derBayerische July/August 2024 - 29

T H E
M 4
only 3.6 seconds, while real-world testing has proven its faster than, reaching
the benchmark in only 3.3
Verner recalls, " The M4 CSL hasn't even come out yet, but people are
reading the numbers on it and saying, 'This isn't very much. They're just saved
a little bit of weight. They just add a little bit of power.' So, the big complaint
was that there's not really a whole lot here for your extra money. It wasn't until
everybody got the car and started driving
it that they realized, 'This is really a pretty
significant upgrade.' " Both Verner and
instructors at the BMW Performance
Center have driven this M4 CSL and an
M4 Competition back-to-back and agree,
saying " It's tighter, sharper, more abrupt,
and quicker. There's just a significant
difference to it. "
Verner believes that part of the
enjoyment of owning these cars is to drive
them-and with nearly 6,000 miles on
the odometer he does just that. While his
M4 CSL is mostly stock, he has made a few modifications for practicality (and
some style). A set of stock-sized Michelin PS4S tires have replaced the Cup 2
Rs, and floor mats and a trunk mat have been added. T he entire car has been
wrapped in PPF and ceramic coated by Tiffany and Brett All American Paint
Protection in Rockville, Maryland. Verner's addition of red tow straps and red
anodized underhood fluid caps pair nicely with the red accents on the carbon
C S L
fiber, badging, and interior.
In addition to the trip home to Maryland from the Performance Center
delivery in Spartanburg, Verner has appreciated this M4 CSL on a number of
other road trips and regularly brings it to CCA events. Verner laughs, " If the
car is worth five or ten thousand dollars less because I put a few extra miles on
it, that's what I bought the car for and it's well worth my time. "
When Verner offered me an oppor■
Frozen paint against a frozen sunrise.
tunity to drive his M4 CSL, I couldn't
pass up the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
to experience this monster for
myself. The Frozen Brooklyn Grey paint
was quite fitting on a frozen Maryland
morning at sunrise. The fixed-back
seats are somewhat of a challenge to get
in and out of, but once you're in, they're
fantastic. I could totally see taking a
road trip in this car without having
cramped legs or a stiff lower back upon
reaching a rest area.
The titanium exhaust changes tone, becoming more aggressive as the
dial is turned past eleven-starting in Comfort, then in Sport, then in Sport
Plus. The eight-speed ZF 8HP transmission shifts the instant you pull back on
the steering-wheel-mounted carbon fiber shift paddles. The PS4S tires coupled
with the CSL's traction control performed quite well on frigid pavement.
And as Verner warned, " It follows your eyes. " The steering is so sharp and
■ An overhead look at all the carbon fiber on the M4 CSL.
immediate, it's unlike anything I've driven before. Driving an M4 CSL is a fullsensory
and exhilarating experience. To quote Ferris Bueller, " I love driving it.
It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up. "
But good luck finding one!
While some cars have come and gone from Verner's garage, he says, " I
feel honored to be able to have [the M4 CSL] and I have no plans of getting rid
July I August 2024
of it. This wasn't a flip for me. This is a car that I hope to enjoy for many years
to come. " And then he jokes, " As long as I can get in and get out of it. "
On paper, the M4 CSL may not seem so different from an M4
Competition. However, experiencing one in person-seeing it, hearing it, and
most importantly, driving it-it's clear to see that the whole truly is greater than
the sum of its parts.
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derBayerische July/August 2024

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