of course i love e46 more than the new one(it is just incredible) but lets agree that new one is surely not bad. especially when you consider that new ‘’sport cars’’ weigh around 2 tons, a lot of them are hybrid or even electrified, and none of them can make you really smile…
In twenty years you will say the same abt the actual m3/m4 then and the one from right now. People wont appreciate such cars unless they have gotten old
@@drazenbudis7881 Henry seems pale next to Jason. Henry is still entertaining, but he still feels like a journalist, so it still feels like every other auto journalist. Jason on the other hand feels like a genuine car enthusiast first and a journalist second.
Yep, another great review - Hagerty + Catchpole doesn’t miss. That M3 CSL is just beautiful and only gets better with time. I would’ve loved to see the CSL treatment done to the last-gen M2 CS. Would’ve been closer to the true successor, and silver without the stripes would’ve been perfect.
@@pokest225 ahh - just saw the R&T article on it and actually remember seeing the Top Gear video on it. A limited run as a send-off to the F87 would’ve been perfect, though I don’t love the spoiler design in the prototype.
1:47 the 550 Marinello isn't called "lightweight", and no one complains about it's handling because it's presumed that it should handle like a luxury-sport car, not a lightweight sports car.
@@kunalmore5212 That's not the point. V12 is heavier. Also 550 is covered in leather. Comparing a "lightweight" sportscar to a luxury GT boat is stupid.
20 years ago reviewers castigated the M3 CSL for terrible brakes and a shoddy gearbox. Now they all love it. Definitely looks amazing and the engine is a gem but it's so funny how perceptions get altered over time! Also, these days it's seriously hard to make a 1400kg coupe with safety regulations as they are. Great review, I think the M4 CSL will age well and have a similar following over time because every reviewer driving it seems to be grinning manically. I'd be interested to hear Henry's thoughts on it with Cup 2R tires on a dry track.....
@@mistreku yep, and I just rewatched it after you mentioned it. If you gave Clarkson a white car he'd claim it's black.....lol. Yes I know people really liked it but there was a lot of complaining about gearboxes and brakes all the same. Funny to also see the exact same "is it as good as a GT3" conversation at the end, its like 20 year old deja vu.
@@Tracertme modern cars have to be built to a different safety standard than cars of yore. Which car would you rather be in when you get in a car crash? People really think engineers can't design cars like those from a few decades ago if the non performance requirements are the same.
As someone who lives and drives in the UK, the biggets issue with the M4 CSL (and the M4) is not their mass but their width and size. The sort of roads that these days you can actually have fun on are mostly far to narrow and tight for cars of this size and this performance. Whilst the old E46 M3 was never a small machine as judged against its peers of the time, it certainly was just about small enough to offer more fun, more of the time......
I remember ripping the E46 M3 CSL around the Hockenheimring with my dad. What a great memory and what a car. To me one of the most special BMWs ever built. Can’t compare the new G82 to it.
I enjoyed watching this clip and owning an E46 M3 CSL myself it was very nice to see both old and new being presented. BTW, next year the E46 M3 CSL will turn 20 years old! In the automotive world a big gap technology wise. In my humble opinion that makes the E46 CSL oh so much more special, not to mention the glorious intake sound. Nonetheless BMW M did a great job with it's newer brother.
They did a horrible job. It’s not special enough. It’s heavy and ugly. Also why don’t they honor the Batmobile? Have two version one that’s more Street focused the other track? No I don’t care about the GTS. Why don’t they make a very special bmw?
Oh, it IS so much more special, no question about it! Take good care of it, because we literally will never get a car like that ever again. I wish you many more years of fun with it, because after all, old BMW´s want to be moved or they´ll start to get cranky. 😉👍
Very interesting, having owned a M3 CSL and now owning the M4 CSL. I sold the M3 CSL after a while as the SMG gearbox was so frustrating and the seats were terrible (Uncomfortable). I bought another E46 M3 manual and copied all the good CSL bits with the addition of brakes that worked, it was a great car. The M4 CSL is a weapon, mines on CUP 2 R's and has the fixed back bucket seats (Even better than the 918 Buckets in my GT3). In the dry it's sensational. The wet is hilarious with so little traction, I've never had as much fun driving well under the speed limit!
There is no BMW M3/M4 CSL better than BMW M3 e46 CSL!Design/ lightweyght/ the look of the car ! The BMW M3 e46 CSL is the ultimate legandary machine for the road !The ultimate BMW to drive on road!
Henry you’re review of the new CSL is not blinded by the overall weight, which seems to dominate everyone elses opinion. But the M3 CSL is still the one I’d have sans automated gearbox as you eluded too.
