This is Where the BMW M3 Peaked? Ex Stig Explains

[@reide96]

"Who am I to express an opinion?" The Stig. *The* Stig. That's who. A living driving legend.

[@IvoTrausch]

Also a character who famously never expressed an opinion. Or anything else for that matter.

[@reide96]

Except all the times Jeremy stated the Stig's opinion on a car. Or noted "the Stig said he reckoned he could get another second off". Or etc ;)

[@54mgtf22]

Ben is a natural presenter. What a waste to have him silent for all those years on that old show. I’ll take the old CSL.

[@stephenjameson4787]

Ben Collins doing road tests is excellent. Perhaps Ben and Chris Harris should do their own show. Would be quite happy watching them race each other

[@MarkAiston-u8q]

Ben, Chris and Tiff. There you go.

[@Alex_S89]

That would be amazing

[@lewisjoseph9692]

They both live in Bristol too

[@Professor-Scientist]

Ben and Chris would be ultimate.

[@MzuksOwase20]

“They don’t make them like this anymore” that line lives rent free in my heads E90 series absolute favorite, E46 legendary timeless design in my opinion, anywho BMW groupie all the way

[@TheCloser1]

I felt like the e90s were really starting to show their weight. But I still agree, all the E series cars were amazing. I especially miss my e30s and e36 m cars…

[@TheCloser1]

Edit- all the E series cars “are” amazing

[@MzuksOwase20]

@@TheCloser1well said mate 🤙🏾 it’s hard to choose a specific one

[@mosmarb]

I've owned five BMWs, the E46 is still my favourite to this day.

[@gregs8685]

E92 is the best, followed by e46

[@ThePodcastPodcastOfficianato]

If you play the video on mute, it feels just like the stig is reviewing it. 😂

[@DanAutoUK]

😂

[@BullySmasher]

Took me a second. Bravo.

[@icebearg2072]

Just wondering what music track he would have chosen for the lap

[@DITACxLAWTON]

@@icebearg2072 The Archers on Radio 4

[@don_k20]

It wouldn't be the real Stig experience without the typical out-of-place music playing while he's driving.

[@CarObsession]

Ben is obviously a very, very good driver, but he's a fantastic presenter, so much so it kinda makes you think that him being The Stig for so many years wasn't fully utilising his talents.

[@fellowyou2ber]

Who would've thought I'd get to listen to the Stig waxing poetic about the joys of driving? You're right, Ben is as articulate a speaker as he is a driver.

[@auzziebridger]

Could you imagine had they let him have a 2-3 minute post lap segment to comment on how the car drove and what he liked or didn't like? Or what he was thinking through certain areas of his lap? Hardly any knocks on the top gear of yore but that would have been a welcome addition. Definitely glad he's on KZbin now

[@trombulan]

He watched every TopGear series....

[@richardgrant418]

Much better than the clowns

[@christianschuler3647]

Throw in a Rowan Atkinson perhaps…

[@CarCrazy24]

The E46 CSL is a top 10 car for me. I’ll never forget watching the Top Gear episode when this debuted, that carbon intake and that sound it creates is just incredible.

[@AC-wl7ve]

i got a karbonius airbox for my m3 and it is glorious. my car already had a fairly loud exhaust and its completely drowned up by induction noise now. its addicting.

[@MrSlowly63]

Loving Ben's conciseness. No long into or outro, just getting straight to the point. Though the CSL is clearly a special one of the cars of his TG era, I'd happily watch him re-reviewing every single car he drove back in the day and tell a little anecdote about it and what it was like reviewing it back in the day.

[@Professor-Scientist]

Yeah he is a pro

[@will24655]

These road tests with Ben Collins are better than anything topgear has released in the last 10 years.

[@bertanderny]

I do love Ben Collins, but Top Gear on KZbin has been on fire for quite a while now. Their presenters are fantastic.

[@JakeyBaby6]

​@bertanderny I will say Top Gear KZbin is an extension of the Magazine not the TV show. The magazine has always been consistently great as long as I can remember.

