RE: BMW 1 Series M Coupe: PH Heroes

RE: BMW 1 Series M Coupe: PH Heroes

Friday 19th December 2014

BMW 1 Series M Coupe: PH Heroes

A cast iron investment that's an utter riot to drive - what could be more heroic than the 1 M Coupe?



From such humble origins - namely BMW's dumpy 1 Series coupe plus a big box of M3 and Z4 bits - it's hard to believe BMW M created a car already elevated to a legend in its own lifetime.

In fact, it's just four years since we first saw the 1 Series M Coupe and since then it's lost none of its impact. That cartoonish silhouette is hardly subtle. Even non-PHers can spot that this 1 Series is nothing like its more prosaic brethren. But few would be able to comprehend the sheer pace and pleasure offered by this pint sized hot rod.

Because it's fast. No quantifying statements needed here. We're not talking about "in class", or "compared to the base model". We're simply talking FAST. As in pull up next to anything this side of a supercar and look 'em dead in the eye fast.

That N54 turbocharged straight-six, tweaked to 340hp in a sub-1,500kg car, was never going to be found wanting. But even those figures don't do the 1 M justice. First there's the delivery of that maximum 369lb ft of torque. While it might be momentarily hesitant on big throttle openings with few revs, hold the loud pedal open for anything more than a few seconds on most British roads and speed limits are breached very easily.

Two turbos give the straight six huge torque
Two turbos give the straight six huge torque
Aural pleasure
That noise is pure bliss for BMW fans too; a grumbly six-cylinder idle right through to a top-end howl. Although the two teeny turbochargers do sap a fair bit of the character and provide some interestingly harsh overtones, we'll let them off the hook because they do such a sterling job of keeping the 265-section rear rubber warm.

The fact that this kind of power and response is hooked-up to one of BMW's best ever gearboxes (hat tip to the Z4) just adds to the endless pleasure of driving this car. The stubby shifter slides Teflon-smooth from gear to gear and the ratios are perfectly matched to the engine. Feed it lower gears for ridiculous neck-snapping sprints, or higher ratios for belly-rumbling turbo torque.

And although the hateful SMG had thankfully met its demise by 2010, there was always the chance that some bright spark could have suggested a DCT or even automatic as an option. So whoever said "manual only" for the 1 M deserves a small PistonHeads medal for keeping this car so pure.

And it's pure alright. Pure hooligan. Don't ever be deceived by the generous cockpit and hand-finished Alcantara dash. Yes, those superbly plush seats might lull you into believing this car is comfortable. And yes, when cruising from point to point with kids on the back seats, only the shock of a cats eye passing under the wheels might remind you how focused it really is.

1 M light on tech by modern fast car standards
1 M light on tech by modern fast car standards
Dial M for murder
BMW's latest M3 and M4 offer a multitude of buttons to switch from back lane thrasher to Monday morning commuter. There are three settings for steering, three gearbox speeds and three powertrain modes just as a starter. Is that really easier than the old days?

While tempting to harp on about the purity of old cars that lack even the simplest driver aids, that's just not a wise idea for most drivers in everyday use, especially with this much power. So the 1 M has just two buttons to worry about; the stability control on the center of the dash (on, M Dynamic Mode, off) and the M button on the wheel (off, on). With ESP on and the M button left alone, power is cut before you slide and a full range of active braking will control understeer and oversteer situations. In MDM the car will poke its bum out with heartwarming regularity, but will steadfastly refuse to spin without some sort of outside influence (oil, grass, hitting other cars...). And off is off. See the first comment of this paragraph.

And the M button? Half real, half placebo, the magic button on the steering wheel immediately causes the car to surge as the throttle position you're cruising at suddenly delivers a few more ponies. And when you punch it? Overboost. A little page from Porsche's book on excitement yields extravagant grins when driving a little BMW. But that's it, really.

Certainly no mistaking it for a regular 1 Series
Certainly no mistaking it for a regular 1 Series
Complicity
The chassis, of course, handles all of this drama without the slightest grumble. This is a PH Hero, after all. So without providing the Crown Prosecution Service material for a gift-wrapped conviction let's just say that it's communicative. It's responsive and it's fun. Whether it's committing to your favourite bends just a bit quicker, or navigating a slippery roundabout in a manner that would cause a traffic officer to regurgitate his fried dough confectionary into his lap, the 1 M delivers with style and aplomb.