The funny part about all the comparisons he provided for "heavy cars" is that A. They're all too heavy and B. They're all GT cars with sporting intentions. They, unlike the CSL, are comfort oriented first, speed second. Additionally, I always find these "lightweight" cars have weight pulled out in the wrong places-- They pulled 100kg out, but they could've removed more. Why does a lightweight car have AC, a giant LCD screen system, power seats and an automatic gearbox? All of that could've been removed and then optionally added back in. (Like the power seats I put on the list).
BMW ///M Fanboy here. I like the previous generations better even though this is much faster. To each their own. I hope everyone is having a great day. Happiness and Wealth to you all.
Am 44yrs Old,& Iv Been A BMW Fan So Far,I Do Love The Old Designs (Except The Bangle Era).I Do Believe & Know Change Is Always Constant & Iv Accepted It,Hence Iv Grown To Warm Up To The Current BMW Design Language & I Must Say Am Loving It!
Great video and stunning cinematography as usual. You never know, but I think it's a safe bet that the E46 will forever be the most desirable CSL and possibly BMW there ever will be.
So glad to see Henry Catchpole here on Hagerty !! he truly is in a league of his own when it comes to setting up a scene appropriate to whatever car he's reviewing , he distills so calmly the essence of what we all find so alluring about car life. It's never just about the car, it's the whole narrative . I for one would love to see Hagerty separate themselves from the rest of the pack and end all drag race videos/comparisons . These were relevant and charming back when 450hp cars were new and considered other worldly , but with the power available today, does it really even matter ? Regardless great stuff Hagerty !
I was thinking, wow this M4 CSL is good despite that nose. AND then you brought in M3 CSL and I said, that is even a better car despite 20 years old and had a tear in my eye.
As an E46 M3 owner coming on 8 years now with the carbon aribox, the sound of that induction is what makes it all worthwhile and it only gets more dramatic as the revs climb to 8300rpm. Henry mentions that the E46 CSL has a thinner exhaust too, to clarify for accuracy, the CSL has a thinner exhaust manifold, but the rest of the exhaust is the same as a normal E46 M3. The backbox for example remains the same 25KG stainless steel part. 2005 and 2006 model E46 M3s had the CSL manifold as well, which is why they sound a bit more meaty from the factory.
Watching Henry unable to wipe that smile and giggle off his face driving the E46 and then in comparison watching him drive the G82 pretty much tells me the E46 was and still is the better car
Brillant video Mr. Catchpole. It is a shame that we won't be getting hybrids with an NA engine. Cruise silently around the city, and have fun in the country. I don't need 600 or more hp from turbo hybrids, I just want more emotion without the guilt.
Amazing to see this comparison and what a production, I always look for an automotive journalists body language and smile when they drive an E46 M3 CSL, it truly is such a special car. Modern times and limitations mean that nothing will get close to evoking such a response IMHO, it is great to see the increased appreciation of how special the M3 CSL was, it is ageing very well, 20 years young next year!!!!
In terms of design its like comparing Mona Lisa to McDonalds menu. E46 is just timeless piece of art that the new car simply cannot ever hope to match.
There’s been so much video shot and words written about this car, and I’m sure they’re all right, it’s a great car. But there is no way in this or any other life I’d spend that amount of money on an M4 over an M5CS, or a Porsche GTS for that matter. BMW marketing and accounting have lost their minds!
They’re all sold, globally, and currently going for £100k over list. I think BMW know their market, plus it’s a car you own “as well as” not “instead of”.
@@MOTOMAD555 Limited edition cars will sell out regardless. I don't think that is a fair indication of how BMW know their market. And like you said, because it is a car you own "as well as", most owners, maybe even including yourself, treat that car as much a collectible as a fun car, maybe even more of a collectible than a fun car.
E46 is and will also be one of the best style coupe cars I like the new m4 and m3 styling unlike many but everyone wants everything can’t have all the tech, safety, power top performance parts and have it super lightweight you either have a stripped out track car that’s lightweight or you have a super sport cars coupe that’s just heavier than previous I think it’s a great car and can’t wait to see one in the flesh great review as always Henry always smashes it 🎉
BMW will never make a car better than the E46. I’ve had the privilege of owning and driving nearly every 3-series from the E30 onwards and I can honestly say the E46 is the best blend of road car with track-capable performance ever made.
This is an amazing car don't get me wrong, but above and beyond the lightweight savings, I think the CSL badge represents BMW truly showing off what they're capable of and this M4 CSL doesn't capture that I don't think. The E46 CSL was three seconds off of a 911 996 GT3RS on the nurburgring when it was released, which at the time was unbelievable because the normal E46 from which it was based was simply a sports coupe for everyday. It truly was a world beater, representing BMW at its very best, not holding back in the pursuit for the pure driving pleasure. An M4xDrive with a remap and those lightweight seats, could probably feel the same way this CSL does in 90% of driving situations. And simply, it just isn't that world beater. A 992 GT3, let alone an RS, will run rings around this on track. BMW could've gone all out, but probably held back for that special edition CSL hommage, and I think that's the biggest issue of giving this M4 the CSL nomenclature.