[@gary1991clark]

A point to note, the CSL did a 7.50 around the ring like 20 years ago. Tyres have changed alot in that time, I’d be very interested to see how fast it would do with a modern set of cup 2’s

[@Euphorica]

There were some amazing tires back then. They just didn't come stock on any cars of the time.

[@stevemyers2092]

you have a valid point, I did not consider new tire tech..

[@EBMproductions1]

Yes and with this manual gearbox and uprated breaks too.

[@OGR84]

The CSL came on cup 1’s, which were a stickier, quicker and more aggressive tyre than the cup 2 that replaced them - they replaced them to cup 2 due to safety issues in the wet and cold weather etc

[@lorddoobsworth144]

C6 Z06 Corvette 7:22 😎

[@augustasas8966]

Nice to see Ben on the chanell again.

[@Adam-M1]

Agreed

[@Tjescoo]

Chanell 👜

[@vinnie245]

Pretty much 1 of the main 3 hosts now that May seems to have left: Mike, Hammond and Ben Collins.

[@bran170]

This is peak m3, peak BMW and peak automotive... Doesn't get better then this...

[@Jallu555]

Gt3

[@robinclaidlaw]

This is a great video, but I really need to comment after hearing Ben saying that electric power steering doesn’t have an actual connection to the wheels. This is a fairly common misconception, and it isn’t the first time I’ve heard it in a big production value video on a KZbin. It absolutely does. You can easily have a dig around under a car that’s up on ramps to see that this is true. Both Hydraulic and electric power steering have a solid metal shaft connecting the steering wheel to the steering rack. The only difference is what is used to provide assistance and make the steering light enough for comfort at low speeds, either hydraulic pressure via a pump or an electric motor. If it didn’t have an actual steering column at all it would be classed as steer-by-wire and at the moment, that is still exceedingly rare, the only significant production vehicle I am aware of with that is the Cyber Truck.

[@CarMadElliot]

Thank you! I’m glad someone said this! True too.

[@flat6croc]

Ben is a great presenter, obviously a super driver and has a nice, laid back and non-ego driven charisma. But his car knowledge is actually pretty pants and he does rather come out with a lot of cliches and misapprehensions. Even with that, how he thinks there's no column and rack with EPS is still pretty surprising - such a basic error. He's very likeable, but you wouldn't watch him for his analysis.

[@Ganserndorf9411]

Glad you pointed it out. I was about to post the same point.

[@PurgatoryVLM]

Even to one of the most skilled drivers on the planet, that's what it feels like. Your logic isn't flawed however you're comparing a metaphor to a technicality.

[@TheCloser1]

So glad I lived in a time where I got to experience proper Top Gear. As bad as I miss it, glad to see y’all are still out here making enthusiast happy!

[@tomnewham1269]

I would definitely buy this manual CSL M3 over any other M3. Even though the modern M3's are faster, this in my opinion was peak BMW. In fact the modern M2 is more like the old M3 so I would actually pick a new M2 over a new M3.

[@m5pilot397]

And even the M2 is a pig. It’s 700 pounds heavier than a Cayman. The new M5 is 5400 pounds! The Touring is 5500, not surprisingly. All current BMWs are far too heavy, sadly.

[@spooksy1982]

BMW have fallen very far - as have most other car manufacturers to be fair. Nothing will compare to the analogue era. I owned a new F80 M3 and that was pretty boring to be honest.

[@EthanTurner61]

Still baffles me that you film all these driving videos right on my doorstep in South Wales, reminds me how lucky I am to live here as a car enthusiast, hopefully I actually spot one of you guys filming one day!

[@basilfabian05]

Really love the way the E46 looks. Timeless design 👌

[@nicolejune4282]

Ben's reviews are great! Glad to see him on the channel more.

[@OwainPreece-ie6bb]

Best generation BMW's this era. I still daily an e46 albeit a 330d touring, it is a manual though. Cant help but thinking Ben would have been a great presenter on Top Gear.

[@m5pilot397]

Yep. e38, e39, e46. Peak BMW.

