RE: Driven: BMW 1 Series M Coupé

RE: Driven: BMW 1 Series M Coupé

Tuesday 12th October 2010

Driven: BMW 1 Series M Coupé

BMW teases us with its 'junior M3' - aka the 1 Series M Coupé



Despite the indisputable step up in ability and performance that characterised the arrival of the E92 BMW M3, there are many enthusiasts that lament the passing of its straight-six engined predecessor. BMW has finally acknowledged there's a gaping hole in the M-car range, and that the gap should be filled with something 1 Series shaped.


You'll have seen the images of the mildly camouflaged cars before now, and BMW has even released a few striptease-style photographs to start building momentum to a full reveal of its 1 Series M Coupé in December. Now some weeks ahead of the official launch they’ve let a few hacks loose with a pre-production car in Germany, including yours truly. Yes, this job can sometimes be fun…

It's going to be a looker, thanks in no small part to the deliciously bulbous wheelarches.  I think they're more reminiscent of the 2002 Turbo's than any modern M-car's, though they are also necessary to accommodate the current M3's rear axle.


You can ignore the hand-made (i.e. bodged together) look of the arches on the test car, as the final version will feature a new one-piece metal body panel. One of the pre-production mules has an exhaust similar to the current 135i's - as opposed to the quad-pipe set-up of all modern M-cars - but it was confirmed that the finished product will have four outlets. And yes, 19-inch alloys will be standard - we're told that just one wheel size will be offered.

Christoph Smieskol, one of BMW's engineers responsible for the 1 Series M Coupé, tells us that the company took inspiration from the original M3 in the pursuit of a 'back to basics' approach. Without saying as much, he alluded to the fact that this is as likely to be in the name of keeping the price of the 1 M down. We're crossing our fingers for a showroom price of not much more than £40,000 - downsizing is going to be big in 2011.


That means fewer toys than we've grown accustomed to in our M-cars. The M3's rear differential may be present, but it is unlikely to be offered with different settings. Same goes for the steering and suspension, which does without adaptive damping or any adjustment. The driver can choose between two different throttle maps and the usual multi-stage stability and traction control system, but that's pretty much it. While the 1 M will be sold in the US, no automatic option is planned, so it's the M3's six-speed manual gearbox for all. The 1 Series M Coupé should weigh about 1500kg, and to put that into perspective, it’s the weight of an average bloke less than the current M3 Coupé. Which is a good start, if not quite the featherweight we might have hoped for here on PH.


And any hopes for a high-revving naturally aspirated engine are quelled when the start button is pushed and the familiar straight-six rumble makes its way through the exhaust system. Under the bonnet is a reworked version of the twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre unit that powers the Z4 sDrive35is. BMW has yet to release official power and torque figures, but count on about 350hp and 340lb ft. That's a useful jump up from the 135i's 306hp and 295lb ft - and it's worth remembering that the M3's peak torque is no more than the 135i's.

From the outset it’s torque that defines the new car's performance. The straight-six yowl is accompanied by a relentless shove in the back, and pick-up from low revs is impressively strong. Thankfully, this car is louder than the quick (but a little too cultured for our liking) 135i. From standstill you're into third gear in what should be a five-second 0-62mph time. As in the M3, the gearchange is a tad springy, though it's satisfyingly mechanical and quick across the gate.


Only when you've gone up and down the gearbox a few times do you realise that there was never any danger of running into the rev limiter. The grunt tails off, making it more natural to change up and use the torque than eke out every last horsepower. While there's nothing quite like the thrill of a screaming, naturally aspirated engine, we must be realistic about the times we live in, and turbocharging offers the best balance of performance and economy.

As with the most memorable M-cars through the years, the engine does not steal the show: the 1 M's chassis is a gem. From the moment you get underway the car feels remarkably different to the 135i. The wide, low stance helps with that, but so too does a direct, well-weighted helm - there's even some feel through the thick leather bound rim. The same can be said for the brake pedal, which is firm, but easy to modulate.


More impressive than the stopping power is the stability of the car under heavy braking, even while turning (oh the beauty of testing a high performance car on unfamiliar roads...). There is little in the way of pitch or wallow on the springs; the brakes just shed speed off - and there was little sign of fade after a good thrash through some fast German countryside.

Admittedly German road builders have no interest in challenging suspension engineers, so there were precious few bumps to contend with on our test route, but a couple of surprise mid-corner blemishes were shrugged off with ease, indicating that the 1 M was developed for a wide range of driving abilities and road conditions.


Pushing on further, the limited slip differential helps with traction and endows the car with a real rear-led balance under power. That the front end is so keyed-in helps with this. In short, it won't scare the uninitiated, but experienced drivers should find enough to interest them too.

To call the 1 Series M Coupé a true successor to the E30 M3 is stretching the point. Its relative simplicity owes a little to that car, but it owes a lot more to the economic environment we find ourselves in. The 1 Series should allow the M Division to continue to flourish, by introducing younger (and less financially endowed) buyers to the brand, but first impressions suggest that price alone won't be the only reason to opt for the 1 M.







