[Brilliant]

Let’s see if we can get a group buy together for CSL Style air boxes. We have half a dozen interested people.

That's where we started... but things have developed. We have found a high quality CSL replica box for $1,995 (10 group price), and a tune for $950 (w/ reflash cable). I'll have a summary of the reviewed items at the bottom.

History - Most in this thread wanted a close replica CSL box with a 200mm intake. This requires Alpha-N tuning of your stock ECU. VAC was approached first, as they recently set up Obiobans car and were working to get a solution that would pass emissions. The emissions passing sparked the most interest. They offer a top quality CSL airbox for 3.2k and Alpha-N tuning for 1.5k When you buy their box and tune as a bundle, they knock off 300 bucks. For the group, they wanted 3 or more, and could knock off another $200. That would bring the VAC tune and box to $4.2k. VAC has a quality product and is well respected in the BMW community; however, 4.2k was just beyond the groups price point.

Long story short, we started looking elsewhere for boxes...

The preferred CSL Replica Box - $1,995*
Click Here for Pics
*CC Box - get 10 it drops to $1,995. - This is the groups preferred CSL Replica box.



Features:

• Close CSL replica with OEM interfaces
• Snorkel attachment ring
• CSL replica injection modeled trumpets
• bolts for bottom mounting
• two rubber bushings
• wiring / hose harness on rear of box)
• Weave: 2x2 twill (revised weave direction as OEM)
• Clear Coat- PPG Automotive clearcoat
• Internally braced like OEM, and thicker walled CF (not prone to flexing like some others)
• CSL CF Trumpets +$200 (optional)
• Reduction Cone 4" or 6" " - $+125 (optional)

The Tune

While many tuners offer a tune, most desire an emissions compliant tune; a tune that has O2 sensors in ready mode. Tunes exist today, but were built for catless setups suppress the CEL caused by post-cat O2 sensors not being installed (not ready). This not ready state will fail many State's OBD plug in emissions. Evolve can set your o2s in ready mode. In addition no MAF readiness code will be thrown.

• Evolve - $750 - We got a small knock down on price.
  Emissions compliance - Evolve can set O2s to ready mode as needed for emissions.
  Evolve can set RPM idle/max, SMG lights on MTs, sport mode persistent, etc.
  
  double_R's review of Evolve
  m3cutters.

Miscellaneous Parts Needed for Install*

Manual Trans:
QTY BMW PART # ITEM
1 13727838625 AIR FILTER ELEMENT - Tischer/ECS
6 11617830306 HOSE CLAMP - Tischer/ECS
6 11617831745 MUFFLER CLAMP - Tischer/ECS
6 11617830265 HOSES - Tischer/ECS (needed for 10/04+)
1 13621725323 E34 AIR TEMP SENSOR - Tischer/ECS/Pelican OR 13621739510 CSL AIR TEMP SENSOR - Tischer/ECS
1 11617833656 BRACKET - $32 special order, ECS
1 07119905528 HEX BOLT WITH WASHER - Tischer/ECS
2 07119904023 HEX NUT - Tischer/ECS
1 11157833649 Hose - Tischer/ECS
1 11617833647 AIR SHUT OFF VALVE - $70 special order, ECS

Click here for ECS MT Shopping Cart - *to the best of my/our knowledge
You can also order these parts from Evolve. The lead time is much less, but the price a bit more.

Extras for SMG
QTY BMW PART # ITEM
1 21532282549 SMG Reservoir - Tischer/ECS
1 41147896136 SMG Reservoir Bracket - $20 special order, ECS

Click here for ECS SMG Shopping Cart - *to the best of my/our knowledge
You can also order these parts from Evolve. The lead time is much less, but the price a bit more.


Temp Sensor
A small air temp harness is also needed. This is $95 fabbed w/ E34M5 sensor + S/H from Evolve or you can source it yourself and make it yourself. It consists of connector, wires, and the E34 temp sensor. If you decide to run the CSL sensor you can just buy the harness alone for $40. I made one myself for next to nothing, mostly out of bordom.

The CSL Replica Box Group

Tier 1 - $1,995

• Requires a $1,100 non-refundable deposit payed directly to supplier. Remainder due at prior to shipping. If you bought trumpets or reducers, you need to up deposit to cover those too.
• Production can begin 1st week of Jan, group of 10 will take ~8-10 weeks to manufacture. The balance is due to supplier prior to shipment to you. FIFO for payment and production. GB price is contingent on 10 orders. PM me for further details.

1. Brilliant - (deposit paid 4 Jan, box shipped)
2. brakelate - (deposit 12 Dec, box recieved)
3. wilmar13 - (deposit paid 7 Jan, paid in full)
4. Stash1 - (deposit paid ~18 Jan)
5. cws_usaf - (deposit paid 13 Jan)
6. 007 - (16 Jan deposit paid)
7. cncmastr - (25 Jan deposit paid)

Group 2 date is TBD.

