The BMW M3 has been a motoring icon for many years now. It's gone through quite a few evolutions across its varied generations, and each version finds a large crowd of enthusiasts that claim their favorite is the best version. Be it E30, E36, E46, and so on, each one has something to offer for anyone with a love of cars and driving enjoyment or merely anyone with a pulse. One of the greatest M3 models ever produced, however, is undoubtedly the 2003 M3 CSL.
Already a powerful performer, BMW took the E46 a few steps further when it introduced the CSL variant. The goal with this car was to reduce weight in order to push performance. Carbon fiber reinforced polymer was used throughout the body, the seats were swapped out for lighter-weight units, and the sound deadening was removed. The brakes were upgraded, as was the suspension, transmission, and even the engine.
The result was a BMW M3 that could lap the Nürburgring in under eight minutes, and then be driven home and parked lovingly in your garage. That is, if you could scoop up one of these ultra-rare beasts. Just under 1,400 examples were produced with approximately zero officially sold here in North America. Of course, a few slipped through the borders, and seeing one in the flesh is a wild treat.
A flock of BMW M3 CSL owners recently came together to celebrate the vehicles 10th birthday. In fact, 50 lucky CSL owners banded together to hang out and share their love of a fabulous machine. BMW put it on video, and it's worth a watch just for a few looks at the M3 CSL.
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