....the "other" 1M

[ChrisBuer]

As my fellow 1M owning friend (Aussie) has posted a few pictures of his car up, I thought I'd do the same

I'd like to think myself as a proper petrol head and after running Caterhams and Elises (and one Exige) the past few years, I'd not had a "conventional" car for quite a while. Anyway, I managed to get my name down for a 1M and after a month of waiting to hear if I'd secured one, the phone rang and my dealer confirmed my build slot

Fast forward to my collection day and I was like a kid at Christmas










During my 1200 mile run in period, I attended a local Lotus Owners Club run and although limited to 4500rpm, I still managed to lead the group OK





With just over 1200 miles on the clock, the car had its first service and then was driven to DMS Automotive for a bit of ECU work




Stock power was dyno'd at 349bhp and torque at 402 lb/ft.

After DMS had worked their magic, the power was up to 404bhp and torque a more tasty 485 lb/ft

The changes were immediately noticeable, especially the torque which makes over-taking even more effortless now. In M-mode it's just bonkers.

More recently, the car was taken to Brands for an MSV track-day and I was deeply impressed with it. Sure it's not a track-car, but there were few things there quicker on the day (albeit a couple of race prepared Ginetta's). Traction is a slight issue, but once into third it puts it's power down very well.

I have a few small mods planned for this year (nothing major as I like the car as it is right now), but I'm aiming to do the BMW Performance carbon spoiler, the N55 mid-pipes, change the wheels to a slightly different colour and probably have my interior coloured to the same as Aussies (piano black in the centre).

All in all I'm really enjoying the car and am hoping to attend a few more Pistonhead meets this year.

Cheers,

Chris

[ChrisBuer]

Ved said:

Congratulations, Chris. Looks really good. I don't think we have a white one on PH. Plenty of orange ones at the last sunday service but I think yours is much more of a sleeper. How's the ride quality and what's the noise from the engine like after you've had the ECU remapped - and any warranty concerns about mapping it so early?

AussieInLondon has a white one as well and he is on here I will aim to make the Sunday Service events this year because they do look like good fun.

The ride quality is fine, but then I came from a very hard Lotus Exige S with a stiffer under-tray and upgraded engine mounts, so the 1M feels luxurious in comparison.

No change in noise after the remap, it's just a lot more brutal. Any speed, any gear is just picks up and pulls very hard. I followed a Ferrari F430 the other day and lets just say that he didn't pull away far from me in gear on the motorway when there were small breaks in the motorway traffic. Off the line it is more of a problem as it does struggle with traction (and that was before the remap), but you just need to dial in the throttle a little bit more gently

No warranty concerns either to be honest. I'll be keeping this car and accept any issues as a result of me remapping it. However the map is mild and I don't thrash the car, so I'm comfortable with that.

I've had a number of different types of car, but I have to say this is my most favourite so far. It is fun to drive on track (given that it's a road car) and on the road it can be both fun down the B-roads, or comfortable on long drives. I suppose it's a bit like a "Swiss-Army Knife"

[ChrisBuer]

Braintax said:

Cracking car & plate

Thanks I guess having an odd surname helps as the plate was very cheap.

fatboy69 said:

Unlike the Mansory Bentley idiot this is the way to introduce a new car.

None of the 'my car is better than your car because, blah blah blah' but a proper enthusiasts introduction to the car along with photo's & an idea as to what is going to get done to the car over the new few months.

Its a great car which is obviously going to be enjoyed by the owner & hopefully Chris will keep everyone updated as to what he has done with the car.

Like it a lot.

Thanks

I will keep this thread updated as to general ownership and bits. I just love cars and have spent the last few months reading about all of the other fantastic machinery on this forum. I do like to think of myself as a proper petrolhead as well - I drove my Caterham Superlight as my only car for 25,000 miles over an 18 month period, including in the snow and rain without a hood on (good times ) One of my best memories was driving out late one night with the roof off and seeing the stars above me. Fantastic!

Anyway, back on topic, the 1M was required as I have a 10 month old daughter that didn't fit in the Exige, so I needed something else “interesting” to drive. It just so happened that the 1M ticked that box and became available just at the right time

I’m also a keen (or as my wife would call me, sad) detailer and enjoy keeping the car looking clean almost as much as I love driving it…almost haha! Anyway, the more I drive it, the more I clean it, so it’s a win-win situation (sad I know!).

My detailing shelf at home

[ChrisBuer]

Otispunkmeyer said:

Heh thats cool that they let you come into the showroom and pull the wraps off of your new toy!

Suppose thats sorta their way of doing it if you dont want to go all the way to germany to pick your car up from the factory!

Love these cars though, the 1er coupe really looks right to me. Congrats!

I would have loved to have collected it from Germany but unfortunately this option is only available to customers in America. Strange really as I would have thought that there would be more people in Europe willing to do the whole "Welt collection" experience.

[ChrisBuer]

DB89 said:

What a car, would love to own one soon! Does anyone know if all these come out with slighty more power than quoted? Or this is just a very healthy one lol a friend had a play with one in his Evo 9 FQ360 and said it was pulling quite comfortably on him. I know they'd be close but he seemed shocked.

According to DMS, all of the cars they have remapped have had very strong stock figures. I believe the highest stock bhp they recorded was close to 370bhp. most however come in between 345-355bhp.