The new CSL is absolutely worthy of the badge. It's the first time in a while that an M4 can actually keep up with a GT3, despite its fairly heavy weight. Hell, it even gives other supercars a run for its money with those Cup 2 R tires. And let's be real, the only reason the old CSL was just as fast or faster than the GT3 of the time is because Porsche didn't care much about laptimes yet. Also it came out in 2003 where the 997 was almost out. It's just a matter of tires at this point.
The brake critique is really kind of silly. I’m no mechanic but swapping the pads for track pads solves ALL of the braking concerns on the track and can be done very easily.
E46 is so good looking. Me thinks that the M in M division has long since shifted from Motorsports to Marketing. Where as they used to be Engineer driven side projects, now M cars are just there to keep up the image that BMWs are Ultimate Driving Machines. They exist to get RUclips views so that people go into the dealership and buy that diesel X1. I'm not saying this is bad, it's a fair trade, but I wish they could find a way to put the heart back in as well as all the clinical marketing horsepowers.
As a 16-14 and 22-M4 comp owner and someone who was super excited for the CSL, I can't denied that I was a bit disappointed with the final product but I have to blame myself for that because I wanted to compare this M4 CSL to a Porsche something that BMW will never be able to achive in terms of engineering and final product. Still this M4 is great but the price does not justify the small performance gains, yes they are using a mass producing platform but thats their fault not ours, either way I would have been comfortable paying 120k USD but not the ridiculous price tag + over msrp charges from the dealers, you can justify paying 170k plus another 25k for a new GT3 I don't think you can say the same about a BMW M4 CSL + the dumb 50k over MSRP most dealers were asking...
I'm not for nostalgia but I'm all pro fun. That's why I love the 1st gen Twingo. 700kgs, just adjust the fuel pump to go from 55 to 85 hp and you have all the fun you can have on a twisty road
The auto box in the new one definitely prefers shifting early, you get a nice wave of torque and acceleration between/through gears if you do. If you wring it out shifts are slower with a noticeable lull in power.
BMW just pushes all the torque out early as possible by not limiting boost at lower RPMs. They could limit torque by slowly ramping up boost as you rev the engine to give a more linear feel like the new Z.
My Mini JCW GP3 is the same way but that has an Aisin 8 speed, if I shift well before redline it shifts hard/crisp and like your say has incredible acceleration between shifts but if I redline it, there is a soft limiter and the shift is not strong. Very strange stuff, I think it has something to do with the fluid pressures in the torque converter transmission being higher while at peak power, my Mini seems to lose steam at redline, so there is less torque at redline than if you shift before during peak torque.
I would take an E46 csl all day over that. Who cares about the times, the power, the price tag. All I care about is that sound and old school BMW bodylines that haven't been matched since
The elephant (and by "elephant," I mean "giant prehistoric beaver") in the room is of course that absolutely ghastly front end. This car has otherwise nice enough lines, but the front is deal-breaking ugly. And sure, a 550 Maranello is heavier...but a 550 Maranello is also beautiful (and has the correct number of pedals on the floor).
A couple facts You can still order a new E46 CSL engine at your local BMW shop. It's built to order so be aware it takes like a year. The 6-speed SMG is also an ZF(like the 8HP in the new one), made in the same factory as the PDK nowadays. The 7-speed from M5 and M6 is from Getrag.
E46 is the best one. I think weight is the most important figure to limit for future cars. Less is more. I think any passenger car should be below 1500kg and 145cm of height, comfort, luxury and safety weight a lot and make a car less efficient.
Most cars would be better if they were lighter, but then what do you remove? Ignoring SUVs where removing the car entirely would be ideal, for a large luxury saloon it's fine to weigh 1800-2000kg as the bits causing that weight are worth having. Cars that heavy can still handle much better than lighter cars too- an L10 GS450h or the current gen Panamera are 1845kg and >2000kg respectively, yet their handling is even better than many hot hatches, let alone normal cars. Picking those because a) I've driven them recently (plus about 8 hot hatches this year to compare!) and b) in their hybrid form, they can both be more efficient than the hot hatches too. I agree with your sentiment in general, it's just not as simple as picking a proprietary max weight for cars. Less weight is good. More safety equipment, luxury, comfort and space are also good. Sadly those things generally conflict- I daily a 1325kg sports car and it's great, but it's be even greater with an extra 25kg of sound insulation in the right places, the big tyres are noisy and that gets boring, although the engine sound never gets boring!
