With the BMW 3.0 CSL, M GmbH has given itself a 560 hp gift for its 50th birthday. The new edition of this legendary car is the most exclusive vehicle ever to be produced by BMW M, with only 50 units available for sale. The premiere of the model was preceded by the release of the “Vehicle 0”, which went down a storm in June 2022 with its spectacular M Heritage wrap. This vehicle will only exist once, and Hans Winkler, test engineer and body coordinator at BMW M, has a very special relationship with it. He found the design of the Erlkönig so charming that he dedicated a unique miniature to it. It is so true to life that you could mistake it for the real one in photos taken with the right camera angle. We met up with the passionate model maker for an interview.
BMW M Magazine: Mr. Winkler, how did you come up with the idea of building a detailed miniature model from the BMW 3.0 CSL prototype shown at the beginning of 2022?
Hans Winkler: As a test technician and coordinator for vehicle construction at BMW M, I was responsible for building the prototypes of this vehicle. So, I know the car inside out. For me personally, it is the most fascinating model that BMW M has ever developed. I have already built several miniatures of other M models, but when I finished the first prototype of the 3.0 CSL, I realised relatively quickly that this was something special, I just had to build a detailed miniature of it.
You obviously have a lot of experience in model making. How many of these models have you already created?
I have already built around 100 model cars - including M vehicles that I own myself. From time to time, I also take on commissions, for friends for example. My basic requirement for these models is that they are a 100 percent copy of the original - license plates, interior, paint, stickers - it all has to match. I then take a few photos, take a close look at the whole thing and get started.
My basic requirement for these models is that they are a 100 percent copy of the original.
How do you do that? What technical hurdles did you encounter during the construction process?
Of course, there were several. The basic model itself, which is also available in BMW stores, is welded at many seams and not bolted. For someone like me, who wants to take everything apart first for a project like this, this already proved to be quite tricky. After all, I need to ensure that nothing is damaged when the connections are loosened. I then had to strip the entire bodywork without damaging the paintwork, which is also a challenge, especially with some of the plastic parts. Then it was time for the foiling, which is very special in the case of the BMW 3.0 CSL prototype. Partly because it is so detailed and applied to the entire vehicle. Here, I had a contact who specialises in decals, i.e., wrapping on various scales. The original decals of the car, which show many different M models from several generations, were available to me as a data set. And so, my decal specialist was able to scale the whole thing to the correct scale and print it out.
What was the biggest challenge during construction?
The model was about half finished when it turned out that the foil was breaking. So, I had to remove everything all over again, polish it again and start from scratch with a new foil. This is just seven micrometres thick, thinner than a hair. So, not only did the surface have to be as clean as possible, the templates for applying it to the individual body components also had to be very precise. The two bumpers on the car, which have a very three-dimensional design with lots of corners, edges and curves, were particularly difficult to foil. I needed two days just for these two parts.
How many hours did you need for the model in total?
I haven't recorded it exactly, but it must have been around 100 working hours.
Is there anything that particularly fascinates you about the design of the BMW 3.0 CSL?
Yes, firstly the roof spoiler and secondly the entire rear end with the wide wheel arches that merge into the rear spoiler. As part of the development team for the 3.0 CSL, these design elements always remind me, even in the miniature, that it wasn't an easy process to get the car into production.
Working hours? It must have been around 100.
What tools and skills should a model maker have in order to create such a beautiful replica of a vehicle?
A screwdriver, scalpel, adhesive tape, paintbrush, pencil and a good light are definitely some of the basic equipment. I also use various dental instruments in the form of very fine needles that are extremely helpful when disassembling the model. A magnifying glass is also an advantage for models of this scale and even smaller models. Otherwise, you really need a lot of patience and a steady hand!
Do you already have ideas for future model building projects?
I'm currently working on some new projects at BMW M that have a lot of potential. But I can't say any more about them yet...
Thank you very much for the interview!
THE 3.0 CSL STORY.
About the challenges of reviving a legend: Here, the developers of the BMW 3.0 CSL have their say.
#1 IDEA AND GENESIS: THE WAY TO THE COMEBACK.
#1 IDEA AND GENESIS: THE WAY TO THE COMEBACK.
BMW M is bringing the 3.0 CSL back to the road as a strictly limited new edition, fulfilling a wish that M enthusiasts and BMW M employees have cherished for many years. But how did it come about? BMW M Magazine spoke to the responsible engineers, developers and managers. They say: "We have paid tribute to the legend."
#2 THE DESIGN: SHOW CAR FOR THE STREET.
#2 THE DESIGN: SHOW CAR FOR THE STREET.
The breath-taking design comes from the pen of Viktor Bär. When asked to design the new BMW 3.0 CSL, the Project Lead Exterior Design BMW M agreed enthusiastically. "To create a vehicle like the 3.0 CSL is the dream of every designer, because you can really go flat out – in fact you almost have to."
#3 THE MAKING OF: "THE MOST ELABORATE MODERN BMW M."
#3 THE MAKING OF: "THE MOST ELABORATE MODERN BMW M."
"We are proud of the high-precision manufacturing process used for the BMW 3.0 CSL", says Christian Koch, Project manager for the painting of CFRP parts. The car is largely built and painted by hand and the production of this small series is so elaborate that only specialists in the areas of body construction and painting can lend a hand in making this model's valuable components.
