The E46 M3 CSL is one of the cars that really gets BMW fans excited. We Americans were let down because BMW never brought what might have been its best-driving car to North America. Stock E46 M3s have been changed by private owners and tuning shops to try to copy the appeal of the M3 CSL. One of these shops is Vorsteiner in California, which makes wheels and carbon fiber. The original Vorsteiner CSL wing kit now looks even better after Vorsteiner made it even more extreme. In October, Vorsteiner brought back the V-CSL, an aero kit based on the CSL. The idea behind it was to make a regular E46 M3 look like BMW’s famous car from the early 2000s. It doesn’t change the strength of the engine, the brakes, the suspension, or the steering. It does, however, lower the M3’s curb weight and make it look better. You can buy carbon fiber parts separately, but if you buy them all, you’ll get a rear diffuser, a front bumper with the unique single asymmetrical air intake, and even a trunk lid with a CSL-style ducktail spoiler built right in. The most important way to lose weight is in the last part. It doesn’t have the original CSL’s cardboard-like trunk floor, but you could always use old Amazon boxes to make one at home. On the other hand, Vorsteiner has since put out the V20 kit. The original CSL aero kit was already very good, but this one is even better. The V20 also has a carbon fiber hood, which cuts down on overall weight even more, a rear diffuser with a more aggressive look, and fender vents that have been changed. The carbon fiber front bumper now has two air openings that are the same size and shape. Vorsteiner says the carbon fiber front lip that comes with the V20 kit can also be used with the V-CSL front bumper. The V20 kit looks great and makes the car stand out more on the road, but it takes away some of what makes the V-CSL special. Vorsteiner also includes a full carbon fiber center panel in the style of the original CSL models for the V-CSL and V20 kits. This console looks to be just as uncomfortable as the original CSL models. As someone who has driven a number of CS and CSL BMWs, I think the small weight savings from a center panel this simple are not worth the extra comfort of an armrest. The least expensive part of the kit is the carbon fiber center panel, which costs $995. However, it still needs to be more expensive. It costs around $11,795 to buy the V20 kit, which is about the same as buying two used E46 3 Series cars. On the other hand, this package will make your E46 M3 look like a tougher version of that famous fruit you’ve always wanted to eat but can’t.