[@Hostilenemy]

From wikipedia: "The boot floor cover was made of lightweight fibre-board (not cardboard as infamously described on the Top Gear television show)" You know what, let's keep calling it cardboard. It's funnier that way since it makes the German engineers grumble.

[@0Y02USH]

Some say, that he's now exploding with words and that DT has made the best decision of taking him in the channel All we know is, he's not *The Stig* (anymore), but he is *Ben Collins!!*

[@josephj807]

Yea

[@BullySmasher]

*Still the Stig.

[@robinhadley]

He's just making a cameo. He has his own channel and podcast. Plus still stunt driving for movies. Why would he want to join Drivetripe.

[@Mapa356]

Don’t forget sim racing

[@mrmonday42]

2:40 EPS racks are also connected to the wheels, it's just using an electric motor for assistance rather than hydraulic pressure.

[@BarneyGuffle]

Really liking Ben's presentation here. There's something really old school about his approach and brings me back to Tiff Needell's style.

[@josephkelly4893]

The steering on an sorted e46 is absolutely perfect, so lovely to see you playing in such an iconic vehicle Ben, love the video

[@thevolthead]

I had the watered down one, a 2006 M3 E46 CS. It was in limited Interlagos Blue and it was a beauty! I should have kept it, I bought it for £13,500 in 2011

[@MarkyFormula1]

Just had a look on AT. Blue 2005 CS £44k currently.

[@diogors6]

Loved that review and remids a lot the original CSL review at the show back in 2003 at the Island of Man.

[@dont_give_a_flying_f]

Great to see ben as part of the drive tribe team. Now we need a road trip. All of you picking cars from a specific category and going for a long drive for an extended length episode.

[@bryankotsch]

A true manual transmission makes almost every car more fun to drive. Of course, traffic and hills require more attention. But be one with the machine and drive! I don't know what watch Stig wears, but it looks great! Sorry, car and watch guy.

[@smnwnwrght]

Looks like it’s a Bremont Supermarine Descent II with the harbor blue rubber strap.

[@SuperEpeen]

More of this please! Fantastic review of a hidden gem from an expert. Thoroughly enjoyable and educational.

[@lockout5731]

most wanted fans rise up from 2005 would be great to see here

[@TheStigHCE09]

The Most Wanted car is even rarer, the M3 GTR

[@brianwong7285]

@@TheStigHCE09 A racing version specifically (the homologation version is in the Black Edition of the game.)

[@Superdada]

I remember it like it was yesterday when the E46 M3 CSL debuted. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It was indeed my ultimate dream car.

[@Armando-Mendoza87]

This is actual Top Gear

[@markdawson4625]

A proper driver driving a proper car!

[@SlimWhittman]

Seeing and hearing Ben like this makes me wish his character on Top Gear was a speaking role. He would have made a great fourth presenter.

[@DuckWhale]

Great video, nice sample at 3:55 from our video of the 996 GT3 through Ireland!

[@rockonthelough5417]

Also at 10:10

[@Gandalf606]

All we know is ... Ben is THE STIG. We need to see more of Ben. Brilliant presenter who really knows his stuff. Of course.

[@D3V1NF5]

I think most everyone would take the manual csl, the e46 is by far one of BMWs best looking, sounding and driving cars they ever made.

[@Boz23.]

It would be an honour for this man to drive and get the most out of my manual, Laguna seca M3. It is the standard option however it has been lightened slightly and is pushing 405 bhp (with a few mods) whilst still being N/A and is the most fun I’ve ever had in a car by a long shot

[@oppos727]

Not to discount the point Ben’s making at 2:45, but EPAS systems are still physically connected to steering racks in a similar fashion to hydraulically assisted pumps. The only power steering setups that are actually, literally disconnected are steer-by-wire setups. Again, the point still stands. EPAS setups are at a severe disadvantage when it comes to intuitive loading characteristics.

[@ForzaDriven]

Such a cool car. I used to work at a car wash back in the day and there was a customer who would bring his M3 to get it wan washed, I was lucky enough to wash it a couple times.