However it's the torque that seems to make the difference. Mine now (with 485 lb/ft or 656nm in new money) makes it quite a rapid road car where you can leave it in gear most of the time and pull strongly.

diddly69 said:

Very nice OP, thanks for sharing! I love your detailing and cleaning shelves!

Thanks my wife sometimes mixes my bottles up to wind me up...not that I have OCD mind you haha.

Ved said:

What options did you tick on it, Chris?

I went for....

- Sat nav
- BMW assist + apps package
- USB / iPhone media cradle and Bluetooth
- Harman Kardon
- Folding mirrors
- Heated seats
- BMW performance pedals
- Gloss black kidney grills

Mattt said:

Very nice, I recognise Cooper Chelmsford from the pictures!

Will you be joining us on 6th May for the Petrol-AM run?

Yes I'd like to actually. I'll check your forum Matt and sign up if I can definately make it

[ChrisBuer]

Beedub said:

ohh its lovely!! i smiled with you as you pulled back the cover!!! id be soooooooo chuffed at that point!!! awesome car, awesome colour, and great shout on the mods, id defo consider uprating the stock intercooler @ 400hp however....

I ran a temp gauge plugged directly into my OBD port when I was at Brands and my IATs where absolutely fine all day, but I may consider doing the Forge upgrade in the summer if required

[ChrisBuer]

Beedub said:

What iAT were you seeing?

Between 24-26c after around 10-15 hot laps.

[ChrisBuer]

tbc said:

looks top notch in white

can I be cheeky and ask what the standard price for one was?

and the price with all the gizmos and extras?

Standard price was a shade under £40k and the extras came in at just over £5k. However I got £32k for my Exige, so it wasn't too bad in the end. I think the OTR price was a few quid over £45k.

[ChrisBuer]

philmots said:

Fantastic car..

I'd have to have it in black, though.!

I really like it in black, but having had a black car before and enjoying detailing like I do, the swirl marks you'd eventually get (however careful you were cleaning it) would have got on my nerves. Also I do think you lose a bit of the styling, especially at the front of the car with the black as the vents and scoops disappear a bit.

Having said all of this, I did see a black one at a recent 1M meet and it looked flipping awesome

[ChrisBuer]

mwstewart said:

I really dislike the 1 Series but I love the 1M, go figure! It looks fantastic in white, this is definitely a car with a high fun factor!

Thanks

Talking of cars with high fun factors, I can't wait to see your finished Fiesta project. What a beast that's going to be

[ChrisBuer]

Fitted some blacklines to my 1M yesterday, along with some pressed plates and a black M badge. They're not the best photos due to poor light, but they give you an idea.

I've included a before shot to show the subtle differences

Before:



After:

[ChrisBuer]

Thanks for the kind comments.

There are a few more bits to sort out and then it'll be finished. My BMW Performance steering wheel should turn up soon and I'm in the process of ordering the BMWP Carbon lip spoiler. Then the wheels will be done (just a colour change) along with a few subtle touches elsewhere.

I'll post some photos when it's done

[ChrisBuer]

Here's a front shot complete with the new pressed plates and Lux Angel eyes

[ChrisBuer]

Thanks for the heads up on the dealership

Can't say I'm surprised but you're right, there is very little that you can do when you take a car in and entrust it to a dealer.

[ChrisBuer]

Well my first (and last) bit of carbon fibre turned up today



I'll have to sneak the box past my wife and as I don't think she'll be too impressed with another box joining the pile in the study at home haha!

The BMW Performance alcantara steering wheel was also shipped today so that should be everything I need before it goes in to have the wheels and other bits done. Happy days

[ChrisBuer]

Well the boxes keep piling up but all of my parts have been delivered now

The N55 pipe should make it sound a little bit more fruity and improve the throttle slightly more.



The Performance Wheel I'm really pleased with. It feels the same thickness as my 1M leather wheel but is much softer and nicer hold. Plus it matches the rest of the alcantara in the car

[ChrisBuer]

mc_blue said:

Fantastic car and modifications. Where did you get the pressed plates from?

They're from a detailing company called Juicy Detailing. £35 for the set

I'm really pleased with them as they're proper aluminium plates rather than the normal plastic ones you get.

[ChrisBuer]

Picked my car up this morning after having my mods fitted.

Previous mods on the car included:

- DMS Automotive remap (402bhp / 485 lb/ft torque)
- Custom M matts
- BMW Blackline Rear Lights
- Lux Angel Eyes
- Pressed Number Plates
- BMW Performance Pedels

Mods installed this week included:

- N55 midpipe
- BMW Alcantara Steering Wheel
- BMW Carbon Spoiler
- Wheels finished in Matt Titanium
- Interior centre console finished in gloss black
- M badge finished in gloss black
- Side indicator housing finished in gloss black

Here are some photos. Sufficed to say that I'm really pleased with the results








A massive thank you to Lee @ CCC for the work he did on my car! Top job

[ChrisBuer]

Thanks

I have seen a 1M with a proper carbon roof but as you can probably imagine, it's not a cheap mod to do.

Anyway I think I'll enjoy what I have for a bit now. The steering wheel is indeed very nice and I'm glad that I decided to go for it. It makes driving the car that even bit better

[ChrisBuer]

Thanks. I'll probably install a Forge intercooler soon when I get the time and then my modding will stop......probably