As BMW M marks its 50th anniversary, the iconic brand has a special treat in store for its loyal fans across the globe: the BMW 3.0 CSL. This limited edition model, which was first introduced in 2022 to commemorate the milestone year, pays homage to the legendary “Batmobile,” the historic BMW 3.0 CSL from the early 1970s, which was the very first standalone model from BMW M. Come spring of 2023, this exclusive reinterpretation of the classic will be crafted by skilled artisans over several weeks at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, which is located in Lower Bavaria, Germany, and has a proud reputation for producing exclusive small series and BMW M vehicles.
The Dingolfing plant already manufactures a number of BMW M models, including the M4 Coupé and Convertible, the M5, and the M8 Coupé, Convertible, and Gran Coupé. The production of M vehicles, including M Performance models, totaled around 50,000 units in 2022 alone, which is a testament to the plant’s expertise in building high-performance vehicles.
The manufacturing process of the BMW 3.0 CSL is characterized by meticulous craftsmanship and a combination of advanced automation and manual dexterity. Although the body of this special edition is based on the standard-production body of the BMW M4 CSL, it is modified in a dedicated work area of the Dingolfing body shop, which is the same site where the body of the BMW M4 GT4 is produced. The wheel arches of the car are being widened using special beading and welding processes and prepared for assembly.
The body then goes through the regular standard production process in the paint shop, where Dingolfing’s paint finishing specialists use stencils to manually apply the M’s special paintwork with the 3.0 CSL specific livery, which features the iconic three M color stripes. Special mounted parts for the vehicle, such as the front side panels and bumpers, the bonnet, and the carbon-fiber roof, are given a unique paint finish in the plastic exterior section of the neighbouring BMW Group component plant in Landshut.
The BMW 3.0 CSL is assembled in a craft workshop located in Moosthenning, an external site operated by BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, which is in close proximity to the main Dingolfing vehicle plant. A team of 30 skilled experts assembles the vehicle in stages using bespoke parts for this special edition model. The axles from Dingolfing component plant 02.10 are modified on site to work with the center lock that is familiar in motor racing. The unique interior elements are individually crafted in workshops in Garching and Dingolfing.
The assembly process for one vehicle takes nearly two weeks and involves eight major assembly cycles, each with a duration of one working day. Various mounted parts, such as CFRP side panels or the CFRP bonnet, are fixed upstream. At the end of the process, the distinctive rear section and other exterior parts are assembled at a separate station.
Once work in Moosthenning is completed, the vehicle goes back to the “big” vehicle plant in Dingolfing, where it initially undergoes extensive standardised testing – for instance, on rolling test benches or brake dynamometers. Each of the BMW 3.0 CSL models then goes through an additional final inspection process with a required driving programme on the plant’s own test track.
Finally, the vehicle is prepared for the customer and for example brought to BMW Welt in Munich for a personal hand-over or delivery.
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