[@longtailgt]

All this video needs is some Air - Electronic Performers and M83 - Unrecorded playing in the background and you're set! I honestly think that that M3 CSL review on Top Gear was one of the best filmed and edited car review films they ever did on the show.

[@Slowster]

E46 M3 CSL for me. Pinnacle of BMW M cars !

[@peteryoung8548]

CSL every time, I owned one for 10 years did 50k miles in it but i'd want it as BMW intended and keep the SMG box

[@yhp99]

For $100k it would really depend. If i already have a daily, then I'd definitely do the CSL. Its a piece of automotive history that you can actually drive to the limit which is priceless. Not to mention the money spent would only appreciate over time.

[@LenorHPV18]

I’ll never have the chance to buy a m3 let alone a CSL, but I have my 325ci e46 that I’m building in the same vein as manual CSL. Lighter, more torsional rigidity, downforce, grip, and revving to 8500 RPM. And I’m aiming for a power to weight ratio as the standard e46 m3, which from a M54B25 naturally aspirated will be a challenge. I know ben Isn’t a fan of car mods but for some of us, it’s the closest we can get to the absolute poster child cars. As a kid I grew up in poverty and my next door neighbour had one of the first e46 coupes in the U.K. and I fell in love with it and it became a dream car of mine and now I get to live that dream every day. It’s parked right next to my back door and I can but smile every time I walk out my back door and see her.

[@amaurilol2]

Never say never. Took me 11 years to get my M3. But I eventually got there. Hope you make it too. ❤

[@elanoreward5179]

@@amaurilol2​​⁠​⁠​⁠I have the car I want, my 325ci is all ready lighter than and soon have more torsional rigidity than a CSL and same power to weight ratio as an M3 and able to rev to 9k RPM. So far ready to go on the car I have, Carbon GTR style bonnet, CSL roof skin, carbon style CSL boot lid, carbon M3 front wings, M3 6 speed manual gearbox, M3 throttle bodies, tubular manifold, Schrick 272/256 cams, updated valve springs.

[@xirisAB]

I hope Top Gear at least offered Ben a job after the big 3 left.. this guy's an absolute natural in front of the camera. It's always great to see Ben on the channel, I hope he becomes a more permanent member of the team.

[@oghl888]

Test drove one and was able to rotate the car after 2-3 min of getting used to it. Great control and great balance

[@davidsmith8157]

@2:50 - Technical error - Electric Power Assist is similar to Hydraulic Power Assist - there is still a mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the wheels. Steer by Wire is where you don't have a mechanical connection. There is no reason why EPS cannot rival HPS. Ideally from a packaging design point of view would be to embrace all controls by wire.

[@antoniop1968]

An E92 owner here who can appreciate the timeless beauty of the E46.

[@richuroythomas]

Darragh is an absolute legend for making this happen. Also, I think they changed their name from Everything M3s to Everything M Power

[@ianyeh75]

I salivate over the CSL every time I see one. I wish they had made more, and more importantly, that they were sold in North America. Thank you Ben for the thorough review.

[@ANTheWhizkid]

Him talking about cars giving a feedback is just enjoyable.

[@neyko_NE0]

I can watch Chris Harris and Ben Collins talking about cars for ages and I'll never get bored.

[@iankelleher5072]

More Ben please, he's a pleasure to listen to knows his stuff and engaging

[@chrisb9360]

That’s a nice Bremont Supermarine Descent II on Bens wrist by the looks of it. 😍

[@Revheadrev]

My fav M3 - and yep, I would swap the box out in a heartbeat as well. A man can dream…

[@ziofrenko]

A Z4 M coupé was enough: better aerodynamics, better chassis, better weight balance, shorter wheelbase and even slightly lighter than the CSL without having made any lightening...

[@chrisbradley3224]

Yes but the suspension and handling balance was not quite right as stock.

[@nfspeedy2]

0:50 to say the M3 CSL had 50% more downforce than the standard E46 M3 is hilarious because Auto Motor und Sport tested the M3 CSL to have 1Kg lift at the front and 10Kg lift at the rear at 200Km/h. That was OK back in the day because the standard E46 M3 had even more lift but no reason to speak of actual downforce.

