BMW E46 M3 CSL - CONVERTED TO MANUAL! | Carfection 4K

Henry Catchpole drives a manual converted M3 CSL and talks to the guys behind it. Should it have always left the factory this way?
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[@Carfection]

Do you think putting a manual gearbox in this legendary car was a good idea?

[@engared]

Yes.

[@parid.kushta]

Made for each-other.

[@Chappers158]

definitely.

[@MrBirgerB]

I would prefer a modern double clutch automatic.

[@bouzoukiaforever]

This is how this car should have been in the first place. Changing it now though, will have an impact in its collectible value.

[@michaelsummerell8618]

Made by a British bloke, in a shed, with a cup of tea. Classic.

[@bend1483]

Converting a CSL to manual Step 1: Put the kettle on.

[@akilh340]

*BAD OBSESSION MOTORSPORT INTENSIFIES*

[@drpdrp5690]

Recipe for every British sports car

[@after_midnight9592]

How many German engineering hours were wasted on the SMG2, where they could just do this...

[@strangeperson700]

​@@after_midnight9592 And money wasted replacing expensive transmissions instead of doing simpler, cheaper clutch jobs.

[@FAT8893]

This is what the E46 M3 CSL should have been in the first place! Enough said.

[@aaa84gt]

Imagine if they had 6 speeds from factory, they all would be worth 200.000 Euro now

[@cagf2013]

Agreed!

[@kaylanchetty8481]

What an epic conversion. The CSL is a masterpiece

[@that.guy11]

A 142,000 mile E46 M3 CSL, that's proper. Forget all the ones locked in collections with 3,000 miles on them, this is the best one!

[@brianjackson7499]

thatguy11 It’s exactly how cars should be owned, more miles adds to the story 👍

[@user-ec6kt2fg7m]

That car looks so happy after being converted to Manual.

[@nasirshal7633]

😂😂😂

[@geo745don]

Hell yeah like aTranny post OP

[@seymorebutts2478]

Had No idea the CSL never had a manual option. Looks like you couldn’t have got a better guy to put a manual in it. Amazing work and nice story carfection.

[@anotae]

American version.

[@williamgson4055]

@@anotae America never got the CSL so no, you're wrong

[@HalJurgensen]

SMG = faster than any human can shift a gear. That's why the system was installed in the CSL. Putting a manual on it would be handicapping it for its famed Nurburgring time.

[@prjx5718]

@@HalJurgensen Ever drove one? You'll notice the SMG system sucks dick. Gear changes become 'choppy', it's bearable.. But, i'm gonna be slapping a manual in mine too.

[@terlaluanjay]

i was shocked when i researched recently about the csl, that it never came with a manual. i always thought that the csl is manual only

[@nothinghere7391]

The perfect BMW doesn't exist, it can't hurt you. This M3:

[@AllanteGrissom]

This M3: Hold my transmission

[@SebZoso]

Hold my catchcan

[@nvrfear_]

Hold my subframe

[@petardenchev75]

With manual gearbox, this car can age with dignity. I think this conversion is a brilliant idea.

[@slushyslushslushbruh]

And age like wine.

[@husein425]

Dont forget, the CSL is the lighter than a normal M3, but after that conversion it is a lot more lighter, which means more fun :D Best conversion ever done nice job.

[@BMC029]

6MT & a 4.1 diff on a CSL, I’ll have a cup of tea as well. Stay safe everyone 🍵

[@ninjaxkai]

No one in their right mind would take the smg over a manual. If they made a manual csl, all the smg versions would not hold value

[@stithis]

It's all personal preference. If you want the fastest version get the smg..just like any modern day sports cars nowadays.

[@DECKSETTER_]

@@stithis Not so sure the SMG was actually faster. The small amount of time saved with shift changes probably isn't enough to offset the weight around a track. The 6 spd manual Camaro ss was actually faster than the 10 spd auto around a track

[@stithis]

@@DECKSETTER_ it takes 80 milliseconds to shift from gear to gear in s6 mode on CSL software smg...the f430 f1 paddle shift shifts in 150 milliseconds. This ain't a typical automatic transmission. What people forget is that the SMG is actually the same exact 6spd transmission as the manual optioned one, it's just one has a small hydraulic system to press the clutch for you in a split second. SMG is wayyy underappreciated. And it's sad to see it gone in this original CSL.

