Monday 8th October 2012

You Know You Want To: BMW 1 M

Harris ponders the 'one car to rule them all' purchase and returns to his original conclusion...

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Just enjoyed a quick cuppa and a few Oreos and considered what car I would like to run if I only had access to a single everyday machine for the next 12 months. And by some margin it was a BMW 1M.

Continued desirability = solid values

This is surprising, because I conducted the same piece of research in my head about a year ago, and reached the same conclusion. Has there not been another sporting car I’d rather own and live with released in the past year? Not the 991, and not a Boxster – simply because I need back seats.

And what about the impending 1 M residual doom predicted by many people? Yep, they got it wrong.

There aren’t many 1 Ms for sale right now. Just 450 came to the UK, and you’d have to suppose that the lucky few who own them are enjoying the experience. (Just look at the packs of them that turn up at any Sunday Service - Ed.) Every time I drove one last year, I thought it was the most interesting package, partly because it didn’t conform to the normal M behaviour.

Drives like a weapon, looks like it in black

In being turbocharged it had masses of low-effort performance and half-decent fuel economy. On-boost it was a complete animal and, with the systems switched off, it was plain spiteful. In other words it was the antidote to modern, anyone-can-drive-it performance, but it was still technically very capable. Crazy fast too. I wouldn’t want to try and stay with one in an M3. I suspect the little brother might embarrass big bro.

There was just one frustration with the cars that I drove: they were all that burnt orange colour. I think they look better in the other two choices: black or white. And that leads me to another reason for wanting a 1 M. It’s infantile and pathetic, but I just think they look superb. Especially in black.

A new M135i arrives tomorrow for a week’s loan. I’m already excited by what it might offer, but the 1 M just looks so much better.

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BMW 1 SERIES M COUPE
Price:  £41,500
Why you should: It’s a 1 M. It’s black.
Why you shouldn’t: Um, nope, can’t think of anything

See the original ad here.

 

[aussieinlondon]

Ahmen.....

Edited by aussieinlondon on Monday 8th October 17:12

[Crusoe]

Interesting to hear how the 135i goes compared to the 1M, a lot less hardware (no m diff, no wider rear axle etc.) but a newer chassis, only 20bhp or so down and a fair bit cheaper.

[3000GT ANT]

i'm not too sold on the looks, has a look of the old bmw compact.

[900T-R]

At last, this is something I can unreservedly agree on with CH. Simply the most 'alive' and characterful thing from a mainstream manufacturer I've driven in years.

It even looks great IMO... and that's something I can't say of any other 1-series variant hitherto (current M135iwhatever included).

[kambites]

I haven't driven one, but I can't see myself liking it given that I don't like how the 1-series or the M3 of that era drive. Looks shockingly ugly to me, too, although at least black hides it to some extent.

So no thanks.

[tomoleeds]

have never driven one,have never drove a 1 series full stop.The car looks good,is it worth £41k?. i would hold judgment until seen one in the flesh .intresting story.

[Luca Brasi]

Lovely, lovely things. I'd take it over a new 135i anyday.

[MIP1983]

I think the burnt orage looks best.

[Simond S]

The real successor to the original M3.

Modern M3 is too big, too heavt, too cumbersome. 1M is a small nimble lightweight M in comparrison.

Great car.

[Output Flange]

As much as I like the idea of a small, fast, RWD BMW hatch, I can't help thinking that if I went out car shopping with £40k in my pocket, there is absolutely no chance that'd be what I'd come back with.

[F-Stop Junkie]

I may be biased, but the E46 M3 could be a better bet. Slightly bigger, massive boot, three rear seats that can take normal sized people.

Plus it's normall aspirated and a late spec CS manual with a mountain of history is still a fraction a cost of the 1M. How much further will it depreciate? Is the 1M more of a theif magnet currently?

That said, I'd buy the best 1M I could in a heart beat if my numbers came up...

[GroundEffect]

Simond S said:

The real successor to the original M3.

Modern M3 is too big, too heavt, too cumbersome. 1M is a small nimble lightweight M in comparrison.

Great car.

It's still over 1500kg. It's not a light car.

[kambites]

Output Flange said:

As much as I like the idea of a small, fast, RWD BMW hatch, I can't help thinking that if I went out car shopping with £40k in my pocket, there is absolutely no chance that'd be what I'd come back with.

It's not a hatchback, it's a two-door saloon.

[kambites]

F-Stop Junkie said:

I may be biased, but the E46 M3 could be a better bet. Slightly bigger, massive boot, three rear seats that can take normal sized people.

Plus it's normall aspirated and a late spec CS manual with a mountain of history is still a fraction a cost of the 1M. How much further will it depreciate? Is the 1M more of a theif magnet currently?

That's probably where my money would go if I needed a four seater performance car. You can get a decent E46 M3 for 10k these days.

[Ex Boy Racer]

I'll swap you one for your Fezza then, Chris

[Output Flange]

kambites said:

It's not a hatchback, it's a two-door saloon.

Indeed.

[martyspain]

Followed a white 1M home last night. First one I've seen in that colour, and it looked superb. Squat, muscular and once we got free of the traffic, incredible real-world performance. Future classic for sure. Hmm, wonder how much they're going for on the classifieds...

[Brett748]

It's my ultimate realistic dream car. Such a great all round motor.

[aussieinlondon]

GroundEffect said:

It's still over 1500kg. It's not a light car.

Actually it is 1495kg (so pretty close) without the driver (which does vary from driver to driver lol)

[Bill Carr]

3000GT ANT said:

i'm not too sold on the looks, has a look of the old bmw compact.

I think that must be why I like it