This is the problem with the g82 CSL...its 140k...for that price you're in a whole new bracket of cars its gonna compete with. I don't think id be wrong saying most of the owners of the CSL wouldn't even be taking it on track. But personally M has lost it for me, the weight, the size of these new cars just isn't something that works for me. M kinda lost it after the e9x generation, NA and linear power delivery is something that not many can appreciate. The spikey torque and messy electric steering in the f8x and newer gens just don't feel right IMO. (not that Electic power steering can't be good, ex Porsche) From what I understand, Most of the weight savings are from lighter wheels, and suspension and some creature comforts in the car. Those are hellishly easy to make up in a standard G82, even if its doesn't have the "CSL" badge. Besides the point, it is a "cool car" just very strayed off...and stupidly expensive. from what I see an M car as. Fantastic Video By Hagerty per usual
Sorry to hear that you lost your sight in an unfortunate accident. I can only assume that's what's happened anyway, since nobody would like that grille unless they've lost either their sight or their mind 😂
The amount of fun he has in the e46 is a sure sign we are all moving in the wrong direction. Great Work Hagerty.
Thank you, i was going to say that, look at the styling as well.....20 years or so and it still look fantastic, and will continue to do so.
Keep consoling yourself, that E46 is nothing compared to this car, not by any tiny bit, you must own one and trying to feel a bit punch..
@@duffydon1741 Found the person who doesn't understand a thing about older vehicles
@@hussamjamil4980 that single round air inlet, as callback to the original csl always gets me... this thing e46 is just so pretty
I couldn’t agree more. He wasn’t able to break the same smile on M4
The E46 M3 looks like a masterpiece next to it.
Suzy Boyle looks cracking next to it 🙂
It's okay
of course i love e46 more than the new one(it is just incredible) but lets agree that new one is surely not bad. especially when you consider that new ‘’sport cars’’ weigh around 2 tons, a lot of them are hybrid or even electrified, and none of them can make you really smile…
In twenty years you will say the same abt the actual m3/m4 then and the one from right now. People wont appreciate such cars unless they have gotten old
The new M4 CSL isn’t bad per se, it just doesn’t have the design style that’ll make it a classic… the E46 lines (and performance) are timeless…
Hagerty picking up Catchpole is the best move since picking up Budget Adam Sandler and Hyphen
Budget Adam Sandler 😂 That one will stick 😆
@@madcoyote Best part is that he gave himself that name too
Budget Adam Sandler will start to look real pale next to Catchpole, real quick.
But I guess he’s better suited to US audience.
@@drazenbudis7881 Henry seems pale next to Jason. Henry is still entertaining, but he still feels like a journalist, so it still feels like every other auto journalist. Jason on the other hand feels like a genuine car enthusiast first and a journalist second.
@@whatiwant8898 way too shouty and flashy for my taste
Ya ya ya the E46 CSL was pure magic back then, and still is 💪🏻💪🏻
And it wasn't... it's magic rn, but back then it was a stupid idea that looked great.
@ keeping up with the 911 and 360 surely was magic. And it still is now.
Mmmmm. But the gearbox was rubbish and slow now compared to lots of other new mainstream stuff. Brakes were awful too
Just seeing his facial expressions while in the E46 csl is enough to tell you how great it is.
The whole time Henry was driving the E46 M3 CSL, I was just smiling like a massive idiot. What an insane and brilliant car!
Yep, another great review - Hagerty + Catchpole doesn’t miss.
That M3 CSL is just beautiful and only gets better with time. I would’ve loved to see the CSL treatment done to the last-gen M2 CS. Would’ve been closer to the true successor, and silver without the stripes would’ve been perfect.
F87 M2 CSL Would’ve been the perfect modern M car
@@TryingtoLookatLife yep, exactly
The BMW M2 CSL actually exists. But in prototype form only.
@@pokest225 ahh - just saw the R&T article on it and actually remember seeing the Top Gear video on it. A limited run as a send-off to the F87 would’ve been perfect, though I don’t love the spoiler design in the prototype.
1:47 the 550 Marinello isn't called "lightweight", and no one complains about it's handling because it's presumed that it should handle like a luxury-sport car, not a lightweight sports car.
@Ouchwitz Summer Camp LLC so what if it’s a v12 it’s slower than the CSL now
@Ouchwitz Summer Camp LLC if that’s the case then bmw has made the best v12 for mclaren f1
@@kunalmore5212 let's not forget the F1 was ACTUALLY light-weight
@@kunalmore5212 yes, if BMW didn't build the best V12 for Gordon Murray, he would've had someone else do it.
@@kunalmore5212 That's not the point. V12 is heavier. Also 550 is covered in leather. Comparing a "lightweight" sportscar to a luxury GT boat is stupid.
20 years ago reviewers castigated the M3 CSL for terrible brakes and a shoddy gearbox. Now they all love it. Definitely looks amazing and the engine is a gem but it's so funny how perceptions get altered over time! Also, these days it's seriously hard to make a 1400kg coupe with safety regulations as they are. Great review, I think the M4 CSL will age well and have a similar following over time because every reviewer driving it seems to be grinning manically. I'd be interested to hear Henry's thoughts on it with Cup 2R tires on a dry track.....
have u seen Clarkson's review of the E46?
