Video: Hillclimbing M3 CSL Crashes Violently

Though we Americans were never fortunate enough to get BMW’s lightweight, track-oriented E46 Coupe Sport Lightweight, we do get to witness what happens when owners find the sharpened M3’s handling a bit too much for them. With a hint of glee, the envious potential-owner can view this man’s raging hillclimb attempt go sour as he quickly forgets that his car is not a run-of-the-mill 3-series, and does take abuse so willingly.

The CSL was to the M3 what the GT3 was to the Carrera: lighter by 240 pounds, sharper, and more powerful with an additional 17 horsepower, which fill a cabin that obviously lacks sound deadening. The tweaked S54 received sharper cam profiles, a larger intake – which gives it a distinctive raspiness, and different exhaust valves. While the overall power bump might not be much, the modifications obviously change the responsiveness and the powerband of the motor, which surges with an urgency the standard car, zippy as it is, simply doesn’t have.

This is both a blessing and curse. Since the driver is not doing a wonderful job getting the car turned into the corner on this narrow, mountain road, the rear wheels are constantly struggling to let those ponies out of the gate, and the differential is certainly earning its keep as he stabs violently at the throttle. Initially, he gets away with that combination of an early turn in and a lack of patience, but eventually, his aggression is too much.

With that much countersteering on a narrow course, it's almost certainly over.

With that much countersteering on a narrow course, it’s almost certainly over.

The CSL being a stiffened, track-oriented car, is much less forgiving when the limit has been surpassed. As the video reaches its violent finale, the driver’s confidence seems to be peaking, and the entries to some of the corners are touch-and-go: turning in too early and scrubbing just enough speed off to avoid hitting something stationary. Some might recognize they’re tempting fate with that approach and back off. Some don’t.

As he exits the final corner, notice how much steering lock he still has on at the apex – and yet he’s matting the throttle with no consideration given the tires; beating the car. Thus, the car is being stretched beyond its limit, sliding at the front axle, and with a few bumps to unsettle the nervous rear end, a mild amount of push quickly becomes a bout of snap oversteer that fires the M3 into a wall violently, showing that a little patience goes a long way, especially when there’s no runoff area.

About the author

Tommy Parry

Tommy Parry has been racing and writing about racing cars for the past seven years. As an automotive enthusiast from a young age, he worked jobs revolving around cars throughout high school, and tried his hand on the race track on his 20th birthday. After winning his first outdoor kart race, Tommy began working as an apprentice mechanic to amateur racers in the Bay Area to sharpen his mechanical understanding. He has worked as a track day instructor and automotive writer since 2012, and continues to race karts, formula cars, sedans, and rally cars in the San Francisco region.
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