[@stithis]

@@DECKSETTER_ and it's only roughly about 18lbs heavier...

[@DECKSETTER_]

@@stithis I knew that there's almost no difference between the two. The problem is the SMG is prone to breaking, terrible to drive on the road, and not nearly as fun as a manual. Even a dual clutch or modern auto makes the SMG look bad. There's a reason people prefer the manual over SMG so heavily. If anything the swap added value to the car haha

[@993mike]

I think the conversion is perfect! Also, the benefit of a lower geared differential in these cars cannot be underestimated. It was the single best change I made to my old E46 M3, and it was one of the first things I did to my current E92 M3. It feels like you’ve added about 10-15% to the torque on these N/A M-car engines

[@ayrtonsenna6750]

Which ratio did you select on your e92 M3? 4.10? 4.44? I'm considering the same after the experience I had with my z3m and its 3. 64 diff 😉

[@moleBRUV]

Does it leave the engine sitting at higher RPM's at, say, 70-80mph?

[@TheImperfectGuy]

They become so much better when you stop caring about comfortably doing autobahn speeds

[@investmenttudor1659]

I love that the guy drive it and not just keep it as a garage queen

[@basithph8958]

The E46 M3 CSL with the manual gearbox is perfection Props to the owner for doing this swap🙌

[@THEWRAITH1409]

A year in and I´m still watching this once a week.

[@sveeny]

Doing exactly this has always been my dream. If I ever win the lottery I'm instantly buying a E46 CSL and a F360 Challenge Stradale and both convert them to manual.

[@Charlie-Charlot]

I would combine the two. Homemade M3 GTR

[@wassup404]

That CSL does sound a bit like the McLaren F1, love it!!

[@simonwright6163]

///M POWER

[@JelloTypeR]

The e36/46 3.2l ‘6 is essentially the McLaren F1 V12 cut in half. I had a e36 Evo with a Dave F induction kit. On full chat it sounded downright evil.

[@BMW-MPOWER81]

Chris Mcintosh i had also a 3.2 evo 321 hp The half of McLaren with The golden engine

[@toohottie001]

@@JelloTypeR It is nothing like. The F1 was a custom built thing,with a MASSIVE difference in valve clearance and headflow.

[@toohottie001]

@@JelloTypeR how the he'll is a straight 6 ANYTHING like V12?

[@Wallstreetavarice]

Never been a big BMW fan, but this car, with the manual and shorter final drive, is absolutely a dream car of mine. It's the perfect all around enthusiasts daily driver

[@akerr911]

As someone with a manual e46 m3 if I was to change it for a Csl I would have this done. Value is what someone is prepared to pay for it and for this reason I don’t think this would make this car less desirable then the smg. Put the two cars together at 35k I know which one I would walk away with!!!

[@AC-wl7ve]

no you wouldnt. you would drive it for a while and realize its still a fun transmission and save yourself the $5k for the swap that is going to knock $20k off the value of the car.

[@ArtVandelayOfficial]

@@AC-wl7ve 🤦‍♂️ no clue

[@AC-wl7ve]

@@ArtVandelayOfficial ive had an smg and i now have a manual. the manual is fun, but it is not better to the point i would mutilate a legendary csl to get it. i doubt you've ever driven an smg so you wont know that it is miles better than the reputation it has. i actually prefer it to the dct as it feels much more raw and analog.

[@ja2688]

@@AC-wl7ve Mate I've driven an SMG and it's a bag of wank it's gearbox you have to drive around to extract decent performance unlike a manual. It is slow dimwitted and whenever you change up gives you massive slap in the back which is just unnecessary. It is probably the very peak of the useless automatic gearboxes you got in the early 2000s. Unlike a manual wherein you can gear it to always be in the right gear right time and if you are good it's as smooth as butter. I also don't think the owner in this video is going to sell it anytime soon and it's value isn't going anywhere with near on 150k miles on the clock.

[@AC-wl7ve]

@@ja2688 you either drove it once and you had no idea how to drive it (took me probably a month before I was effortlessly smooth with it) or you drove one that was tired and on it’s way out the door ( I test drove one that was absolutely brutal.) mine was very good and i could easily extract more performance from the car than I could ever do myself with a stick. The gearbox on the manual isn’t the best either. It’s rubbery and does not like to be rushed. Regardless I love both.

