It has a lot of visual differences also right? If MPowerkai sees this thread, he would chime in with 2 pages worth of "differences" lol. i am actually going to take a ride in his M3 this saturday, lol.

 

The CSL M3 makes 350bhp.

Its 400 lbs lighter thne the standard M3 because they changed out alot of parts with more expensive but lighter ones. They also tossed out the back seat and tools in the trunk.

 

^ A few of the more "expensive" items on the CSL include a plastic rear window and a floor made out of cardboard.

The CSL is the ultimate road-going M3, but a lot the difference in terms of lap times are due to the tires, michelin pilot sport cups.

 

Don't you LOVE that... you get the one with NO options and they charge you the MOST for it. F-that.

 

It shares the same motor (S54) but the CSL doesn't use a MAF sensor. It has the huge carbon fiber plenum, no MAF, and it runs on Alpha-N software. Rather than rely on the MAF, Alpha-N is a trottle-position based engine managment system.

The CSL has different seats, carbon fiber panels, and a carbon fiber roof (which is probably one of the biggest differences) It makes no sense, though, that they used SMG in this car. It weight a lot more than a manual tranny.

REGULAR S54



CSL S54 That carbon plenum is gorgeous, isn't it? It feeds air directly into the S54's individual thottle bodies.


I've been dreaming of converting my car to Stand Alone and running Alpha-N, but the VANOS makes it damn near impossible.

 

It's a much better car. There are a ton of differences that make the car much more costly. For a true sports car, 90% of the options people like are worthless.

 

Thats pretty damn sweet. Thats for clearing it up. I love BMW's.

Is the SMG the sport/auto tranny thing... as in NOT ACTUALLY a manual tranny? If not, thats a bit of a shame... with technology today autos can definitely be faster, but they do weigh a little more (as in this case if I actually know what Im talking about) and they are always a little less fun to drive. I dont care what you do to make it "shift" no clutch pedal and it loses the fun.

Of course I would NOT be complaining about SH@T if I had an M3 CSL.

 

I see in C&D this month that they claim the 335 coupe will not have the inline 6 for its production run forever, that they would swap over to an engine based on the current 330 powerplant. Why would they want to do that? I-6 proven basis but very much a "new" motor over to another lesser motor? Sounds like they don't want to encroach on M territory.

C&D claims they tested the 335 0-60mph found it faster or fast as M3 outgoing, high to mid 4s range...

 

Amen. No clutch, no thanks. M5 gets a manual for 2007, someone must be listening over in Bavaria.

Nissan at least keeps it clean, at least until the new Infiniti G Sedan with its "paddle shifters" for people who want to feel like they're GP dudes and "shift" their automatic 6-spd from the steering wheel.

Reminds me of shifting a Rambler with push-buttons on the dash - so high tech and so BAD.

 

YEA RIGHT, I think youve lost your mind buddy. A stock 350z will not beat a stock m3, MAYYYYYBBBEEEE barely keep up but thats it.

 

Been there, done that, and on open winding highway, sorry to say, the M3 dusted my 350Z. Rolling start, from normal freeway speeds (everthing I say is a lie in case my insurance guy or anyone in a position of authority is reading). Open highway, 2-3 lanes, wide turns and short (< 1mile straights).
I died on the 3-4 and especially 4-5 shift. Z has to shift at 96 (3-4) and 112 (4-5) where the M3 not only had more power but could blow all the way from just over 100 all the way to 136 mph in 4th. Was doing well until 110-120, could maintain at 135-140, then more a driver's game and knowing the road (empty highway, late at night).

Turkey made one Faux Pas, though - took a high speed sweeper following the apex line but did not know the pavement had abrupt change from good banked (down) to bad bank (away) at exactly halfway. Think he had a religious experience when he hit the outside of the turn based on the major drop in speed (another rookie sign, backs off the throttle in a turn when in trouble).

Throw in more turns at someplace like Louden, NH road course and different story. Guy in my group with the M3 just could not drive and never saw him after the first lap in any session. Not enough straight for him, and my Z totally dusted him in the corners running 3rd gear usually at 5-6k rpm. I think he just couldn't drive the M3 drifting the corners w/o getting tail out.

Now before I get too cocky I also remember "some dude" in a white old C-production Z come flying up on my backside from turn 3 for most of a lap, until the last turn through to the straight, I waved him by, his helmet had 2 crossed checkered flags and "Steve Millen" on it.

Driver matters

 

Yo my dad just bought 1 Last night they are so nice it has red/black interior, im going to take sum pics and put them on Cardomain i will post it here 2.

 

Didn't know that they are here in the States already. I've not seen one yet. Post some pix when you get them!

 

yeah i have seen a couple lately actually, they so look nice

 

The new 335 is dead sexy, but waaaaay too expensive for my tastes. My last car was a 330i performance package sedan, and I loved it. But it proved to be drastically underpowered compared with the G35 that I now own. Couple that with the huge cost of modding to achieve the power I wanted - I had to throw in the towel on the bimmers for a while. If I had the $$$, I'd drop a $100k on a new M6 'vert. Now that's pure sex on wheels ...

 

as an enthusiast, you will get what you pay for.
vinshu is already at 330whp tuning their 335i and adding an exhaust.
its unlikely that the 2008-2011 G will get there without the help of FI or internal work.

 

SMG is a true manual transmission, only without a clutch pedal. I dont see the big deal of having a clutch pedal, for me its the performance that matters. SMGs and DSGs are faster than any human and I am all for that, not to mention when you are stuck in rush hour traffic in Houston or LA you can just let the computer do the shifting. I hope the GT-R comes with a an auto-clutch manual or else I will have to go for the v8 M3.

 

if its a TRUE manual, then do they have a torque converter or the other items that are generally indicative of an auto?

 

The 335i is hot, no question - but the G is *already there*, stock for stock if you go by 1/4 mile and 0-60 stats.

Fact is that the new G sedan has a higher final drive ratio (3.7) and comes close to the 335i in performance with about 30-40 less hp/tq to the wheels. In the case of the G, I think you still get more bang for the buck.

 

i agree on bang for the buck,
but in terms of raw power, the 335i has more than the G: probably 10-20whp more. in addition, it looks like it wont be too hard to get an extra 50whp. That's a lot and I don't think the new G will ever get there (during its life) N/A without internal/head work.