New BMW M3 CS adds power, cuts weight and offers more

J.A.
By J.A. Ackley
Jan 25, 2023 | BMW, BMW M3, BMW M3 Competition, BMW M3 CS

Photography courtesy BMW

Want an even more powerful, lighter and more track-friendly BMW M3 Competition? Well, you’re just in luck, as the 2024 BMW M3 CS delivers 40 more horses, cuts 75 pounds and offers exclusive track-focused features.

More Power

The BMW M3 CS has an “upgraded version” of the M3 Competition's inline-six, good for 40 more horsepower–pushing the peak output to 543. BMW said the horses were gained by raising turbo boost pressure from 24.7 psi to 30.5 psi as well as changes to the engine management system.

When compared to the Competition model, the 0-to-60 time goes from 3.4 seconds to 3.2, and max speed goes from 180 mph to 188.

Less Weight

Whereas the M3 Competition with xDrive weighs in at 3990 pounds, the M3 CS shaves 75 pounds, knocking that number down to 3915.

BMW achieved the weight reduction by having the CS use more carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) than the Competition model. You find it in the roof, hood, front splitter, front air intakes, exterior mirror caps, rear diffuser, rear spoiler, center console, shift paddles and interior trim strips.

Weight-saving M Carbon bucket seats come standard and a titanium rear silencer also reduces weight by 8 pounds.

Track-Friendly Features

The M Drive Professional packages the M Drift Analyzer and M Laptimer together. It also includes M Traction Control, with 10 stages of sensitivity.

The M Mode button on the console sets the level of driver assistance, with a choice of “road,” “sport” and “track” settings.

Other Notes

Color-wise, BMW Individual Frozen Solid White metallic paint is exclusive to the CS. You can also opt for Brooklyn Grey metallic, Black Sapphire metallic, and BMW Individual Signal Green.

Other differences from the M3 Competition include a frameless kidney grille with red contour lines and daytime running light elements that illuminate in yellow–rather than white–during the unlock sequence and while driving.

With more under the hood, less on the scales and other track-ready features, the BMW M3 CS will cost $36,000 more than the Competition model, with an MSRP of $118,700. (Versus a starting MSRP of $82,700 for the M3 Competition.)

The CS will be built in limited numbers at BMW Group Plant Munich starting in March 2023.

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Comments
kb58
kb58 UltraDork
1/25/23 8:46 p.m.

I'll claim it's the grill that prevents me from taking one out on-track.

mr2s2000elise
mr2s2000elise UberDork
1/25/23 8:54 p.m.

4000 lbs of "cutting weight" track machine

 

laughable and embarrassing 

 

nothing more than a lease special for poseurs 

J.A. Ackley
J.A. Ackley Senior Editor
1/26/23 8:48 a.m.

In reply to mr2s2000elise :

I'll say this: I've driven the 2023 M3 Competition, M4 Competition, and M4 CSL - and they feel much lighter on their feet than the scales indicate, but they're certainly not the lightest of cars historically, for sure.

STM317
STM317 PowerDork
1/26/23 8:55 a.m.

Only $36k (plus dealer markups) more than an M3 Competition XDrive. What a steal!

calteg
calteg SuperDork
1/26/23 9:59 a.m.

At that price I could buy 12 ratty first year 335s, unbolt the exhaust, throw a tune on them and track 'em until they blow up. 

 

 

 

pheller
pheller UltimaDork
1/26/23 12:09 p.m.
mr2s2000elise said:

4000 lbs of "cutting weight" track machine

My buddy and I were talking about this.

Unfortunately, there is a lower limit on what cars can weigh these days. Even a "small" performance oriented car like the Veloster N still weighs over 3000lbs. 

The Miata is really the only lightweight car still available new. 

The exception here is maybe the Mazda 3 Turbo AWD, which does seem to pack a lot of features into a relatively lightweight package. Suprising that the six-figure BMW can't even get within 500lbs of a Mazda.

mr2s2000elise
mr2s2000elise UberDork
1/26/23 12:20 p.m.
pheller said:
mr2s2000elise said:

4000 lbs of "cutting weight" track machine

My buddy and I were talking about this.

Unfortunately, there is a lower limit on what cars can weigh these days. Even a "small" performance oriented car like the Veloster N still weighs over 3000lbs. 

The Miata is really the only lightweight car still available new. 

The exception here is maybe the Mazda 3 Turbo AWD, which does seem to pack a lot of features into a relatively lightweight package. Suprising that the six-figure BMW can't even get within 500lbs of a Mazda.

I do understand things are heavier these days. But if one tells me 4000lb is the lightweight track machine, I am not buying it. 

CTR 3188
GR Corolla 3252
GS-F 4032

 

So the M3 is barely lighter than a GS-F.  As much as I love me a Yamaha V8, GS-F is no track car, and doesn't pretend to be. BMW needs to stop with the marketing jargon. 

z31maniac
z31maniac MegaDork
1/26/23 12:37 p.m.
pheller said:
mr2s2000elise said:

4000 lbs of "cutting weight" track machine

My buddy and I were talking about this.

Unfortunately, there is a lower limit on what cars can weigh these days. Even a "small" performance oriented car like the Veloster N still weighs over 3000lbs. 

The Miata is really the only lightweight car still available new. 

The exception here is maybe the Mazda 3 Turbo AWD, which does seem to pack a lot of features into a relatively lightweight package. Suprising that the six-figure BMW can't even get within 500lbs of a Mazda.

I mean we all know the reasons, more amenities, more crash structures, etc. Doesn't mean we have to like it. 

The new BRZ manual is just a tick over 2800lbs and it's relatively easy to pull 100lbs out of it without impacting daily driving comfort. If one was willing to do a header and E85, that gets it real close to the magical 10:1 weight:hp ratio.

pinchvalve (Forum Supporter)
pinchvalve (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
1/26/23 12:47 p.m.

If you want lower weight, BMW sells the M2, but it only comes as a 2-door IIRC. I guess the blandness of the 4-door doesn't work for an M car: 

Oh oops, that's an Impreza. I think this is a 2 series: 

mr2s2000elise
mr2s2000elise UberDork
1/26/23 12:52 p.m.
pinchvalve (Forum Supporter) said:

 I guess the blandness of the 4-door doesn't work for an M car: 

 

 

*scratches head*

M3

M5

 

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