M3 CSL vrs. M3 Strage Numbers
 

So the M3 CSL has 185 (440 pounds) kilos less weight at 17 extra horsepower. Car and Driver booked the standard US spec car with ten less then the euro version at 4.5 seconds 0-60 mph. Yet the M3 CSL, in all records i can find, hits it in 4.9 seconds. I don't quite understand this. The CSL even has better tires and more aggresive traction control. So less weight, more power, better tires, and better traction control = slower acceleration? The only thing i can possibly think of is gear ratio, about which BMW publishes no CSL specific data. Since there is little talk about any major transmission difference, i can only assume they are running the same gears (unless someone here informs me otherwise) So how can the CSL, with all its advantages (and extra cost) accelerate nearly half as second SLOWER than the standard model? someone PLEASE help me!

Thanks, Robert :)

2004 BMW M3 coupe 0-60 mph in 4.8 sec (tested by BMW USA)
2002 BMW M3 coupe 0-100 km/h in 5.2 sec (released by BMW AG)
2003 BMW M3 CSL 0-100 km/h in 4.9 sec (BMW AG)
btw, both CSL and the M3 have different gear ratios

2004 M3 spec (US)
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2003 M3 CSL spec (Germany)
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I still can't see any gear ratios. But that torque curve for the CSL is the most beautiful thing i've seen in a long, long time :)

click here for the CSL's gear ratios

and here for the M3's gear ratios

The standard M3 had 19 or 18 rims? It' important because 19 rims affect acceleration, but they give better performances in the corners.
The CLS has as standard 19 rims

you have also to think that for the tyres of the csl to "work" have to be i the right temperature...by the way i am not sure but csl has the smg2 which is the same you can put at the standard m3 as extra.

You can't just look to the 0-60 numbers. You have to look to the handling, top speed, torque, etc. Cars aren't just about acceleration. But it is strange, though... :?:

Car and Driver always haves other results than the magazines or tv-shows, so, I wouldn't rely on their judgement at all.

Yes I know that the normal M3 has 18 rims and 19 as optional, but the car was thested with 18 or 19?

I also noticed that in Car and Driver tests cars perform a bit better than in other.
They also never saying anything bad about any car :?
Don't trust them .

no, its true as it gets. The CSL is slower to 60 than the US M3 and the standard Euro M3 is slower also. It was that way even back in the days of the E30 M3 when they were the same HP.

The reason is the differential. The Euro cars would get a 3.25 diff while the US one would get a 4.10 diff. The same still applies...

Why? Because there is no highway where its legal to cruise at 150mph at any time whereas germany has the oh so revered Autobahn....

probably those stupid tyres u get with a csl need a good burnout to warm them up

i wouldn't call them so stupid....they practically are racing slicks...

That was a very good explanation. It had to be the gearing, but I couldn't come up with such a good reason for i to be that way.

Thanks