BMW 3.0 CSL is one of the most exclusive modern BMW M special models. It was created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of BMW M GmbH and brought the legendary CSL name back into the present as a highly limited, largely hand-built small-series model. The car was introduced in 2022 and was a symbolic model for BMW M: a tribute to the original BMW 3.0 CSL of the 1970s, while also demonstrating modern M technology and engineering.
CSL stands for Coupé, Sport, Lightweight, or in German Coupé, Sport, Leichtbau. In BMW history, this name is most strongly associated with the 1970s BMW 3.0 CSL, a lightweight, competition-oriented and highly successful touring car. The modern BMW 3.0 CSL took up this idea again: a two-door coupé, a pure driver-focused experience, manual transmission, rear-wheel drive and extensive use of lightweight construction.
Design and concept
In terms of design, the new BMW 3.0 CSL refers very directly to its historic predecessor. The long bonnet, wide wheel arches, powerful body, distinctive rear wing and classic BMW M-colour stripe graphics connect the car with the heritage of the 1970s “Batmobile”. At the same time, it is not simply a retro-styled model. The body details, air openings, aerodynamic additions and carbon-fibre elements were created to meet the needs of a modern high-performance M car.
The concept of the BMW 3.0 CSL focused on creating the purest and most direct possible M driving experience. It was not intended as an ordinary M4 special version, but as a separate limited small-series model combining historic CSL heritage with modern BMW M technology. Its character was emphasised by manual transmission, rear-wheel drive, lightweight construction and a very limited production number.
The interior continued the same purist and sporting idea. Instead of conventional rear seats, the rear area featured a storage compartment with spaces for helmets. The car received M Carbon full bucket seats, Alcantara trim, carbon-fibre details and a special white gearshift knob carrying the number 50 as a reference to the BMW M anniversary. Each car also featured individual numbering in the interior, emphasising its rarity.
Technology
Technically, the BMW 3.0 CSL was based on the modern M4 platform, but developed in a much more exclusive and purist direction. The car received a specially developed version of the 3.0-litre M TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder in-line engine, producing 412 kW, or 560 hp. BMW emphasised that it was the most powerful road-legal BMW M straight-six engine.
Power was sent only to the rear wheels, and the transmission was a 6-speed manual. This underlined the model’s classic and driver-focused character. At a time when many very high-performance cars were moving towards automatic transmissions and all-wheel drive, the BMW 3.0 CSL deliberately remained true to the idea of a rear-wheel-drive sports coupé with a manual gearbox.
Lightweight construction was one of the central themes of the BMW 3.0 CSL. The car made extensive use of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic, or CFRP. Carbon fibre was used for components including the roof, bonnet, boot lid, front and rear aprons, side sills, diffuser and parts of the rear wing. This connected modern material technology directly with the original meaning of the CSL name: reducing weight and making the driving experience as direct as possible.
Production
Production was exceptionally labour-intensive. The BMW 3.0 CSL was not an ordinary series-production M model, but a very limited small-series car. All 50 cars were individually numbered, and the production process involved a high proportion of manual work at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing’s external production site in Moosthenning, Lower Bavaria.
Carbon-fibre interior components were made by hand in Munich and at BMW Group’s Landshut component plant. Each car went through a complex assembly and quality-control process, underlining the model’s special status. The low production number, hand-built production and connection with BMW M’s anniversary make this model one of the most exclusive modern BMWs.
Significance in BMW history
The significance of the BMW 3.0 CSL lies in the way it brings together BMW M history and the modern era in a very concentrated form. It was not intended as a broad sales model or an everyday M4 special edition, but as a highly limited model aimed at collectors and BMW M enthusiasts.
Its manual transmission, rear-wheel drive, 560 hp straight-six engine, carbon-fibre body components and production run of only 50 cars make it one of the rarest and most special BMW M models of the 21st century. It is a model that does not only look towards the future, but very consciously connects itself with some of the most important historical symbols of BMW M.
For this reason, the BMW 3.0 CSL is much more than a modern special series. It is a symbol of BMW M’s anniversary year, bringing the CSL name back to its original meaning: a lightweight, driver-focused, racing-influenced sports coupé produced in very limited numbers.
Model in the collection
The model in my collection is produced by TSM-Models.
Technical data in brief
Production period: 2022–2023
Production location: Moosthenning / Dingolfing, Germany
Body style: two-door high-performance special model
Engine: 3.0-litre M TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder in-line engine
Power: 560 hp
Torque: 550 Nm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Drivetrain: rear-wheel drive
Body: extensive use of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic body components
Production number: 50 cars
Special feature: limited special model created for the 50th anniversary of BMW M, bringing back the CSL name with manual transmission, rear-wheel drive, lightweight construction and design references to the historic BMW 3.0
Background
BMW 3.0 CSL is one of the most exclusive modern BMW M special models. It was created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of BMW M GmbH and brought the legendary CSL name back into the present as a highly limited, largely hand-built small-series model. The car was introduced in 2022 and was a symbolic model for BMW M: a tribute to the original BMW 3.0 CSL of the 1970s, while also demonstrating modern M technology and engineering.