 

Author
Discussion

kambites

Original Poster:

67,442 posts

220 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
So it weighs the same as the previous generation M3 (claimed by BMW to be 1495kg I think?); the steering has "some feel" (hardly a glowing endorsement); it has an engine that doesn't like to rev; and it looks like a 1-series. I think I'll give it a miss, thanks...

Shame, I think it had the potential to be a really good car.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 12th October 11:21

Marf

22,907 posts

240 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
kambites said:
I think I'll give it a miss, thanks...
I'm sure BMW will very much dislike you cancelling your order.

kambites

Original Poster:

67,442 posts

220 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
Marf said:
I'm sure BMW will very much dislike you cancelling your order.
I wouldn't have considered buying new anyway, but I would have seriously considered one second hand in a few years time if I need a small four-seater and second hand buyers do matter to car makers, since it's them that determine how badly a car depreciates.

Maybe they'll do a CSL type version in a few years' time. driving

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 12th October 11:25

anomaly

459 posts

172 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
I want one so much.

TimmmyT

49 posts

170 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
I like the look of it. Sounds like it's going to be a winner, although it is a shame about the normally aspirated engines going. As stated it's a sign of the times!

I do find it amusing however when the article claims 'by introducing younger (and less financially endowed) buyers to the brand' that £40+K before extras is within reach of the less financially endowed. Erm I think if you can afford a new one your going to be pretty well endowed in the wallet department.



zakelwe

4,449 posts

197 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
Needs to be under £40k without the M1 badge I think.

Andy

pilchardthecat

7,483 posts

178 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
Sounds to me like it has the same "bags of midrange but no top-end" problem as the 135i. It's certainly not on my shopping list. Might as well have a big diesel barge if that's what you want.

"From the outset it’s torque that defines the new car's performance....
Only when you've gone up and down the gearbox a few times do you realise that there was never any danger of running into the rev limiter. The grunt tails off, making it more natural to change up and use the torque than eke out every last horsepower. While there's nothing quite like the thrill of a screaming, naturally aspirated engine, we must be realistic about the times we live in, and turbocharging offers the best balance of performance and economy. "

That's not what M cars are about frown

Dagnut

3,515 posts

192 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
Am I the only one who thinks the wheels are too big? I think they look ridiculous. Why not just fit 18's they are plenty big enough for a car that size

CliveM

525 posts

184 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
Any car that's described as a compromise due to the sign of the times is a bit of a disappointment. That it's an M car is an even bigger disappointment.
1500 kg?!?!?! Is that really the best that they could do? I'll have an M3 thanks, despite wanting a smaller car than that.

TheRoadWarrior

1,241 posts

177 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
kambites said:
So it weighs the same as the previous generation M3 (claimed by BMW to be 1495kg I think?); the steering has "some feel" (hardly a glowing endorsement); it has an engine that doesn't like to rev; and it looks like a 1-series. I think I'll give it a miss, thanks...

Shame, I think it had the potential to be a really good car.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 12th October 11:21
You could say that about a lot of modern BMWs.

Doesn't look like it'll ride very well on those 19"s... having said that, if it weighs as much as they quote (1500kg+) then perhaps it'll be ok!

DMC2

1,827 posts

210 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
A baby M3. At 1500kg!!!

What is it with BMW these days and their over-weight M cars.

Did they not learn anything from the CSL.

sleithykeithy

170 posts

194 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
Dagnut said:
Am I the only one who thinks the wheels are too big? I think they look ridiculous. Why not just fit 18's they are plenty big enough for a car that size
I too think the wheels are far too big. Just look at the rear shot, they are just too wide! Have fun aquaplaning on a wet day with those on....

Mermaid

21,492 posts

170 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
DMC2 said:
...

Did they not learn anything from the CSL.
That the market for a hardcore car is small & therefore not profitable biggrin

vintageracer01

873 posts

174 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
The best of it is the paint job.

Mermaid

21,492 posts

170 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
A 3 door hatch, IMO, would have had greater appeal.

It will be good to see this go head to head with the similar powered but 5 pot 4wd Audi RS3.

TheOrangePeril

778 posts

179 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
Sounds pretty lardy at 1500kg, a real shame.

I was hoping for more like 1200 for a new-world 2002.

cragswinter

21,429 posts

195 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
1500 kg?
Whatever....

FesterNath

652 posts

235 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
It'll have a delayed DBW throttle. OTherwise I'd have bought 2.

britsportscars

281 posts

177 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
lardy & ugly...

V88Dicky

7,300 posts

182 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
Dagnut said:
Am I the only one who thinks the wheels are too big? I think they look ridiculous. Why not just fit 18's they are plenty big enough for a car that size
Wheels look fine to me. It's that ridiculous Noddy body above is the problem. hurl














Yes yes, I'm sure it'll handle well and be built to an excellent standard but, come on!