@@mistreku yep, and I just rewatched it after you mentioned it. If you gave Clarkson a white car he'd claim it's black.....lol. Yes I know people really liked it but there was a lot of complaining about gearboxes and brakes all the same. Funny to also see the exact same "is it as good as a GT3" conversation at the end, its like 20 year old deja vu.
He even mentioned how the brakes were bad and the gearbox is not good. I agree with contemporary reviews.
That’s because modern cars today are so bad….we have to fall back to better engineering times.
@@Tracertme modern cars have to be built to a different safety standard than cars of yore. Which car would you rather be in when you get in a car crash? People really think engineers can't design cars like those from a few decades ago if the non performance requirements are the same.
As someone who lives and drives in the UK, the biggets issue with the M4 CSL (and the M4) is not their mass but their width and size. The sort of roads that these days you can actually have fun on are mostly far to narrow and tight for cars of this size and this performance. Whilst the old E46 M3 was never a small machine as judged against its peers of the time, it certainly was just about small enough to offer more fun, more of the time......
I remember ripping the E46 M3 CSL around the Hockenheimring with my dad. What a great memory and what a car. To me one of the most special BMWs ever built. Can’t compare the new G82 to it.
I enjoyed watching this clip and owning an E46 M3 CSL myself it was very nice to see both old and new being presented. BTW, next year the E46 M3 CSL will turn 20 years old! In the automotive world a big gap technology wise. In my humble opinion that makes the E46 CSL oh so much more special, not to mention the glorious intake sound. Nonetheless BMW M did a great job with it's newer brother.
They did a horrible job. It’s not special enough. It’s heavy and ugly. Also why don’t they honor the Batmobile? Have two version one that’s more Street focused the other track? No I don’t care about the GTS. Why don’t they make a very special bmw?
There’s room for a M2 CSL next year then.
Oh, it IS so much more special, no question about it!
Take good care of it, because we literally will never get a car like that ever again.
I wish you many more years of fun with it, because after all, old BMW´s want to be moved or they´ll start to get cranky. 😉👍
@@Schmitzelhaus Rest assured, it is being well taken care of and gets to breath heavily on yearly occasions.
@@Leos-World That´s what i like to hear!
All the best and have a good one. 😁👌
would love to see a head to head test of g82 CSL vs guila GTAm
Very interesting, having owned a M3 CSL and now owning the M4 CSL. I sold the M3 CSL after a while as the SMG gearbox was so frustrating and the seats were terrible (Uncomfortable). I bought another E46 M3 manual and copied all the good CSL bits with the addition of brakes that worked, it was a great car. The M4 CSL is a weapon, mines on CUP 2 R's and has the fixed back bucket seats (Even better than the 918 Buckets in my GT3). In the dry it's sensational. The wet is hilarious with so little traction, I've never had as much fun driving well under the speed limit!
Congratulations!
Why are you on youtube ?
How did you source the CSL parts?
@@Eren-da-Jaeger everyone likes watching a video or two
@@CarCrazy24 with lots of money
Nothing beats an e46 M3 CSL for looks, it still has to be one of the best proportioned cars ever made.
There is no BMW M3/M4 CSL better than BMW M3 e46 CSL!Design/ lightweyght/ the look of the car ! The BMW M3 e46 CSL is the ultimate legandary machine for the road !The ultimate BMW to drive on road!
E46 CSL is one of the best-looking cars ever! All these years later and it still looks great! 😍
Henry you’re review of the new CSL is not blinded by the overall weight, which seems to dominate everyone elses opinion. But the M3 CSL is still the one I’d have sans automated gearbox as you eluded too.
These videos are like a masterclass in car review videos. Amazing work. 👏
The funny part about all the comparisons he provided for "heavy cars" is that A. They're all too heavy and B. They're all GT cars with sporting intentions. They, unlike the CSL, are comfort oriented first, speed second. Additionally, I always find these "lightweight" cars have weight pulled out in the wrong places-- They pulled 100kg out, but they could've removed more. Why does a lightweight car have AC, a giant LCD screen system, power seats and an automatic gearbox? All of that could've been removed and then optionally added back in. (Like the power seats I put on the list).
Its a CSL not a GTS
And yet the CSL only came with automatic and no one complains about it.
Aston's F1 Vantage is meant to be a car that can be used as a track car (i.e. compete with a GT3)
@@josephsu95 That's not an excuse. The L part of CSL is "Lightweight". It's not a GT car, it's an enthusiast's M4 for more hardcore drivers.
@@Corvolet5 I do and it's annoying. The e46 had a shitty SMG gearbox and this CSL has a slushbox.
Henry Catchpole... Glad to 👀 you here mate! Awesome review 💯💯💯💯
Good to see you ib!
Henry is just the best on the internets now. Fabulous video
BMW ///M Fanboy here. I like the previous generations better even though this is much faster.
To each their own.