CSL stands for Coupé, Sport, Lightweight, or in German Coupé, Sport, Leichtbau. In BMW history, this name is most strongly associated with the 1970s BMW 3.0 CSL, a lightweight, competition-oriented and highly successful touring car. The modern BMW 3.0 CSL took up this idea again: a two-door coupé, a pure driver-focused experience, manual transmission, rear-wheel drive and extensive use of lightweight construction.
Design and concept
In terms of design, the new BMW 3.0 CSL refers very directly to its historic predecessor. The long bonnet, wide wheel arches, powerful body, distinctive rear wing and classic BMW M-colour stripe graphics connect the car with the heritage of the 1970s “Batmobile”. At the same time, it is not simply a retro-styled model. The body details, air openings, aerodynamic additions and carbon-fibre elements were created to meet the needs of a modern high-performance M car.
The concept of the BMW 3.0 CSL focused on creating the purest and most direct possible M driving experience. It was not intended as an ordinary M4 special version, but as a separate limited small-series model combining historic CSL heritage with modern BMW M technology. Its character was emphasised by manual transmission, rear-wheel drive, lightweight construction and a very limited production number.
The interior continued the same purist and sporting idea. Instead of conventional rear seats, the rear area featured a storage compartment with spaces for helmets. The car received M Carbon full bucket seats, Alcantara trim, carbon-fibre details and a special white gearshift knob carrying the number 50 as a reference to the BMW M anniversary. Each car also featured individual numbering in the interior, emphasising its rarity.
Technology
Technically, the BMW 3.0 CSL was based on the modern M4 platform, but developed in a much more exclusive and purist direction. The car received a specially developed version of the 3.0-litre M TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder in-line engine, producing 412 kW, or 560 hp. BMW emphasised that it was the most powerful road-legal BMW M straight-six engine.
Power was sent only to the rear wheels, and the transmission was a 6-speed manual. This underlined the model’s classic and driver-focused character. At a time when many very high-performance cars were moving towards automatic transmissions and all-wheel drive, the BMW 3.0 CSL deliberately remained true to the idea of a rear-wheel-drive sports coupé with a manual gearbox.
Lightweight construction was one of the central themes of the BMW 3.0 CSL. The car made extensive use of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic, or CFRP. Carbon fibre was used for components including the roof, bonnet, boot lid, front and rear aprons, side sills, diffuser and parts of the rear wing. This connected modern material technology directly with the original meaning of the CSL name: reducing weight and making the driving experience as direct as possible.
Production
Production was exceptionally labour-intensive. The BMW 3.0 CSL was not an ordinary series-production M model, but a very limited small-series car. All 50 cars were individually numbered, and the production process involved a high proportion of manual work at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing’s external production site in Moosthenning, Lower Bavaria.
Carbon-fibre interior components were made by hand in Munich and at BMW Group’s Landshut component plant. Each car went through a complex assembly and quality-control process, underlining the model’s special status. The low production number, hand-built production and connection with BMW M’s anniversary make this model one of the most exclusive modern BMWs.
Significance in BMW history
The significance of the BMW 3.0 CSL lies in the way it brings together BMW M history and the modern era in a very concentrated form. It was not intended as a broad sales model or an everyday M4 special edition, but as a highly limited model aimed at collectors and BMW M enthusiasts.
Its manual transmission, rear-wheel drive, 560 hp straight-six engine, carbon-fibre body components and production run of only 50 cars make it one of the rarest and most special BMW M models of the 21st century. It is a model that does not only look towards the future, but very consciously connects itself with some of the most important historical symbols of BMW M.
For this reason, the BMW 3.0 CSL is much more than a modern special series. It is a symbol of BMW M’s anniversary year, bringing the CSL name back to its original meaning: a lightweight, driver-focused, racing-influenced sports coupé produced in very limited numbers.
Model in the collection
The model in my collection is produced by TSM-Models.
Technical data in brief
Production period: 2022–2023
Production location: Moosthenning / Dingolfing, Germany
Body style: two-door high-performance special model
Engine: 3.0-litre M TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder in-line engine
Power: 560 hp
Torque: 550 Nm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Drivetrain: rear-wheel drive
Body: extensive use of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic body components
Production number: 50 cars
Special feature: limited special model created for the 50th anniversary of BMW M, bringing back the CSL name with manual transmission, rear-wheel drive, lightweight construction and design references to the historic BMW 3.0
Photo of the real car. Source: bmwblog.com