LuckyE30M3 x 3
///matos
metal_militia
calvinf1
bimmerrodg
ninekrpm
ntiospo x 2
raz84
chriskuta
inzani
ZiMMie
e popa - pending tune
TR11
Rajvosa
Brandtner
ultimatem3 - pending
Petrucci
gleech

...

The Alpha-N Tune

The tune from Evolve is $700 and a laptop-obd interface cable is needed. The cable is $200 more and will allow you to reflash whenever you want.

FAQs

1. Is a CSL dipstick needed - NO, click here
2. Will OEM CSL temp sensor work - Yes, either E34M5 threaded or the CSL clip in sensor click here and here
3. I have an OEM CSL box, how do I fit a threaded temp sensor into the CSL temp sensor hole. - Kind of a irrelevent point now that Evolve has mapped the CSL temp sensor - click here
4. Does the airbox have a 200mm intake - YES, read this post
5. How do I mount the E34 sensor in the airbox - click here
6. Is there a DIY - Its in work, we have a couple reference on this page.
7. Can I use a $10 eBay USB-OBD cable - NO, Evolve encrypts its tune, you need Evolves cable.
8. Can I revert to MAF - YES, you can reflash up to 50 times, reinstall std airbox and MAF, nothing is permanent.
9. How can I pass OBD emissions - click here
10. 2004+ cars have the hose with integrated valve on top of the box, you need to build a custom hose. DIY TBD. - click here for description of issue
11. How do I duct cold air to the intake?
    • Direct Duct
    • Hose Routing to Bumper
    • Std M3 Bumper Elbow
    • CSL Ducting
    • OEM CSL Snorkel Attachment
12. Where can I buy that orange high temp ducting - cheapest I've found

State Emissions info (O2 Mode)
As I find out emissions requirements I'll add them. Post if you know yours.
Illinois, New Jersey, Washington, New York

Useful DIY Links

• http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=262263
• http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=310634

The Sound
CodeZilla’s
Sound from inside the car, mic on passenger seat. He has half a dozen or so sound clips in his channel.

BMW M3 E46 - Late Summer Afternoon - YouTube

BMW M3 E46 - Late Summer Afternoon - YouTube

Sidewalk sound

bmw m3 csl tunnel - YouTube

bmw m3 csl tunnel - YouTube

Extras for Snorkel (listed for reference)
Assembly 2 in this diagram and the associated bumper tube

QTY BMW PART # ITEM
1 11617833498 CONTROL UNIT
2 11617835495 COUNTERSUNK SCREW
3 7119901913 FILLISTER HEAD WITH WASHER
1 11617833648 INTAKE TUBE
1 7129952137 HOSE CLAMP
1 11617833646 AIR DUCT
1 11617833645 SUCTION TUBE
4 7119901780 FILLISTER HEAD WITH WASHER
1 16131176747 PLASTIC NUT
2 7119931115 FLAT WASHER
1 7129952127 HOSE CLAMP
1 13717896774 INTAKE MANIFOLD

Summary of this thread (WIP)

• Boxes Considered
  • Goeff Steel - $1500 - non-oem filter, questionable flow when looking inside box, rough, more for a race car where parts don't have to be pretty.
  • Chad's - $2500 - OEM filter, MAF adaption possible, looks OEM, needs additional drilling, upcharges for snorkel attachment ring, box comes with a bare unfinished opening.
  • VAC - $3200 - ~10% GB discount was possible, good quality, OEM form fit and function, no drilling, has all OEM interfaces, good quality, weave is 90 degrees off, decal is a bit off.
  • Bimmerworld - $3200 - wouldn't hear of GB discount on 'premium' products.
  • Evolve - little discussed on this one, not an OEM replica so not what the group was after
• Tunes Considered
  • Epic/Bimmerworld - $1500 no group discount, gave inconsistent info on O2 modes.
  • VAC - $1500, $300 off when you buy a box from them. Good results, but high price tag.
  • A-L Tuning - $? - so much hate on m3cutters, they were avoided.

[lsrteg]

I am down

[vman]

subscribed

[CroVlado]

sub'd

[drunkenalex]

Originally Posted by Brilliant

Pricing
TBD - Its going to depend on interest. VAC is sorting the numbers. Once I get some, I'll post them.

Well, i think most are interested in the price. Why don't you get pricing first? for example:
1-10 orders = $xxx.xx
11-20 orders = $xxx.xx
etc..

[///MIKE M]

Interested, but all depends on pricing discount we can get off the normal price.

[Brilliant]

Originally Posted by drunkenalex

Well, i think most are interested in the price. Why don't you get pricing first? for example:
1-10 orders = $xxx.xx
11-20 orders = $xxx.xx
etc..

Too late... thread has started. Once VAC gives me details, I'll post them.
I think the window will be longer than typical due to the cost, so we all were thinking to start the thread early.

[MrAdam]

In for pricing...

[M_TREEZi]

In for pricing on csl rep...

[bogart79]

I'm in for a replica with O2 sensor not ready