I hope everyone is having a great day. Happiness and Wealth to you all.
The production quality of this channel is unbelievable and unimaginable. I am always excited to watch their videos
I did watch this for the e46, more than the M4. Yet again, an amazing film. This crew do it the best. Thanks
The sound that the E46 makes is unlike anything else on the road.
Reminds me of the Mclaren F1, which is about the best thing to sound like.
One of the most beautiful sounds of all time. That and an Integra Type R. RIP fun motoring for the masses.
Sounds like a fart can honda from the back. Truly horrible. That induction though...incredible.
Thanks for telling it straight! The smile on your face driving the e46 said all.
Am 44yrs Old,& Iv Been A BMW Fan So Far,I Do Love The Old Designs (Except The Bangle Era).I Do Believe & Know Change Is Always Constant & Iv Accepted It,Hence Iv Grown To Warm Up To The Current BMW Design Language & I Must Say Am Loving It!
I was owner of e46 CSL and for me sound is way better than M4 CSL. I know it's fast but I think driving M3 CSL is more fun?
Supercharge the m3 and then see where we at
Great video and stunning cinematography as usual. You never know, but I think it's a safe bet that the E46 will forever be the most desirable CSL and possibly BMW there ever will be.
Henry's production team is just getting more and more epic....
Well done, Henry! The E46 is stunning in every way.
So glad to see Henry Catchpole here on Hagerty !! he truly is in a league of his own when it comes to setting up a scene appropriate to whatever car he's reviewing , he distills so calmly the essence of what we all find so alluring about car life. It's never just about the car, it's the whole narrative . I for one would love to see Hagerty separate themselves from the rest of the pack and end all drag race videos/comparisons . These were relevant and charming back when 450hp cars were new and considered other worldly , but with the power available today, does it really even matter ? Regardless great stuff Hagerty !
How is that their videos don’t have millions of views!? The production level is brutal 🔥 best car reviewers out there.
I was thinking, wow this M4 CSL is good despite that nose. AND then you brought in M3 CSL and I said, that is even a better car despite 20 years old and had a tear in my eye.
Draw your tearz
As an E46 M3 owner coming on 8 years now with the carbon aribox, the sound of that induction is what makes it all worthwhile and it only gets more dramatic as the revs climb to 8300rpm.
Henry mentions that the E46 CSL has a thinner exhaust too, to clarify for accuracy, the CSL has a thinner exhaust manifold, but the rest of the exhaust is the same as a normal E46 M3. The backbox for example remains the same 25KG stainless steel part. 2005 and 2006 model E46 M3s had the CSL manifold as well, which is why they sound a bit more meaty from the factory.
Nothing will beat the E46 M3 CSL period. Look at him smiling...
With the current C63 going 4 popper I’m lovin that BMW stuck to straight 6
It's a matter of time BMW do the same
Watching Henry unable to wipe that smile and giggle off his face driving the E46 and then in comparison watching him drive the G82 pretty much tells me the E46 was and still is the better car
That E46 shape has just aged fantastically
Brillant video Mr. Catchpole. It is a shame that we won't be getting hybrids with an NA engine. Cruise silently around the city, and have fun in the country. I don't need 600 or more hp from turbo hybrids, I just want more emotion without the guilt.
Amazing to see this comparison and what a production, I always look for an automotive journalists body language and smile when they drive an E46 M3 CSL, it truly is such a special car. Modern times and limitations mean that nothing will get close to evoking such a response IMHO, it is great to see the increased appreciation of how special the M3 CSL was, it is ageing very well, 20 years young next year!!!!
Except the gearbox, that was special too but not in a good way
Catchpole, my man, you've done it again! Superb.
In terms of design its like comparing Mona Lisa to McDonalds menu. E46 is just timeless piece of art that the new car simply cannot ever hope to match.
Love the detailed comparisons Henry Catchpole made here.
The M2CS is the best modern M car for me
Subscribed to this channel for Henry's brilliance and I'm not dissapointed!
Yep, another great review - Hagerty + Catchpole doesn’t miss.
His facial expression in each car is all you need to know from this video
Absolutely the very best car 'films' on the web. Henry you rule mate.
Awesome shots, especially the drone loop transition.
Thanks very much 😉
There’s been so much video shot and words written about this car, and I’m sure they’re all right, it’s a great car. But there is no way in this or any other life I’d spend that amount of money on an M4 over an M5CS, or a Porsche GTS for that matter. BMW marketing and accounting have lost their minds!
They’re all sold, globally, and currently going for £100k over list. I think BMW know their market, plus it’s a car you own “as well as” not “instead of”.
@@MOTOMAD555 Limited edition cars will sell out regardless. I don't think that is a fair indication of how BMW know their market. And like you said, because it is a car you own "as well as", most owners, maybe even including yourself, treat that car as much a collectible as a fun car, maybe even more of a collectible than a fun car.