[@diederikdemot2007]

lol nice to see darah again . he was a good chap helping our litle race team . very nice chap good humor

[@nismokali]

Now this is perfection! 😍 it would be cool to see someone swap a manual trans into an M4 GTS as well.

[@nazhif1]

My boss in my previous company actually imported a CSL from they UK to Malaysia to use as a daily.

[@marcellukacic5221]

Now that's BMW perfection.

[@Dreamcardriving]

The BMW M3 is near perfection the perfect track car! It's like Lebron James not the GOAT but the all round the Best Balanced player ever. That's the same for the likes of the BMW e46 M3!

[@s.i2898]

Dream Car Driving leborn is gunna cry when he sees this .

[@GetUpFalcon]

With that comment you've just established your IQ is in the single digits mate. LeBron James does not and has never played defence. That's half the fucking game! A formidable offensive player but not a particularly stylish one.

[@fchow8652]

I still enjoy remembering the M3 i had. Great conversion. May be one day I can afford the one plus the conversion. Will be on the My Wish List!

[@boydiedj3718]

Just wait till all those E60 M5 owners see this!! They will be queuing up !! (Great vid 👏🏻👏🏻)!

[@alwaystwoam]

E46 M3 might be one of the best proportion cars of all time. From every angle. It stands the test of time. We're talking about a 20 year old shape and it still looks fresh. Not a single awkward angle or curve.

[@alistairthompson2750]

One of the best induction/exhaust sounds ever

[@RickCT2000]

Loved the courage of the owner and the skill of the mechanical engineer. Great story and review.

[@Shakes23100]

Exactly what this machine needed!!

[@RussellMiddleton]

Love the thought, research, and production that goes into these videos. Many thanks.

[@lesflynn4455]

The sound is amazing. Love it.

[@robc1014]

I see carfection, i see the e46 M3 csl m/t!, i see henry. Perfection.

[@albertkang1052]

Really admire the passion. Wish my wife saw this...

[@Dan-wz9tr]

The diff tweak is simple yet sublime.......best modified E46 M3 I've seen.....factory spec upgraded.......love it

[@antburman]

Smashing entertainment and such easy going understatement from the engineers/ hobbyists. Thank you!

[@scottferguson1020]

I think the E46 M3 was the peak of sports saloons, and the M3 CSL was the cherry on top. Even though BMW didn’t fancy the idea of a manual option for the CSL, it should’ve been an option for customers. 🤔 Oh, one last thing: I do like the E30, E36 & the E92 but I think the E46 is the best all rounder. 👍

[@raymondnewbill5294]

But it's not a sports saloon.....

[@easyerc2226]

this is an amazing idea !! why BMW never did this i will never know. i still think this was the last proper m3

[@jmwsplatted]

Darragh has absolutely smashed it with this build! Well done dude, once again

[@user-yr9hp5sv9t]

Great insights to a legend Henry

[@SergeantMoetz]

Bigger problem than the conversion itself is actually finding a CSL for sale with that kind of mileage for a reasonable amount of money. Never seen or heard of one with more than 120k miles on it until now.

[@boostaholic7116]

Another brilliant vid Henry! The best M3 IMO and made more engaging to drive makes it even better! 👍

[@samcourt6228]

Very cool. Pretty sure I saw this at Caffeine & Machine last summer (there can’t be too many high mileage CSL’s converted to manual). Still one of my favourite M cars; it’s so pretty, well proportioned and makes a glorious noise.

[@georgecupac1202]

Your a real car enthusiast, love your work

[@Arif-jc3bu]

amazing work, dream comes true

[@hamidq9547]

Brilliant work! What a fantastic idea and great execution.

[@leightaylor806]

I'm feeling so sleepy, I looked at the title and thought it said: BMW M3 CSL Manual Conversation!!

[@davidthesky]

A timeless looking car. Perfection.

[@kaylanchetty8481]

Love this car. Epic conversion. Best M3 to date

[@dennisjack7684]

I like the way you explain driving any car ,keep up the good job ,you do your job in a way any one can understand even if they do not drive ,thanks.

[@nightnomad635]

Awesome conversion. Sounds like it’s a great drive and completed car

[@tepes141]

Fantastic job done! 👍

[@aml8997]

I've looked the CSL a few times to buy it but always been put off by the gearbox. Now I know, it won't be a problem anymore. Next time I get the chance, I will buy it.

[@idokwatcher2062]

People have been converting M3 SMG for a decade. With M3 CSL it was a question of value and originality, for most owners that car is an investment.

