BMW 3.0 CSL is the ultimate 50th birthday present to M

So what numbers has the 3.0 CSL to back up its exclusivity and importance? They’re pretty serious. At 560PS (412kW) and 550Nm (406lb ft), this is the most powerful straight-six BMW M has yet produced. It does so with engineering that takes inspiration from the DTM-winning M4 GT3, such as 3D-printing in the cylinder head core and a forged lightweight crankshaft. The oiling and cooling have also been upgraded in tandem.

An obvious homage to the original BMW 3.0 CSL that started it all for BMW M, this new 3.0 CSL takes an M4 underpinning and garnishes it with a special Batmobile-esque adenda. 

The full-snout grille from the M4 is gone in favour of more docked items with mesh inserts, amid an entirely new bumper complete with circular inlets a-la the Batmobile. In fact, the blistered arches that bleed up onto the bonnet, flared skirts, rear window spoiler and closed-side rear wing are all directly inspired by the original Group 4 racer.

Unlike the original ‘70s machine, much of the bodywork is made of carbon, including the roof, bonnet, bootlid, front and rear aprons, diffuser, sills and spoiler. That carbon diffuser and in fact, any underbody aero, is new compared to the old Batmobile, and of course houses the signature M quad exhausts. We think both the front and rear lights come from the M4 CSL, with the blistered arches covering parts of them to give a different shape. The large arches house 20 and 21-inch forged centre-lock wheels front and rear, with bespoke tyres.

The CSL-isms continue on the inside too, with a hardcore Alcantara-clad cabin, special carbon bucket seats and a bespoke shift knob for the manual gearbox. Yes, this 560PS rear-drive monster is also a manual. Like in the M4 CSL, there are no back seats. Instead, ideal storage for your helmets. 

Happily that power goes to the rear wheels via the clever Active M Differential. There’s a bespoke setup for the active M suspension and steering too, though as in the M3 and M4, all parameters are changeable to the driver’s desires.

BMW is so committed to the line that this is very much its own model, independent of any ‘series’ car, it’s highlighted that the 3.0 CSL had to go through its own entire development and homologation programme, even down to two mules being used for crash testing. So that must give you some idea of how expensive this limited-run special is going to be. As should the limited numbers themselves.

They’re really not joking about the exclusivity: just 50 examples are to be made in honour of that golden M anniversary, with each car getting a #XX/50 marking on the interior carbon trim. Needless to say, all 50 are likely spoken for, with the most dedicated of M owners being approached first about the car. As for price? Given the costs involved to create it, we’d rather not know.

So what do you think of the new BMW 3.0 CSL, as a car of its own and as a conclusion to the celebrations of BMW M’s 50^th anniversary? It’s been a bumper year Bavarian performance stalwart, with the M3 Touring launching at the Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, the M4 CSL, the new M2, the er, XM, and now this. May the next 50 years be as fun as these have been.