We could moan a little about the brakes, which aren't quite up to the task of holding the car in check on the fastest of track days, or about the system which adds more pressure to the calipers for the same given 'feel' at your foot when they inevitably overheat, but these are definitely minor problems.

Committed M purists might baulk at the backward model naming or none-S drivetrain (the 1 M has a breathed-on N45 motor shared with regular BMWs, whereas most M cars get a bespoke engine like the S14, S50 and S62) and turbocharging (less of an argument about that these days), there's one other trait the 1 Series nails. Desirability.

At peak there were just over 400 1 Ms registered in the UK, and they started at close to £40,000 without options. Add in the thoroughly modern media package with smartphone hook-ups, Bluetooth and internet enabled gubbins and you were closer to 45 than 40.

Everyday usable with a hooligan streak - winner!
Everyday usable with a hooligan streak - winner!
Supply and demand ... lots of demand
One look at the PH classifieds will amaze... as this article goes live the cheapest car is offered at a smidge under £35,000 and the most expensive at over £45,000! See here. With only 381 cars still on the road, supply can't increase. What about demand?

The current F22-shaped M235i, even launching with a manual box at £35,000 earlier this year, utterly failed to make an impression on 1 M values. And that's still a great car. Only the as-yet unconfirmed BMW M2 Coupe even comes close to denting the appeal of the already legendary 1 M.

So if ever there was a car that could offer you the headiest mix of modern technology with downright anti-social driving dynamics, and the tantalising possibility of negligible depreciation, the E82 1 M Coupe is it. Hero status guaranteed.


BMW 1 M COUPE
Engine:
2,979cc 6-cyl, twin-turbocharged
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 340@5,900rpm
Torque (lb ft): 332@1500-4,500rpm (369lb ft with overboost)
0-62mph: 4.9 seconds
Top speed: 155mph (limited)
Weight: 1,570kg (EU, inc. 75kg driver)
MPG: 29.4mpg (claimed)
CO2: 224g/km
Price: £39,995 new, currently £35,000 upwards

[Sources: HowManyLeft]







   

Additional photography: Ben Lowden, Hertford Photos]

Author
Discussion

PPPPPP

Original Poster:

1,140 posts

230 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
Impressed it has attracted so much attention..... turbo charged can work in the right package it seems. BMW got that right.

The E92 M3 would be my choice at that kind of money -£35k+.

Dave Hedgehog

14,541 posts

203 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
i still regret not getting one, but commuting is so much easier with duel clutch

Triumph Man

8,669 posts

167 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
Dave Hedgehog said:
i still regret not getting one, but commuting is so much easier with duel clutch
I'm sure there are some who would fight you for saying that...

GroundEffect

13,815 posts

155 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
I have a 335i with the N54 and it's a lovely engine. OK I'm down 30PS on the 1M but since I'm only 50-60kg heavier it still goes pretty damn well. And the noises it makes are childishly brilliant.


The Donster

163 posts

204 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
The owners of the nursery I take my daughter to own a white one and I'm forever telling the wife not to drive it daily and that they're sitting on a great investment.

I hope, one day, they'll thank me for that piece of advice and let me spank it down the A41. Pwetty pwease!

Triumph Man

8,669 posts

167 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
The Donster said:
The owners of the nursery I take my daughter to own a white one and I'm forever telling the wife not to drive it daily and that they're sitting on a great investment.

I hope, one day, they'll thank me for that piece of advice and let me spank it down the A41. Pwetty pwease!
You should have told them they were stupid for buying a large engined small BMW when the smart money would go on a 120d. Therefore it is worthless and you will be doing them a favour by buying it now (at a vastly reduced rate) before the value really plummets. Then you could spank it down the A41 all day long!

I would similarly love one.