[@AC-wl7ve]

considering how rare the car is i wouldnt worry about the transmission. its still very good but it takes time to learn how to drive it properly. dont listen to people who have driven one for 10 minutes and tells you it sucks.

[@SmashGhost]

Men in sheds with cups of tea. Saving enthusiast cars one at a time.

[@technique275]

Brilliant work. All the best with your venture.

[@alexstrat4859]

Converting an M3 from SMG to Manual is been done for years.It is actually pretty easy, can retain the original gearbox with few modifications to the bellhousing, clutch assembly and coding.

[@stekarenhd6911]

The regular m3 manual is such a good car this just feels like so much effort for a tiny bit better of a car

[@roshanjay7]

Look at the Joy from 8:12 onwards, has anyone ever smiled like that from just changing gears in the robotised version?

[@William-Bill-Munny]

Now just put the steering wheel on the other side hahaha

[@oldsoulboy6483]

The manual box has made a great car even better

[@yott1950]

BMW E46 body style is timeless in it's beauty IMHO. I owned a 2002 330i for 13 years and was brokenhearted when I finally decided to sell it for a more practical vehicle for my old age.

[@nitramh24]

Great work guys!

[@dalelaushman8749]

David, Good for you! I had a 125K SMG e46 M3 ZCP in interlagos blue over black. I loved it, but was thinking about switching cars because I need more driving engagement and the SMG was also getting long in the tooth. A Clorado shoppe (BimmerHaus Performance) carefully converted my M3 to a manual and the car I own now was reborn, just like yours.

[@Detail_Den_UK]

Love love love this car. I’ve got a couple of big jobs that need doing on my manual M3, but I can’t wait to get those out of the way and start the fun stuff, including getting Darragh to change my diff. 👍🏼

[@jamesellison6154]

No doubt it affects the value from a collector point of view - but i can't think of a car where by this mod would be more popular, and perhaps that will be reflected in re-sale value in years to come, especially when people are longing for a real driving experience away from the disposable electrified box they've been forced into for the majority of the time.

[@swi01]

Actually, I believe this may prove otherwise. I think these guys will establish trend, which will shift the market perspective.

[@stuartd9741]

I would say it's been converted by professionals who know what they're doing. + With the lower ratio diff completes the package - makes the most of the engine/gearbox. I'd say compared to an original SMG M3 difference in price would be negligible. For the above reasons. End of the day personal preference.

[@mikehunt2040]

I've got a standard e46 M3 that I recently bought, I was only looking at a manual and only ever drove manual but after driving the SMG I ended up buying an SMG, just felt more of a beast and feels special with the flappy paddles. Beautiful cars & great fun to drive.

[@naimelouardighi31]

Now this is truly The Ultimate Driving Machine 👌🏻

[@marcuscopley131]

Always nice to see a British engineer with a cuppa,You know magic is going to happen.

[@angi733]

Love the owner's attitude to this :)

[@Jb001jb]

It’s good to know converting an SMG to manual is pretty straight forward. Let’s say you find a mint E46 M3 in your Dream spec, But it has SMG... now you can change it. Maybe ad a 3.5 stroker kit overhaul the subframes and you’re golden. 😀🤩

[@archie9026]

jb001 that’s what most of e46m3 enthusiasts used to always do here in California, many workshops are specialized in doing the swap...costs between $2.5-5k

[@armando_alves]

If you think they fucked up by doing this, you're wrong. This is perfection.

[@MrSuryapratim]

'Consider clicking on the bell icon. ... it really does help!' ... Damn right it does help... me!. Your videos constitute a true masterclass and I await them like an Irish waits for his whiskey .... Thank you for the exemplary content!

[@MrSlash00r]

Unicorn. Manual CSL will be remembered long into the future as one of those near perfect cars.

[@hakimdridah1711]

Dream car stuff right here... Love it!!!

[@africanotomotiv]

Well done Catchpole! Some more please?

[@SocksWithSandals]

A BMW SMG is one of those cars you end up mastering from temptation to expertise. At that point you wonder how much more you could wring out of it if it were manual.

[@JosephKotrieMonson]

Socks With Sandals Certainly for enjoyment a manual box wins but it is worth saying in the SMG 2’s defence that the reason it was chosen for the CSL was that the design brief was a quick lap (in this case of the Nordschleife). The engineers were concerned that the loss of time through manual changes would tip the laptime to over 8 minutes.