[@samstergti9812]

Absolutely agree with the manual swap. Manual cars handle so much better, as Ben says, YOU have the control, not some dated ECU that cant think quick enough!

[@northernjimbo]

Have you driven a csl?

[@darrenjenkins6300]

Loved this! More of these please 🙌🏼

[@CustomcrowdMitroc]

SMG was bad at the time but now I look apon it fondly. It's such an emotional gears box and it's a one of a kind gear box that makes the E46 even more unique in my opinion. It's part of automotige history at this point

[@Simracingglory]

What a legend this guy is mad to think he was silent as the stig when he can present like this

[@upgradeNEVER]

Very nice tasteful mods. Just the extra that the car needs - but not too much. They've only enhanced the experience further.

[@djjmann]

Owned a few E46 M3, agree, they are the best BMW designed. They had their issues, which are fixable. But the combination of design and just enough sport was perfect

[@maoristereo]

Ben is a natural broadcaster. Cheers from Portugal.

[@ApoapsisGaming1]

IMO E46 m3 csl is best m car and an absolute dream car

[@gooo1762]

Thanks for the Video!

[@Detail_Den_UK]

Absolute dream car. A manually converted E46 M3 CSL is just awesome. I am a fan of the latest G8X M3/4 however if I had the money I'd buy the CSL in a heartbeat. I miss my regular E46 M3 Coupe, best car I've owned and miss it everyday.

[@AC-wl7ve]

iv had an e46 m3 for almost 12 years now. have it fitted with carbon airbox, catless headers, and full supersprint exhaust. it still makes me grin and laugh everytime i drive it...especially with that insane induction noise. i will never get rid of that car. its actually amazing to me prices havent gone insane for them yet. i cant think of another car id rather own under 150k. would pretty much have to get a gt3 to replace it.

[@AC-wl7ve]

@@idokwatcher2062 that’s wild. I live in Canada and you can get a pretty nice one for around 30k cad and basically a mint car for like 50-60.

[@sammuslu2992]

I have a 53 reg e46 m3 and I absolutely love it❤

[@ilkkak3065]

I'd go for e46 CSL it looks like very well made suit where newer ones look like 80's suit with shoulder toppings and wierd cuts.

[@reversoworld5348]

I’ve had loads of M cars and my E46 (not a CSL) was terrific.

[@genomedia44]

This is awesome. The whole thing about "they don't make cars like this anymore" makes me wonder what other older cars out there stands above their modern counterparts. Enthusiast cars that is

[@danielayodele7350]

The Stig confirms what we Petrolheads had known all along; the M3 sweetspot is the E46 CSL, with that Ferrari 360 Modena flat crank soundtrack. Ode to Joy!

[@lux9570]

2:42 The steering wheel is actually still connected to the front wheels with an electric power steering system. There is still a mechanical connection between the steering wheel and front wheels, but it’s assisted by electronics. Steering systems without a mechanical connection are called steer-by-wire. This technology is currently not used in cars, other than some special vehicles like the Cybertruck.

[@shaundell4630]

What's not to love. Ben driving and M3 CSL with a manual gearbox. SHOTGUN! 😄👍

[@Phantom_Aspekt]

With that last question, it's the Australian E36 M3-R for me, it's my favorite 3 series shape and the M3-R is definitely a special one, only 15 were produced. Definitely not the fastest M3 but that isn't what matters to me.

[@perrybmx]

The Nurburgring lap time is amazing considering 20 year old tyre technology & a track that has seen many improvements since then…

[@TheCabrooster11]

I would without any doubt want the E46 CSL with a manual transmission over the new car.

[@MrMohammed960]

9:35 Love the Top Gear reference

[@Jurica_Ruic]

I dont need Carly to figure out something's wrong with BMW!! I love Stig collaborating with many YT'ers!! Great to see him around!

