BMW 3.0 CSL are assembled in an advanced craft workshop in Moosthenning, an external site operated by BMW Group Plant Dingolfing.

“We are proud that the craftsmanship and innovative spirit of our highly specialised paint finishing experts has once again helped create such an exclusive special model as the BMW 3.0 CSL,” said Koch.

BMW Group Plant Landshut

At BMW Group Plant Landshut, around 3,600 employees produce light metal cast engine, suspension and body structure components, plastic components for the vehicle exterior, carbon body components, cockpit and equipment options, electric drive systems, special engines and drive shafts. Plant Landshut is the BMW Group’s largest component plant and supplies components to all BMW Group vehicle and engine plants worldwide – and therefore for virtually every BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicle, as well as for BMW Motorrad. BMW Group Plant Landshut stands for component production characterised by digitalisation and geared towards sustainability, and is committed to responsible use of resources.
With forward-looking technologies, BMW Group Plant Landshut assumes the role of innovation driver in the technological transformation of the automotive sector and its supplier industry. At the Lightweight Construction and Technology Centre (LuTZ) adjacent to the plant, specialists from a wide range of disciplines are brought into development processes for new vehicles in the early stages and help actively drive sustainable development of future vehicle models. BMW Group Plant Landshut is a socially responsible, innovative and attractive employer for the region of Landshut and Lower Bavaria.

The BMW 3.0 CSL – an automotive icon marks 50th anniversary of BMW M

Dingolfing. To mark its 50th birthday, BMW M GmbH has a special gift for its customers and fans worldwide: the BMW 3.0 CSL. The concept and design of this exclusive special model, which was presented in the anniversary year 2022, pays tribute to the legendary “Batmobile”, the historic BMW 3.0 CSL from the early 1970s - the first standalone model from BMW M GmbH. 50 years later, in spring 2023 the exclusive reinterpretation of this classic will now be built over a period of several weeks at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing.



The location in Lower Bavaria is thus showcasing its expertise in building exclusive small series and BMW M vehicles. The BMW M4 Coupé and Convertible, the BMW M5 and the BMW M8 Coupé, Convertible and Gran Coupé already come off its production lines. Including the M Performance models, production of M vehicles reached around 50,000 units in 2022 alone.

Dingolfing Plant Director Christoph Schröder: “We are proud to be entrusted with building such an iconic car. It underlines the wide range of models and technologies we have here on-site – from fully-electric BMW i models all the way to our M high-performance models. And it shows that, in addition to highly automated large-scale production, we also excel at hand-crafting cars.”

It is precisely this combination that characterises the manufacturing process of the BMW 3.0 CSL, where the focus is on meticulous craftsmanship.

Although the body of the special model is based on the standard-production body of the BMW M4 CSL, it is being modified in a dedicated work area of the Dingolfing body shop – the same site, where the body of the BMW M4 GT4 is produced. For example, the distinctive wheel arches are being widened using special beading and welding processes and are prepared for assembly.

The body then makes its way through the paint shop’s regular standard production process. At dedicated workstations Dingolfing’s paint finishing specialists then use stencils to manually apply M’s special paintwork - the 3.0 CSL specific livery with the three M color stripes on. In parallel, special mounted parts for the vehicle, such as the front side panels and bumpers, the bonnet and the carbon-fibre roof, are given a special paint finish in the plastic exterior section of the neighbouring BMW Group component plant in Landshut.

The BMW 3.0 CSL is assembled in a craft workshop set up specifically for this purpose in Moosthenning, an external site operated by BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, close to the main Dingolfing vehicle plant. Here, the vehicle is assembled in stages from the bespoke parts of this special edition model by a team of 30 experienced experts. For example, for the BMW 3.0 CSL, axles from Dingolfing component plant 02.10 are modified on site to work with the centre lock familiar from motor racing. The special interior elements are individually crafted in workshops in Garching and Dingolfing.

All in all, the assembly process for one vehicle takes almost two weeks. There are a total of eight major assembly cycles, each with a duration of one working day. Various mounted parts, such as CFRP side panels or the CFRP bonnet, are fixed upstream. At the end of the process, the distinctive rear section and other exterior parts are assembled at a separate station.

Once work in Moosthenning is completed, the vehicle goes back to the “big” vehicle plant in Dingolfing, where it initially undergoes extensive standardised testing – for instance, on rolling test benches or brake dynamometers. Each of the BMW 3.0 CSL models then goes through an additional final inspection process with a required driving programme on the plant’s own test track.

Finally, the vehicle is prepared for the customer and for example brought to BMW Welt in Munich for a personal hand-over or delivery.

[Limegrntaln]

Magnificent!! Get me the tires 20/21 PS4S Star. I need em!!

[nearwater4me]

LOVED all the details in the pictures.
Thanks for sharing!

[IB M]

That’s an awesome factory build!
Maybe the best ever?

Great pics!

[Ibiza]

All the good stuff such as specs and pricing were omitted on purpose when only 50 units are built. Oh well

[chicagofan00]

So awesome. Love all that it represents.

If there ever was an alternate universe where I could have one, I would.

That was one huge torque wrench btw…

[jfritz27]

It's cool they can do precision decal application and all, but are they gonna talk about, like, any other parts of the car? From the pictures it does appear to contain an an engine, brakes, and some other things.

Or did I miss something??

[vj123]

I am glad that the entire assembly process is shared with the community and its a great looking ride.

Its going to be a modern classic in the coming years and I hope not all of these 50 vehicles are locked in their owner's climate controlled garage.

[moonluv810]

I don’t necessarily agree with much of the design language, but I must give BMW credits for putting the right transmission on this thing.

#savethemanuals

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by chicagofan00

So awesome. Love all that it represents.

If there ever was an alternate universe where I could have one, I would.

That was one huge torque wrench btw…

Porsche owners with Centerlock wheels are VERY familiar with that damn torque wrench...

[Crozby]

love the wheels

[GOLFFRR]

amazing shots, very cool. Nice post

[M4ord]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Porsche owners with Centerlock wheels are VERY familiar with that damn torque wrench...

I thought that photo was fake at first. I mean there has got to be a better way. No?

[Montaver]

Cool car. I hope someone who buys one actually drives it.

[G30 B58]

Originally Posted by M4ord

I thought that photo was fake at first. I mean there has got to be a better way. No?

Sure, there’s a smaller handheld version for like $4-5000.

[LPTyler]

Those wheels are amazing! What a beautiful car.

[Savage_M3]

Amazing! Will they allow some to be painted in other colors or all white?

I'd love to see a black one! Serious batmobile vibes!

[zero21]

So if you do the math on 2.9kg/hp at 553bhp you get 3528lbs. That's a good chunk lighter than the M4CSL. Good on them and shows the potential of the platform if optimized.

[P1]

Did anyone else see a Mustang when they saw the first pic?

[DarkstarZero]

They should have mass produced it so regular M buyers could get one. This only makes me mad.

[AndyinHou]

Originally Posted by chicagofan00

So awesome. Love all that it represents.

If there ever was an alternate universe where I could have one, I would.

That was one huge torque wrench btw…

Apparently size DOES matter…

[ccdies79 M3]

This is awesome,