[@stithis]

Finally someone who understands the SMG. it was a matter of seconds between winning and loosing, thus why the SMG in the CSL is so special. Nothing wrong with manual but removing that piece of engineering that went into building this car to WIN, with the CSL software in the transmission which allow gear changes split seconds faster than a normal smg, allowing perfect rev changes during downshifting to prevent wheel locking during hard braking and cornering, it's kinda of missing the point to why the CSL was built in the first place.

[@JosephKotrieMonson]

Evol M3 thanks man. I am definitely also a fan of what Darragh has done here on the CSL box. He is a very good engineer. Ex-Mercedes F1 team, and he did a rebuild for me on my old E46. He’s not getting his hands on my CSL’s SMG 2 though! 😂

[@DriversSide]

Really happy to see more E46 M3 content! I have thought about selling mine before but come across the same predicament this owner has. I can’t think of a car that will match the amazing all around package the car is.

[@tgausb3065]

At last

[@arjun._.bbC6]

Aah yes, this is the beauty I am subscribed for.

[@kgmfer]

Amazing work

[@AllanteGrissom]

I love my e46, will never get rid of this car🚗🤗 great video as always. Cheers from Northridge CA USA !🇺🇸

[@i5toll]

"Bitte ein Bit" Aufkleber ist super :D

[@Chappers158]

i5toll danke

[@susheergovindaraj5842]

Awesome car, no more words to describe its beauty.

[@LCdrDerrick]

Some of the enthusiasts altered the weak brakes but not so much the SMG. In dual clutch times the thing seems to be really odd, but it was not that bad. At least it was light! The Porsche GT3 community is also lacking the joy of manually shifting, except for the little GT4, which is such a great car either. I'm in love with the CSL since a nice bloke from Luxemburg took me around the Nordschleife in his CSL, because my 320d edition was a pain in the a**. Imagine how fast and compfy this car is with that comparatively low power. The noise is one of the best in the history of street legal consumer cars, imho. A silky inline six with that 'dirty' croaky and amphoric exhaust note and then the induction/airbox noise as a goody on top! I love the car for the styling, for the usability, for the low bragging and show off potential and for beeing so reasonable, no V8 and rear spoiler madness. It's a free breathing family car and there are not that much free breathing cars anymore. Most of them are strangled by a air-mass sensor.

[@connorp1513]

Good on ya lads! Wanted something and got after it. Fair play!

[@dravde7325]

Me: Shut up and take my money Bank: Error Me: Time to sell my organs

[@raghavsundar8253]

Body: Error

[@arjun._.bbC6]

@@raghavsundar8253 Body _sees this M3 CSL_ : Yes please, we can work just fine without a kidney or two.....

[@miepmaster25]

you know you could just steal other people's organs and make way more money and get more bmws

[@abalakrishnan4152]

@@arjun._.bbC6 You can actually live with just one kidney just fine. You could become a kidney donor.

[@miepmaster25]

@Chaminda Thushara Ruwan Kasturi clever boy! Go buy some crypto right now

[@trebm3]

the car is now perfect

[@wtfchazpwnt]

Henry's perfect heel toe gave me goosebumps.

[@keiser3121]

Wow! best car manual!!! congratulations 👏

[@TheJoesmoe1987]

Just beautiful

[@Bmwguy2011]

Wow! As a true BMW fan, just seeing the profile photo of this car makes me salivate. It’s beautiful. This e40’s series has nearly perfect lines.

[@Houthiandtheblowfish]

JUST AMAZING

[@lupo10]

I drove a full race prepared CSL at Jonathan Palmer race school years ago, what a machine that was. If I’m honest, I don’t ever crave a flappy paddle gearbox but before I’ve even watched the video I’m thinking I was happy that I didn’t have to think about gear changes. It was frantic enough for me.

[@tiagocoelho7415]

Amazing video. This is the one for me. An M3 CSL on the garage for the weekends. I would need no more “super”car

[@DonFather]

awesome to see this.

[@ahmedp800]

Now, it is truly Perfect!

[@colburn888]

David meets Dara: "DID WE JUST MAKE THE PERFECT CAR!?"

[@tachtimewatches7122]

What a lovely swap!

[@derbyfioricy]

what a lovely car!

[@emanuelstanciu1205]

The most beautiful car!