[@petrolo72]

This M3 CSL will no doubt how a special place in history

[@hogey74]

These manual E46s are imo the best BMWs for drivers.

[@soundseeker63]

The E46 M3 has what no modern performance car has - Understated aggression. All the modifications - The big air scoop, the rear spoiler, the flared arches etc. are all functional. Nothing is there for show. The new turbo era cars may be mentally fast but design wise they are just way OTT, inside and out.

[@akilacevedo5812]

Take home the e46 csl. The e46 m3 was the first car I fell in love with. Picked up an e92 m3 a decade later loved it. However would love to own an e46 m3 csl

[@AdamsWorlds]

Always nice to see Ben behind the wheel the man must be one of the busiest in youtube these days.

[@ivorproblem1332]

Such an hard one to answer. To look at I would have a E30 M3 EVO III, for back road drive probably the E46 M3 CSL, for the noise and looks E92 M3 and for the speed and comfort the F32 M3 Comp or G30 M3 Touring

[@J-tu3hw]

I love this car. Too bad I blew the vanos rod bearings several times. Did 5 years of heavy tracking. It does need maintenance! The small amount of aerodynamics really makes the car feel planted versus the usual e46 m3

[@peterkogoj7028]

We need to consider that the e46 CSL set that time on 20 years old tyre technology... I bet with todays rubber it is much faster

[@rossadamdixon]

I'm fairly sure the electric power steering is connected to the wheels. This doesn't have steer by wire. I believe that the electric part is the assistance. The electric motors reduce the weight and alter the feel based on the speed, steering angle and other metrics. Hydraulics are seen as being better as they feel more natural because there is no manual manipulation.

[@mjgholfza]

I'll take both, thank you! 🙂

[@STORM3SHADOW]

Peak M car. Its the right blend of analog and digital. Yes the newer M3s/M4s are on another stratosphere in terms of power and tech, but they don't have the organic, visceral feel of the E46. Which would I choose? The E46, of course. I own one!

[@markjohnkeogh1975]

I’d love a CSL. Simple more elegant look. Don’t get me wrong, wouldn’t say no to a G80 or G81 either. I’m currently in a G87 M2 (which I love) and it’s nearly as big as a G80 - same platform. It feels big

[@classicgaragenewzealand2380]

Csl for sure...i love my e46 m3...white.. black leather..6spd..glorious

[@90MinutenLang020Damsko]

Yes, i would go for the e46 CSL from the whole M3 line-up, for me the nr.1 On 2 the e36 M3 GT On 3 the e92 M3 GTS On 4 the e30 M3 evo (a very nice Cecotto or Winkelhock) Actually give all 4 of them, the newer cars can go to the younger generations, i'm not interested.

[@RobbieKhan]

Those rear windows are an E46 trick and not exclusive to the CSL, they're great! Also a remap on any E46 M3 from the likes of Evolve etc will take the redline to 8200rpm which then allows the engine to continue generating power to 8200 instead of tailing off at 7600 as is standard, the remaining gew hundred being just noise in stock mapping.

[@peterslater7791]

E46 all the way. i owned many of them in the 2010's, and then two E91s, and now i'm back to E46s. they're not even that much lighter, but they "feel" lighter. the suspension has more travel and a much better primary ride. the inputs might be a smidge better on the E9x but that can be adjusted on the E46. they just feel more special and more engaging to drive. also, nicer to work on.

[@leeshergold351]

Great review 😊 Csl for me all day long 👍

[@shivambhardwaj6809]

i like the pace of the video

[@andygreener3130]

One contentious point? How about the shell bearings, vanos hubs, rear subframe, wheel arch cancer…… I yearned after one until it cost me far far too much in maintenance. Great in a good day when it wants to play, utterly ridiculous diva when not.

[@edjackson4389]

That's right, and it's something reviewers never seem to mention. They are great cars, but only if you can afford the fairly constant repair bills, or for the DIY guys, do you really have enough free time to tackle all the upkeep? If the answer is "yes" then go get that fantasy bimmer.

[@JP1THUG]

One of my all time favourites.