Silverbullet767

10,680 posts

205 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
GroundEffect said:
I have a 335i with the N54 and it's a lovely engine. OK I'm down 30PS on the 1M but since I'm only 50-60kg heavier it still goes pretty damn well. And the noises it makes are childishly brilliant.
Snap, get a JB4 installed and it's no longer down on power compared to the 1M, mine is running 373bhp. Even more childishly brilliant! biggrin

aka_kerrly

12,415 posts

209 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
The Donster said:
The owners of the nursery I take my daughter to own a white one and I'm forever telling the wife not to drive it daily and that they're sitting on a great investment.

I hope, one day, they'll thank me for that piece of advice and let me spank it down the A41. Pwetty pwease!
OR you could keep telling them it is a normal car , use it maintain it and sell it to you and Part X price when they are bored?

loudlashadjuster

5,081 posts

183 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
Shades of Queef?

article said:
..few would be able to comprehend the sheer pace and pleasure offered by this pint sized hot rod..
article said:
The stubby shifter slides Teflon-smooth from gear to gear..
article said:
.. navigating a slippery roundabout in a manner that would cause a traffic officer to regurgitate his fried dough confectionary ..
wink

Neil_M

694 posts

183 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
I'd quite like to drive one of these.

It ticks quite a few boxes...

Sampaio

377 posts

137 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
Funny how people love this car DESPITE of how it looks, I think every 1-series coupe looks brilliant, same with the new 2-series. I find them much more appealing than the E92 and current 4-series

Rahul uk

235 posts

149 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
I am someone who likes M cars a lot and has put my money where my mouth is by running an E46 M3 and E60 M5 and almost bought an E92 M3 on a few occasions. To me the 1M is the best modern day M car. I almost purchased one of these recently but opted for a C63instead. I don't regret my decision, but I will own a 1M at some point in the near future to be used as a weekend toy rather than daily driver. If you haven't driven one or are thinking of buying one of these you should.

clowesy

293 posts

120 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
If I had the money I would have one hell of a job trying to choose between one of these or an M3 CSL.

T1berious

2,242 posts

154 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
Alas the exclusivity and rock solid residuals will keep it out of my sweaty palms. Plus if I ever did get hold of one, it would end up as a garage queen (I'd BUY a garage) and just rub it with a warm diaper every so often.

Spot on PH Hero.

Vee12V

1,328 posts

159 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
I pretty much liked everything about this car but the engine just spoiled it for me. Fast? Yes, very fast and very capable but next to the N/A M-motors it starts to fall apart.


Alfa159Ti

827 posts

156 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
Never fully understood how this engine in the 1M makes such a compelling proposition and goes down such a storm with the press, whilst the same engine in the Z4 35is results in a car that gets pretty luke-warm reviews.

Strangely, the owners reviews I have read on Z4 Forum of the 35is are glowing.

Guvernator

13,103 posts

164 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
clowesy said:
If I had the money I would have one hell of a job trying to choose between one of these or an M3 CSL.
I wouldn't, In fact I really don't know why these have held their values so well? Yes that engine is very nice as far as most cars go, I had a 335i so I should know, however it never feels M car special and is thoroughly outclassed in the excitement stakes by the scintillating straight 6 NA in the CSL. The noise alone is on another planet for the older car.

They've also tried to hide the woeful looks and proportions of the 1 series with that pumped up body kit at which they've only been semi successful. I guess the low numbers are helping to prop up prices but I suspect these will go down once the newer M2 comes out. Sorry but if I had £35k to spend on a modern classic M car, it would have a CSL badge on the boot. I suspect future values will tell which becomes the more desirable but I know which one my moneys on.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
Sampaio said:
Funny how people love this car DESPITE of how it looks
This is one of those cars that really does look better in the flesh than it ever does in the pictures! The way the rear wheels sit in the arches, and the nose down / arse up stance are classic "M car" styling signatures, that when you see these in the flesh immediately mark them out as a bit special ;-)

kambites

67,460 posts

220 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
For me, the 1M was a slightly baffling example of how wrong BMW had for their range at the time... a naturally aspirated V10 in a two-tonne barge and a rather dull feeling turbocharged lump in their smallest sporty car? confused

As with the M5, both the car and the engine were great... they just didn't belong in the same package, IMO.

urban_alchemist

604 posts

205 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
Mine. They really do look better suitably dirty after a drive smile