Nah they know what they’re doing lol
11:14 what a legend the camera operator is...
E46 is and will also be one of the best style coupe cars I like the new m4 and m3 styling unlike many but everyone wants everything can’t have all the tech, safety, power top performance parts and have it super lightweight you either have a stripped out track car that’s lightweight or you have a super sport cars coupe that’s just heavier than previous I think it’s a great car and can’t wait to see one in the flesh great review as always Henry always smashes it 🎉
GREAT Drone footage and editing on this!@
I would take E46 CSL over G82 CSL every time. What a great car.
Jesus Christ, your drone shots of the Welsh hillsides are breath-taking. I paused more often than I should have.
What a Beautiful video, cant wait to get mine. Just got rid of my M4 to get into an E46 M3
E46 CSL one of the best looking cars ever made
BMW will never make a car better than the E46. I’ve had the privilege of owning and driving nearly every 3-series from the E30 onwards and I can honestly say the E46 is the best blend of road car with track-capable performance ever made.
Trust me, you can hear the thump on a manual e46 m3 too.
That getrag box is very agricultural, whether you're shifting it, or the hydraulics are.
I wish I would have kept my e46 m3! Sold it 12 years ago and regretted it ever sense! 😩
The old one makes the new one look like a bang-for-your-buck style American muscle car..
This is by far the best m4csl review and I must say It was done justice, no weight nonsense whatsoever I guess whats left to say is Happy birthday
This is an amazing car don't get me wrong, but above and beyond the lightweight savings, I think the CSL badge represents BMW truly showing off what they're capable of and this M4 CSL doesn't capture that I don't think. The E46 CSL was three seconds off of a 911 996 GT3RS on the nurburgring when it was released, which at the time was unbelievable because the normal E46 from which it was based was simply a sports coupe for everyday. It truly was a world beater, representing BMW at its very best, not holding back in the pursuit for the pure driving pleasure. An M4xDrive with a remap and those lightweight seats, could probably feel the same way this CSL does in 90% of driving situations. And simply, it just isn't that world beater. A 992 GT3, let alone an RS, will run rings around this on track. BMW could've gone all out, but probably held back for that special edition CSL hommage, and I think that's the biggest issue of giving this M4 the CSL nomenclature.
The e46 introduction just gave me goosebumps!
Hilarious that the number plates over the grill actually improves the look of the front of the car by breaking up the bucktooth grill.
Considering that's the way they look in the country they're designed in, I'm sure the designers realized that.
Long live the e46 M and the L322 Autobiography. Best of both worlds in my garage.
The new CSL is absolutely worthy of the badge. It's the first time in a while that an M4 can actually keep up with a GT3, despite its fairly heavy weight. Hell, it even gives other supercars a run for its money with those Cup 2 R tires.
And let's be real, the only reason the old CSL was just as fast or faster than the GT3 of the time is because Porsche didn't care much about laptimes yet. Also it came out in 2003 where the 997 was almost out. It's just a matter of tires at this point.
it is significantly slower than the gt3
@@baron_xd4633 Dunnville and Val de Vienne disagree with you. Also literally any drag race.
Lol
Brilliant video the way you put across the emotional experience of driving cars like the M3CSL make you want go right out and buy one!!!
They should of made the M2 csl instead. It's much closer in dynamics then the M4
Should HAVE.....
The brake critique is really kind of silly. I’m no mechanic but swapping the pads for track pads solves ALL of the braking concerns on the track and can be done very easily.
Fantastic video as always. Does anyone know where this was filmed? (The road shots I mean not the track) it looks stunning.
the sheer enjoyment you see while he is in the e46m, compared to the cost difference.
Comparing the sound of those 2 is like comparing how a two stroke and a four stroke engine sounds. Amazing.
Another great video from Henry. Another great catch by Hagerty.
The E46 M3 will forever be my favorite M car.
Even Henry has a genuine smile in the older E46. Will take the older car everytime!
we all can see that he cannot hide his big smile while he is driving e46 csl.
What the new canot compet with, is the sheer sound track of this e46 csl. Damn it sounds cool.
Great film Henry! Thank you
E46 is so good looking. Me thinks that the M in M division has long since shifted from Motorsports to Marketing. Where as they used to be Engineer driven side projects, now M cars are just there to keep up the image that BMWs are Ultimate Driving Machines. They exist to get RUclips views so that people go into the dealership and buy that diesel X1. I'm not saying this is bad, it's a fair trade, but I wish they could find a way to put the heart back in as well as all the clinical marketing horsepowers.
It's crazy how they went from e46 m3 csl to this.
