BMW has decided that what those people who fancy hauling their kids, dog and shopping around in a 530hp M3 Touring estate really need more power, sharper dynamics and carbon bits to save weight. Welcome, then, to the BMW M3 CS Touring.
First ever CS estate
It’s the first ever estate to get the coveted BMW CS badge (Competition Sport, in case you were wondering) and the first thing that BMW did to turn the M3 Touring into a CS was to give it more power. Specifically, the turbocharged straight-six 3.0-litre ‘S58’ engine has been boosted from 530hp as standard to 550hp here in the CS, which, with the standard-fit eight-speed automatic gearbox and xDrive four-wheel drive, means that it can hit 100km/h in just 3.5 seconds from rest, and run on to an Autobahn-style top speed of 299km/h.
And we would remind you, it’s a practical estate car too.
To reach that higher power figure, the M3’s engine starts, as does the standard model, with an extremely rigid crankcase with a sleeve-free, closed-deck construction, a forged lightweight crankshaft and a cylinder head with a 3D-printed core. The cylinder bores - which also contribute towards weight reduction - have a wire-arc sprayed iron coating to minimise frictional losses, while the cooling system and oil supply are designed to handle the sustained heavy loads generated during harder driving on a track. None of this is new, but still worth mentioning.
Higher turbo boost pressure
The two twin-scroll turbochargers have had their maximum boost pressure raised to 2.1 bar, while the rest of the power increase comes from tweaks to the engine management system. Peak torque of 650Nm is available from just 2,750rpm and up to 5,950rpm, with the engine developing its maximum power at 6,250rpm before reaching a 7,200rpm red line.
The engine mounting - which connects the engine to the car’s body - has also been given an increased spring rate, which BMW says “creates an extremely rigid connection between the power unit and the vehicle’s structure. This leads to a sharper engine response and an extremely direct transmission of power to the drivetrain.”
After it hits 100km/h in 3.5 seconds, the M3 CS Touring can head on to 199km/h in just 11.7 seconds, while the benchmark 80-120km/h sprint takes just 2.7 seconds in fourth gear.
Sports exhaust and rear-drive mode
Standard on the BMW M3 CS Touring is an M-specific exhaust system featuring electrically controlled flaps, a titanium rear silencer and - of course - four tailpipes, this time painted in matte black. The exhaust features an active flap which allows you to make it louder or quieter, using a button on the centre console.
The xDrive four-wheel drive and eight-speed Steptronic automatic gearbox are carried over from the standard model, and of course the Active M differential is mounted between the rear wheels, which allows for maximum throttle adjustability - and the odd cheeky tail slide if you’ve booked a track day. In four-wheel-drive mode, the engine’s power is biased towards those rear wheels, and for the ultimate in CS Touring driving, you can switch the M3 over to a purely rear-wheel-drive mode (be warned - that also turns off the stability control).
Speaking of which, the DSC stability control and the M Dynamic driving mode have been specifically updated for this CS Touring model, while the adaptive M suspension dampers, M Servotronic steering and integrated braking system are all bespoke to the car, too.
Steel M Compound brakes (with red or black calipers) are standard, but you can opt for M Carbon ceramic brakes with red or gold calipers. Forged M light-alloy wheels are standard fit and are available in an exclusive double-spoke design with a matt Gold Bronze or matte black finish, with 19-inch rims at the front and 20-inch items at the rear. Track tyres are fitted by default, though buyers can opt for more road-biased alternatives for no extra cost.
Lightweight carbon parts
BMW claims that the M3 CS Touring is 15kg lighter than the standard car, and that’s thanks to extensive use of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) employed to minimise weight. CFRP components include the bonnet, front splitter, front air intakes, exterior mirror caps and rear diffuser. Moving inside, the M Carbon bucket seats and CFRP steering wheel shift paddles, interior trim strips and pared-back centre console also contribute their bit.
The CS Touring’s body rigidity is also higher, thanks to strut braces between the front suspension towers.
Meanwhile, it’s still a practical car with a 500-litre boot, expanding to 1,510 litres if you fold down the back seats. Style-wise, there’s an acreage of carbon-fibre parts on the exterior including the front splitter, front air intakes and exterior mirror caps. The paint choices are British Racing Green, Laguna Seca Blue or Frozen Solid White in addition to Black Sapphire metallic while the roof is painted black, and the rear spoiler gets a CS-specific red trim. There are also CS badges front and rear.
Inside, the big bucket seats get Merino leather and more CS badges, while there’s a flat-bottomed steering wheel with an Alcantara rim and a red 12-o’clock marker. And, of course, there are the red M1 and M2 buttons so that you can set up all of the various driving settings into two quickly accessible groups. The BMW M3 CS Touring also comes as standard with the M Drive Professional system with track-optimised functions such as the M Drift Analyser and M Lap timer. This system also includes ten-stage M Traction Control to provide a fully customisable driving experience on the track.
How much for all of that? The M3 CS Touring retails at €220,270, with first Irish deliveries due to begin in March.