BMW 3.0 CSL history: the lightweight "Batmobile" that ruled touring car racing

The BMW 3.0 CSL is one of the most important cars in the history of BMW Motorsport. Based on the elegant E9 coupé, it was made lighter so it could win in touring car racing, and its wild rear wing earned it the nickname "Batmobile".

In this article we look at how the BMW 3.0 CSL was born, what made it special, what it achieved on the track and why the name still matters to BMW today.

The E9 coupé behind the BMW 3.0 CSL

In the late 1960s BMW launched a large, elegant six-cylinder coupé known by its chassis code E9. Models such as the 2800 CS and later the 3.0 CS and 3.0 CSi combined a pillarless design with a smooth straight-six engine.

The coupé was beautiful and fast on the road, but it was heavy for racing. To compete with rivals such as the Ford Capri RS in the European Touring Car Championship, BMW needed a lighter version that could be homologated for the track.

That car was the 3.0 CSL. The letters stand for Coupé, Sport, Leicht, the German word for light. Our article on BMW chassis codes explains how names such as E9 are used.

How BMW made the 3.0 CSL lighter

The engineers removed weight wherever the rules allowed. The steel body used thinner panels, and the doors, bonnet and boot lid were made from aluminium. Some side windows were made from acrylic instead of glass, and many comfort items were removed or simplified.

Early cars had lighter bumpers or none at all at the front, and the interior used simple bucket seats. The result was a coupé that weighed noticeably less than a standard 3.0 CS.

Over its life the CSL also received bigger engines. The first versions used a 3.0-litre straight-six, then fuel injection was added, and the final road cars had a 3.2-litre engine. Production stayed small, with a little over a thousand cars built in total according to most sources.

Why it is called the Batmobile

In 1973 BMW added an aerodynamic package to the 3.0 CSL. It included a front splitter, fins on the front wings, a spoiler on the roof edge and a large rear wing.

The look was so extreme for the time that fans quickly called the car the "Batmobile". The parts were needed to homologate the aero kit for racing, where it made the car much more stable at high speed.

Because a large wing was not road legal in Germany at the time, the story goes that many road cars were delivered with some aero parts in the boot, for the owner to fit later. Today a well-preserved car with its original aero parts is highly valued by collectors.

Racing success of the BMW 3.0 CSL

The 3.0 CSL was one of the first big projects of BMW Motorsport GmbH, founded in 1972. It quickly became the car to beat in European touring car racing.

The CSL won the European Touring Car Championship in 1973 and then every year from 1975 to 1979, six titles in total. Famous drivers such as Hans-Joachim Stuck, Toine Hezemans and Dieter Quester raced it.

The car also went to America, where it raced in the IMSA series and won the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1975. That programme helped build the image of BMW in the United States. Our article on BMW at Le Mans tells how the CSL also raced at the famous 24-hour race.

The first BMW Art Car

In 1975 the French racing driver and art lover Hervé Poulain asked the American artist Alexander Calder to paint his 3.0 CSL for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The bright red, yellow and blue design became the very first BMW Art Car.

The idea grew into a long series of cars painted by famous artists, including Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol. Several of the early Art Cars were based on the 3.0 CSL.

Our article on BMW Art Cars tells the full story of this unique collection, which is still shown at museums and events around the world.

The 3.0 CSL name today

BMW has never forgotten the 3.0 CSL. In 2015 it showed the 3.0 CSL Hommage concept, a modern study inspired by the original Batmobile.

In 2022, for the 50th anniversary of BMW M, the company built a new 3.0 CSL in a strictly limited series of 50 cars. It was based on the M4, with a straight-six engine, a six-speed manual gearbox, rear-wheel drive and plenty of carbon fibre. Its design included a large rear wing and other clear references to the original.

The letters CSL are now used only for the most focused BMW M models. Our article on BMW CSL, CS, GTS and Competition explains what each of these badges means.

BMW 3.0 CSL at a glance

Item	Details
Base model	BMW E9 coupé
Name	CSL = Coupé, Sport, Leicht (light)
Engines	Straight-six, from 3.0 to 3.2 litres
Lightweight parts	Aluminium doors, bonnet and boot lid, thinner steel
Aero kit	Splitter, wing fins, roof spoiler, rear wing (1973)
Racing	European Touring Car champion 1973 and 1975–1979
First Art Car	Painted by Alexander Calder in 1975
Modern revival	3.0 CSL of 2022, limited to 50 cars

Frequently asked questions

What does CSL stand for on the BMW 3.0 CSL?

CSL stands for Coupé, Sport, Leicht. Leicht is German for light, because the car was a lightweight version of the E9 coupé.

Why is the BMW 3.0 CSL called the Batmobile?

Because of its 1973 aero kit with a front splitter, fins on the front wings, a roof spoiler and a large rear wing, which looked very dramatic at the time.

How many BMW 3.0 CSLs were built?

Most sources say a little over a thousand cars were built in total, across several versions. Exact figures vary between sources.

What did the 3.0 CSL win?

It won the European Touring Car Championship six times, in 1973 and from 1975 to 1979, and it also won the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1975.

Is there a modern BMW 3.0 CSL?

Yes. In 2022 BMW built a new 3.0 CSL based on the M4, with a six-speed manual gearbox, limited to 50 cars.

Sources

• BMW Group Classic – BMW 3.0 CSL history
• BMW M – 50 years of BMW M
• BMW Art Car Collection