As a 16-14 and 22-M4 comp owner and someone who was super excited for the CSL, I can't denied that I was a bit disappointed with the final product but I have to blame myself for that because I wanted to compare this M4 CSL to a Porsche something that BMW will never be able to achive in terms of engineering and final product. Still this M4 is great but the price does not justify the small performance gains, yes they are using a mass producing platform but thats their fault not ours, either way I would have been comfortable paying 120k USD but not the ridiculous price tag + over msrp charges from the dealers, you can justify paying 170k plus another 25k for a new GT3 I don't think you can say the same about a BMW M4 CSL + the dumb 50k over MSRP most dealers were asking...
I'm not for nostalgia but I'm all pro fun. That's why I love the 1st gen Twingo. 700kgs, just adjust the fuel pump to go from 55 to 85 hp and you have all the fun you can have on a twisty road
I'm never getting used to Catchpole on Hagerty 😕
The auto box in the new one definitely prefers shifting early, you get a nice wave of torque and acceleration between/through gears if you do. If you wring it out shifts are slower with a noticeable lull in power.
BMW just pushes all the torque out early as possible by not limiting boost at lower RPMs. They could limit torque by slowly ramping up boost as you rev the engine to give a more linear feel like the new Z.
My Mini JCW GP3 is the same way but that has an Aisin 8 speed, if I shift well before redline it shifts hard/crisp and like your say has incredible acceleration between shifts but if I redline it, there is a soft limiter and the shift is not strong. Very strange stuff, I think it has something to do with the fluid pressures in the torque converter transmission being higher while at peak power, my Mini seems to lose steam at redline, so there is less torque at redline than if you shift before during peak torque.
@@cybercityoedo808 got you! That would make sense. Thanks.
I would take an E46 csl all day over that. Who cares about the times, the power, the price tag. All I care about is that sound and old school BMW bodylines that haven't been matched since
Nice review. that E46 CSL must be a nice piece of car! Enjoying lightness in my GR.
The elephant (and by "elephant," I mean "giant prehistoric beaver") in the room is of course that absolutely ghastly front end. This car has otherwise nice enough lines, but the front is deal-breaking ugly.
And sure, a 550 Maranello is heavier...but a 550 Maranello is also beautiful (and has the correct number of pedals on the floor).
I have a manual E46 M3 in silver grey with the csl wheels too, and it’s getting more beautiful visibly and to drive year on year.
Dear BMW M Division, settle down with the massive grills 🙏
A couple facts
You can still order a new E46 CSL engine at your local BMW shop. It's built to order so be aware it takes like a year.
The 6-speed SMG is also an ZF(like the 8HP in the new one), made in the same factory as the PDK nowadays.
The 7-speed from M5 and M6 is from Getrag.
The 10 speed is from Honda
E46 is the best one. I think weight is the most important figure to limit for future cars. Less is more. I think any passenger car should be below 1500kg and 145cm of height, comfort, luxury and safety weight a lot and make a car less efficient.
Most cars would be better if they were lighter, but then what do you remove? Ignoring SUVs where removing the car entirely would be ideal, for a large luxury saloon it's fine to weigh 1800-2000kg as the bits causing that weight are worth having.
Cars that heavy can still handle much better than lighter cars too- an L10 GS450h or the current gen Panamera are 1845kg and >2000kg respectively, yet their handling is even better than many hot hatches, let alone normal cars. Picking those because a) I've driven them recently (plus about 8 hot hatches this year to compare!) and b) in their hybrid form, they can both be more efficient than the hot hatches too.
I agree with your sentiment in general, it's just not as simple as picking a proprietary max weight for cars. Less weight is good. More safety equipment, luxury, comfort and space are also good. Sadly those things generally conflict- I daily a 1325kg sports car and it's great, but it's be even greater with an extra 25kg of sound insulation in the right places, the big tyres are noisy and that gets boring, although the engine sound never gets boring!
The e46 generation of the 3 series has always captivated me
@2:20 none of those are branded lightweight though! Light weight these days in a high end car is a McLaren or GT3.
This car is built from a 4 series up. The Alfa Guila range is built from the QV version down
This is the problem with the g82 CSL...its 140k...for that price you're in a whole new bracket of cars its gonna compete with. I don't think id be wrong saying most of the owners of the CSL wouldn't even be taking it on track.
But personally M has lost it for me, the weight, the size of these new cars just isn't something that works for me. M kinda lost it after the e9x generation, NA and linear power delivery is something that not many can appreciate. The spikey torque and messy electric steering in the f8x and newer gens just don't feel right IMO. (not that Electic power steering can't be good, ex Porsche)
From what I understand, Most of the weight savings are from lighter wheels, and suspension and some creature comforts in the car. Those are hellishly easy to make up in a standard G82, even if its doesn't have the "CSL" badge. Besides the point, it is a "cool car" just very strayed off...and stupidly expensive. from what I see an M car as.
Fantastic Video By Hagerty per usual
Most positive review I have seen for this car.
It's official, I no longer dislike the grille.
Sorry to hear that you lost your sight in an unfortunate accident. I can only assume that's what's happened anyway, since nobody would like that grille unless they've lost either their sight or their mind 😂